Comparison

Spendwise vs Kakeibo

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

Head to head
About

Spendwise

Features
Read full description

Privacy Assurance: Your transaction data is securely stored on your device and personal iCloud, with a firm commitment to never sharing your information with us. Enjoy complete privacy and control over your sensitive banking details.

About

Kakeibo

This app helps you cultivate mindful spending habits through a Japanese budgeting philosophy. It encourages intentional purchasing by requiring manual expense logging and reflection, promoting savings goals and conscious financial decisions.

Highlights
  • Mindful spending philosophy
  • Manual expense logging
  • Four spending categories
  • Offline functionality
  • Minimalist Japanese aesthetic
  • Monthly reflection prompts
Features
Read full description

Save first. Live on the rest. Kakeibo is the Japanese art of mindful spending, created in 1904 by journalist Hani Motoko. Unlike modern budget apps that sync your bank and automate everything, Kakeibo asks you to slow down, write it down, and reflect. WHY KAKEIBO WORKS The secret is friction. When you manually record each expense, you build awareness. When you ask yourself "Do I truly need this?" before every purchase, impulse spending drops. The Kakeibo method is designed to help you spend more intentionally and build a steadier saving habit. THE FOUR PILLARS Every expense falls into one of four categories: - Needs (necessities you cannot avoid) - Wants (things you enjoy but can live without) - Culture (education, books, experiences) - Unexpected (repairs, medical, surprises) This simplicity is intentional. No 47 sub-categories. No decision fatigue. Just four honest buckets that reveal where your money really goes. HOW IT WORKS 1. Set your monthly income 2. Decide your savings goal FIRST 3. Budget what remains across the four pillars 4. Record every expense mindfully 5. Reflect at month's end: What went well? What can improve? WHAT MAKES THIS APP DIFFERENT - No bank linking, no cloud servers — your data stays on YOUR device - Designed for the Kakeibo philosophy, not generic expense tracking - Monthly reflection prompts based on the original Japanese method - Beautiful, minimal interface inspired by Japanese aesthetics - Works completely offline - Widget support to keep your budget visible KAKEIBO PRO Unlock personal coaching insights, spending trends, recurring-expense detection, the large Home Screen widget, and CSV import with Kakeibo Pro. - Monthly and yearly plans. Eligible new subscribers can start with a free trial. Prices are shown in the app and on the App Store. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your account settings on the App Store after purchase. Whether you follow Dave Ramsey's envelope method, practice zero-based budgeting, or simply want to spend more intentionally — Kakeibo gives you the mindful framework to save first and live better. 「千里の道も一歩から」 A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Privacy Policy: https://batuhangoktepe.github.io/kakeibo/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://batuhangoktepe.github.io/kakeibo/terms.html

Screenshots

Spendwise4 screens
Kakeibo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Kakeibo at Free against Spendwise's $0.99. Kakeibo also leads on update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). Spendwise's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ads, device support 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

Kakeibo is free to download; Spendwise costs $0.99 up front. Kakeibo sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Spendwise asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spendwise ships an update fortnightly, Kakeibo weekly. Both last shipped on November 9, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Spendwise versus Kakeibo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpendwiseKakeibo
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWizEyes TechHALIL GOKTEPE

In-app purchases

None

Spendwise

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Kakeibo

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Premium3 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Spendwise free?
Spendwise costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Kakeibo free?
Kakeibo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Spendwise or Kakeibo have ads?
Neither Spendwise nor Kakeibo shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Spendwise or Kakeibo?
Spendwise ships an update fortnightly, and Kakeibo weekly. Most recently, Spendwise was updated on November 9, 2026 and Kakeibo on November 9, 2026.

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