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Personal Finance · head to head

Apple Pay vs GnuCash

Apple Pay logo

Apple Pay

Personal Finance

The easier way to pay and send money

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
GnuCash logo

GnuCash

Personal Finance

Personal finance and accounting software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Apple Pay apple Pay works only in countries and regions that support contactless payments and is not available in all markets; GnuCash desktop only, with no mobile application
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Pay covers Digital wallet, GnuCash covers Double-entry bookkeeping.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Apple Pay and GnuCash actually diverge.

Attributes where Apple Pay and GnuCash differ
AttributeApple PayGnuCash
Pricing modelfreeopen-source
PlatformsIOS, WatchOS, MacOSWindows, Mac, Linux
Founded20141997

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Personal Finance).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Apple Pay

  • Digital wallet
  • Secure payments
  • Contactless transactions
  • P2P money transfers
  • Credit cards
  • Debit cards
  • Bank accounts
  • IOS support

Only in GnuCash

  • Double-entry bookkeeping
  • Multi-currency support
  • Reports and graphs
  • Budget tracking
  • Import/Export
  • OFX format
  • Windows support
  • Mac support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Apple Pay

  • Contactless in store payment from iPhone and Apple Watchnot GnuCash
  • Paying in apps and on the web without entering card detailsnot GnuCash
  • Sending money between Apple users with Apple Cash and Tap to Cashnot GnuCash

GnuCash

  • Personal finance tracking with a checkbook register interfacenot Apple Pay
  • Double-entry bookkeeping for a small businessnot Apple Pay
  • Tracking stocks, bonds and mutual fund accountsnot Apple Pay
  • Importing transactions via QIF, OFX or HBCInot Apple Pay
  • Scheduled recurring transactions and financial reportsnot Apple Pay

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Apple Pay

  • Apple Pay works only in countries and regions that support contactless payments and is not available in all markets
  • Apple Cash is available only in the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico
  • Apple Cash Family accounts and Tap to Cash transactions are each capped at 2000 USD within a rolling seven day period
  • Mac support requires a Touch ID equipped model
  • A card works only if the issuing bank supports Apple Pay, and banks may charge their own overseas usage fees

GnuCash

  • Desktop only, with no mobile application
  • Version 3.11 is the last release supporting Windows 7 and macOS 10.12 and earlier
  • Uses strict double-entry accounting, so every transaction needs two sides

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Pay

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Secure payments
    • P2P transfers
    • Transit passes

GnuCash

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Double-entry bookkeeping
    • Multi-currency support
    • Reports and graphs

Which should you pick?

Choose Apple Pay if

  • You need digital wallet.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on IOS, WatchOS, MacOS.
  • You also want secure payments.
Apple Pay review

Choose GnuCash if

  • You need double-entry bookkeeping.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux.
  • You also want multi-currency support.
GnuCash review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Pay or GnuCash better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Pay starts at Free and GnuCash at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Pay or GnuCash?
Apple Pay starts at Free and GnuCash at Free.
Does Apple Pay or GnuCash run on more platforms?
Apple Pay runs on IOS, WatchOS, MacOS. GnuCash runs on Windows, Mac, Linux.
Can I use Apple Pay for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Apple Pay best used for?
Apple Pay is most often used for contactless in store payment from iphone and apple watch, paying in apps and on the web without entering card details, sending money between apple users with apple cash and tap to cash. Of those, contactless in store payment from iphone and apple watch and paying in apps and on the web without entering card details are not what GnuCash is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Pay do that GnuCash cannot?
Apple Pay covers Digital wallet, Secure payments, Contactless transactions, P2P money transfers. GnuCash covers Double-entry bookkeeping, Multi-currency support, Reports and graphs, Budget tracking.
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