# PocketGuard vs Paymaster

The clearest difference is rating: PocketGuard at 4.6 against Paymaster's 4.0. PocketGuard also leads on ratings volume (7.7K vs 4) and chart position (#65 vs unranked). Paymaster's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (63% vs 39%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PocketGuard sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Paymaster sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PocketGuard holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PocketGuard has 7.7K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 39% of PocketGuard's written reviews are positive against 63% of Paymaster's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

PocketGuard ships an update every 3 weeks, Paymaster monthly. Both last shipped on October 26, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | PocketGuard | Paymaster |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (7.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketguard-budget-app/id949414211/reviews)** | [4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paymaster-my-spending-tracker/id1462048413/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7.7K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 38.7% of reviews | **62.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#65** | — |
| Size | 164 MB | 135 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PocketGuard, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1435880178) | [Sergey Kolyoskin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1462048412) |

## What reviewers say

### PocketGuard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketguard-budget-app/id949414211)

**Currently charting:** #65 Top Grossing · Finance (US App Store)

This app simplifies personal finance by automatically tracking expenses and bills. It helps you understand your disposable income, analyze spending habits, and manage subscriptions to save money. Set financial goals and create debt-payoff plans with smart algorithms.

**Highlights:** Automatic expense tracking, Bill and subscription monitoring, Disposable income calculation, Spending habit analysis, Financial goal setting, Debt-payoff plan creation

**Features:** Apple Wallet, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly offer with 7 day trial | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| PocketGuard Plus | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| PocketGuard Plus | $7.99 | per month |
| Monthly subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscriptions | $12.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $12.99 | per month |
| PocketGuard Plus | $24.99 | per year |
| PocketGuard Plus | $34.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $74.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Membership | $79.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient app that helps track spending
- 👍 Customizable budgeting categories
- 🚀 Real-time transaction updates
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🚀 Helpful for getting finances under control

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Recurring issues with bank account syncing
- 🔒 Security concerns with 2FA/MFA requirements
- 🚫 Lack of support for certain banks/credit cards
- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🐛 Buggy app performance and frequent crashes

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent transaction syncing and labeling
- Inability to delete or manage connected accounts
- Budgeting data disappearing or not updating properly

**Requested features**

- Ability to carry over unspent budget to next month
- More advanced reporting and analytics
- Light/dark mode theme options
- Improved transaction categorization and learning
- Support for multiple users/family budgeting


### Paymaster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paymaster-my-spending-tracker/id1462048413)

Take control of your finances with this app. Track expenses and income across multiple currencies, plan budgets, and analyze spending patterns. It offers features like SMS transaction import and payment reminders to help you manage your money effectively.

**Highlights:** Expense and income tracking, Budget planning, Multi-currency support (170+), Transaction creation from SMS, Scheduled payment reminders, Graphical reports, Configurable categories

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| "SAVE UP" monthly plan | $2.99 | per month |
| "MANAGE" monthly plan | $5.99 | per month |
| "SAVE UP" yearly plan | $17.99 | per year |
| "MANAGE" yearly plan | $35.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PocketGuard free?

PocketGuard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Paymaster free?

Paymaster is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PocketGuard or Paymaster?

PocketGuard is rated higher. PocketGuard averages 4.6 out of 5 from 7.7K ratings, while Paymaster averages 4.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do PocketGuard or Paymaster have ads?

PocketGuard shows ads; Paymaster does not.

### Which is updated more often, PocketGuard or Paymaster?

PocketGuard ships an update every 3 weeks, and Paymaster monthly. Most recently, PocketGuard was updated on October 26, 2026 and Paymaster on October 26, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*