Your iPad has a bigger screen, better multitasking, and more room to review your finances. Yet most expense tracker apps treat iPad as an afterthought — just a stretched-out version of the iPhone app.
The best iPad expense trackers take advantage of the larger display for richer reports, side-by-side multitasking, and a more comfortable data entry experience. Here's what's worth using in 2026.
Why Track Expenses on iPad?
Most people enter expenses on their phone throughout the day. But the iPad shines for the other half of expense tracking: reviewing, analyzing, and planning.
- Better reports: Pie charts, bar graphs, and trend lines are easier to read on a 10-13 inch screen
- Split View multitasking: Open your expense tracker on one side and your bank statement or notes on the other
- Weekend reviews: Sit down with your iPad on the couch and do a weekly financial check-in
- Shared planning: Show your partner the spending breakdown on a screen you can both see
- Apple Pencil notes: Some people like to annotate or plan budgets with handwritten notes alongside their tracker
What Makes a Good iPad Expense Tracker?
Not every iPhone expense tracker works well on iPad. Here's what to look for:
- Native iPad layout: The app should use the full screen, not just show a phone app in the center with black bars
- Split View support: You should be able to use it in Split View alongside other apps
- Sync with iPhone: Enter on your phone, review on your iPad — the data should be the same
- Offline support: Your iPad might not always be on WiFi, especially when traveling
- Privacy: Your expense data is personal. The best apps don't require bank linking
Best iPad Expense Trackers — Compared
1. Pocket Clear
Best for: Simple, private expense tracking across all Apple devices.
Pocket Clear runs natively on iPad with full-screen support. It's the same app available on iPhone and Mac — download it once from the App Store and use it everywhere. If you're a Pro subscriber, your data syncs automatically across all devices.
- Native iPad app with full-screen layout
- Works in Split View for multitasking
- Syncs with iPhone and Mac (Pro)
- Works completely offline
- No bank linking — manual entry in seconds
- Visual pie charts and monthly reports
- Custom categories and Partner Mode (Pro)
- Zero ads, free forever tier
The ideal workflow: enter expenses quickly on your iPhone during the day, then sit down with your iPad in the evening to review your reports and plan ahead.
2. Copilot Money
Best for: Automatic bank syncing with a polished iPad interface.
Copilot has a well-optimized iPad layout with a sidebar navigation. It connects to bank accounts and auto-categorizes transactions.
- Native iPad app with sidebar navigation
- Automatic bank syncing
- Investment tracking and subscription management
- Requires bank linking
- $14.99/month
3. YNAB (You Need a Budget)
Best for: Serious budgeters who follow the envelope method.
YNAB has a dedicated iPad app, though its real strength is the web interface. The iPad app handles budget entry and review well but is less feature-complete than the browser version.
- Dedicated iPad app
- Powerful budgeting methodology
- Optional bank syncing
- $14.99/month
- Steep learning curve
4. Spending Tracker
Best for: Ultra-basic tracking with no frills.
Spending Tracker is a minimal app that runs on iPad. It's very simple — almost too simple for users who want reports or partner features.
- Works on iPad
- Very basic interface
- Limited reporting
- No partner/sharing features
- Free with ads, paid to remove
iPad Split View: A Game-Changer for Finance Reviews
One of the most underrated iPad features for personal finance is Split View. Here are practical ways to use it:
- Expense tracker + Bank app: Cross-reference your tracked expenses with your bank statement side by side
- Expense tracker + Notes: Write down financial goals or budget plans while reviewing spending
- Expense tracker + Calculator: Quick math while reviewing category totals
- Expense tracker + Safari: Research purchases or compare prices while logging expenses
Apps that support Split View properly make this seamless. Pocket Clear works in Split View out of the box.
iPhone + iPad + Mac: The Apple Ecosystem Advantage
If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem, having one expense tracker that works across all your devices is a huge convenience:
- iPhone: Quick entry throughout the day — 30 seconds per transaction
- iPad: Weekly reviews, detailed reports, couple's budget planning
- Mac: End-of-month analysis, export data, tax preparation
Pocket Clear works on all three, with Pro sync keeping everything in perfect alignment. Enter a coffee on your iPhone at 8am, and it shows up in your iPad report by the time you do your evening review. It also works as a private expense tracker with no bank linking required, and couples can use Partner Mode to track shared expenses together.
The Bottom Line
The iPad is an underrated device for personal finance. Its larger screen and multitasking capabilities make it perfect for the review and planning side of expense tracking.
For most people, the best approach is:
- Quick entry on iPhone throughout the day
- Review and plan on iPad during weekly check-ins
- Deep analysis on Mac at month's end
Pocket Clear supports all three with a single download from the App Store. Simple, private, and designed for people who want to track money without the complexity.
Try Pocket Clear on Your iPad
One app across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Track expenses your way — no bank linking needed.