Comparison

Pocket Register vs Horizon Checkbook

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

Head to head
About

Pocket Register

This finance app provides a simple, offline checkbook ledger to track deposits and withdrawals. It allows for quick-fill templates, memo notes, and date selection for easy organization. View your running balance at a glance with home screen widget support.

Highlights
  • Log deposits and withdrawals
  • View running balance
  • Quick-fill transaction templates
  • Memo notes and date selection
  • Offline functionality
  • Home screen widget
Features
Read full description

Pocket Register is your no-frills check register, right in your pocket. Whether you're managing your main account, a cash stash, or a side budget, Pocket Register makes it easy to: - Log deposits, withdrawals, and transfers - View your current running balance - Set up recurring transactions — weekly, monthly, or twice a month (perfect for paydays) - Plan ahead: see upcoming bills, debts, and what's safe to spend before your next paycheck - Scan receipts with the built-in document scanner - Set monthly budgets per category, with progress bars - Get smart category suggestions as you type - Add quick-fill templates for repeat transactions - Reconcile against your bank statement - Stay organized with memo notes, splits, and date selection - Works fully offline by default. iCloud Sync is available as an optional Pro feature. Plan Ahead: The optional Plan tab shows your projected balance, upcoming bills and debts, and what's safe to spend before payday — built from your own recurring transactions. It stays out of the way until you need it, so a simple register stays simple. Beautiful Design: Cleanly designed for iPhone and iPad, with full light and dark mode support. Privacy First: No data collection, no tracking, no bank linking. Your transactions stay on your device by default. iCloud Sync is opt-in and uses your private iCloud account, so only you can see your data. Lightweight: Simple by design, built for speed and clarity. No bank linking, no subscriptions. Widget Support: View your balance and recent transactions at a glance. Home Screen widgets in three sizes, plus Lock Screen widgets so your balance is always one tap away. Whether you're tracking a vacation budget, side hustle income, or just keeping tabs on daily spending, Pocket Register gives you full control, offline and clutter-free. Pro (one-time purchase, no subscription): - Removes all ads - Unlimited accounts and transactions (free includes 2 accounts and 300 transactions) - iCloud Sync across all your devices - Custom color themes - Lock Screen widgets - Family Sharing for up to 5 family members - Unlimited splits and quick-fill templates - Advanced CSV export with profiles, presets, splits, and Excel/YNAB-compatible formats

About

Horizon Checkbook

Features
Read full description

Track your spending, schedule upcoming transactions, and use **Look Ahead** to see your future balances before the money leaves your account. Know what’s really available to spend and avoid the surprise of an upcoming bill pushing your balance too low. SEE WHAT’S AHEAD Look Ahead projects your balance into the future using the transactions you’ve already scheduled. See the impact of upcoming bills, subscriptions, purchases, paychecks, and deposits before they happen. AVOID OVERDRAFTS Spot potential shortfalls before they become overdrafts. Horizon gives you time to adjust your spending, move money, or plan around upcoming expenses. KNOW YOUR TRUE BALANCE Track transactions as they happen and mark payments as cleared when they appear at your bank. See the difference between what your bank reports and what you actually have available after accounting for transactions still in progress. Horizon combines the clarity of a traditional checkbook register with something a checkbook can’t give you: a clear view of what comes next. Know what you have. See what’s ahead. Stay ahead of overdrafts.

Screenshots

Pocket Register4 screens
Horizon Checkbook3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Pocket Register at 18.5 against Horizon Checkbook's 26.2. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Pocket Register sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Horizon Checkbook sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Pocket Register versus Horizon Checkbook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPocket RegisterHorizon Checkbook
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (26 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings26 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 daysEvery 6 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.5 — better26.2
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB69 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChad PickardSean Howell

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Pocket Register

One-time4
  • Small Thanks Tip$0.99
  • Medium Thanks Tip$2.99
  • Big Thanks Tip$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Pocket Register Pro$9.99
1 purchases

Horizon Checkbook

One-time1
  • Full Version$1.99

Questions

Is Pocket Register free?
Pocket Register is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Horizon Checkbook free?
Horizon Checkbook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Pocket Register or Horizon Checkbook have ads?
Neither Pocket Register nor Horizon Checkbook shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pocket Register or Horizon Checkbook?
Pocket Register ships an update every 6 days, and Horizon Checkbook every 6 days. Most recently, Pocket Register was updated on October 25, 2026 and Horizon Checkbook on October 28, 2026.

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