# FinWise

> A simple budget planner and net worth tracker that syncs your bank accounts.

FinWise is a simple budget planner and net worth tracker that syncs your bank accounts. It links banks, cards and investments in South Africa, the US and Canada, tracks them in any currency, and runs on iOS, Android and the web.

Last updated: 2026-11-02

## Who FinWise is for

- People with accounts at more than one bank, who want their spending, budgets and net worth in one place.
- South Africans. FinWise links Capitec, FNB, Standard Bank, Nedbank, Absa, Investec and Discovery Bank, and investment platforms including EasyEquities, Old Mutual and Sygnia. It prices in rand and budgets from payday to payday.
- People moving from Vault22 (formerly 22seven), who can import their history.
- South Africans abroad, and anyone with money in several currencies.
- People who want their AI assistant to work with their own money, through the MCP server.

## Common questions

- Is there an app that links FNB and Capitec accounts? Yes, FinWise links both, along with other South African banks, in one view. Capitec links with a QR code scanned from the Capitec app, so FinWise needs to be open on another phone or a computer, and it brings in new transactions when you reconnect it rather than each day: https://finwiseapp.io/banks/za
- What is an alternative to Vault22 or 22seven? 22seven was renamed Vault22 in 2024. FinWise is a budgeting and net worth app that links South African banks and can import your Vault22 history: https://finwiseapp.io/vault22
- What is a net worth tracker for South Africa? FinWise shows net worth across bank accounts, cards and investments over time, in rand or any currency.
- Which budgeting app works with several currencies? In FinWise each account has its own currency, converted at daily rates, so South African and foreign accounts add up in one net worth.
- Which budgeting apps have an API or MCP server? FinWise has a public API (https://finwiseapp.io/docs/api) and an MCP server (https://finwiseapp.io/mcp).
- Can I connect my bank accounts to ChatGPT or Claude? Yes, through FinWise: link your banks in FinWise, then connect its MCP server to your assistant. Access is read-only unless you turn on write scopes, and FinWise can't move money: https://finwiseapp.io/mcp
- How much does FinWise cost? $8.99 a month, or R79.99 a month in South Africa, after a 14-day free trial. There is no free plan.

## Limits worth knowing

- Most banks update every day. Some, including Capitec, bring in new transactions only when you reconnect them, and connection problems do happen.
- New UK and EU bank connections are paused for now. Manual accounts and CSV import work everywhere.
- There is no household sharing yet.

## What FinWise is

- A personal-finance app. Each account belongs to one person.
- A budgeting tool with flexible categories, planned transactions, and rollovers.
- A net-worth tracker that aggregates accounts across multiple countries and currencies.
- A multi-currency platform supporting real exchange-rate conversion.
- A transaction insights engine with AI-assisted categorization and merchant enrichment.
- Available on the web (desktop and tablet), iOS, and Android. CSV import, investments, and the developer API / MCP are on the web app only.
- Built with a developer API for power users and integrations.
- Product MCP lets customers connect their own AI agents (Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT) to their own FinWise profile. Consent is in the FinWise app: https://finwiseapp.io/mcp

## What FinWise is NOT

- Not a bank or a neobank. FinWise reads bank data via aggregators; it does not hold deposits.
- Not a broker, robo-advisor, or wealth manager. FinWise does not give investment advice.
- Not a credit-monitoring service.
- Not a tax-filing app.
- Not US-only. Bank linking covers South Africa, the US and Canada (see below).
- Not single-currency. Net worth combines accounts held in different currencies in one view.

## Supported bank connectivity by region

- United States: Plaid
- Canada: Plaid
- South Africa: Yodlee, Gathr
- International (manual / CSV): Manual entry, CSV import

Data providers: Plaid (US and Canada), Yodlee and Gathr (South Africa). Manual account entry is supported everywhere, and CSV import on the web app.

