Mobile vs Web Differences
Balance is available as mobile apps (iOS and Android) and as a web application. This guide explains the differences and helps you choose the best option.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Mobile (iOS/Android) | Web Browser |
|---|---|---|
| Biometric Login | ✅ Face ID, Touch ID, Fingerprint | ❌ Password only |
| Offline Access | ✅ Limited offline viewing | ❌ Requires internet |
| Push Notifications | ✅ Coming soon | ❌ Not available |
| App Store Required | ✅ Download from store | ❌ Just visit website |
| Automatic Updates | ✅ Via app stores | ✅ Automatic (no action needed) |
| Platform | iOS 14+, Android 10+ | Any modern browser |
| Installation | Required | Not required |
| Home Screen | ✅ App icon | ❌ Can bookmark |
| Background Sync | ✅ In background | ❌ Only when open |
| Widgets | ✅ Coming soon | ❌ Not available |
| Performance | ⚡ Native speed | ⚡ Fast (web-based) |
Mobile Apps (iOS & Android)
Advantages of Mobile Apps
Convenience:
- ✅ App icon on home screen - Quick access
- ✅ Biometric login - Face ID, Touch ID, fingerprint
- ✅ Push notifications - Transaction alerts (coming soon)
- ✅ Background sync - Updates while app closed
- ✅ Offline access - View data without internet (limited)
- ✅ Native feel - Feels like other mobile apps
- ✅ Gestures - Swipe, long press, pull to refresh
Features:
- ✅ Widgets (coming) - Home screen budget view
- ✅ Siri/Google Assistant (planned) - Voice commands
- ✅ Camera - For receipts (potential future feature)
- ✅ Haptic feedback - Vibration confirmations
- ✅ Face ID/Touch ID - Secure, convenient
Performance:
- ⚡ Optimized for mobile - Native performance
- ⚡ Faster loading - Cached locally
- ⚡ Smooth animations - Native transitions
Disadvantages of Mobile Apps
Setup:
- Requires app store download
- Takes up device storage (50-100 MB)
- Must update through app store
- Separate iOS and Android versions
Limitations:
- Smaller screen (phone)
- Touch-only input (no keyboard shortcuts)
- One device at a time
Best for:
- 📱 Daily use and checking in
- 📱 Quick transaction categorization
- 📱 On-the-go budget monitoring
- 📱 Biometric login convenience
- 📱 Push notifications (when available)
iOS App Guide →
Android App Guide →
Web Application
Advantages of Web
Accessibility:
- ✅ No installation - Just visit app.balancebudget.app
- ✅ Any device - Works on any computer
- ✅ Any OS - Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook
- ✅ No storage - Doesn’t take up device space
- ✅ Auto-updates - Always latest version
- ✅ Multiple tabs - Open multiple views
Workflow:
- ✅ Larger screen - See more at once
- ✅ Keyboard shortcuts - Faster navigation
- ✅ Copy/paste - Easy data entry
- ✅ Multiple windows - Balance + banking site side-by-side
- ✅ Printing - Print reports (if needed)
Flexibility:
- ✅ Switch devices easily - No app installation
- ✅ Public computers - Can access anywhere (be careful!)
- ✅ Work computer - Use during day
- ✅ Chromebook - Full web experience
Disadvantages of Web
Convenience:
- ❌ No biometric login - Must type password
- ❌ No push notifications - No alerts
- ❌ No offline access - Requires internet
- ❌ No background sync - Only updates when open
- ❌ Must bookmark - Or type URL
Features:
- ❌ No widgets - Can’t put on desktop
- ❌ No voice commands - No Siri/Google Assistant
- ❌ No camera access - Can’t scan receipts
Performance:
- Depends on browser and internet speed
- May be slightly slower than native apps
- Animations may be less smooth
Best for:
- 💻 Initial setup and configuration
- 💻 Detailed budget planning
- 💻 Multiple account review
- 💻 Bulk categorization
- 💻 When you don’t have phone handy
- 💻 Larger screen needed
Feature Comparison Details
Authentication
Mobile:
- Biometric (Face ID, Touch ID, fingerprint)
- Password (fallback)
- Stored securely on device
- Quick access
Web:
- Password only
- Browser may offer to save password
- May stay logged in (device-dependent)
- Slower login process
Recommendation: Use mobile for daily access with biometric login. Use web when you need password or don’t have phone.
