# True Cost — Mindful Spending > Converts monetary expenses into time units earned to foster mindful spending. (iPhone/iPad app by Viktor Gavrilov.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/true-cost/id1476296558 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Viktor Gavrilov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1324295185) - Category: Finance, Lifestyle - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 5.00/5 from 3 App Store ratings - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 14.0 · 1 MB - Languages: English, Russian - Released: 2019-12-06 - Data updated: 2026-06-10 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/true-cost/id1476296558/reviews.md ## What is True Cost? True Cost will help you to evaluate your spendings not in abstract dollars, euros or other currencies, but in units, understandable to everyone. You will be able to evaluate them in time units, which you need to earn this money. Money made a huge contribution in humanity development – without it, trading and labor specialisation we could not reach the current level of well-being. But with advantages there are also some negative factors – we lost a direct link between time spent to earn money and products and spendings, for which we pay with the money. Non-cash money and credit only exacerbated this problem. It is hard for us to adequately perceive virtual cash amounts and convert them in working hours or days, which were required to get this money. Thus it is better to spend several seconds and calculate the True Cost of planned purchases or spending For more accurate calculations it is better to subtract your obligatory monthly spendings (housing, food, transportation, etc.) from your salary. You could do it in Settings.  Expenses view allows you to value monthly expenses and shows how much "free" time you have. Cheat Sheet will help you to remember real value of your times, so you will be able to make simple and approximate calculations in your head. Also since we usually increase our spending with increases in salary, it could be a good idea to make these calculations not with the current salary, but with the previous one, or even the first one.  Those, who are fortunate and successful enough and want to spend more consciously, could set as a Salary some lower amount, for example, average for the city or country, or maybe salary of your parents. This way previously minor purchases will be more significant.  Since information about Salary and Spending amounts is very sensitive, you could protect it with a password (or with TouchID or FaceID). All data is stored only on your device. ## Key features - Calculate spending in time units - Track monthly expenses - Estimate free time available - Remember real value of time - Password/biometric protection - Data stored locally ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Remove ads | $1.99 | one-time | ## Frequently asked questions about True Cost ### What is the True Cost app? True Cost helps you understand your spending by showing how much time you need to work to earn the money for your purchases. It aims to bridge the gap between abstract currency amounts and the actual effort required to earn them. ### How does True Cost calculate the 'true cost'? It converts monetary expenses into time units, such as hours or days, based on your inputted salary. This allows you to visualize the real-world time investment behind each purchase. ### Can I protect my financial data in True Cost? Yes, True Cost offers password protection, as well as TouchID and FaceID support, to secure your sensitive salary and spending information. All your data is stored exclusively on your device. ### Does True Cost have ads? No, True Cost does not contain advertisements. The app is free to download and use, with optional in-app purchases. ### What devices is True Cost available on? True Cost is available for iPhone and iPod devices. It was last updated in September 2022 with version 2022.1. ### How does True Cost compare to other budgeting apps? Unlike traditional budgeting apps that focus on categories, True Cost emphasizes the time value of money. It helps users understand the personal cost of spending in terms of their working hours. ### What is the age rating for True Cost? True Cost has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users. This indicates it contains no mature content. ### How often is True Cost updated? The app was last updated on September 7, 2022, with version 2022.1. While specific update frequency isn't detailed, this indicates recent maintenance and development. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 2022.1 — 2022-09-07 - bug fixes ### 2020.5 — 2020-12-02 - dark theme - new color and date pickers - other improvements and bug fixes ### 2020.4 — 2020-08-03 - bug fixes ### 2020.3 — 2020-07-29 - add images and notes to your goals - comparison of expenses with goals - create your own custom units and evaluate expenses in these units - updated design ### 2020.2 — 2020-04-28 - create, track and achieve your financial GOALS - add names to your cheat times and amounts ## Apps similar to True Cost | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Masterworks: Invest in Art](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/masterworks-invest-in-art/id1591085645) | 4.8 (2,480) | Free | Finance | | [Budget App & Expense Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/budget-app-and-expense-tracker/id1448335613) | 4.8 (2,685) | Free | Finance | | [Wallet Pro - Credit Wallet](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wallet-pro-credit-wallet/id1638275520) | 4.7 (411) | Free | Finance | | [Track Spending : Wise Budget](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/track-spending-wise-budget/id6444917344) | 4.8 (2,930) | Free | Finance | | [COINS: One App For Crypto](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/coins-one-app-for-crypto/id1475233621) | 4.8 (979) | Free | Finance | | [Bitcoin Monitor, Price Compare](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bitcoin-monitor-price-compare/id1332312760) | 4.6 (130) | Free | Finance | ## More apps by Viktor Gavrilov - [1440: countdown timer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1440-countdown-timer/id1324295186) - [Mark Off: Calendar & Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mark-off-calendar-and-tracker/id1434848437) - [Team Splitter](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/team-splitter/id1492422081) - [Activity Map](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activity-map/id1494633767) - [Beader](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beader/id1522156537) All apps by Viktor Gavrilov: https://appshunter.io/developer/1324295185 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*