Comparison

DarkBook vs Trading Lab

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

DarkBook

A minimalist budget tracker with a focus on a dark, eye-friendly interface. It offers fast, simplified bookkeeping with multi-ledger, multi-account, and multi-member support. Analyze your spending and asset trends with clear visualizations.

Highlights
  • Optimized dark theme
  • Local data storage
  • Fast bookkeeping with gestures
  • Multi-ledger support
  • Multi-account management
  • Revenue and expenditure analysis
  • Asset trend tracking
Features
Read full description

【Inspiration】 The idea is “highlight and focus.” When using everyday editing software, the author always chooses a dark, eye-friendly palette if given the choice. It reduces visual fatigue and makes text stand out. Bookkeeping apps work the same way. The two times I record expenses most often are (1) right after a transaction and (2) before bed—one in bright light, one in dim light. In both cases, a high-contrast dark theme brings the content forward. That is why DarkBook was built: optimized for dark mode, with a simplified interface that keeps text at the center and creates a more focused space for tracking your money. 【Features】 Optimized dark theme: carefully tuned dark palettes for long sessions, plus multiple themes (including light themes) you can switch anytime. Offline on device: your data stays on your device. No sign-up required—start tracking right away. Quick entry: gesture support and fewer steps; built-in calculator keys (+ − × ÷) help you log faster. Multiple books: life, work, travel, baby… keep a separate book for each scenario. Multiple accounts: manage cash, credit cards, and virtual-currency accounts separately. Multiple members: tag spending for yourself, your partner, children, or parents. Multiple currencies: support for major world currencies and virtual currencies, with rates and conversion. Income & expense analysis: custom date ranges show where money went, to whom, and from which account. Asset trends: track assets and net worth over time. Budgets: set budgets for your book and expense categories. Account transfers: a small feature, but closer to how money really moves. Bill search: find entries by note, amount, or account; filter by date, category, member, and more. CSV import/export: export bills to CSV for editing on a computer, or import in bulk. iCloud backup: back up to iCloud and sync across devices signed in with the same Apple ID. Clean and ad-free: we do not want ads to get in your way. 【Auto-renewable subscription】 1. Subscription service: a subscription means service fees are charged on a recurring basis. An annual plan is currently available. Your subscription renews automatically within 24 hours before the end of each period unless you turn off auto-renewal or we discontinue the service. 2. Price: the annual subscription price is shown in the App Store for your region and may change during promotions. If you subscribe, any new price applies in the next billing period. Payment is charged to your Apple ID upon confirmation. 3. Refunds: fees for the current billing period are generally non-refundable, subject to Apple Media Services Terms and applicable local law. If a free trial is offered, cancel before it ends to avoid being charged. 4. Cancel subscription: subscriptions renew automatically. To avoid renewal, turn off auto-renewal at least 24 hours before the current period ends. Manage or cancel in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. 【Terms】 Terms of Use: https://www.zotiger.com/darkbook-terms-of-use-en Privacy Policy: https://www.zotiger.com/darkbook-privacy-en 【Contact】 Email: service@zotiger.com

About

Trading Lab

Practice trading with historical market data across stocks, forex, and crypto. Analyze performance with advanced indicators and charts, and utilize dynamic playback for realistic training. Offers a variety of trading tools and order types for comprehensive practice.

Highlights
  • Historical data playback
  • Multi-market symbols
  • Full timeframes support
  • High-performance indicators and charts
  • Dynamic market replay
  • Advanced trading tools
  • Template function for indicators
Features
Read full description

Now it supports iPhone, iPad and Mac. The trading lab is a trading review and training app designed to provide users with a trading training environment based on historical data playback. Main features: multi market symbols, high-quality historical data, full timeframes, high-performance indicators and charts, dynamic market playback, convenient and efficient trading tools. Function list: ◆ Multiple market symbols ◆ High quality historical data ◆ Full time timeframes All timeframes are supported, including 1 minute, 2 minutes, 3 minutes, 4 minutes, 5 minutes, 6 minutes, 10 minutes, 12 minutes, 15 minutes, 20 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours, 4 hours, 6 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, day, week, month, quarter, half a year, and year. ◆ High performance indicators and charts ◆ Template function Tips: You can save indicator combination and color matching as templates to facilitate switching between different combination schemes ◆ Dynamic market replay 1. Support automatic playback and manual playback 2. Support setting playback speed 3. Support setting playback step 4. Support fast jump of date ◆ Convenient and efficient trading tools 1. Support market buy, market sell, buy limit, sell limit, buy stop, sell stop 2. Support one click market price order transaction 3. Support menu quick transaction 4. Support panel line drawing transaction 5. Support trailing stop Both the market order and the pending order support the setting of trailing stop. After the position is generated, the trailing stop is activated according to the trigger conditions. 6. Support group orders ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Subscription information • You can select two subscription options: Pro Monthly User and Pro Annual User. • The monthly user of Pro updates every 31 days, and the annual user of Pro updates every 12 months. During the subscription period, you can use various transaction varieties and tools without restriction. • Subscription costs $3.99 per month and $39.99 per year. • After the purchase is confirmed, the payment will be made to the iTunes account. • The subscription will be automatically renewed unless automatic renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. • The account will be renewed within 24 hours before the end of the current period, and the cost of renewal will be determined. • Users can manage subscriptions, and automatically renew can be turned off by going to the user's account settings after purchase. • If any unused part of the free trial period is provided, it will be confiscated when the user purchases the subscription. • Users can manage subscriptions, go to their iTunes account settings after purchase, and turn off automatic renewal. • You can unsubscribe or free trial at any time through subscription settings through your iTunes account (go to Device Settings, and then click iTunes Account Apple ID>View Apple ID>Enter Password>Subscribe>Assembly>Unsubscribe button). At least 24 hours before the end of the free trial period or subscription period to avoid charges. Learn more: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht4098 Service Agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy terms: http://xmacd.com/privacypolicy.html • Contact us Customer service email: tradingstarapp@hotmail.com

Screenshots

DarkBook4 screens
Trading Lab4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: DarkBook at free with in-app purchases against Trading Lab's subscription. DarkBook also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 60%) and rating (4.3 vs 4.1). Trading Lab's advantage is ratings volume (14 vs 3). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. DarkBook sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per year and Trading Lab sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DarkBook holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 14 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of DarkBook's written reviews are positive against 60% of Trading Lab's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DarkBook ships an update weekly, Trading Lab every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
DarkBook versus Trading Lab: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDarkBookTrading Lab
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (3 ratings) — better4.1 (14 ratings)
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews — better59.7% of reviews
Number of ratings314 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB3.6 GB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChongqing Zhouhu Technology Co.,Ltd菁晶 王

Customer experience

DarkBook

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative0.0%

Trading Lab

All ratings14 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral14.3%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews67 reviews
Positive59.7%
Neutral9.0%
Negative31.3%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

DarkBook

Subscriptions1
  • Pay per year$1.491 Year
One-time1
  • Life member$3.99
3 purchases

Trading Lab

Subscriptions2
  • Pro Monthly User$5.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly User$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Permanently User$44.99

Questions

Is DarkBook free?
DarkBook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Trading Lab free?
Trading Lab is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, DarkBook or Trading Lab?
DarkBook is rated higher. DarkBook averages 4.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Trading Lab averages 4.1 from 14 ratings.
Do DarkBook or Trading Lab have ads?
Neither DarkBook nor Trading Lab shows ads.
Which is updated more often, DarkBook or Trading Lab?
DarkBook ships an update weekly, and Trading Lab every 5 days. Most recently, DarkBook was updated on September 19, 2026 and Trading Lab on September 21, 2026.

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