If you are looking for a budget application, there is a good chance that you have met PocketGuard in your search. It has been around since 2015, and he has won many fans over the years, with praise from Android and iPhone users.
Like rocket money, PocketGuard is an excellent adjustment for the average budget, with a range of features, ease of use and an affordable price. Where it stands out the most is with its debt planning function, which can help you create a strategy to repay your exceptional sales.
Is PocketGuard the right budgeting tool for you? We took it for a road test to help you decide.
8.8
Pocket guard
As
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Debt gain planning
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Adding the safety layer
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Invoices negotiation
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Personal finance education
Does not like
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Limited trial period
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No subscription cancellation
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Unfrupted confidentiality and marketing policies
How does PocketGuard work?
POCKETGUARD works like most budgeting applications: you can connect your checks, savings, investment and credit card using advocacy and ending your data in seconds, without sharing account numbers or sensitive information.
PocketGuard automatically sorts some of your transactions in the expense categories, but I had to sort a lot of mine manually. It is not necessarily a bad thing, however. Taking more time to think about where your money will help you better manage your money.
You can also label your recurring costs, set up savings objectives and carry out all the usual budgeting actions that support most other budget applications.
The most precious feature of PocketGuard is its debt gain tool, which can help you create a payment plan, calculate the amount of interest you will pay and follow your progress.
I was disappointed that the application did not encourage me to see if I could reserve even more to reimburse the balance of my credit card. If you want an application that can challenge you to be a better budget – and keep your goals responsible – you could consider Cleo.
What we love
- Debt gain planning: Debt can be overwhelming and PocketGuard can help you create a strategy to fight yours. Many budget applications do not offer this functionality.
- Additional safety layer: PocketGuard requires a unique pin to access your account, and it also offers recognition of facial and digital fingerprints to connect.
- Invoice negotiation services: PocketGuard will automatically try to score savings on recurring invoices such as your cable, home safety and mobile phone. If the company successfully reduces your bill, it will take 40% of savings. (Rocket Money also offers this service and invoices from 30% to 60% of the savings of your first year.)
- Personal finance education: The application includes a free 20 -minute and self -guided tutorial which covers different approaches to budgeting, debt management, definition of objectives and more. Although the information is basic enough, it is useful for anyone in the first stages of creating a money plan.
What we didn’t like
- Limited trial period: The free pocketguard trial period is only seven days, which is not a ton to see if the application corresponds to your needs. I recommend that you opt for the monthly invoicing option initially if you decide to pay for the application. Although it is more expensive at $ 12.99 per month, you do not want to lock yourself in the annual cost of $ 74.99 without being sure that you will really use the application. PocketGuard has a free version, but it’s pretty naked.
- No subscription cancellation service: The application can show you your recurring subscriptions and provide instructions to cancel them, but you will have to do the legs work. Rocket money, on the other hand, can identify and cancel your subscriptions for you.
- Unclear confidentiality and marketing policies: PocketGuard says: “We do not sell your data, we do not present advertisements and we earn our money exclusively by selling subscriptions and better service.” However, the company’s privacy policy includes non-responsibility clauses on the use of your financial information to generate product and services offers from its marketing partners. When I started using the application, I had to ask him not to follow my activity on other websites.
Is PocketGuard sure?
PocketGuard checks all boxes when it comes to protecting your data. The company uses an SSL 256-bit encryption, and it goes beyond other budgetary applications by asking you to create a single PIN code for access to the account. You can also activate facial recognition and fingerprints for an additional protective layer.
Who is PocketGuard to be best suited?
PocketGuard is a solid choice if you juggle several credit card sales and want an easy way to create a payment plan and follow your progress.
Alternative to the pocketGuard budgeting application
If you are considering PocketGuard, be sure to consult Rocket Money, which was the choice of choice of CNET publishers for the best global budget application in 2024. Rocket money is just as easy to use, has a lower price and provides all the basic budgeting features you need. It offers a free subscription cancellation service and credit side monitoring, but the reimbursement tool for PocketGuard debt.
Consult our best Roundup budget applications for other options that deserve to be explored.
Manage your money more easily with PocketGuard.
PocketGuard has two price levels, one for $ 12.99 per month or another for $ 74.99 per year.
If you want help in creating a plan to get out of the debt, PocketGuard can be worth it. According to business statistics, this has helped users pay more than $ 90 million in debt. And if you have a maze of invoices and subscriptions, the application can help you negotiate some of these costs or show you how to completely cancel the service.
It depends on what you need a budgetary application. Both applications have similar features and pricing models, although rocket money is a little cheaper. However, PocketGuard has the advantage for users who want help repay the debt.
