# IRS vs Checkbook

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: IRS at none against Checkbook's 5. IRS also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.6 vs 4.3). Checkbook's advantage is review sentiment (56% vs 26%) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ratings volume, chart position and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Checkbook sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. IRS asks for nothing beyond the download.

IRS holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10K and 14K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 26% of IRS's written reviews are positive against 56% of Checkbook's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

IRS ships an update every 3 months, Checkbook every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | IRS | Checkbook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/irs/id414113282/reviews)** | [4.3 (14K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/checkbook-account-tracker/id484000695/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 10K | **14K** |
| Positive reviews | 26.1% of reviews | **55.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#60** | #129 |
| Size | 25 MB | 122 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Internal Revenue Service](https://appshunter.io/developer/414113285) | [Beesoft Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/1420966143) |

## What reviewers say

### IRS

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/irs/id414113282)

**Currently charting:** #60 Top Free · Finance (US App Store)

Access official IRS services on your mobile device. Check refund status, make payments, find tax preparation help, and receive tax tips and news. Stay connected with the IRS anytime, anywhere.

**Highlights:** Check refund status, Make tax payments, Find free tax preparation assistance, Sign up for tax tips, Follow IRS news

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 💰 Helps with tax payments
- 🔍 Provides refund status updates
- ⏱️ Convenient for checking tax info

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent errors and glitches
- 📱 Limited functionality compared to website
- 🔒 Security/authentication issues
- 🕰️ Slow/delayed updates

**Reported bugs**

- Login/authentication problems
- Incorrect refund information displayed
- Inability to check status after multiple attempts
- Lack of compatibility with older devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to view tax transcripts
- Improved payment scheduling options
- Notifications for refund status changes
- Expanded historical data access


### Checkbook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/checkbook-account-tracker/id484000695)

**Currently charting:** #129 Top Grossing · Finance (US App Store)

Manage your daily finances with this app, tracking credit card charges, cash expenditures, and more. It offers multiple accounts, recurring transactions, fund transfers, and detailed reports with graphs. Easily search and export your financial data.

**Highlights:** Multiple account tracking, Recurring transaction saving, Fund transfers between accounts, Export data in CSV, QIF, HTML, Calendar view of transactions, Reports and charts for expenses/income, Passcode protection

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium - 1 Month | $0.99 | per month |
| Premium - 1 Year | $7.99 | per year |
| Premium - 1 Year | $8.99 | per year |
| Premium - 1 Year | $9.99 | per year |
| Upgrade to Checkbook Pro | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Easy to use
- 📊 Helpful charts and reports
- 🔄 Seamless sync across devices
- 🧮 Convenient built-in calculator
- 🗂️ Ability to manage multiple accounts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Lacking advanced search/filtering
- 🔁 Recurring transactions issues
- 🔒 Concerns about data security
- 💰 Subscription model too expensive
- 📢 Intrusive ads in free version

**Reported bugs**

- Account balances not updating correctly
- Transactions disappearing or duplicating
- Sync issues between devices
- App crashes or freezes after updates

**Requested features**

- Custom categories and icons
- Budgeting and forecasting tools
- Ability to attach receipts/photos
- Improved account organization options
- Automatic balance reconciliation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is IRS free?

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

### Is Checkbook free?

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

### Which has better reviews, IRS or Checkbook?

IRS is rated higher. IRS averages 4.6 out of 5 from 10K ratings, while Checkbook averages 4.3 from 14K ratings.

### Do IRS or Checkbook have ads?

Checkbook shows ads; IRS does not.

### Which is updated more often, IRS or Checkbook?

IRS ships an update every 3 months, and Checkbook every 6 weeks. Most recently, IRS was updated on October 29, 2026 and Checkbook on October 28, 2026.

### Which is more popular, IRS or Checkbook?

IRS currently peaks at #60 in the App Store charts, and Checkbook at #129. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*