A more powerful Simplifi alternative for Mac and iPhone users.
Simplifi is a capable spending tracker, but it was not built for Mac users who want serious financial management. Banktivity gives you native apps for Mac, iPhone and iPad, real investment tracking, envelope budgeting and retirement planning that Simplifi does not offer.
Simplifi by Quicken does the basics well enough — bank sync, spending categories, a simple budget view. But for Apple users who want a native Mac experience, deeper investment tracking, envelope budgeting or serious long-term planning tools, Simplifi runs out of road quickly. Banktivity is built for exactly that next level of financial management, without sacrificing the native Apple experience you expect.
Where Simplifi Falls Short
Simplifi is a Quicken product built for the web first. The limitations that matter most to Apple users are consistent and well documented.
No native Mac app
Simplifi runs in your browser on Mac. There is no native macOS application, which means no offline access, no native keyboard shortcuts and none of the performance or feel you get from software built specifically for macOS. For Apple users who expect their software to feel at home on their Mac, Simplifi never quite does.
Investment tracking stops at balances
Simplifi shows you what your investment accounts are worth. It does not track individual securities, portfolio performance, ROI, IRR, cost basis or capital gains. For anyone managing a brokerage account, retirement account or any kind of investment portfolio, Simplifi requires a second tool to do what Banktivity handles natively.
No envelope budgeting
Simplifi offers category-based budgeting — you set spending limits and track against them. It does not support the envelope method where every dollar is assigned a purpose before you spend it. For users who want a more intentional, zero-based approach to budgeting, Simplifi does not go there.
Goal planning is limited to savings targets
Simplifi supports savings goals — setting aside money toward a car, a down payment or a vacation. It does not have a retirement planner, a college savings tool, what-if scenario modeling or any of the deeper planning tools that connect your day-to-day finances to your long-term future.
Your data lives on their servers
Simplifi is cloud-only. Your complete financial history lives on Quicken's servers. Banktivity stores your data locally on your devices, with end-to-end encrypted sync when you want to access it across Mac, iPhone and iPad.
Why Banktivity
The depth Simplifi does not have, in a native Apple app.
Banktivity is built from the ground up for Mac, iPhone and iPad. It is not a web app and it is not a Windows product ported over. Everything from the interface to the keyboard shortcuts to the sync feels native because it is native.
Beyond the platform, Banktivity covers what Simplifi leaves out: real investment tracking, envelope budgeting, retirement planning, local data storage and a full reporting suite. For the complete picture of what Banktivity offers, see our personal finance software for Mac overview.
What you gain
- Truly native Mac, iPhone and iPad apps
- Local data storage — your data stays on your devices
- End-to-end encrypted Cloud Sync
- Full investment tracking — securities, ROI, IRR, capital gains
- Envelope budgeting and category budgeting
- Retirement planner and college savings planner
- 10+ report types including tax, forecast and net worth
- 30-day free trial, no credit card required
What to know before switching
- Mac and iOS only — no Windows or Android
- More depth than Simplifi — some setup time to get the most out of it
- Simplifi CSV export can be imported into Banktivity
Banktivity vs Simplifi
A native Mac app versus a web product — and everything that comes with that difference.
The gap between Banktivity and Simplifi starts with the platform and runs through investment depth, budgeting methodology, planning tools and data privacy.
