Pocket Clear vs PocketGuard (2026)

Two "Pocket" apps, very different approaches. PocketGuard focuses on showing what you can spend. Pocket Clear focuses on simple expense tracking. Here's how they compare.

Quick Comparison

What PocketGuard Does

PocketGuard's main feature is "In My Pocket" — a number showing how much you can safely spend after accounting for:

• Upcoming bills
• Savings goals
• Regular expenses

It requires bank linking to calculate this automatically.

What Pocket Clear Does

Pocket Clear focuses on simple manual expense tracking:

• Log expenses in seconds
• See where money goes
• Set category budgets (Pro)
• No bank linking needed

PocketGuard's Strengths

• "In My Pocket": Unique spending limit feature
• Bill tracking: Knows when bills are due
• Automatic import: Transactions appear automatically
• Subscription finder: Identifies recurring charges

PocketGuard's Weaknesses

• $155/year: One of the most expensive options
• Requires bank linking: Privacy concerns
• Sync issues: Bank connections can break
• Ads in free version: Push to upgrade constantly
• Misses cash: Only tracks linked accounts

Pocket Clear's Strengths

• Free or $12/year: 10x cheaper than PocketGuard
• Complete privacy: No bank access, no data sharing
• Works offline: Log expenses anywhere
• Simple and fast: No learning curve
• Tracks everything: Cash, UPI, cards — all manually

Pocket Clear's Weaknesses

• Manual entry required: Takes effort (but builds awareness)
• No "In My Pocket" feature: Different approach
• No automatic bill tracking: Use budget alerts instead

Price Over Time

Who Should Choose What?

Choose PocketGuard if:

• You want automatic transaction import
• The "In My Pocket" feature appeals to you
• You're comfortable with bank linking
• You have $155/year to spend

Choose Pocket Clear if:

• Privacy matters to you
• You want simple expense tracking
• You use cash or UPI sometimes
• You prefer paying less (or nothing)