# PocketGuard vs Spendro

The clearest difference is ads: Spendro at none against PocketGuard's shown. Spendro also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and review sentiment (67% vs 39%). PocketGuard's advantage is ratings volume (7.7K vs 2) and chart position (#79 vs unranked). 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 Spendro sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Spendro 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 2, 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 67% of Spendro's.

PocketGuard ships an update every 3 weeks, Spendro every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | PocketGuard | Spendro |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (7.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocketguard-budget-app/id949414211/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spendro-expense-tracker/id6751124622/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7.7K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 38.5% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | **#79** | — |
| Size | 167 MB | 80 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PocketGuard, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1435880178) | [GUO YAN WEI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1833519634) |

## What reviewers say

### PocketGuard

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

**Currently charting:** #79 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


### Spendro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spendro-expense-tracker/id6751124622)

Effortlessly record, understand, and manage your finances with a privacy-first approach. Track spending, create custom budgets, and gain visual insights into your money. Collaborate with family or partners on shared wallets.

**Highlights:** Fast manual transaction entry, Location-aware transaction pre-filling, Split expenses across categories, Attach photos and notes to entries, Automate recurring expenses, Visual spending and income reports, Customizable budgeting tools, Shared wallets for collaboration

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus (Monthly) | $1.99 | per month |
| Pro (Monthly) | $2.99 | per month |
| Plus (Annual) | $19.99 | per year |
| Pro (Annual) | $24.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PocketGuard free?

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

### Is Spendro free?

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

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

Spendro is rated higher. PocketGuard averages 4.6 out of 5 from 7.7K ratings, while Spendro averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do PocketGuard or Spendro have ads?

PocketGuard shows ads; Spendro does not.

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

PocketGuard ships an update every 3 weeks, and Spendro every 2 weeks. Most recently, PocketGuard was updated on October 29, 2026 and Spendro on October 29, 2026.

---

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