Software · head to head
Apple Pay vs Tiller Money
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; Tiller Money no native mobile app means mobile access limited to Google Sheets or Excel apps
- They diverge on capability: Apple Pay covers Digital wallet, Tiller Money covers Auto-populates financial data.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Apple Pay and Tiller Money actually diverge.
| Attribute | Apple Pay | Tiller Money |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $79/year |
| Pricing model | free | Unknown |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | IOS, WatchOS, MacOS | Web, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel |
| Founded | 2014 | 2015 |
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
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- IOS support
- WatchOS support
Only in Tiller Money
- Auto-populates financial data
- Customizable spreadsheets
- Budget tracking
- Financial templates
- Google Sheets
- Excel
- Web support
Both cover
- Bank accounts
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 Tiller Money
- Paying in apps and on the web without entering card detailsnot Tiller Money
- Sending money between Apple users with Apple Cash and Tap to Cashnot Tiller Money
Tiller Money
- Budget Managementnot Apple Pay
- Expense Trackingnot Apple Pay
- Investment Trackingnot 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
Tiller Money
- No native mobile app means mobile access limited to Google Sheets or Excel apps
- Spreadsheet-based interface can be intimidating for non-technical users unfamiliar with formulas
- Requires manual customization and setup of templates and formulas for advanced features
- No built-in investment performance tracking or analysis at the depth some competitors offer
- Customer support is email and community-based, not real-time chat or phone support
Pricing, plan by plan
Apple Pay
Free- FreeFree
- Secure payments
- P2P transfers
- Transit passes
Tiller Money
$79/year- Annual Subscription$79/year
- Unlimited transaction import
- Up to 5 connected spreadsheets
- AutoCat categorization
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.
Choose Tiller Money if
- You need auto-populates financial data.
- You work on Web, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel.
- You also want customizable spreadsheets.
Questions people ask
- Is Apple Pay or Tiller Money better?
- Neither clearly leads. Apple Pay starts at Free and Tiller Money at $79/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Apple Pay or Tiller Money?
- Apple Pay has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Apple Pay and $79/year for Tiller Money.
- Does Apple Pay or Tiller Money run on more platforms?
- Apple Pay runs on IOS, WatchOS, MacOS. Tiller Money runs on Web, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel.
- Can I use Apple Pay for free?
- Yes. Apple Pay has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Tiller Money starts at $79/year.
- 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 Tiller Money is typically brought in for.
- What can Apple Pay do that Tiller Money cannot?
- Apple Pay covers Digital wallet, Secure payments, Contactless transactions, P2P money transfers. Tiller Money covers Auto-populates financial data, Customizable spreadsheets, Budget tracking, Financial templates. Both handle Bank accounts.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Tiller Money: How much does Tiller Money cost?
Tiller Money costs $79 per year with no free tier. A 30-day free trial is available. The annual subscription includes 5 connected spreadsheets and unlimited categories.
SourceTiller Money: Does Tiller work with Google Sheets and Excel?
Yes. Tiller automatically feeds daily bank transactions and account balances to Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel spreadsheets you own. Your data remains yours permanently.
SourceTiller Money: How many banks and financial institutions does Tiller connect to?
Tiller connects to 21,000+ US banks, credit card accounts, brokerages, and loan servicers via Yodlee and MX data providers. New banks are added weekly.
SourceTiller Money: What is AutoCat in Tiller?
AutoCat is Tiller's 100% customizable automatic categorization feature that learns your spending patterns. You can set rules like 'file all grocery store transactions above $10 as groceries and below $10 as snacks.'
SourceTiller Money: Does Tiller have a mobile app?
Tiller does not have a dedicated mobile app. Instead, it uses Google Sheets and Excel apps on mobile devices to access your spreadsheets. Mobile access is primarily for viewing, not transaction entry.
Source