Comparison

FI Scouts vs FI Architect

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

Head to head
About

FI Scouts

Features
Read full description

FI Scouts is an app that guides you on your way to financial independence. This app lets you track your net worth, FI number and your savings rate as often as you need to. FI Scouts shows your progress with big numbers and stunning charts, so you're always on top of your goals. All data entry is done manually for security reasons, and your data stays safe and private. FI Scouts helps you find your FI number and figure out when you can retire, if that's what you want given your current income and expenses. There's even milestones you can achieve to motivate you along the way! We are extremely open to your feedback, so please help us shape the app to your liking. Let us know if you have any feature requests. If you have any problems or need help, we are ready to answer your questions at hello@fiscouts.com. If you really enjoy the app or would like to support our work, then please consider sending us a tip. You can find the tip jar by tapping your profile picture. This helps us keep the app free and accessible and will allow us to keep adding new features over time. FIRST-CLASS PLATFORM SUPPORT We make an effort to support and provide the latest device features to you. If there's anything you're missing, let us know! ---- We utilize in-app purchases to allow you to send us a tip as a token of gratitude for our work. Tips are one-time purchases and can be sent as many times as you wish to. We greatly appreciate anything you can spare. Prices are clearly visible in the app. Tips are non-refundable. Please read our privacy policy and terms of use for more details at https://fiscouts.com/privacy-policy

About

FI Architect

Model life decisions like job changes, home purchases, or retirement timing to see their impact on your financial independence date and net worth. Compare different future scenarios side-by-side with detailed projections and trusted financial calculations.

Highlights
  • Model life decisions as scenarios
  • Compare future outcomes side-by-side
  • Quick estimate for ballpark FI age
  • Guided setup and power-user editors
  • Detailed tax and investment calculations
  • Optional AI advisor for plain-English questions
  • Private by design, no account required
Features
Read full description

Should you take the Seattle offer or stay in San Diego? Buy the house now or in two years? Retire at 55 or 60? FI Architect is a financial-independence planner built for decisions. Build your plan once, then model any life choice as its own scenario and see, side by side and in today's dollars, how it moves your financial-independence date and your net worth. COMPARE YOUR FUTURES • What if…? templates for a new job or move, buying a home, buying a car, having a child, or retiring earlier or later • Live impact before you save: "FI 3 years sooner, +$420,000 at retirement" • Compare tab: your plan vs. every saved scenario, with charts and differences in today's dollars • Save, update, and switch between scenarios any time START IN A MINUTE, GO AS DEEP AS YOU WANT • Quick Estimate: six numbers give you a ballpark FI age with a market range • Guided setup walks you through income, spending, accounts, home and debts • Power-user editors with start and stop dates (year and month) on every salary, budget line, contribution, loan, property, and event MATH YOU CAN TRUST • 2026 federal tax brackets, state tax, and payroll tax (FICA) • Social Security taxation, required minimum distributions, and early-withdrawal penalties • 401(k), IRA, Roth, HSA and taxable accounts kept separate, with IRS contribution limits and employer match • Capital-gains tax on taxable accounts, mortgage and loan amortization, home purchase and sale • Retirement healthcare costs, inflation, glide paths, and spending guardrails • Monte Carlo simulation for a range of outcomes, not just one line • Every formula is explained in the app, and every year of the projection is in a table you can inspect and export FI TARGETS THAT MAKE SENSE • Your FI number, portfolio FI target after pensions and Social Security, and Coast FI age • Loan payments that will end are not treated as lifelong spending • Lean, Barista, Regular, and Fat FIRE benchmarks OPTIONAL AI ADVISOR • Ask questions in plain English: "How does the Seattle offer compare?" "What if I max my 401(k)?" • Answers use your plan's calculated results and saved scenarios • Suggested changes show their impact first and are applied only when you tap Apply • You are asked before any data is shared with the AI PRIVATE BY DESIGN • No account required. Your plan stays on your device, with export and backup when you want it • The full planner is free. FI Architect Pro adds expanded AI usage. FI Architect Pro Monthly unlocks expanded AI usage after the included free AI prompts. Subscription length is 1 month. Pricing is shown before purchase and may vary by region. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period; manage or cancel in your App Store account settings. FI Architect is an educational planning tool, not financial, tax, or investment advice. Projections are estimates based on your inputs and assumptions. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://njldesignlab.com/fi-architect/privacy-policy.html

Screenshots

FI Scouts4 screens
FI Architect4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: FI Architect at every 3 weeks against FI Scouts's every 7 months. FI Architect also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. FI Scouts sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and FI Architect sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FI Scouts ships an update every 7 months, FI Architect every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
FI Scouts versus FI Architect: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFI ScoutsFI Architect
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFornuftig Investering ApSNicolas LeTexier

In-app purchases

3 purchases

FI Scouts

One-time3
  • First class scout tip$0.99
  • Star scout tip$1.99
  • Eagle scout tip$3.99
1 purchases

FI Architect

Subscriptions1
  • FI Architect Pro$4.991 Month

Questions

Is FI Scouts free?
FI Scouts is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FI Architect free?
FI Architect is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do FI Scouts or FI Architect have ads?
Neither FI Scouts nor FI Architect shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FI Scouts or FI Architect?
FI Scouts ships an update every 7 months, and FI Architect every 3 weeks. Most recently, FI Scouts was updated on October 25, 2026 and FI Architect on October 23, 2026.

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