# PocketGuard vs Budget

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Budget at 92% against PocketGuard's 39%. Budget also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). PocketGuard's advantage is ratings volume (7.7K vs 1) and chart position (#63 vs unranked). On price, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PocketGuard sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Budget sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Budget holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PocketGuard has 7.7K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of PocketGuard's written reviews are positive against 92% of Budget's.

PocketGuard ships an update every 3 weeks, Budget weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PocketGuard | Budget |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (7.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketguard-budget-app/id949414211/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/budget-expense-tracker/id1553102001/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7.7K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 38.5% of reviews | **91.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#63** | — |
| Size | 167 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PocketGuard, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1435880178) | [Thomas Delgado Dias](https://appshunter.io/developer/944281589) |

## What reviewers say

### PocketGuard

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

**Currently charting:** #63 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 (8)**

| 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 |
| Monthly subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscriptions | $12.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $12.99 | per month |
| PocketGuard Plus | $34.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $74.99 | per year |

**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


### Budget

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/budget-expense-tracker/id1553102001)

Easily track variable expenses with multiple input methods like typing, voice, or camera. View your remaining budget at a glance through widgets or Siri. Designed for a simple and pleasant budgeting experience.

**Highlights:** Multiple expense input methods (typing, voice, camera, Siri), Quick budget viewing (widgets, Siri), iCloud sync across devices, Dark Mode support, Accessibility features

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Budget Premium | $1.99 | per month |
| Yearly Budget Premium | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PocketGuard free?

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

### Is Budget free?

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

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

Budget is rated higher. PocketGuard averages 4.6 out of 5 from 7.7K ratings, while Budget averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do PocketGuard or Budget have ads?

PocketGuard shows ads; Budget does not.

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

PocketGuard ships an update every 3 weeks, and Budget weekly. Most recently, PocketGuard was updated on November 1, 2026 and Budget on November 3, 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.*