Data Syncing
Mobile:
- Background syncing (when properly configured)
- Updates even when app closed
- Pull-to-refresh manual sync
- Automatic sync on open
- 1-2 times daily automatic
Web:
- Only syncs when browser tab open
- Auto-refresh when viewing
- Manual refresh available
- Must have browser open to sync
Recommendation: Open mobile app daily to ensure syncing. Use web for real-time data viewing.
Transaction Entry
Mobile:
- Touch interface
- On-screen keyboard
- Camera for receipts (potential future)
- Voice input (device dependent)
- Quicker for on-the-go entries
Web:
- Physical keyboard (faster typing)
- Mouse/trackpad
- Copy/paste from other sources
- Better for bulk entries
- Multiple tabs for reference
Recommendation: Mobile for single quick entries. Web for batch processing.
Budget Management
Mobile:
- One category at a time
- Scrolling view
- Good for checking progress
- Quick adjustments
- Smaller screen limitations
Web:
- See more categories at once
- Larger screen easier to review
- Better for planning
- Easier to compare
- Multi-column views
Recommendation: Web for initial budget setup and monthly planning. Mobile for quick progress checks.
Bank Account Management
Mobile:
- One account at a time
- Scrolling list
- Quick connection/disconnection
- Mobile-optimized Plaid flow
Web:
- Grid or list view
- See multiple accounts
- Larger screen for Plaid connection
- Better for managing multiple accounts
Recommendation: Both work well. Use whatever is convenient.
Viewing Transactions
Mobile:
- List view
- Swipe gestures
- Long press for selection
- Pull to refresh
- Mobile-optimized filters
Web:
- Larger list
- See more at once
- Keyboard navigation
- Click-based interaction
- More filter options visible
Recommendation: Mobile for daily checking. Web for detailed review and categorization sessions.
Which Should You Use?
Use Mobile Apps When:
- ✅ Daily checking - Quick budget status
- ✅ On the go - Away from computer
- ✅ Quick entries - Add transactions immediately
- ✅ Convenience matters - Biometric login
- ✅ Notifications desired - Want alerts (future)
- ✅ Regular user - Check Balance often
Use Web When:
- ✅ Initial setup - First-time configuration
- ✅ Planning session - Monthly budget review
- ✅ Bulk work - Lots of categorization
- ✅ Detailed analysis - Need larger screen
- ✅ At computer anyway - Already working on computer
- ✅ No phone handy - Phone dead or away
Use Both!
Best practice: Use both depending on situation
Typical workflow:
- Morning: Check on mobile app (30 seconds)
- During day: Add transactions on mobile as they happen
- Evening: Quick check on mobile
- Weekly: Detailed review on web (10 minutes)
- Monthly: Budget planning session on web (30 minutes)
Everything syncs automatically between mobile and web!
