# Optum Financial vs Principal®

The clearest difference is monetization model: Optum Financial at free against Principal®'s free with in-app purchases. Optum Financial also leads on review sentiment (54% vs 33%). Principal®'s advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks) and chart position (#109 vs unranked). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Optum Financial against 4.8 for Principal®. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Principal® has 239K ratings behind it against 29K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 54% of Optum Financial's written reviews are positive against 33% of Principal®'s.

Optum Financial ships an update every 5 weeks, Principal® every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Optum Financial | Principal® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (29K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optum-financial/id1303691237/reviews) | **[4.8 (239K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/principal/id1433961188/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 29K | **239K** |
| Positive reviews | **53.6% of reviews** | 32.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#109** |
| Size | 24 MB | 105 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **16.4** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Optum Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1133706680) | [Principal Financial Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/442790612) |

## What reviewers say

### Optum Financial

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optum-financial/id1303691237)

Easily manage and pay for healthcare expenses on the go. Features include receipt capture, e-sign dependent care certification, and access to account details, transaction history, and balances for maximum control over your healthcare finances.

**Highlights:** Manage benefit accounts, View balances and transaction history, Pay providers or reimburse yourself, View and manage claims, Capture and upload documentation, Live customer care via mobile chat

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Convenient mobile experience
- 💳 Ability to pay providers directly
- 📂 Straightforward claim submission
- 💰 Helpful for managing medical expenses

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy document upload and submission
- 🤔 Lack of explanations for claim rejections
- 🕰️ Slow processing and response times
- 🔍 Unintuitive navigation and UI
- 🤖 Poor customer service and support

**Reported bugs**

- Blank screens and app crashes
- Inconsistent behavior with photo uploads
- Login and account access issues
- Incorrect or missing account balance information
- Inability to add new documentation to existing claims

**Requested features**

- Ability to save provider information
- Option to submit multiple claims at once
- Automatic reimbursement based on insurance EOBs
- Clearer communication on claim status and issues
- Improved search and filtering for transactions


### Principal®

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

**Currently charting:** #109 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 Optum Financial free?

Optum Financial 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, Optum Financial or Principal®?

Principal® is rated higher. Optum Financial averages 4.7 out of 5 from 29K ratings, while Principal® averages 4.8 from 239K ratings.

### Do Optum Financial or Principal® have ads?

Neither Optum Financial nor Principal® shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Optum Financial or Principal®?

Optum Financial ships an update every 5 weeks, and Principal® every 2 weeks. Most recently, Optum Financial was updated on October 23, 2026 and Principal® on October 23, 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.*