| Feature | Banktivity | Simplifi |
|---|---|---|
| Platform & Data | ||
| Native Mac desktop appBuilt for macOS — not a web app | Native | |
| Native iPhone + iPad appFull-featured iOS — not a web wrapper | Native | Companion |
| Offline accessFull functionality without an internet connection | ||
| Local data storageYour data stays on your devices | ||
| End-to-end encrypted cloud syncProvider cannot access your data | Advanced | |
| Multiple ledgersManage independent account sets for family or business | ||
| No data monetizationYour data is never sold or shared with advertisers | ||
| Budgeting | ||
| Envelope budgetingFull zero-based envelope budget methodology | Advanced | |
| Category-based budgetingMonthly spending plan by category | ||
| Annual budget planningPlan all 12 months — handle irregular expenses | Advanced | Limited |
| Variable month-to-month budgetingSet different budget amounts for each month | ||
| Day-by-day actual vs projectedSee how your spending tracks against your budget day by day | ||
| Scheduled transactions in budgetRecurring bills automatically reflected in your budget | Limited | |
| Goals & Planning | ||
| Savings goalsSave toward a specific target amount | ||
| Retirement plannerFull forecast with Social Security, inflation and spouse modeling | Advanced | |
| College savings plannerDedicated education savings tool | Advanced | |
| Debt payoff goals | Advanced | |
| What-if scenario modelingTest financial decisions before you make them | Advanced | |
| Investment Tracking | ||
| Investment account trackingTrack buys, sells, dividends, options, IRR, ROI | Advanced | Limited |
| Portfolio performance — IRR & ROIInstitutional-grade performance metrics | Advanced | |
| Tax lot managementChoose exactly which lots to sell for tax purposes | Advanced | |
| Capital gains reportingShort and long-term gains, clearly separated | Advanced | |
| Portfolio drill-down on iPhone and iPadPer-account performance view on mobile | Advanced | |
| Cryptocurrency tracking | ||
| Reporting | ||
| Ad-hoc reportingBuild and run custom reports on the fly | Advanced | Limited |
| Net worth reportTrack assets and liabilities over time | Advanced | Limited |
| Report export — PDF, CSV, Tab-delimitedPortable reports for your CPA or records | Advanced | Limited |
| Tax summary report | ||
| Forecast report | ||
| Privacy & Pricing | ||
| Annual subscription priceEntry-level cost per year | From $59.99 | $83.88 |
| Free trial — no credit card required30 days, no payment details needed | ||
| 100% US-based supportUnlimited email and live chat with the team that builds the app | ||
| Feature | Banktivity | Simplifi |
|---|---|---|
| Platform & Data | ||
| Native Mac desktop appBuilt for macOS — not a web app | Native | |
| Native iPhone + iPad appFull-featured iOS — not a web wrapper | Native | Companion |
| Offline accessFull functionality without an internet connection | ||
| Local data storageYour data stays on your devices | ||
| End-to-end encrypted cloud syncProvider cannot access your data | Advanced | |
| Multiple ledgersManage independent account sets for family or business | ||
| No data monetizationYour data is never sold or shared with advertisers | ||
| Budgeting | ||
| Envelope budgetingFull zero-based envelope budget methodology | Advanced | |
| Category-based budgetingMonthly spending plan by category | ||
| Annual budget planningPlan all 12 months — handle irregular expenses | Advanced | Limited |
| Variable month-to-month budgetingSet different budget amounts for each month | ||
| Day-by-day actual vs projectedSee how your spending tracks against your budget day by day | ||
| Scheduled transactions in budgetRecurring bills automatically reflected in your budget | Limited | |
| Goals & Planning | ||
| Savings goalsSave toward a specific target amount | ||
| Retirement plannerFull forecast with Social Security, inflation and spouse modeling | Advanced | |
| College savings plannerDedicated education savings tool | Advanced | |
| Debt payoff goals | Advanced | |
| What-if scenario modelingTest financial decisions before you make them | Advanced | |
| Investment Tracking | ||
| Investment account trackingTrack buys, sells, dividends, options, IRR, ROI | Advanced | Limited |
| Portfolio performance — IRR & ROIInstitutional-grade performance metrics | Advanced | |
| Tax lot managementChoose exactly which lots to sell for tax purposes | Advanced | |
| Capital gains reportingShort and long-term gains, clearly separated | Advanced | |
| Portfolio drill-down on iPhone and iPadPer-account performance view on mobile | Advanced | |
| Cryptocurrency tracking | ||
| Reporting | ||
| Ad-hoc reportingBuild and run custom reports on the fly | Advanced | Limited |
| Net worth reportTrack assets and liabilities over time | Advanced | Limited |
| Report export — PDF, CSV, Tab-delimitedPortable reports for your CPA or records | Advanced | Limited |
| Tax summary report | ||
| Forecast report | ||
| Privacy & Pricing | ||
| Annual subscription priceEntry-level cost per year | From $59.99 | $83.88 |
| Free trial — no credit card required30 days, no payment details needed | ||
| 100% US-based supportUnlimited email and live chat with the team that builds the app | ||
Want the full feature-by-feature breakdown?
