# Bookkeeping vs Simple Bookkeeping

The clearest difference is price: Simple Bookkeeping at Free against Bookkeeping's $2.99. Simple Bookkeeping also leads on rating (4.5 vs 3.7) and update cadence (every 6 days vs every 3 months). Bookkeeping's advantage is ratings volume (7 vs 2). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Simple Bookkeeping is free to download; Bookkeeping costs $2.99 up front. Bookkeeping sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month and Simple Bookkeeping sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Simple Bookkeeping holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 74% of Bookkeeping's written reviews are positive against 100% of Simple Bookkeeping's.

Bookkeeping ships an update every 3 months, Simple Bookkeeping every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Bookkeeping | Simple Bookkeeping |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.7 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookkeeping/id357412761/reviews) | **[4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-bookkeeping-no-ads/id6449327446/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 73.9% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Size | 13 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Warby Software Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/357412764) | [川江 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/1631792169) |

## What reviewers say

### Bookkeeping

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bookkeeping/id357412761)

This app provides double-entry bookkeeping and invoicing for small businesses, non-profits, and clubs. It works offline and syncs data across devices using Dropbox. Manage unlimited companies and transactions with a variety of financial tools.

**Highlights:** Double-entry bookkeeping, Invoicing and quotations, Offline functionality, Dropbox synchronization, Unlimited companies and transactions, Multi-currency support, PDF reports

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Data Entry for 1 Month | $2.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 💼 Comprehensive double-entry bookkeeping functionality
- 📱 Portable accounting solution for iPad/iPhone
- 💰 Excellent value for money compared to desktop alternatives
- 📊 Professional-looking invoices and reports
- 🎯 Powerful features for small businesses

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎓 Steep learning curve for non-accountants
- 🔐 Hidden subscription requirement after purchase
- ❌ Not intuitive for beginners
- ⚠️ Requires accounting knowledge to use effectively
- 🖥️ Lacks cloud sync across multiple devices

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes when setting year start date
- Screen misalignment on iPad 2
- Persistent rating prompt pop-ups
- Unable to change default quantity on sale line items
- App locks when editing setup

**Requested features**

- Cloud sync across multiple iOS devices
- Receipt photo capture functionality
- Simplified version for sole traders
- Trial/demo version before purchase
- Mac application version


### Simple Bookkeeping

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-bookkeeping-no-ads/id6449327446)

Manage your finances with a customizable bookkeeping app. It prioritizes user privacy with local data storage and offers robust features for tracking income and expenses. Unlock unlimited books, categories, and advanced export options with a VIP subscription.

**Highlights:** Customizable books, categories, icons, and colors, Local data storage for enhanced privacy, Encrypted books for security, Unlimited books and categories with VIP, CSV import and export capabilities, Bill password lock with strong encryption (VIP)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 订阅1月 | $0.99 | per month |
| 订阅1年 | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Bookkeeping free?

Bookkeeping costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Simple Bookkeeping free?

Simple Bookkeeping is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Bookkeeping or Simple Bookkeeping?

Simple Bookkeeping is rated higher. Bookkeeping averages 3.7 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Simple Bookkeeping averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do Bookkeeping or Simple Bookkeeping have ads?

Neither Bookkeeping nor Simple Bookkeeping shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Bookkeeping or Simple Bookkeeping?

Bookkeeping ships an update every 3 months, and Simple Bookkeeping every 6 days. Most recently, Bookkeeping was updated on November 1, 2026 and Simple Bookkeeping on October 30, 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.*