Two very different approaches to expense tracking. Copilot Money offers premium automation with bank linking. Pocket Clear offers privacy-first simplicity. Here's how they compare.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Pocket Clear | Copilot Money |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free/$0.99/mo | $10.99/month |
| Bank Linking | Not needed | Required |
| Privacy | Data stays on device | Third-party access |
| Platforms | iOS (Android coming) | iOS only |
| Offline Mode | Fully works | Limited |
| Automation | Manual entry | Auto-import |
| Design | Clean, minimal | Premium, polished |
Philosophy Differences
Copilot's Approach
Copilot believes in automation. Link your bank accounts, credit cards, and investments. The app automatically imports and categorizes everything. You see the full picture with minimal effort.
Pocket Clear's Approach
Pocket Clear believes in awareness. Manual tracking means you actively engage with every expense. No bank linking means complete privacy. Simplicity means less time in the app.
The Case for Copilot
- Set and forget: Transactions appear automatically
- Complete picture: See investments, accounts, net worth
- Smart insights: AI-powered analysis of spending
- Beautiful design: Apple-quality polish
The Case Against Copilot
- $132/year is expensive: That's significant for a budgeting app
- Bank linking is risky: Third parties access your accounts
- iOS only: No Android support
- Sync issues: Bank connections break regularly
- Passive tracking: Easy to ignore, doesn't build awareness
The Case for Pocket Clear
- Free or $12/year: 10x cheaper than Copilot
- Complete privacy: No bank access, data stays local
- Works anywhere: Fully functional offline
- Builds awareness: Manual tracking = better spending habits
- Simple and fast: Log expenses in seconds
The Case Against Pocket Clear
- Requires manual entry: Takes effort (but builds habits)
- No investment tracking: Focused only on expenses
- Fewer features: Intentionally minimal
Price Breakdown
Over 3 Years
- Copilot: $396
- Pocket Clear Pro: $36
- Pocket Clear Free: $0
That's $360 in savings if you switch to Pocket Clear Pro, or $396 with the free version.
Privacy Deep Dive
What Copilot Accesses
- Bank account transactions
- Credit card purchases
- Investment holdings
- Account balances
- Full transaction history
This data flows through Plaid (a third-party) and Copilot's servers.
What Pocket Clear Accesses
Nothing from your banks. Your expense data stays on your device. If you upgrade to Pro, only your data syncs to our secure cloud — never bank credentials or transaction imports.
User Experience
Adding an Expense in Copilot
- Wait for bank sync (can take hours)
- Review auto-categorization
- Correct if needed
Adding an Expense in Pocket Clear
- Open app (instant)
- Enter amount, pick category
- Done (5 seconds)
Who Should Choose Copilot?
- You want full automation, no manual entry
- You track investments alongside expenses
- You're comfortable linking bank accounts
- You have $132/year to spend on an app
- You use only iOS
Who Should Choose Pocket Clear?
- You value privacy over convenience
- You want to build awareness through tracking
- You use cash sometimes
- You don't want to pay $10+/month
- You want an app that works offline
Our Verdict
Choose Pocket Clear if: You want simplicity and privacy.
Choose Copilot if: You want automation and have the budget for it.
Try Pocket Clear Free
Simple expense tracking. No bank linking required.