Envelope Budgeting
A budget that tells you what you can spend before you spend it.
Simplifi tracks your spending against category limits. Banktivity goes further with envelope budgeting — where every dollar of income is assigned a purpose before you spend it. You know exactly what is available in each category, what is reserved for upcoming expenses and what happens when you overspend somewhere. It is a more intentional approach to money management, and it is built into Banktivity alongside traditional category budgeting for users who prefer that method.
Investment Tracking
Real investment tracking — not just account balances.
Simplifi shows you what your investment accounts are worth. Banktivity shows you what is inside them. Individual securities, portfolio performance, buys, sells, dividends, options, ROI, IRR and capital gains — all tracked in the same app you use for your budget and reports. See everything Banktivity offers for investment tracking.
Goal and Retirement Planning
Beyond savings goals — planning for where you actually want to end up.
Simplifi lets you save toward a target — a car, a down payment, a vacation. That is a useful feature, but it is not financial planning. Banktivity goes considerably further with dedicated tools for retirement planning, college savings and long-term goal modeling that connect your day-to-day finances to the future you are working toward.
Reports and Insights
Understand your complete financial picture — not just your spending.
Simplifi offers spending summaries and cash flow views. Banktivity gives you a full reporting suite — income and expense, net worth over time, payee breakdowns, investment performance, tax summaries and forward-looking forecasts — so you can understand every layer of your financial life.
What Customers Say
Real customers who wanted more from their financial app.
Many Banktivity customers came looking for something with more depth — real investment tracking, meaningful reports and tools that grow with their financial life.
“Best. Financial. Software. Ever. (And I've used MANY!) If you really want financial software that's both easy to use and powerful, this is the one. I love how it syncs across devices and from my bank accounts.”
– Raymond, Ontario, Canada
“Managing cash-flow was a challenge. Now decision making on spending is so much simpler and objective. I can plan my life for fun and my responsibilities proactively.”
– Craig, Washington, DC
“Banktivity is intuitive and easy to use. It gives me peace of mind and keeps all my money-related information in one place.”
– Debbie, Texas
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Banktivity a good replacement for Simplifi?
Yes, particularly for Apple users who want a native Mac experience and deeper financial tools. Banktivity adds real investment tracking, envelope budgeting, retirement planning, local data storage and a native Mac app — none of which Simplifi offers. For the full picture, see our personal finance software for Mac overview.
Does Banktivity have a native Mac app?
Yes. Banktivity is built natively for macOS, iOS and iPadOS. It is not a web app. It runs as a standalone application with full offline access, native keyboard support and the performance and feel of software built specifically for Apple devices.
Does Banktivity track investments better than Simplifi?
Significantly. Simplifi shows investment account balances. Banktivity tracks individual securities, portfolio performance, buys, sells, dividends, options, ROI, IRR and lot-specific capital gains — all within the same app you use for budgeting. See our full investment tracking guide.
Does Banktivity support envelope budgeting?
Yes. Banktivity supports envelope budgeting — where every dollar of income is assigned to a category before you spend it — alongside traditional category budgeting. Simplifi only offers category-based budgeting.
Does Banktivity have retirement planning tools?
Yes. Banktivity includes a full retirement planner with forecast modeling, Social Security, inflation, investment growth rates and spouse support. Simplifi has basic savings goals but no retirement planning tools.
Can I import my Simplifi data into Banktivity?
Yes. Simplifi allows you to export your transaction history as a CSV file, which Banktivity can import. Your transaction history can make the move with you.
Does Banktivity store my data locally?
Yes. Banktivity stores your financial data on your own devices. Simplifi is cloud-only, meaning your complete financial history lives on Quicken's servers. If you choose to sync across devices with Banktivity, that sync is end-to-end encrypted.
Does Banktivity work on iPhone and iPad?
Yes. Banktivity runs natively on Mac, iPhone and iPad with end-to-end encrypted sync across all your devices. Learn more about our personal finance app for iPhone and iPad.