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Software · head to head

Banktivity vs Wise

Banktivity logo

Banktivity

Software

Personal finance for Mac and iOS

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Wise logo

Wise

Software

International money transfers at the real exchange rate

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Wise has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Banktivity runs on macOS, iPhone and iPad only, with no Windows, Android or web version; Wise exchange rate fees start at 0.31% plus corridor-specific transfer fees
  • They diverge on capability: Banktivity covers Account tracking, Wise covers International transfers.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Banktivity and Wise actually diverge.

Attributes where Banktivity and Wise differ
AttributeBanktivityWise
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsMac, IOSWeb, IOS, Android
Founded20072011

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 Banktivity

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

Only in Wise

  • International transfers
  • Real exchange rates
  • Multi-currency accounts
  • Bill payments
  • Cryptocurrency
  • Web support
  • Android support

Both cover

  • Bank 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 Wise
  • Investment and net worth trackingnot Wise
  • Retirement planning projectionsnot Wise
  • Connecting to over 14,000 financial institutionsnot Wise

Wise

  • Budget Managementnot Banktivity
  • Expense Trackingnot Banktivity
  • Investment Trackingnot 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

Wise

  • Exchange rate fees start at 0.31% plus corridor-specific transfer fees
  • Transfer speed dependent on destination country banking infrastructure
  • No published documentation of maximum transfer limits
  • Multi-currency account features may have regional restrictions

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

Wise

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Wise review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Banktivity if

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

Choose Wise if

  • You need international transfers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want real exchange rates.
Wise review

Questions people ask

Is Banktivity or Wise better?
Neither clearly leads. Banktivity starts at On request and Wise at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Banktivity or Wise?
Wise has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Banktivity and Free for Wise.
Does Banktivity or Wise run on more platforms?
Banktivity runs on Mac, IOS. Wise runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use Wise for free?
Yes. Wise has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Banktivity starts at On request.
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 Wise is typically brought in for.
What can Banktivity do that Wise cannot?
Banktivity covers Account tracking, Bill management, Investment tracking, Budget forecasting. Wise covers International transfers, Real exchange rates, Multi-currency accounts, Bill payments. Both handle Bank accounts, IOS support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Wise: What are Wise's transfer fees and exchange rates?

Wise uses mid-market exchange rates without hidden markups and charges a flat fee starting from 0.31% plus a currency transfer fee depending on the corridor. Volume discounts are available for larger transfers.

Source
Wise: How long do international transfers take with Wise?

Transfers can arrive same-day within seconds according to Wise marketing materials, though actual timing depends on the destination country and banking infrastructure.

Source
Wise: Is there a cost for a Wise account or monthly subscription?

Opening a Wise account is free with no monthly subscription. You only pay fees when you send money or convert currency.

Source
Wise: Can I send money between Wise users for free?

Sending or receiving the same currency between Wise contacts is free. Converting to a different currency costs less than standard rates but is not free.

Source
Wise: What security features does Wise offer?

Wise includes two-factor authentication for account protection, holds funds with established financial institutions, maintains 24/7 customer support, and has dedicated fraud and security teams.

Source
Wise: How much money can I transfer with Wise?

Wise does not publicly specify transfer limits on the main site. Limits may vary by country, sender verification level, and corridor.

Source
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