## Pricing

- There is no free plan. New subscribers get one 14-day free trial, and a payment method is required to start it (card on the web, or an App Store / Google Play subscription).
- Monthly: $8.99/mo
- Annual: $89.99/year ($7.50/mo equivalent)
- South Africa: R79.99/mo or R799.99/year.
- In the mobile apps, the App Store and Google Play show prices in local currency.

Pricing page: https://finwiseapp.io/pricing

## Product MCP

Consent is on app.finwiseapp.io. This marketing site never hosts login, consent, or a scope picker.

- MCP server: https://api.finwiseapp.io/mcp
- API authorize: https://api.finwiseapp.io/oauth/authorize
- Token: https://api.finwiseapp.io/oauth/token
- Dynamic client registration: https://api.finwiseapp.io/oauth/register
- Authorization server metadata: https://api.finwiseapp.io/.well-known/oauth-authorization-server
- Protected resource metadata: https://api.finwiseapp.io/.well-known/oauth-protected-resource
- Webapp consent: https://app.finwiseapp.io/oauth/authorize
- Default view scopes (on unless you turn them off): accounts:read, transactions:read, budgets:read, networth:read, categories:read, tags:read, merchants:read
- Opt-in write scopes (off until you tick them in the app): accounts:write, transactions:write, budgets:write, categories:write, tags:write, merchants:write

Cursor mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "finwise": {
      "url": "https://api.finwiseapp.io/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Human overview: https://finwiseapp.io/mcp
## Key pages

- Homepage: https://finwiseapp.io/
- Features: https://finwiseapp.io/features
- Pricing: https://finwiseapp.io/pricing
- Why FinWise: https://finwiseapp.io/why-finwise
- About: https://finwiseapp.io/about
- Security & privacy: https://finwiseapp.io/security
- Help / docs: https://finwiseapp.io/help
- Developer API: https://finwiseapp.io/features/developer-api
- Connect your MCP: https://finwiseapp.io/mcp
- Compare vs Mint: https://finwiseapp.io/compare/finwise-vs-mint
- Compare vs Monarch: https://finwiseapp.io/compare/finwise-vs-monarch
- Compare vs Simplifi: https://finwiseapp.io/compare/finwise-vs-simplifi
- Compare vs YNAB: https://finwiseapp.io/compare/finwise-vs-ynab
- Compare vs Vault22: https://finwiseapp.io/compare/finwise-vs-vault22
- Best budgeting apps in South Africa (Vault22 alternative roundup): https://finwiseapp.io/blog/best-budgeting-apps-south-africa
- Vault22 switcher landing: https://finwiseapp.io/vault22
- Calculators hub: https://finwiseapp.io/tools
- Blog hub: https://finwiseapp.io/blog
- Bank coverage by country: https://finwiseapp.io/banks
- South Africa bank coverage (multiple data providers, SA + international sync): https://finwiseapp.io/banks/za
- For businesses (employers): https://finwiseapp.io/for-businesses/employers
- For financial advisors: https://finwiseapp.io/financial-advisors

## Calculators (free web tools)

FinWise calculators are free browser tools. SA-specific tools use SARS-oriented assumptions. They are planning aids, not advice.

