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Offline-first by design
Every record is in an encrypted SQLite database on your phone. Works in airplane mode.
MoneyWise vs Money Forward ME
MoneyWise vs Money Forward ME
Money Forward ME (マネーフォワード ME) is the dominant personal-finance aggregator in Japan, connecting to 2,500+ financial institutions — banks, credit cards, brokerage accounts, and more. MoneyWise brings local-first privacy, multi-currency tracking, and BYOK AI to users who need more than a Japan-centric cloud aggregation platform.
Two ways to track your money. Money Forward ME is Japan's largest personal-finance aggregator with 2,500+ institution connections. MoneyWise is local-first, multi-currency, and brings your own AI key.
At a glance
| MoneyWise | Money Forward ME | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $6.99/mo · $49.99/yr | $4.80/mo · $53.00/yr |
| Platforms | ||
| iOS | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | — | ✓ |
| Web | — | ✓ |
| macOS | — | — |
| Windows | — | — |
| Linux | — | — |
| Features | ||
| Multi-currency | ✓ | — |
| Offline-first | ✓ | — |
| Local encryption | ✓ | — |
| Optional cloud sync | ✓ | ✓ |
| BYOK AI (your key) | ✓ | — |
| Built-in AI (no key) | ✓ | — |
| Investments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Budgets | ✓ | ✓ |
| Receipt photos | ✓ | ✓ |
| Voice input | ✓ | — |
| Automatic bank sync | — | ✓ |
| Family sharing | ✓ | — |
| No ads | ✓ | — |
| No trackers | ✓ | — |
| Open source | — | — |
Where MoneyWise is different
▲
Bring your own AI key
Plug in your Anthropic or OpenAI key. Insights run with no extra subscription. Or use pooled credits in Pro.
●
Multi-currency from day one
Hold accounts in any currency. Convert with daily rates. No 'home currency only' lock-in.
★
No ads, no trackers
Nothing leaves your device unless you turn on optional encrypted sync. We literally cannot read your data.
AI you control
An advisor that runs on your terms
Most finance apps either don't have AI, or send your transactions to a vendor's server. MoneyWise lets you choose: bring your own Anthropic or OpenAI key, or use Pro's pooled credits. Either way, the AI sees only what you ask it to see.
- → Keys stored in iOS Keychain — never on our servers
- → Daily Brief, monthly summaries, and ad-hoc Q&A
- → Skip AI entirely — every other feature still works
Privacy, not a feature
Your data stays on your phone.
MoneyWise is built local-first. No ads, no trackers, no data sale — ever.
Offline-first
Every record is stored locally in an encrypted SQLite database. Works with airplane mode on.
Optional cloud sync
Sync across your own devices when you turn it on. Rows are encrypted at rest; we can't read them.
BYOK AI
Bring your own Anthropic or OpenAI key. Keys live in the iOS keychain and never transit our servers.
Which one is right for you?
Choose MoneyWise if MoneyWise
You handle multiple currencies, want your financial data stored locally on your device with no ads or trackers, need an AI advisor you fully control with your own API key, or you are outside Japan where Money Forward ME's institution sync does not function.
Choose Money Forward ME if
You are based in Japan, want automatic aggregation of all your Japanese bank accounts, credit cards, and investment portfolios in one place, and are comfortable with a cloud-based subscription service.
Pricing
Free for everyday use. Pro when you need more.
No trial games. No dark patterns. Cancel any time in the App Store.
Free
Everything you need on a single device.
$0
- ✓ Unlimited records, accounts, and budgets
- ✓ Investments and portfolio tracking
- ✓ AI advisor (bring your own key)
- ✓ Local encrypted storage
Pro
Pro
Sync, backup, and more across every device.
7-day free trial
$49.99 /yr
or $6.99/mo
- ✓ Everything in Free
- ✓ Multi-device encrypted cloud sync
- ✓ Automatic cloud backup
- ✓ Receipt and attachment photos
- ✓ Pooled AI credits (no API key needed)
Take back control of your money.
Free to download. Pro subscription optional.
Android · Direct download
APK · Android 8+ · Pro upgrade via Play Store
Mac App Store
Coming soon · Mac App Store
iPad
In development
Apple Watch
In development
Frequently asked questions
Is Money Forward ME available outside Japan? +
Money Forward ME can be downloaded internationally, but its core feature — connecting to 2,500+ Japanese financial institutions — only works within Japan. MoneyWise works globally and supports multi-currency accounts out of the box.
How does Money Forward ME pricing work? +
Money Forward ME has a free tier with limitations (e.g., limited account connections). Premium is ¥500/month via web or ¥720/month via App Store/Play (about $4.80/mo). An annual plan is also available. MoneyWise is free on a single device; Pro is $6.99/mo or $49.99/yr.
Does Money Forward ME store my data locally or in the cloud? +
Money Forward ME syncs all linked account data to its cloud servers. MoneyWise stores everything in an encrypted database on your device. Cloud sync in MoneyWise is optional and end-to-end encrypted.
Does Money Forward ME support multiple currencies? +
Money Forward ME is focused on the Japanese market and JPY. It does not offer multi-currency account tracking. MoneyWise supports accounts in any currency with daily exchange rates.
Does Money Forward ME have AI features? +
Money Forward ME does not currently offer an AI advisor. MoneyWise Pro includes a BYOK AI advisor — you plug in your own Anthropic or OpenAI key, so your transactions are never sent to a third-party AI vendor.
Does Money Forward ME support investment tracking? +
Yes — one of Money Forward ME's key strengths is aggregating brokerage and investment accounts alongside bank and card data. MoneyWise does not currently aggregate brokerage accounts, but provides strong expense and budget tracking.