Softwr

Software · head to head

Apple Pay vs Simplifi

Apple Pay logo

Apple Pay

Software

The easier way to pay and send money

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
S

Simplifi

Software

Smart budgeting and spending tracker

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Apple Pay has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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; Simplifi there is no free tier at all
  • They diverge on capability: Apple Pay covers Digital wallet, Simplifi covers Budget tracking.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Apple Pay and Simplifi differ
AttributeApple PaySimplifi
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsIOS, WatchOS, MacOSWeb, IOS, Android
Founded20142020

Identical on both: 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 Simplifi

  • Budget tracking
  • Spending analysis
  • Goal tracking
  • Cash flow 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 Simplifi
  • Paying in apps and on the web without entering card detailsnot Simplifi
  • Sending money between Apple users with Apple Cash and Tap to Cashnot Simplifi

Simplifi

  • Personal budgeting with automatic bank transaction importnot Apple Pay
  • Tracking spending, savings goals and net worth in one placenot 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

Simplifi

  • There is no free tier at all
  • The advertised $3.99 a month requires annual billing, against $6.99 paying monthly
  • The subscription auto renews yearly at the then current price, which the terms state is subject to change rather than fixed

Pricing, plan by plan

Apple Pay

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

Simplifi

On request
  • Monthly$5.99/month
    • Budget tracking
    • Spending insights
    • Goal setting
  • Annual$59.99/month
    • All monthly features
    • Discounted rate

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 Simplifi if

  • You need budget tracking.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want spending analysis.
Simplifi review

Questions people ask

Is Apple Pay or Simplifi better?
Neither clearly leads. Apple Pay starts at Free and Simplifi at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Apple Pay or Simplifi?
Apple Pay has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apple Pay and On request for Simplifi.
Does Apple Pay or Simplifi run on more platforms?
Apple Pay runs on IOS, WatchOS, MacOS. Simplifi runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use Apple Pay for free?
Yes. Apple Pay has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Simplifi starts at On request.
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 Simplifi is typically brought in for.
What can Apple Pay do that Simplifi cannot?
Apple Pay covers Digital wallet, Secure payments, Contactless transactions, P2P money transfers. Simplifi covers Budget tracking, Spending analysis, Goal tracking, Cash flow insights. Both handle Credit cards, Bank accounts, IOS support.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Apple Pay

More on Simplifi

Keep looking

Other head to heads