Disclosure: Pocket Clear is our product. We've scored it using the same criteria as every other app. We encourage you to verify our findings independently — all sources are linked below.
Pocket Clear scores highest (A+) because it never requires bank linking, stores data locally with AES-256 encryption, has no third-party analytics SDKs, no ads, and no data selling. Goodbudget (B+) and EveryDollar Free (B) also don't require bank linking but lack local encryption. All bank-linked apps (YNAB, Monarch, Copilot, PocketGuard, Rocket Money) score C or lower due to mandatory Plaid integration.
The Full Scorecard
We evaluated each app on six dimensions. Each dimension is scored A (best) through F (worst). The overall grade is a weighted average emphasizing bank linking and data selling — the two factors with the biggest privacy impact.
| App | Bank Linking | Data Storage | Encryption | 3rd-Party SDKs | Ads | Sells Data | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pocket Clear | A+ | A+ | A+ | A+ | A+ | A+ | A+ |
| Goodbudget | A+ | C | D | B | A | A | B+ |
| EveryDollar (Free) | A+ | C | D | C | C | A | B |
| YNAB | D | C | C | C | A | A | C+ |
| Monarch Money | D | C | C | C | A | A | C+ |
| Copilot Money | D | C | C | C | A | A | C |
| Spendee | D | C | D | C | A | B | C |
| PocketGuard | D | C | D | D | C | B | D+ |
| Rocket Money | F | C | D | D | A | C | D |
| Mint (defunct) | F | D | D | F | F | F | F |
Methodology
Bank Linking: A+ = never requires it. D = required for core features via Plaid/MX. F = requires full read access to all accounts.
Data Storage: A+ = local device only (default). C = cloud servers (required). D = third-party cloud with limited transparency.
Encryption: A+ = AES-256 local encryption. C = standard TLS in transit + server-side encryption. D = TLS only, no local encryption.
Third-Party SDKs: A+ = zero tracking SDKs. B = minimal analytics. C = standard analytics (Google, Amplitude, etc.). D = multiple behavioral trackers. F = ad networks + behavioral SDKs.
Ads: A+ = none, ever. A = none. C = upsells/promotions for own products. F = third-party targeted advertising.
Sells Data: A = confirmed no data selling/sharing. B = no data selling, some anonymized analytics. C = shares aggregated data with partners. F = sells or monetizes individual spending data.
Overall Grade: Weighted average. Bank Linking (25%), Sells Data (25%), Third-Party SDKs (15%), Encryption (15%), Data Storage (10%), Ads (10%).
Key Findings
- Every bank-linked app caps at C+. Mandatory Plaid integration means your credentials and full transaction history pass through a third-party aggregator. The CFPB took enforcement action against Plaid in 2022 for collecting more data than users authorized.
- Only one app uses local encryption. Pocket Clear is the only app that encrypts data at rest on the device with AES-256. All other apps either store data on their servers with standard encryption or don't encrypt locally at all.
- Mint scored F across the board. Before shutting down, Mint required bank access, ran ad networks, used behavioral tracking SDKs, and shared data with Intuit partners. It's the privacy baseline — everything else is better.
- "Free" often means "you're the product." PocketGuard and Rocket Money's free tiers exist to collect spending data. Pocket Clear and Goodbudget are genuinely free without data monetization.
How We Collected This Data
We reviewed each app's privacy policy, terms of service, and App Store privacy labels as of April 2026. For SDK analysis, we referenced publicly available App Store privacy nutrition labels and third-party audits. Bank linking status was verified by installing each app and checking onboarding requirements. All findings are based on publicly available information.
What This Means for You
If privacy matters to you, the simplest rule is: avoid bank linking. Every app that requires Plaid or MX access creates a data pipeline you can't fully control. Manual expense tracking takes 2-3 minutes per day and gives you the same spending insights — without the privacy trade-off.
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Pocket Clear: free, offline, AES-256 encrypted, no bank linking. Ever.
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