# Heron vs Simple Checkbook.

The clearest difference is price: Heron at Free against Simple Checkbook.'s $3.99. Heron also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.7) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 18.0). Simple Checkbook.'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and chart position (#134 vs unranked). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Heron is free to download; Simple Checkbook. costs $3.99 up front. Heron sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Simple Checkbook. asks for nothing beyond the download.

Heron holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 3 respectively.

Heron ships an update every 3 weeks, Simple Checkbook. every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Heron | Simple Checkbook. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $3.99 |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heron-budget-planner/id6739427896/reviews)** | [3.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-checkbook/id6742727558/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **3** |
| Positive reviews | — | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#134** |
| Size | 69 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Feathered Tech Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1785216670) | [Matthew Hiles](https://appshunter.io/developer/1006499180) |

## What reviewers say

### Heron

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/heron-budget-planner/id6739427896)

This app helps you manage your money by forecasting your financial future, tracking expenses, and offering secure connections to financial institutions. It provides a simple yet powerful interface to help you make informed financial decisions with confidence.

**Highlights:** Financial forecasting, Expense tracking, Bank account connectivity, Manual transaction entry, Transaction file import, Ad-free experience

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Heron Membership | $3.99 | per month |
| Annual Heron Membership | $39.00 | per year |


### Simple Checkbook.

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-checkbook/id6742727558)

**Currently charting:** #134 Top Paid · Finance (US App Store)

Manage your personal finances with this straightforward checkbook application. Track multiple accounts, log detailed transactions, and visualize your spending habits with insightful charts. Sync your data seamlessly across devices via iCloud.

**Highlights:** Multiple account management, Detailed transaction logging, Transaction clearing status, Balance tracking, Transaction filtering, Expense/income charts, iCloud sync

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Heron free?

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

### Is Simple Checkbook. free?

Simple Checkbook. costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Heron or Simple Checkbook.?

Heron is rated higher. Heron averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Simple Checkbook. averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do Heron or Simple Checkbook. have ads?

Neither Heron nor Simple Checkbook. shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Heron or Simple Checkbook.?

Heron ships an update every 3 weeks, and Simple Checkbook. every 2 weeks. Most recently, Heron was updated on September 7, 2026 and Simple Checkbook. on September 24, 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.*