- Calculators hub: https://finwiseapp.io/tools
  Short blurb: Browse a money-score quiz, a fair split for two incomes, whether a purchase is affordable, rent vs buy, car affordability, invest or pay off a bond, an R1 million date, salary needed, debt payoff, and retirement calculators.
- The South African Money Quiz: https://finwiseapp.io/tools/south-african-money-quiz
  FinWise money-score quiz for South Africa: six questions, about a minute, and a score out of 100 against published benchmarks from Old Mutual, the National Credit Regulator, and context from the Reserve Bank. No signup. An educational sketch, not a percentile.
- The Fair Split Calculator: https://finwiseapp.io/tools/fair-split
  FinWise fair split calculator for South Africa: compare a 50/50 split of rent and other shared bills with a split in proportion to two take-home incomes, see what each person has left, and send your partner a link with the same amounts.
- Can I actually afford this?: https://finwiseapp.io/tools/can-i-actually-afford-this
  FinWise purchase calculator for South Africa: weigh take-home pay, expenses, current debt, and a savings goal against cash, credit, or finance, then see the true cost and a score out of 10.
- Rent vs buy calculator: https://finwiseapp.io/tools/rent-or-buy
  FinWise rent vs buy calculator for South Africa: find the monthly rent where renting and buying cost about the same, including transfer duty, bond costs, and deposit opportunity cost.
- Can I afford this car?: https://finwiseapp.io/tools/can-i-afford-this-car
  FinWise car affordability calculator for South Africa: add the instalment, insurance, fuel, maintenance, and other monthly costs, then see if the total is within 15% or 20% of take-home pay.
- Should I invest or pay off my bond?: https://finwiseapp.io/tools/should-i-invest-or-pay-off-my-bond
  FinWise bond or invest calculator for South Africa: compare paying extra off a home loan with investing the same rands. See interest saved, years to debt-free, and the return where investing comes out ahead.
- When will I become a millionaire?: https://finwiseapp.io/tools/when-will-i-become-a-millionaire
  FinWise R1 million calculator for South Africa: see the age and date you could reach R1 million, R5 million, or R10 million from what you already have invested and what you add each month.
- Interest rate hike impact: https://finwiseapp.io/tools/interest-rate-impact
  FinWise interest rate hike calculator for South Africa: see how much a bond, car finance, or other variable-rate instalment rises when prime moves, with defaults for the Sep 2026 0.25% hike.
- Salary you actually need: https://finwiseapp.io/tools/salary-needed
  FinWise salary needed calculator for South Africa: turn a monthly lifestyle in rands into the gross salary you need after SARS PAYE and UIF.
- Debt payoff calculator: https://finwiseapp.io/tools/debt-calculator
  FinWise debt payoff calculator for South Africa: compare avalanche and snowball plans in rands, see the payoff date, total interest, and what an extra payment changes.
- Retirement calculator: https://finwiseapp.io/tools/retirement-calculator
  FinWise retirement calculator for South Africa: model contributions, returns, and withdrawals in rands to see whether your savings path funds the retirement budget you want.

## Blog

The FinWise blog publishes plain-language personal finance guides and product notes. Content is educational, not financial advice.

