# Checkbook vs Budget Stack

The clearest difference is device support: Budget Stack at 4 against Checkbook's 2. Checkbook's advantage is iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.6). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Checkbook sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year and Budget Stack sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Checkbook ships an update every 4 days, Budget Stack every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Checkbook | Budget Stack |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/checkbook-budget-and-expenses/id442980285/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **6K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 49.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 5 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 26 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 18.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mobile Innovations LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/314316469) | [Andrew Williams](https://appshunter.io/developer/6775636242) |

## What reviewers say

### Checkbook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/checkbook-budget-and-expenses/id442980285)

Manage your finances across multiple accounts with this intuitive app. Track checking, savings, cash, and credit card balances, schedule recurring transactions, and view detailed reports. Avoid overdraft fees and bank errors with easy-to-use tools.

**Highlights:** Multiple account management, Transaction scheduling, Receipt attachment, Customizable reports, Recurring transactions, Passcode protection

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Plus | $9.99 | per year |
| Dropbox Support | $1.99 | one-time |
| Budgets | $1.99 | one-time |
| Multiple Accounts | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 📊 Helpful reports and charts
- 💰 Good value for money
- 🗓️ Recurring transactions feature
- 🔍 Categorization of expenses

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Math errors and inaccurate balances
- ⏱️ Delayed or inconsistent recurring transactions
- 🔒 Lack of security features (e.g., passcode)
- 💾 Backup and sync issues
- 🔍 Difficulty editing or deleting payees/categories

**Reported bugs**

- Recurring transactions not populating correctly
- Backup to Dropbox not working
- Transactions disappearing or data loss
- Search function issues
- Inability to update Dropbox login credentials

**Requested features**

- Ability to reconcile accounts
- Option to view upcoming/future transactions
- Landscape mode support on iPad
- Sync across multiple devices
- More customization options


### Budget Stack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/budget-stack/id6775636240)

**Features:** Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Checkbook free?

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

### Is Budget Stack free?

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

### Do Checkbook or Budget Stack have ads?

Neither Checkbook nor Budget Stack shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Checkbook or Budget Stack?

Checkbook ships an update every 4 days, and Budget Stack every 5 days. Most recently, Checkbook was updated on October 20, 2026 and Budget Stack on October 19, 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.*