If an app is free and requires bank linking, ask: how do they make money? Often, it's your data.
How Free Apps Make Money
- Data licensing: Sell anonymized (or not) transaction data
- Affiliate referrals: "Recommended" credit cards = commissions
- Targeted advertising: Know you shop at X, show ads for Y
- Lead generation: Sell you as a prospect to financial companies
Red Flags in Privacy Policies
- "Share with partners"
- "Improve products and services"
- "Personalized recommendations"
- "Aggregate and anonymize" (often still identifiable)
Apps With Privacy Concerns
We won't name names, but if an app:
- Is free + requires bank linking
- Shows you credit card offers
- Has "recommended" financial products
...your data is likely being monetized.
Privacy-Respecting Alternatives
Pocket Clear: No bank linking, no ads, no data selling. Free tier is sustainable because Pro users pay for features.
Start Tracking Together
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