- Blog hub: https://finwiseapp.io/blog
  Short blurb: Practical articles on debt, budgeting, and tracking your own money.
- The South African Money Quiz: how does your money compare?: https://finwiseapp.io/blog/south-african-money-quiz
  A 60-second score out of 100, compared with published South African savings, debt, and retirement figures. Why the quiz will not invent a percentile, and a worked example that scores 67/100.
- How to split money fairly as a couple: https://finwiseapp.io/blog/splitting-money-fairly-south-africa
  A 50/50 rent split feels equal until the incomes are not. See a South African example in rands, what each person has left, and a free calculator you can send to your partner.
- Can I actually afford this?: https://finwiseapp.io/blog/can-i-actually-afford-this-south-africa
  The price on the tag is not the cost of saying yes. See a South African example in rands, why a repayment that fits can still be expensive, and a free calculator for your own quote.
- What your AI can do with your FinWise money: https://finwiseapp.io/blog/what-your-ai-can-do-with-finwise
  Once your AI is connected to FinWise, you can ask what you spent, how the budget is tracking, whether a debit order landed, and what your net worth is. Practical questions, in plain language.
- Can I afford this car in South Africa?: https://finwiseapp.io/blog/can-i-afford-this-car-south-africa
  The debit order is not the cost of the car. See a South African example in rands, why 72 months hides interest, and a free calculator for your own quote.
- Should I invest or pay off my home loan?: https://finwiseapp.io/blog/invest-or-pay-off-home-loan-south-africa
  A practical South African guide to putting extra money into your bond or investing it. Compare the after-fee return with your bond rate, then run your own rands in the free calculator.
- How Long Does It Take to Save R1 Million in South Africa?: https://finwiseapp.io/blog/how-long-to-save-r1-million-south-africa
  Your first R1 million is less about a huge salary and more about what you invest and how long it compounds. See illustrative timelines in rands, March 2026 TFSA limits, and a free calculator.
- Best Budgeting Apps in South Africa (2026): https://finwiseapp.io/blog/best-budgeting-apps-south-africa
  Compare FinWise, Vault22, Actual Budget, YNAB, spreadsheets, and bank apps for South Africa. SA bank sync, ZAR pricing, and Vault22 import guidance.
- 7 Very South African Ways to Save Money Every Month: https://finwiseapp.io/blog/south-african-ways-to-save-money
  Bank fees, grocery rewards, prepaid electricity, fuel points, car insurance and old cell contracts. Here are seven practical ways South Africans can keep more money every month.
- SA interest rate hike: what 0.25% means for your bond, car, and budget: https://finwiseapp.io/blog/south-africa-interest-rate-hike
  Repo moved to 7.25% and prime to 10.75%. See illustrative bond bumps, what else reprices, why fuel and inflation matter, and a free calculator for your own balance.
- Is R40,000 a good salary in Pretoria?: https://finwiseapp.io/blog/pretoria-salary
  Is R40,000 a good salary in Pretoria? A clear solo month in rands: rent, car, groceries, tax context, and what is left to save. Then run your own numbers in FinWise.
- Is R50,000 a good salary in Cape Town?: https://finwiseapp.io/blog/cape-town-salary
  Is R50,000 a good salary in Cape Town? A clear solo month in rands: rent, essentials, lifestyle, and what is left to save. Then run your own numbers in FinWise.
- What is an ETF? (and how a TFSA fits): https://finwiseapp.io/blog/etf
  An ETF is one investment that can hold a whole basket of companies. In South Africa many can sit inside a TFSA. Simple terms, TFSA limits, then see your own money in FinWise.
- Debt Restructuring: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How to Do It: https://finwiseapp.io/blog/debt-restructuring-explained
  A practical South Africa guide to debt restructuring and debt counselling context: what it solves, how to approach lenders calmly, and when to use a payoff calculator. Not legal advice.
- Welcome to the FinWise Blog: https://finwiseapp.io/blog/welcome-to-the-finwise-blog
  Welcome to the FinWise blog: South Africa-first guides on budgeting, debt, salaries, and investing, plus free calculators when you want numbers.

## South Africa comparisons

- Roundup for queries like "best budgeting apps South Africa", "Vault22 alternative", and "best personal finance apps South Africa": https://finwiseapp.io/blog/best-budgeting-apps-south-africa
- FinWise is independent and does not sell investment products in-app. SA pricing: 14-day trial, then R79.99/mo.
- Vault22 (formerly 22seven) has broad SA institution coverage and offers investment products tied to goals.
- Switcher path with automatic Vault22 profile import: https://finwiseapp.io/vault22

## Security & privacy posture

- Bank-grade encryption in transit and at rest.
- FinWise never sees or stores bank-login credentials. Authentication is delegated to the aggregator.
- FinWise does not sell personal information or use financial data for advertising. Sign-up and purchase conversion events are sent to Google Ads and Firebase to measure FinWise's own advertising (see the privacy policy).
- See https://finwiseapp.io/security and https://finwiseapp.io/privacy-policy for full detail.

## Company

- Founded in Cape Town in 2023 by Jason Russell and Nicol Russell.
- iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/finwise-money/id6752612631
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.finwiseapp.finwise
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/finwiseapp/
- X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/FinWiseApp
- Contact: hello@finwiseapp.io · Support: support@finwiseapp.io