# Sem vs Spense

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sem at 100% against Spense's 0%. Sem also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). Spense's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 months). On price, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Spense sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Sem asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sem holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Sem's written reviews are positive against 0% of Spense's.

Sem ships an update every 4 months, Spense every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sem | Spense |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sem-budgeting/id6455884315/reviews)** | [3.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spense-mindful-spending/id6755085891/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 53 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mark Mendoza](https://appshunter.io/developer/1700185707) | [Cemal As](https://appshunter.io/developer/1848685624) |

## What reviewers say

### Sem

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sem-budgeting/id6455884315)

Easily manage your expenses, categorize spending, and track savings with this intuitive budgeting tool. Receive timely reminders for upcoming bills and generate detailed monthly financial statements to understand your spending habits.

**Highlights:** Add and manage expenses, Categorize spending, Monthly budget overviews, Push notifications for due dates, Generate monthly statements, Light and Dark mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Spense

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spense-mindful-spending/id6755085891)

This app helps you curb impulse buying by implementing a 'cooling-off period' for potential purchases. It allows you to add items to a waiting list, reflect on your needs, and make conscious decisions to save money and build wealth.

**Highlights:** Impulse purchase delay, Customizable waiting periods, Salary-based cost calculator, Interactive spending charts, Smart spending notifications, Unlimited waiting lists (Pro), AI-powered purchase assistant (Pro)

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Spense Pro Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| Spense Pro Yearly | $39.99 | per year |
| Spense Life Time | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sem free?

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

### Is Spense free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Sem or Spense?

Sem is rated higher. Sem averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Spense averages 3.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Sem or Spense have ads?

Neither Sem nor Spense shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sem or Spense?

Sem ships an update every 4 months, and Spense every 5 days. Most recently, Sem was updated on November 3, 2026 and Spense 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.*