# ActivoBank vs Caixadirecta

The clearest difference is monetization model: Caixadirecta at free against ActivoBank's free with in-app purchases. Caixadirecta also leads on update cadence (every 11 days vs every 4 weeks) and ratings volume (1.9K vs 528). 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 ActivoBank against 4.7 for Caixadirecta. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 528 and 1.9K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 46% of ActivoBank's written reviews are positive against 40% of Caixadirecta's.

ActivoBank ships an update every 4 weeks, Caixadirecta every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ActivoBank | Caixadirecta |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (528 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activobank/id344521216/reviews) | [4.7 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caixadirecta/id1369089471/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 528 | **1.9K** |
| Positive reviews | **46.1% of reviews** | 39.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 420 MB | 397 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Banco ActivoBank (Portugal), SA](https://appshunter.io/developer/344521219) | [Caixa Geral de Depósitos](https://appshunter.io/developer/451407052) |

## What reviewers say

### ActivoBank

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/activobank/id344521216)

Manage your finances with this app, offering account management, card services, loan applications, and secure payment options. It also allows for international transfers and bill splitting with friends. Open a new account entirely online in just 15 minutes.

**Highlights:** Integrated account management, Card services and management, Loan simulation and application, International transfers, Bill payment and splitting, Secure mobile payments, Account aggregation

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🚀 Fast and efficient transaction processing
- 💼 Comprehensive banking functionality
- 🌐 Available in multiple languages
- 📱 Modern and attractive design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📢 Intrusive marketing notifications cannot be disabled
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and loading failures
- 🔐 VPN connectivity issues
- ⏳ Pending transactions display incorrectly
- 💰 High foreign currency exchange fees

**Reported bugs**

- App fails to open after recent updates
- Login requires multiple attempts
- Numpad appears instead of keyboard for company name input
- IBAN not recognized error on transfer finalization
- Face ID compliance error on compatible devices

**Requested features**

- Separate marketing notification toggle from security alerts
- Support for non-Portuguese IBAN beneficiaries
- Landscape/horizontal orientation support for iPad
- Easier tax address and postal address updates
- Card blocking functionality within the app


### Caixadirecta

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/caixadirecta/id1369089471)

Access your bank accounts, make payments, and manage finances on the go. This app offers secure and fast banking operations, including mobile payments, voice commands, and transfers. Stay updated on your financial status and interact with your bank anytime, anywhere.

**Highlights:** Access bank accounts, Make and schedule payments, Mobile payments via QR Code/Apple Pay, AI-powered digital assistant, View accounts from other banks, MB WAY transfers and withdrawals, Subscribe to products without visiting branch

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent online banking service
- 🌍 Useful for clients living abroad
- 👍 Easy and intuitive to use
- 🌐 Multilingual support (English and Portuguese)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unreliable
- 🕰️ Slow and laggy performance
- 🤔 Confusing and unintuitive navigation
- 🔒 Overly complicated security measures
- 💻 Lack of iPad support and optimization

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and screen freezes
- Inability to update personal information
- Recurring transfer setup problems
- Inconsistent behavior when approving transactions
- Notifications leading to nowhere in the app

**Requested features**

- Allow users to update personal details directly in the app
- Provide option to set complex passwords instead of just PINs
- Improve language settings to make them more persistent
- Add support for landscape mode on tablets
- Enhance transaction details and history


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ActivoBank free?

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

### Is Caixadirecta free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ActivoBank or Caixadirecta?

ActivoBank and Caixadirecta are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 528 and 1.9K ratings respectively.

### Do ActivoBank or Caixadirecta have ads?

Neither ActivoBank nor Caixadirecta shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ActivoBank or Caixadirecta?

ActivoBank ships an update every 4 weeks, and Caixadirecta every 11 days. Most recently, ActivoBank was updated on September 23, 2026 and Caixadirecta on September 25, 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.*