Comparison

Portfolio Journal vs Step+wise

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

Head to head
About

Portfolio Journal

Features
Read full description

Portfolio Journal is the investment tracker built for long-term investors who value simplicity and privacy. No brokerage login. No server. Your data stays on your device — or syncs privately via iCloud if you choose. Just open the app once a month, enter your portfolio value, and let Portfolio Journal do the rest. --- TRACK YOUR ENTIRE PORTFOLIO • Stocks, ETFs, bonds, crypto, real estate — any asset class • Multiple accounts: brokerage, retirement, savings, and more • Monthly check-in approach: no daily noise, just long-term perspective • Net worth evolution over months and years VISUALIZE YOUR WEALTH • Evolution chart: see your portfolio grow over time • Allocation chart: know exactly where your money is • Drawdown analysis: understand your worst drops and recoveries • Interactive charts: Compare accounts, run What-If scenarios, and see Period vs Period • Year vs Year: see how each year stacks up, with a forecast for the year in progress • Calm Mode: a distraction-free view for peace of mind SET AND TRACK GOALS • Create financial goals with target amounts and deadlines • Track progress with visual indicators • Stay motivated with a clear picture of your journey KEEP AN INVESTMENT JOURNAL • Log thoughts, decisions, and lessons learned • Build a personal record of your investment mindset over time • Reflect on past decisions to improve future ones PRIVACY BY DESIGN • No account required. No login. No sign-up. • No ads and no third-party analytics: there is no advertising or tracking SDK in the app. • No servers of ours. Your data lives on your device. • iCloud sync is optional: it uses your own private iCloud database, encrypted by Apple. • Everything works 100% offline. BUILT FOR PASSIVE INVESTORS Portfolio Journal is designed for Bogleheads, ETF investors, index fund fans, and anyone following a buy-and-hold strategy. It's not a trading tool — it's a long-term companion. Whether you're tracking a three-fund portfolio, building toward FIRE, or simply monitoring your net worth over time, Portfolio Journal gives you clarity without complexity. EXPORT YOUR DATA • CSV export: take your data anywhere, anytime. • Full ownership of your financial history. --- WHO IS PORTFOLIO JOURNAL FOR? - Long-term and passive investors who don't need daily updates - ETF and index fund enthusiasts - Bogleheads and FIRE community members - Anyone tracking their net worth or wealth-building journey - Privacy-conscious users who don't want their financial data on someone else's servers --- Download Portfolio Journal today and start building a clear, private, long-term view of your financial future. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://portfoliojournal.app/privacy.html

About

Step+wise

This app helps teachers understand their retirement benefits by providing clear projections for their TDA balance and pension estimates. It combines these into a monthly income view and allows users to track performance over time. Designed specifically for educators, it simplifies complex financial planning.

Highlights
  • Retirement projection for TDA balance
  • Pension estimator with age, service, and salary
  • Combined monthly retirement income view
  • Statement snapshots for performance tracking
  • Teacher-specific language and assumptions
Features
Read full description

Most teachers hear “your benefits are great,” but rarely see what that actually means in dollars. Stepwise turns your inputs into clean projections and simple income estimates, so you can understand where you’re headed and what changes matter. What Stepwise does Retirement projection: See how your TDA balance could grow over time based on contributions and assumed returns. Pension estimator: Get a simplified TRS-style pension estimate using age, service credit, and salary assumptions. Monthly income view: Combine pension + TDA into a monthly retirement income estimate. Snapshots & tracking: Add statement snapshots to see performance and contributions over time. Built for teachers: Language and assumptions are designed around how NYC educators actually think about retirement. Important notes Stepwise is an educational planning tool — not financial advice. It uses simplified assumptions and may not match TRS calculations, taxes, healthcare costs, contract step changes, or distribution rules.

Screenshots

Portfolio Journal4 screens
Step+wise4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Step+wise at none against Portfolio Journal's 2. On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Portfolio Journal sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per year. Step+wise asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Portfolio Journal versus Step+wise: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPortfolio JournalStep+wise
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.617.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlexandre VazquezMarco Kawatra-Palzer

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Portfolio Journal

Subscriptions1
  • Premium Annual7 Days trial$8.991 Year
One-time1
  • Advanced Features Pack + No Ads$34.99
None

Step+wise

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Portfolio Journal free?
Portfolio Journal is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Step+wise free?
Step+wise is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Portfolio Journal or Step+wise have ads?
Neither Portfolio Journal nor Step+wise shows ads.

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