Please note my updates below as they nullify some of what I've written below.
This is a visually attractive program particularly if you use the option to assign colors to different categories. The check register is larger and easier to utilize than Quicken's. This is both good and bad as you don't see more than 12 transactions at any one time while reconciling which led to duplicate entries that are hard to see since there isn't a separate reconciliation window. You work in a window that looks almost identical to the register.
Assigning categories takes a little longer than Quicken. I wish it had Quicken's two digit decimal substitution, but you must type the decimal when entering dollars and cents. I'd like to see Quicken's + - functions for changing the date and check number up and down; instead you must type each in which is time consuming. You must use the menu bar more often than Quicken as it doesn't have as many icon options though you can modify the tool bar. "POS" (point of sale) is the default entry instead of the check number which I find odd. I'll probably leave it at that and let it stand for EFT (electronic fund transfer) which Quicken uses. So far I haven't found a way to schedule transactions easily.
I wanted to write this after using it the first time so a new buyer would get an idea of the "issues" that might crop up. I'm very pleased with the ease with which I have made the transition though one account didn't transfer. You do have to look around for features and hover the cursor over them, and you'll find some unidentified shortcuts that are available. I plan on writing an update in a few months. Perhaps the end of the year reports will be the most telling when I am preparing for taxes. I haven't begun to explore all that it can do, and I'm left with the feeling that it is cleaner though less sophisticated than my Quicken program.
To say the least, the check register's display is confusing. It just took me 15' to get the "full register" back as it was last reconciled. Would someone out there please write a decent manual to accompany this program? It's certainly intuitive; it's all up to you to discover what works and how. 3 stars for now! There are so many Quicken features I miss that could have easily have been incorporated. There are far too many unnecessary keystrokes.
UPDATE: I've lowered the rating to one star. I've just spent 3 hours getting it to reconcile. My wife double checked it and had the same problems. After so many years using Quicken, I find this tedious, unnecessarily time consuming and difficult to use. One other MAJOR failing is that you can accidentally record the same check number twice and it will accept it and not raise a flag like Quicken. This caused most of the reconciling problems. Combine that with a window that only allows you to see a dozen transactions and it's easy to enter a transaction twice particularly if the day you wrote the check is two weeks before when it was cashed. It just isn't worth all the additional effort. I have gone back to Quicken and will not update to Lion until I have to. I need Quicken too much. When I do, I'll do my business on an older iMac that I replaced with a newer model.
UPDATE #2! I downloaded an update to this version hoping they might have resolved some problems. Nope. I reinstalled and transferred my Quicken data and it dumped parts of six different accounts randomly into my checking account giving me a balance in 7 figures! It's simply maddening.
iBank 4
3 | 305 ratings
Price:
Last update: 09-05-2024
About this item
Intuitive, full-featured personal finance software with easy, powerful, familiar Mac interface
Monitor account balances at a glance, track investments, maintain budgets, and manage money
Full set of essential features including custom check printing or password protection for private account data
Set up and organize existing accounts with easy downloading of transactions from most major financial institutions
Import transactions and categories from versions of Quicken for Mac and PC or from MS Money
Compatible with Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion
Monitor account balances at a glance, track investments, maintain budgets, and manage money
Full set of essential features including custom check printing or password protection for private account data
Set up and organize existing accounts with easy downloading of transactions from most major financial institutions
Import transactions and categories from versions of Quicken for Mac and PC or from MS Money
Compatible with Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion
Product information
| UPC | 897133001055 777786295622 |
|---|---|
| ASIN | B003WT1KAK |
| Release date | September 22, 2010 |
| Customer Reviews |
3.0 3.0 out of 5 stars
305 ratings
3.0 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #438 in Software (See Top 100 in Software) #7 in Personal Finance (Software) #9 in Backup & Recovery #168 in Mac Software |
| Product Dimensions | 7.6 x 5.4 x 1.5 inches; 4 ounces |
| Type of item | CD-ROM |
| Language | English |
| Item model number | 00001055 |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Item Weight | 4 ounces |
| Manufacturer | CSDC |
| Date First Available | July 20, 2010 |
Top reviews from the United States
Historken
Beautiful register design but the program is awkward to use and time consuming in reconciliation
Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2011James Edwards
Great alternative to Quicken 2007
Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2011