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Software · head to head

Banktivity vs Betterment

Banktivity logo

Banktivity

Software

Personal finance for Mac and iOS

From
On request
Rated
-
Betterment logo

Betterment

Software

Your path to financial independence

From
$5/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Banktivity runs on macOS, iPhone and iPad only, with no Windows, Android or web version; Betterment digital automated investing charges $5 per month fee for accounts under $24,000 balance
  • They diverge on capability: Banktivity covers Account tracking, Betterment covers Automated investing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Banktivity and Betterment actually diverge.

Attributes where Banktivity and Betterment differ
AttributeBanktivityBetterment
Starting priceOn request$5/month
PlatformsMac, IOSWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20072008

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), 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 Banktivity

  • Account tracking
  • Bill management
  • Investment tracking
  • Budget forecasting
  • Mac support

Only in Betterment

  • Automated investing
  • Retirement planning
  • Financial advisory
  • Goal tracking
  • Web support
  • Android support

Both cover

  • Bank accounts
  • Investment accounts
  • IOS support

What people use each for

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

Banktivity

  • Personal budgeting and money management on a Macnot Betterment
  • Investment and net worth trackingnot Betterment
  • Retirement planning projectionsnot Betterment
  • Connecting to over 14,000 financial institutionsnot Betterment

Betterment

  • Small investors starting with automated investing at no minimum balancenot Banktivity
  • Fee-only digital wealth management for accounts under $24,000 via $5/month flat feenot Banktivity
  • Premium advisory access for high-net-worth individuals with $100,000+ balancenot Banktivity

Where each one falls short

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

Banktivity

  • Runs on macOS, iPhone and iPad only, with no Windows, Android or web version
  • Pricing is not shown on the product page and sits behind a separate plans page

Betterment

  • Digital automated investing charges $5 per month fee for accounts under $24,000 balance
  • Premium advisory service requires minimum balance of $100,000 in eligible investments
  • Foreign transaction fees apply to checking account (though reimbursed after the fact)
  • High-balance fee discounts only available above $1,000,000 account balance

Pricing, plan by plan

Banktivity

On request
  • Monthly$4.99/month
    • Full feature access
    • Cloud sync
  • Annual$39.99/month
    • All monthly features
    • Discounted rate

Betterment

$5/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Betterment review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Banktivity if

  • You need account tracking.
  • You work on Mac, IOS.
  • You also want bill management.

Choose Betterment if

  • You need automated investing.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want retirement planning.

Questions people ask

Is Banktivity or Betterment better?
Neither clearly leads. Banktivity starts at On request and Betterment at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Banktivity or Betterment?
Banktivity starts at On request and Betterment at $5/month.
Does Banktivity or Betterment run on more platforms?
Banktivity runs on Mac, IOS. Betterment runs on Web, iOS, Android.
What is Banktivity best used for?
Banktivity is most often used for personal budgeting and money management on a mac, investment and net worth tracking, retirement planning projections, connecting to over 14,000 financial institutions. Of those, personal budgeting and money management on a mac and investment and net worth tracking are not what Betterment is typically brought in for.
What can Banktivity do that Betterment cannot?
Banktivity covers Account tracking, Bill management, Investment tracking, Budget forecasting. Betterment covers Automated investing, Retirement planning, Financial advisory, Goal tracking. Both handle Bank accounts, Investment accounts, IOS support.

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