# PNC BeneFit Plus vs Principal®

The clearest difference is review sentiment: PNC BeneFit Plus at 64% against Principal®'s 33%. PNC BeneFit Plus also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Principal®'s advantage is update cadence (every 8 days vs every 3 months) and rating (4.8 vs 4.4). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Principal® holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Principal® has 236K ratings behind it against 795, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 64% of PNC BeneFit Plus's written reviews are positive against 33% of Principal®'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

PNC BeneFit Plus ships an update every 3 months, Principal® every 8 days. Both last shipped on September 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | PNC BeneFit Plus | Principal® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (795 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pnc-benefit-plus/id1043673090/reviews) | **[4.8 (236K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/principal/id1433961188/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 795 | **236K** |
| Positive reviews | **64.1% of reviews** | 32.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#146** |
| Size | 33 MB | 106 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PNC Bank, N.A.](https://appshunter.io/developer/303113130) | [Principal Financial Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/442790612) |

## What reviewers say

### PNC BeneFit Plus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pnc-benefit-plus/id1043673090)

Manage your health benefit accounts like HSA, HRA, and FSA on the go. Quickly check balances, view claims, and file reimbursements with secure, real-time access to your account details.

**Highlights:** Check account balances, View account details and charts, File claims for FSA and HRA, Submit receipts via photo, Manage HSA transactions, Pay bills and add payees, Report lost/stolen debit card

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Wallet, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick and easy to use
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💡 Convenient for managing HSA
- 🚀 Straightforward reimbursement process
- 👍 Helpful for tracking expenses

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Login issues, inconsistent biometric authentication
- 🐛 Slow and buggy app performance
- 🔒 Concerns about security and account access
- 🔍 Difficulties with claims and reimbursement approvals

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes and freezes
- Login credentials not saved properly
- Debit card issues and declined payments

**Requested features**

- Ability to itemize payments to payees
- Option to upload receipts immediately after charges
- Improved investment tracking and management


### Principal®

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/principal/id1433961188)

**Currently charting:** #146 Top Free · Finance (US App Store)

Manage your retirement savings and financial goals from your mobile device. Track account balances, adjust contributions, and access educational resources to improve your financial confidence. Tools are available to help you assess your progress towards retirement.

**Highlights:** View account balances, Roll over funds, Change contributions, Adjust investments, Financial education resources, Retirement Wellness Score

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Convenient mobile access
- 💡 Helpful investment tools
- 🔒 Secure login process

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- ⏱️ Slow and laggy performance
- 📊 Lacking key account information
- 🤔 Confusing navigation and UI

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to change contribution rates
- Inconsistent login and logout functionality
- Rollover check deposit not working as advertised
- Certain account details not displaying properly

**Requested features**

- Improved transaction history and reporting
- Ability to deposit checks via the app
- More customization options for the dashboard
- Seamless integration with other financial accounts


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PNC BeneFit Plus free?

PNC BeneFit Plus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Principal® free?

Principal® is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PNC BeneFit Plus or Principal®?

Principal® is rated higher. PNC BeneFit Plus averages 4.4 out of 5 from 795 ratings, while Principal® averages 4.8 from 236K ratings.

### Do PNC BeneFit Plus or Principal® have ads?

Neither PNC BeneFit Plus nor Principal® shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PNC BeneFit Plus or Principal®?

PNC BeneFit Plus ships an update every 3 months, and Principal® every 8 days. Most recently, PNC BeneFit Plus was updated on September 26, 2026 and Principal® on September 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*