Comparison

SUM+= Simple Expense Tracker vs WatchThatDough

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

Head to head
About

SUM+= Simple Expense Tracker

This finance app simplifies expense tracking with AI assistance, allowing for quick data entry and powerful analysis through large language models. It prioritizes user control and privacy with local data storage and a minimalist design.

Highlights
  • AI-assisted data entry
  • LLM analysis and forecasting
  • Minimalist and beautiful design
  • Local data storage and privacy
  • User-controlled database
  • Subscription options with free trial
Features
Read full description

There are hundreds of expense tracker apps and they all do more or less the same thing. But oddly enough, not a single one suited my needs, so I developed my own. Through small but targeted adjustments, I've developed the app to become my preferred solution: • Control stays with the user while data entry is greatly simplified: The time between "open app" and "entry saved" has been reduced to a minimum. AI can support this process so that in many cases you wouldn't even need to open the app • AI analysis through LLMs: Instead of developing custom analysis logic, the app prepares your data so it can be used directly in Large Language Models like ChatGPT or Claude: for analysis, forecasts and recommendations • Minimalist design: The app is designed to look beautiful and works without distracting extras • Full control & privacy: No login, no account. Data stays locally on your device. You have complete control over your own database. If you want to share your data with an AI, you decide that yourself Financial barriers shouldn't stand in the way of your personal financial planning with Sum. Contact us for individual solutions via the support form. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

WatchThatDough

Features
Read full description

The expense tracker for people who've given up on tracking expenses. You know the drill: download one, use it for four days, then quit when the plethora of features & options overwhelms you. Watch That Dough goes the other way. It does one thing, stupidly well - log a new expense in 3 seconds. So simple that the habit will actually stick this time. SHORTEST FLOW OF ANY APP Add amount, tap category, done. No extra options. Auto-saved by default. It works like a personal assistant that anticipates your next move. WHY IT WORKS You make hundreds of little purchases a year - logging each of them should cost you next to zero brainpower. - Add an expense in 3 seconds - just 2 taps - No overwhelming features to wade through - Lightning-fast, buttery UI WHAT YOU GET - Quick-add buttons (+50, +10, +5, +1) to reach any amount in a tap or two - Your own categories, created in seconds - A running monthly total and a clean category summary - One-tap undo and edit, for when your thumb slips - Export everything to CSV whenever you like PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your money is nobody's business. Everything stays on your iPhone - no account, no sign-up, no cloud, no tracking, no ads. The app doesn't even connect to the internet. HONEST ABOUT WHAT IT ISN'T Radical focus means saying no. There's no bank syncing, no recurring expenses, no splitting to the exact cent. If you want a spreadsheet that lives in your pocket, this isn't it. If you want to finally build the habit of tracking your finances - it very much is. Pay once. No subscription, ever. Start the habit today. Watch That Dough.

Screenshots

SUM+= Simple Expense Tracker4 screens
WatchThatDough3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: WatchThatDough at none against SUM+= Simple Expense Tracker's 4. WatchThatDough also leads on iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.2). 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. SUM+= Simple Expense Tracker sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. WatchThatDough asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
SUM+= Simple Expense Tracker versus WatchThatDough: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSUM+= Simple Expense TrackerWatchThatDough
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemium—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone
Requires iOS26.217.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJonas ZimmermannChristoph Dominik Zimmermann

In-app purchases

4 purchases

SUM+= Simple Expense Tracker

Subscriptions2
  • SUM Pro1 Month trial$3.991 Month
  • SUM Pro1 Month trial$22.991 Year
One-time2
  • 7-day TrialFree
  • Sum Premium$6.99
None

WatchThatDough

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is SUM+= Simple Expense Tracker free?
SUM+= Simple Expense Tracker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is WatchThatDough free?
WatchThatDough is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do SUM+= Simple Expense Tracker or WatchThatDough have ads?
Neither SUM+= Simple Expense Tracker nor WatchThatDough shows ads.

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