SplashMoney - Personal Finance Manager app good for
Ive tried the most famous finances apps from Itunes Store.
This is so far the best one: simple, complete, stable... Very Good!!!
Was amazed that this splashmoney app downloaded my CIBC, Td, Paypal and even Superstore Presidents choice quicken files with a simple import! Saved me weeks typing in data compared to other apps. Wifi sync doesnt work without dropping firewall in 10.4.
Looking forward to an update as this SplashMoney app really shows promise along with (PocketMoney/Quickbank)&MoneyWell. Canadian banks use proprietary formats for data export like QIF and OFX, something a spreadsheet cant touch even when looking for conversion programs.
Quicken which came with my Mac mini never opened data exported from my Canadian bank. SplashMoney does, it offers a desktop application and could import thousands of hours of data right from a Canadian bank, MoneyWell ($40) for a desktop application and found that QuickBank for ($2) ipod app or PocketMoney ($10) have similar capabilities without the firewall and sync issues but are multiple cos and therefore not a wholly in house solution. I can download my data from Canadian bank into MoneyWell and on the go I can use QuickBank for entering data on the go. I just had to set the categories the same in MoneyWell and QuickBank and then the data moves over without a glitch. I dont have to do a thing...it was like the two programs were made for each other.
So now I finally have a portable solutions that doesnt require me to type every transaction manually, yet I do have a way to enter things on the go and compare it against what my financial institution shows.
Its a very good app for money management, but in its current form, constantly crashes. Synching to desktop app is so unstable. Hopefully SplashData fixes these crashing problems soon.
Skip to the end of the review to see new comments for version 4.7
I have used a finance package on a PDA for about 10 years - I used PMT on my Palm, Cash Organizer on my Dell Axim - and now SplashMoney on my iPhone 3G. I chose SplashMoney over PocketMoney primarily because it offered a desktop version to integrate to rather than just a standalone version.
What I like:
- I exported a QIF from CashOrganizer and imported it into SplashMoney - worked perfectly first time - instant transfer of my data
- good account reconciliation and ledger functionality - similar to CashOraganizer and PMT
- memorization of repeating transaction details and the ability to setup auto transactions
- integration to a desktop version (also see what I dont like)
What I dont like:
- Synchronization to desktop is just plain flaky. Transactions disappear or are replicated bizarrely. Example: a single credit card charge transaction on the iPhone app became a 2 different transactions on the desktop - the correct $19.93 charge and a weird $19.93 deposit to the same account. When I correct the error on the desktop and resynch - the problem can become worse - other times, transactions disappear arbitrarily. Frankly - I just cant trust the synchronization. It can often take me a half an hour to straighten the errors out. If you cant trust the synch - its not worth doing. Please note that the iPhone data remains correct for the most part - the synchronization to the desktop is where the problem lies.
- Check number functionality doesnt work. The app is supposed to auto advance the check number - it doesnt. *Maybe* this is because I imported the checking accounts - either way it doesnt work for me. I can only enter the check number for a transaction by putting it into the desktop version of the same transaction and resynching (shudder).
- Account reconciliation only is fully supported on the desktop version. On the iPhone app, there is only balancing entry functionlity that really isnt proper account reconciliation at all. To do a *proper* account reconciliation, you need to use the desktop app and synch to the iPhone.
So there you go. Its a pretty good app that still needs some work. If (like me) you are choosing this app for the desktop integration - keep looking. If you cant trust the data synch - its just a frustrating experience. The strength of this product should be its desktop integration - but it is really the Achilles heel.
Cmon SplashData - lets show the desktop version some love...
Update for Version 4.7
Added 1 star to the rating - now 4 stars due to a great new version.
- Synch functionality greatly improved. This was the Achilles Heel of Version 4.6. Now it works. Bravo!!
- Check number increment works now
- Keypad entry for numbers is a good improvement
- Nagging "out by 1 cent" reconciliation problem solved
- Payee automatically fills in when you create a new payee. Sounds simple - but this was a pain in version 4.6.
- Still no proper reconciliation functionality on the handheld although the desktop version works well.
So there you go. A great release that solves most of the problems from version 4.6. I gave the previous version a fairly harsh review - but I am happy to update it to reflect the new improvements.
Well done SplashData.
With the desktop companion, the two serve my purposes beautifully. I moved to SplashMoney from M.S. Money and I find this Program an equal in terms of basic account management including reconciliation. I use most all of Splashdatas Programs and would be lost without them.
My Current review
I like this app for our money budget. I really dont use desktop so I dont care about syncing but still hoping you will fix that area so everyone is happy.
The thing is right now this app is always crushes. That is annoying. But I still like it because all I want to know is how much will be left to me if I input all my incomes and expenses at one time. And the upcoming events do all the others for me. But please fix the crashing problem. Thank you!
--------------------
This was my comment last 23nov2009...
Wow I wasted time and money looking for an finance app that is the same as the one I had in my PDA. At last I found it. It is actually better. Wow 1.99, 2.99, 4.99, .99, 1.99. Wow 13 bucks and did not give me what I am expecting. Now I am just so so so happy. The " upcoming event " I am looking for. The so easy touch and I know right away how much will be left to me. I just hope that I had seen this long time ago. Now my search is over. And it saved me 49.99 money that I am planning to use to buy a battery for my PDA just becoz I cant find app that is the same as PDA money. That saved me a big amount of money. Thanks.
Some bad moments
Currencies addition? Commas in numbers ? This is elementary stuff. Needs a polish please. Not usable internationally right now.
Changes done to categories and payees are not transferred from Desktop to iPhone. A lot of rework!!! I have just payed it!!! What nightmare! May I get my money back?
In a nutshell: SplashMoney has excellent features, but it has been abandoned by their developers. This has been clearly my own personal experience, and Im glad other reviewers have expressed the same evaluation.
I myself have sent them improvement suggestions, various bug reports and
requests for updating (its still pre iOS 4!), and initially I would receive
some reply. Lately, they dont even bother to reply any more. In the last
few months Ive opened 4 report tickets, but they remained unrespectfully
silent.
Among the bug reports Ive sent them, there are very serious errors
involving the total amounts of the accounts; I even included images showing errors in different situations in the iPhone and in the desktop versions(!), but to no avail. I also showed them weird situations in which the iPhone version would display a black +0.00 for one zeroed account, and a red -0.00 for the other! Well, let alone the fact that characters with accent typed in the desktop version get messed up in the mobile device after sync; and the other way round the problem is the same (in fact, this even happens with their SplashID, regardless of its seeming to be the top product of the company!).
This is all a real shame. They seem not to be aware of how good their
product can be...
iPhone app does not find Mac after I follow all instructions.
I opened a ticket. If they fix the problem I will update the status here.
It has potential.
There are a few problems with this application. Primarily, it takes ages to sync with the desktop app. Which incedentally will cost you more yet again. Also, the iPhone app crashes unexpectedly and the magnifying glass editing function wont work.
Stability issues are a problem. Tends to crash after a few entries. Would be nice if you could set what date the running total shows. Ive used the SplashMoney on a Palm platform and it was a much better application. Im a little disappointed with the effort. Maybe updates will bring it up their other platforms standards.