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Apple Pay vs PocketGuard

Apple Pay logo

Apple Pay

Software

The easier way to pay and send money

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PocketGuard logo

PocketGuard

Software

In Your Pocket personal finance

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; PocketGuard every budgeting feature requires a paid subscription, with only a 7 day trial rather than a free tier
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Pay covers Digital wallet, PocketGuard covers Real-time spending alerts.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Apple Pay and PocketGuard differ
AttributeApple PayPocketGuard
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsIOS, WatchOS, MacOSWeb, IOS, Android
Founded20142012

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

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
  • Debit cards
  • WatchOS support
  • MacOS support

Only in PocketGuard

  • Real-time spending alerts
  • Budget tracking
  • Goal setting
  • Spending insights
  • Web support
  • Android support

Both cover

  • Credit cards
  • Bank accounts
  • IOS 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 PocketGuard
  • Paying in apps and on the web without entering card detailsnot PocketGuard
  • Sending money between Apple users with Apple Cash and Tap to Cashnot PocketGuard

PocketGuard

  • Tracking spending and bills against a personal budgetnot Apple Pay
  • Finding and cancelling recurring subscriptionsnot 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

PocketGuard

  • Every budgeting feature requires a paid subscription, with only a 7 day trial rather than a free tier
  • Paying monthly is $12.99 against an effective $6.25 on the annual plan, so the flexible option costs roughly double
  • The lifetime option is not offered to everyone and is described as available only inside the app

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Pay

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

PocketGuard

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Expense tracking
    • Budget creation
  • Premium$9.99/month
    • Advanced insights
    • Goal tracking
    • Bill negotiation

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 PocketGuard if

  • You need real-time spending alerts.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want budget tracking.
PocketGuard review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Pay or PocketGuard better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Pay starts at Free and PocketGuard at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Pay or PocketGuard?
Apple Pay starts at Free and PocketGuard at Free.
Does Apple Pay or PocketGuard run on more platforms?
Apple Pay runs on IOS, WatchOS, MacOS. PocketGuard runs on Web, IOS, Android.
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 PocketGuard is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Pay do that PocketGuard cannot?
Apple Pay covers Digital wallet, Secure payments, Contactless transactions, P2P money transfers. PocketGuard covers Real-time spending alerts, Budget tracking, Goal setting, Spending insights. Both handle Credit cards, Bank accounts, IOS support.
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