Copilot is run by a small independent team, not a data-harvesting mega-corporation. The iOS-first approach allows them to leverage Apple's privacy features. However, bank syncing still requires Plaid, sharing your credentials with this third-party aggregator. The subscription model means no ads, but financial data is still collected and processed on their servers.
| Data Type | Collected | Shared | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account and identity | Yes | Service Providers | No |
| Bank credentials | Yes | Plaid | No |
| Transaction data | Yes | Service Providers | No |
| Account balances | Yes | Service Providers | No |
| App usage analytics | Yes | Analytics | No |
Bank syncing goes through Plaid, which stores your bank credentials and maintains ongoing access to your transaction data. You can't avoid Plaid if you want to sync accounts.
Copilot collects comprehensive financial data—all linked accounts, balances, and transactions—creating a detailed view of your finances on their servers.
Unlike YNAB, Copilot is designed around bank syncing. Manual entry exists but the app pushes users toward linking accounts for full functionality.
App usage data is collected for product improvement and analytics, though less extensively than free, ad-supported alternatives.
Copilot is run by a small team without the data monetization pressures of VC-backed or public companies. Less corporate data harvesting than Intuit alternatives.
Leverages iOS privacy features like secure enclave and Face ID. Some data processing happens on-device when possible.
Subscription model means no ads and no financial product recommendations based on your spending patterns.
Users can export their transaction and budget data, maintaining data portability.