Comparison

iSpend vs Spense

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

iSpend

Read full description

iSpend-CBT is a simple expense tracker. Before spending money, open the app and describe the purchase as either necessary or discretionary. Your expense will be recorded. At a glance, you can see your spending habits. You can set budgets and export your spending history as a spreadsheet.

About

Spense

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)
Read full description

Stop Impulse Buying. Build Wealth. Master Your Wallet. Want to buy something? Wait first, decide later! Spense helps you control impulsive purchases by distinguishing between what you truly need and a fleeting desire. Save your money and avoid regret using the scientifically proven "cooling-off period" method. WHAT’S NEW IN VERSION 1.2 Interactive Charts: Stats just got livelier! Tap on pie charts to highlight categories and see spending details instantly. Smart Notifications: Stay focused with weekly summaries and motivation notifications that keep you on track. HOW IT WORKS? Add What You Want: Enter the item name, price, and category. Add it to your waiting list instead of buying it immediately. Set Your Rules: Choose a standard waiting period (24h, 3d, 7d) or set your own. Add a note: "Why do I want this?" Wait & Reflect: Let your emotions settle. During the waiting period, Spense offers alternative scenarios and suggestions like "What else could I do with this money?" See the True Cost: Use the Salary-Based Calculator to see the item's true cost on your life energy. "Is this gadget worth 3 days of work?" Decide Consciously: When the time is up, make your decision: Buy or Save. Track your success and watch your savings grow! FREE FEATURES 3 Active Waiting Lists: Start managing your desires immediately. Interactive Charts: Visually analyze your spending and interact with graphs. Flexible Waiting Periods: Use presets or customize your waiting time (from 1 hour to 1 year). Salary Calculator: Instantly convert price into work hours. Smart Reminders: Get notified when it's time to decide. Basic Stats: Track your win rate, total savings, and spending. Theme Support: Light, Dark, and System modes. Accessibility: Full VoiceOver and Dynamic Type support. Privacy First: No account needed, data stays on your device. Widgets: Access and manage your list from your home screen. PRO FEATURES (WEALTH MINDSET) Unlock the full potential of mindful spending: Unlimited Waiting Lists: Add as many items as you need. Advanced Assistant: AI-powered questions help you separate wants from needs and calculate a "Buy Score" (0-100). Double Reminders: Set a second custom reminder before the time expires so you never miss a decision. Deep Analytics: Filter stats by date range (Last 7 Days, Month, Year), category, and status. Visual Insights: Monthly trends, category performance charts, and success analysis. iCloud Sync: Seamlessly and securely sync your data across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Priority System: Pin important items to your widget. PRIVACY AND SECURITY Your financial data belongs only to you. Data stays on your device (Local storage). Optional encrypted iCloud synchronization. Data is never shared with third parties. Salary info is used only for calculations and is never transmitted. SCIENTIFIC BASIS Spense is built on principles of behavioral economics and consumer psychology: Cooling-off Period: Reduces emotional decision-making. Opportunity Cost: Visualizes what you give up to buy an item. Mental Accounting: Helps categorize and rationalize spending. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: • Monthly Plan: $4.99/month • Annual Plan: $39.99/year (7-day free trial) • Lifetime Plan: $99.99 (One-time payment) Prices may vary by location. Your subscription will automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage your subscriptions in Account Settings after purchase. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cemalas/Spense-Privacy/refs/heads/main/Privacy%20Policy

Screenshots

iSpend4 screens
Spense4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: iSpend at none against Spense's 3. iSpend also leads on device support (3 vs 1). Spense's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs fortnightly). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

iSpend ships an update fortnightly, Spense every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
iSpend versus Spense: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameteriSpendSpense
PriceFreeFree
Rating—3.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSpencer MarksCemal As

In-app purchases

None

iSpend

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Spense

Subscriptions2
  • Spense Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Spense Pro Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Spense Life Time$99.99

Questions

Is iSpend free?
iSpend is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Spense free?
Spense is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do iSpend or Spense have ads?
Neither iSpend nor Spense shows ads.
Which is updated more often, iSpend or Spense?
iSpend ships an update fortnightly, and Spense every 5 days. Most recently, iSpend was updated on October 3, 2026 and Spense on October 12, 2026.

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