Comparison

ZenBudget vs MeanIt

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

Head to head
About

ZenBudget

Features
Read full description

ZenBudget is a mindful budgeting app that asks you to record every expense yourself. Skip the bank links and receipt scanners—by entering each purchase manually, you relive the moment of spending and bring unconscious out-flows into clear view. Designed for quiet, Zen-like consistency, the app feels frictionless to open and log. Siri and Shortcuts support make quick capture even easier. All your data stays in sync across iPhone, iPad and Mac through iCloud.

About

MeanIt

Features
Read full description

Imagine knowing why you bought everything you own. Not because you track every dollar. Not because you follow a budget. But because every purchase you made was a decision you can stand behind. That's what clarity before the swipe feels like. -- THE TRANSFORMATION Six months ago: 14 purchases you couldn't remember making. Today: You can tell the story behind every single one. That's the difference between "I bought it" and "I meant it." MeanIt creates one moment of pause before you buy. Four honest questions — adapted from Kakebo, Japan's 120-year-old practice of intentional money management. The questions reveal whether this purchase aligns with who you want to be. Then you decide. Go, Sleep On It, or Not Now. The choice is always yours. --- SLEEP ON IT Not sure? Choose "Sleep On It" and revisit in 48 hours. See your original answers with fresh eyes. Most people find that time reveals what impulse obscures. --- YOUR WEEK IN CLARITY Each Sunday, see your patterns — not judgments: • How many moments of clarity you created • Where you paused most • Decisions you owned The insight isn't about money saved. It's about decisions owned. --- YOUR DATA STAYS WITH YOU • No account required • No bank connections — ever • All data stored on your device • Optional iCloud sync between your devices • No ads. No selling your data. The app don't need to know what you buy. It just helps you decide if you mean it. --- SUBSCRIPTION REQUIRED MeanIt offers a 7-day free trial. After the trial, a subscription is required to continue using the app. Your subscription includes: • Unlimited check-ins — Four honest questions adapted to your purchase category • Three verdicts: Go (I mean it), Sleep On It (48 hours), Not Now (this isn't it) • Paused items with countdown and original answers • History of decisions you can stand behind • Weekly patterns and observations • Lock Screen and Home Screen widgets for quick clarity • Full accessibility support (VoiceOver, Dynamic Type) Pricing (after 7-day free trial): • $9.99/year (best value) • $2.99/month Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Cancel anytime in Settings > Apple ID > Subscriptions. Your data stays with you. Privacy Policy: https://senseananti.com/meanit/privacy Terms of Use: https://senseananti.com/meanit/terms Spend like you mean it.

Screenshots

ZenBudget2 screens
MeanIt4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ZenBudget at none against MeanIt's 2. ZenBudget also leads on device support (3 vs 1). MeanIt's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence and ads 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. MeanIt sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. ZenBudget asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ZenBudget ships an update fortnightly, MeanIt every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 3 level
ZenBudget versus MeanIt: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZenBudgetMeanIt
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS26.017.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKouki SaitoDaniel Lamptey

In-app purchases

None

ZenBudget

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

MeanIt

Subscriptions2
  • MeanIt7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • MeanIt Annual7 Days trial$9.991 Year

Questions

Is ZenBudget free?
ZenBudget is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MeanIt free?
MeanIt is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do ZenBudget or MeanIt have ads?
Neither ZenBudget nor MeanIt shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ZenBudget or MeanIt?
ZenBudget ships an update fortnightly, and MeanIt every 2 weeks. Most recently, ZenBudget was updated on October 30, 2026 and MeanIt on October 31, 2026.

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