# Optum Bank vs Principal®

The clearest difference is update cadence: Principal® at every 2 weeks against Optum Bank's monthly. Principal® also leads on ratings volume (241K vs 55K) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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 Bank against 4.8 for Principal®. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 55K and 241K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 26% of Optum Bank's written reviews are positive against 32% of Principal®'s.

Optum Bank ships an update monthly, Principal® every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 11, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Optum Bank | Principal® |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (55K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optum-bank/id1322690077/reviews) | **[4.8 (241K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/principal/id1433961188/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 55K | **241K** |
| Positive reviews | 25.5% of reviews | **32.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Best chart rank | #210 | **#121** |
| Size | 66 MB | 105 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 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 Bank

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/optum-bank/id1322690077)

**Currently charting:** #210 Top Free · Finance (US App Store)

Manage your health savings and spending accounts with ease. Track balances, understand eligible expenses, pay for healthcare costs, and submit claims for reimbursement. Store receipts and get clear tips to maximize your benefits.

**Highlights:** Track account balances, Understand eligible expenses, Pay for health costs, Submit claims for reimbursement, Store health care receipts, View account transactions

**Features:** Apple Wallet

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient and streamlined
- 👍 Easy to check balance and manage contributions
- 💡 Allows digital card in Apple Wallet

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent login issues and app crashes
- 🔍 Limited functionality compared to website
- 🤔 Inconsistent user experience between app and website
- 🤯 Poor technical support and communication

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when submitting reimbursement claims
- Receipts not displaying properly or disappearing
- Investment transfer functionality not working
- Slow performance and loading times

**Requested features**

- Batch claim processing for pharmacy receipts
- Ability to associate receipts with past claims
- Improved receipt management and submission flow
- Consistent data and functionality between app and website


### Principal®

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

**Currently charting:** #121 Top Free · Finance (US App Store)

Manage retirement savings and achieve financial goals with easy transactions and personalized insights. Access educational resources, track progress with tools like the Retirement Wellness Score, and find insurance information.

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

**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 Bank free?

Optum Bank 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 Bank or Principal®?

Principal® is rated higher. Optum Bank averages 4.7 out of 5 from 55K ratings, while Principal® averages 4.8 from 241K ratings.

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

Neither Optum Bank nor Principal® shows ads.

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

Optum Bank ships an update monthly, and Principal® every 2 weeks. Most recently, Optum Bank was updated on November 11, 2026 and Principal® on November 11, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Optum Bank or Principal®?

Optum Bank currently peaks at #210 in the App Store charts, and Principal® at #121. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

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