Comparison

Spending 2 vs Smart Spend

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

Head to head
About

Spending 2

Easily log your expenses and track your spending with this intuitive application. Monitor weekly and yearly expenditures, manage multiple accounts, and utilize flexible reporting to understand your financial habits. Features include auto-backup, budgeting tools, and password protection for secure financial management.

Highlights
  • Easy expense logging
  • Budget management
  • Multiple account support
  • Flexible reporting
  • Auto backup
  • Password protection
  • CSV export
Features
Read full description

Spending 2 is the most easy to use expense log that keeps track of your spending. No complex operations, no impractical functions. Spending is easy to use. Spending 2 will quickly and easily record each expense. It’s easy to see how much money you have spent every week and even how much money you have spent this year. Key features: - Auto backup. - Budget. - Multiple accounts,Cash/Credit Card. - Support different currencies for different account. - Transfer between accounts. - Fast and easy to use native iPhone user interface. - Recording a purchase takes seconds. - Auto-generate recurring expenses and income entries. - Create/Edit/Sort expense/income categories and subcategories. - Support to order category by Alphabetic/Most Used/Customized. - Dynamic graph showing costs in percentages. - History to view and adjust your previous entries. - Flexible reports to view expenses by week, month, or year. - Password protection - Export CSV file. - Online backup via iCloud. - Back up via Mail. - Sync data across multiple devices via iCloud. I will not be able to reply directly to you in your review, so if you have any problems, please email spending2@qiuping.com . I will help you to solve your problem ASAP

About

Smart Spend

This app helps you actively understand and transform your spending habits through hands-on learning and financial insights. It offers customized budgeting tools, engaging trivia, and advanced analysis without linking bank accounts, prioritizing your privacy. Receive daily feedback and earn rewards for improving your financial discipline.

Highlights
  • Active spending and savings tracking
  • Financial pattern identification
  • Spending knowledge trivia game
  • Customizable budgeting (Cash Pool, MicroBudgets)
  • Advanced search and filter tools
  • Privacy-focused, no bank linking
  • Siri integration and iOS widgets
Features
Read full description

Revolutionize Your Finances with Smart Spend – The Active Budgeting App Why Smart Spend? Unlike traditional budgeting apps, Smart Spend focuses on empowering you to understand and transform your spending habits actively. Our approach is hands-on and educational, ensuring that you're not just tracking expenses but learning from them. Key Features: - Hands-On Learning: Track spending and savings actively, without linking bank accounts. - Financial Insights: Discover patterns in your spending and identify saving opportunities. - Spending Trivia: Engage with our unique trivia game to test your spending knowledge and improve your 'Smart Score'. - Customized Budgeting: Tailor your budget with features like 'Cash Pool' and 'MicroBudgets' – perfect for irregular incomes and special occasions. - Advanced Analysis: Utilize powerful search and filter tools to dissect your spending. - Privacy First: Your data stays on your device. No need for personal details or bank logins. What Sets Us Apart? - Forever Free: We believe that managing money shouldn't come with a price tag. - Real-World Impact: Quickly see how everyday purchases affect your budget. - Innovative Modes: 'First Mile' and 'Cash Pool' cater to unique financial situations. - Interactive Learning: Earn trophies and points as your spending habits improve. - Convenient Integration: Use Siri for entries, import .csv files, and enjoy iOS widgets. - Daily Feedback: Receive personalized spending notifications each evening. Our Philosophy: We believe in old-school budgeting where you're aware and in control. It's about practice, repetition, and leveraging technology and discipline to meet your financial goals. Start Your Journey Today with Smart Spend! Download now to transform your financial habits, save more, and enjoy a healthier financial life. Privacy Policy: https://smartspendapp.com/privacy User Agreement: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Spending 24 screens
Smart Spend4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Smart Spend at 4.7 against Spending 2's 3.9. Smart Spend also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (84% vs 65%). Spending 2's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, monetization model 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. Spending 2 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Smart Spend asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Smart Spend holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 61 and 257 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of Spending 2's written reviews are positive against 84% of Smart Spend's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spending 2 ships an update fortnightly, Smart Spend every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Spending 2 versus Smart Spend: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpending 2Smart Spend
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (61 ratings)4.7 (257 ratings) — better
Positive reviews65.0% of reviews83.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings61257 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 8 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB75 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer平 邱Scicotherapy Labs LLC

Customer experience

Spending 2

All ratings61 ratings
Positive70.5%
Neutral8.2%
Negative21.3%
Written reviews217 reviews
Positive65.0%
Neutral8.3%
Negative26.7%

Smart Spend

All ratings257 ratings
Positive94.2%
Neutral3.1%
Negative2.7%
Written reviews37 reviews
Positive83.8%
Neutral5.4%
Negative10.8%

Bugs and requests

Spending 2

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Smart Spend

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App crashes immediately upon opening after update
  • Hourly income input glitch, defaults to $45
  • Cannot edit/delete previous entries
  • Cannot edit bill information, only delete and re-enter

Requested features

8 requests
  • Visualize cash pool growth
  • Add additional income sources (bonus, etc.)
  • Ability to change savings by numbers, not just percentage
  • Show difference when adding a purchase to see remaining spendable amount
  • Add more themes/color options
Show 3 more
  • Watch compatibility for quick transactions and basic overview
  • Option for weekly expense entries
  • Ability to edit bill information directly

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Spending 2

One-time1
  • Spending 2 Pro$4.99
None

Smart Spend

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Spending 2 free?
Spending 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Smart Spend free?
Smart Spend is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Spending 2 or Smart Spend?
Smart Spend is rated higher. Spending 2 averages 3.9 out of 5 from 61 ratings, while Smart Spend averages 4.7 from 257 ratings.
Do Spending 2 or Smart Spend have ads?
Smart Spend shows ads; Spending 2 does not.
Which is updated more often, Spending 2 or Smart Spend?
Spending 2 ships an update fortnightly, and Smart Spend every 8 days. Most recently, Spending 2 was updated on October 17, 2026 and Smart Spend on October 8, 2026.

Other comparisons