Cross-Platform Experience
Data Syncing
Real-time sync:
- Changes on mobile appear on web immediately
- Changes on web appear on mobile immediately
- Works across all devices
- No manual sync needed (usually)
How it works:
- Cloud-based storage
- Automatic synchronization
- Conflict resolution (if simultaneous edits)
- Always shows most recent data
Sync timing:
- Usually instant
- May take a few seconds
- Depends on internet speed
- Pull-to-refresh on mobile for immediate sync
Settings Sync
What syncs:
- ✅ All budgets and categories
- ✅ All transactions
- ✅ Bank connections
- ✅ Account settings
- ✅ Profile information
What doesn’t sync:
- ❌ Biometric login (device-specific)
- ❌ Browser saved passwords
- ❌ Device-specific permissions
- ❌ App vs web preference
Multiple Devices
You can use Balance on:
- Multiple phones
- Multiple computers
- Tablet
- Work and personal devices
- Anywhere with internet
All devices see same data:
- Same transactions
- Same budgets
- Same bank connections
- Real-time updates
Performance Comparison
Speed
Mobile Apps:
- ⚡ Fast app launch
- ⚡ Smooth animations
- ⚡ Native performance
- ⚡ Cached data loads instantly
- ⚡ Optimized for device
Web:
- ⚡ Instant access (no launch)
- ⚡ Depends on browser
- ⚡ Depends on internet speed
- ⚡ No local cache
- ⚡ Generally very fast
Winner: Tie - both are fast for typical use
Battery Usage
Mobile Apps:
- Low battery impact
- Background sync is efficient
- Optimized for mobile
- 1-2% per day typical
Web:
- Browser uses some battery
- Depends on browser efficiency
- No background usage
Winner: Mobile apps (slight edge)
Data Usage
Mobile Apps:
- Very efficient
- 5-10 MB/month typical
- Background sync minimal
- Cached data reduces usage
Web:
- Slightly more data
- No caching between sessions
- Still very reasonable
- 10-20 MB/month
Winner: Mobile apps (slight edge)
Switching Between Platforms
Mobile to Web
- Open browser
- Go to app.balancebudget.app
- Log in with same credentials
- All your data is there!
No setup needed - just log in.
Web to Mobile
- Download Balance app
- Install from App Store or Play Store
- Open app
- Log in with same credentials
- Enable biometric login (optional)
- All your data is there!
Using Both Regularly
Seamless experience:
- No need to “switch” - just use whichever is convenient
- Data always synced
- Same login credentials
- Familiar interface on both
Tips:
- Use mobile for daily quick checks
- Use web for weekly detailed sessions
- Set up biometric on mobile
- Bookmark web app
- Keep both updated
Choosing for Your Partner
If you budget with a partner:
Each person can choose:
- One uses mobile, one uses web
- Both use mobile (on their phones)
- Both use web
- One uses both, one uses mobile only
- Any combination!
It all syncs:
- Changes made on any platform
- Visible on all platforms
- Real-time updates
- Doesn’t matter which each person uses
Recommendation for couples:
- Both download mobile apps
- Use web for planning sessions together
- Mobile for daily individual checks
Browser Compatibility (Web)
Supported Browsers
Fully supported:
- ✅ Chrome (latest 2 versions)
- ✅ Firefox (latest 2 versions)
- ✅ Safari (latest 2 versions)
- ✅ Edge (latest 2 versions)
Likely works:
- Brave
- Opera
- Vivaldi
- Other Chromium-based browsers
Not supported:
- ❌ Internet Explorer
- ❌ Very old browser versions
Requirements:
- JavaScript enabled
- Cookies enabled
- Modern CSS support
- Secure connection (HTTPS)
Browser Extensions
Compatible with:
- Password managers
- Privacy extensions
- Ad blockers (not that Balance has ads)
May interfere:
- Very aggressive privacy extensions
- Script blockers (may need to whitelist Balance)
- Extensions that modify pages heavily
Common Questions
Q: Should I use mobile app or web?
A: Both! Use mobile for daily checking, web for detailed work.
Q: Can I use Balance on multiple devices?
A: Yes! Use on as many devices as you want. Everything syncs.
Q: Do I need to choose one platform?
A: No, use whichever is most convenient at the moment.
Q: Will my partner and I see the same thing?
A: Yes, if you share an account, you see the same data on any platform.
Q: Is one version better than the other?
A: They’re equivalent. Mobile has biometric login, web has larger screen.
Q: Can I start on web and continue on mobile?
A: Yes! Everything syncs automatically.
Q: Does web version work on mobile browsers?
A: Yes, but the mobile app is better optimized for phones.
Q: Do I need to download the mobile app?
A: No, but it’s recommended for the best mobile experience.
Next Steps
Learn more about each platform:
- iOS App Guide - iPhone and iPad tips
- Android App Guide - Android device tips
- Background Sync - How automatic syncing works
- Biometric Login - Set up Face ID/fingerprint
Have questions? Contact our team - we’re here to help!