Comparison

Big Numbers vs Save Instead

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

Head to head
About

Big Numbers

This app offers a minimalist approach to tracking your finances. It automatically syncs with over 19,000 banks to display your daily, weekly, and monthly spending in a clear, visual format. Enjoy instant notifications and home-screen widgets for quick budget checks.

Highlights
  • Automatic bank sync
  • Instant spending overview
  • Home screen widgets
  • Real-time notifications
  • Minimalist interface
  • Face ID/Touch ID protection
Read full description

Big Numbers is the minimalist budget & expense tracker that shows your daily, weekly, and monthly spending in one tap. Connect any of 19,000+ banks, see every transaction instantly, and stay on budget with elegant home-screen widgets. FASTEST EXPENSE TRACKING • See daily, weekly, and monthly spending at a glance • No manual entry—automatic bank sync via Teller & Plaid • Track unlimited accounts (checking, credit cards, savings) • Real-time transaction updates with instant notifications • Smart spending calculations tailored to your account type BEAUTIFUL iOS 26 DESIGN • Liquid glass interface that feels native to iOS • Spending trend badges show percentage changes • Color-coded accounts for quick visual recognition • Clean, distraction-free interface—no ads or charts • Dark mode support with elegant gradients PRIVACY & SECURITY FIRST • Face ID / Touch ID protection for sensitive data • Bank tokens stored in Keychain (industry standard) • On-device data processing—your info stays private • Support for 19,000+ financial institutions • Secure OAuth connections (no stored passwords) HOME SCREEN WIDGETS • Lock screen widgets for instant spending checks • Multiple widget sizes and configurations • See your budget without opening the app • Auto-refreshing data throughout the day • Configurable periods (daily, weekly, monthly) SMART MONEY MANAGEMENT • Hide specific transactions from calculations • Custom account colors for organization • Flexible time periods (calendar vs. rolling weeks/months) • Invert transaction logic for different account types • Filter by account to see individual spending WORKS WITH YOUR BANKS Connects seamlessly with major banks including Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citi, Capital One, Discover, American Express, and 19,000+ more through secure Teller and Plaid integrations. WHY CHOOSE BIG NUMBERS? Unlike complex budgeting apps with overwhelming features, Big Numbers focuses on what matters: how much you're spending. No categories to manage, no budgets to set up, no learning curve. Just connect your bank and instantly see your spending in beautiful, easy-to-read numbers. PERFECT FOR: • Busy professionals who want quick financial insights • Anyone tired of complicated budgeting apps • People who prefer visual clarity over detailed reports • iPhone users who love beautiful, native design • Privacy-conscious individuals seeking secure banking apps Download Big Numbers today and experience the fastest, most beautiful way to track your money. Start your free trial now!

About

Save Instead

This app helps you track money saved by skipping everyday expenses. Record your choices and see your progress toward goals or general savings. It offers a cool-down period before purchases and analyzes your saving patterns.

Highlights
  • Record skipped expenses
  • Set optional savings goals
  • 24-hour purchase cool-down
  • Track weekly and lifetime progress
  • Categorize saved amounts
  • Private, on-device storage
Features
Read full description

Save what you almost spent. Save Instead helps you turn everyday spending decisions into visible progress. When you skip a coffee, takeout order, impulse purchase, ride-share, or another expense, record the amount and watch your small wins add up. SMALL CHOICES ADD UP Use convenient shortcuts for common purchases or add a custom title and amount. Save Instead keeps a running record of what you chose not to spend, including weekly and lifetime progress. PAUSE BEFORE YOU SPEND Thinking about buying something you may not need? Create a 24-hour cooling-off period. When you return, decide whether you still want it. If you skip it, record the amount as saved. SAVE WITH OR WITHOUT A GOAL Choose something meaningful to work toward—such as an emergency fund, vacation, special purchase, charitable donation, or general savings. Setting a goal is optional. UNDERSTAND YOUR PATTERNS See saved amounts organized by category, review recent entries, follow your streak, and celebrate milestones as your choices add up. PRIVATE AND ON DEVICE Save Instead does not require an account. Your entries and preferences are stored locally on your device. IMPORTANT Save Instead records hypothetical savings only. It does not connect to bank accounts, transfer money, hold funds, or verify account balances. Save Instead is a personal habit-building and awareness tool, not a bank, financial institution, or financial adviser.

Screenshots

Big Numbers4 screens
Save Instead4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Save Instead at 5.0 against Big Numbers's 4.1. Save Instead also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (100% vs 68%). Big Numbers's advantage is ratings volume (36 vs 1). On price, ads and device support 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. Big Numbers sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Save Instead asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Save Instead holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Big Numbers has 36 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Big Numbers's written reviews are positive against 100% of Save Instead's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Big Numbers ships an update every 3 weeks, Save Instead weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Big Numbers versus Save Instead: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBig NumbersSave Instead
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (36 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews68.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings36 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBig Numbers, Inc.Talk to You Later, LLC

Customer experience

Big Numbers

All ratings36 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral5.6%
Negative19.4%
Written reviews44 reviews
Positive68.2%
Neutral13.6%
Negative18.2%

Save Instead

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Big Numbers

Reported bugs

1 issue
  • Login screen freezes

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add support for Provident Credit Union and KeyPoint Credit Union
  • Option to toggle between 1 week and 2 week views
  • Display current account balance
  • Support for Apple Card and multiple cards

Save Instead

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Big Numbers

Subscriptions2
  • 3 Card Subscription | Weekly7 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • 1 Card for 1 Year | Beta Promo$0.997 Days
None

Save Instead

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Big Numbers free?
Big Numbers is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Save Instead free?
Save Instead is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Big Numbers or Save Instead?
Save Instead is rated higher. Big Numbers averages 4.1 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while Save Instead averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Big Numbers or Save Instead have ads?
Neither Big Numbers nor Save Instead shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Big Numbers or Save Instead?
Big Numbers ships an update every 3 weeks, and Save Instead weekly. Most recently, Big Numbers was updated on October 13, 2026 and Save Instead on October 7, 2026.

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