Comparison

Spense vs SpendWise

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

Head to head
About

Spense

This app helps you curb impulse buying by implementing a 'cooling-off period' for potential purchases. It allows you to add items to a waiting list, reflect on your needs, and make conscious decisions to save money and build wealth.

Highlights
  • Impulse purchase delay
  • Customizable waiting periods
  • Salary-based cost calculator
  • Interactive spending charts
  • Smart spending notifications
  • Unlimited waiting lists (Pro)
  • AI-powered purchase assistant (Pro)
Read full description

Stop Impulse Buying. Build Wealth. Master Your Wallet. Want to buy something? Wait first, decide later! Spense helps you control impulsive purchases by distinguishing between what you truly need and a fleeting desire. Save your money and avoid regret using the scientifically proven "cooling-off period" method. WHAT’S NEW IN VERSION 1.2 Interactive Charts: Stats just got livelier! Tap on pie charts to highlight categories and see spending details instantly. Smart Notifications: Stay focused with weekly summaries and motivation notifications that keep you on track. HOW IT WORKS? Add What You Want: Enter the item name, price, and category. Add it to your waiting list instead of buying it immediately. Set Your Rules: Choose a standard waiting period (24h, 3d, 7d) or set your own. Add a note: "Why do I want this?" Wait & Reflect: Let your emotions settle. During the waiting period, Spense offers alternative scenarios and suggestions like "What else could I do with this money?" See the True Cost: Use the Salary-Based Calculator to see the item's true cost on your life energy. "Is this gadget worth 3 days of work?" Decide Consciously: When the time is up, make your decision: Buy or Save. Track your success and watch your savings grow! FREE FEATURES 3 Active Waiting Lists: Start managing your desires immediately. Interactive Charts: Visually analyze your spending and interact with graphs. Flexible Waiting Periods: Use presets or customize your waiting time (from 1 hour to 1 year). Salary Calculator: Instantly convert price into work hours. Smart Reminders: Get notified when it's time to decide. Basic Stats: Track your win rate, total savings, and spending. Theme Support: Light, Dark, and System modes. Accessibility: Full VoiceOver and Dynamic Type support. Privacy First: No account needed, data stays on your device. Widgets: Access and manage your list from your home screen. PRO FEATURES (WEALTH MINDSET) Unlock the full potential of mindful spending: Unlimited Waiting Lists: Add as many items as you need. Advanced Assistant: AI-powered questions help you separate wants from needs and calculate a "Buy Score" (0-100). Double Reminders: Set a second custom reminder before the time expires so you never miss a decision. Deep Analytics: Filter stats by date range (Last 7 Days, Month, Year), category, and status. Visual Insights: Monthly trends, category performance charts, and success analysis. iCloud Sync: Seamlessly and securely sync your data across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Priority System: Pin important items to your widget. PRIVACY AND SECURITY Your financial data belongs only to you. Data stays on your device (Local storage). Optional encrypted iCloud synchronization. Data is never shared with third parties. Salary info is used only for calculations and is never transmitted. SCIENTIFIC BASIS Spense is built on principles of behavioral economics and consumer psychology: Cooling-off Period: Reduces emotional decision-making. Opportunity Cost: Visualizes what you give up to buy an item. Mental Accounting: Helps categorize and rationalize spending. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: • Monthly Plan: $4.99/month • Annual Plan: $39.99/year (7-day free trial) • Lifetime Plan: $99.99 (One-time payment) Prices may vary by location. Your subscription will automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage your subscriptions in Account Settings after purchase. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/cemalas/Spense-Privacy/refs/heads/main/Privacy%20Policy

About

SpendWise

Features
Read full description

Take control of your finances with SpendWise, the smart expense tracker designed to help you understand where your money goes and make better financial decisions. Easy Expense Tracking * Add transactions in seconds with our intuitive interface * Categorize expenses automatically * Track both income and expenses * Support for multiple accounts (cash, bank, credit cards) Smart Budgeting * Set monthly budgets by category * Visual progress indicators * Get alerts when approaching budget limits * Track spending patterns over time Recurring Transactions * Set up bills and subscriptions * Never miss a payment with upcoming bill reminders * Support for weekly, monthly, and yearly frequencies * Mark bills as paid with one tap Powerful Analytics * Beautiful charts and visualizations * Monthly spending breakdowns by category * Income vs expense comparisons * Identify your top spending categories AI-Powered Insights (PRO) * Smart spending analysis and recommendations * Personalized financial forecasting * Intelligent categorization suggestions * Natural language transaction entry Privacy First * All data stored locally on your device * No account required * No data collection or tracking * Your financial data stays yours Why SpendWise? Whether you're saving for a goal, paying off debt, or just want to understand your spending habits, SpendWise gives you the tools you need. Our clean, modern interface makes tracking expenses a breeze, while powerful features help you stay on top of your finances. Download SpendWise today and start your journey to financial wellness! Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Spense4 screens
SpendWise4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Spense at none against SpendWise's shown. SpendWise's advantage is device support (3 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence 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. Spense sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and SpendWise sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Spense versus SpendWise: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpenseSpendWise
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 5 days
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB51 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCemal AsGlaium Inc.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Spense

Subscriptions2
  • Spense Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Spense Pro Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year
One-time1
  • Spense Life Time$99.99
3 purchases

SpendWise

Subscriptions3
  • Premium Weekly$1.497 Days
  • Premium Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Spense free?
Spense is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SpendWise free?
SpendWise is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Spense or SpendWise have ads?
SpendWise shows ads; Spense does not.
Which is updated more often, Spense or SpendWise?
Spense ships an update every 5 days, and SpendWise every 5 days. Most recently, Spense was updated on June 1, 2026 and SpendWise on September 9, 2026.

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