# The Checkbook vs SpendCircle

The clearest difference is price: SpendCircle at Free against The Checkbook's $4.99. SpendCircle also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 76%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). The Checkbook's advantage is ratings volume (970 vs 2) and chart position (#55 vs unranked). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

SpendCircle is free to download; The Checkbook costs $4.99 up front. The Checkbook sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and SpendCircle sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

SpendCircle holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Checkbook has 970 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of The Checkbook's written reviews are positive against 100% of SpendCircle's.

The Checkbook ships an update fortnightly, SpendCircle every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Checkbook | SpendCircle |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.8 (970 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-checkbook/id6468368811/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spendcircle/id6726547347/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **970** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 76.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#55** | — |
| Size | 61 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Four One Four 213, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1709830108) | [Claredat LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1769033280) |

## What reviewers say

### The Checkbook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-checkbook/id6468368811)

**Currently charting:** #55 Top Paid · Finance (US App Store)

Manage your finances on the go with this transaction tracker. Easily record income and expenses, schedule upcoming bills, and reconcile with your bank statements for accurate balance tracking. Offers multiple accounts, customizable themes, and secure access.

**Highlights:** Real-time transaction tracking, Upcoming bill and deposit scheduling, Bank account reconciliation, Multiple account management, Customizable color themes, Transaction search and filtering, Recurring transaction setup

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Shared Storage - Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Shared Storage - Annual | $19.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Easy to use
- 🔍 Helps track finances
- 📱 Convenient mobile app
- 🧮 Simple check register
- 🔒 Secure with Face ID

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔢 Limited account name length
- 🔍 Difficult to view past transactions
- 🔢 No custom currency options
- 🐛 Data loss issues
- 🚫 No iPad-optimized layout

**Reported bugs**

- Data loss and sync issues
- Incorrect transaction display
- Recurring transactions not working as expected

**Requested features**

- 📊 Spending reports and analytics
- 🔁 More recurring transaction options
- 🖨️ Check printing capability
- 🔀 Ability to split transactions
- 🔄 Easier transaction editing/deletion


### SpendCircle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spendcircle/id6726547347)

This app helps families track household expenses together, providing a shared view of spending to improve financial habits. Users can define custom categories, add notes, and gain insights into where money is going. The goal is to reduce wasteful spending and prioritize important purchases.

**Highlights:** Shared family spending view, Expense tracking in real-time, Customizable spending categories, Detailed expense notes, Accountability for family members, Spending habit building

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1-Month Free \| Annual Plan | $1.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Checkbook free?

The Checkbook costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is SpendCircle free?

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

### Which has better reviews, The Checkbook or SpendCircle?

SpendCircle is rated higher. The Checkbook averages 4.8 out of 5 from 970 ratings, while SpendCircle averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do The Checkbook or SpendCircle have ads?

Neither The Checkbook nor SpendCircle shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Checkbook or SpendCircle?

The Checkbook ships an update fortnightly, and SpendCircle every 2 weeks. Most recently, The Checkbook was updated on October 17, 2026 and SpendCircle on October 14, 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.*