KeepTrack vs Home Inventory (iOS)

Home Inventory for iOS is a one-time-purchase app that stores everything locally on your Apple device — no server, no monthly fee, no complexity. KeepTrack is the opposite: synced across every device in your household, accessible on Android and the web, with warranty email reminders and a one-click insurance export. The right choice depends on whether you are an individual on one iPhone, or a household on many devices.

Home Inventory: ~$4.99 once, iOS only, local storage KeepTrack: free to self-host, any device, synced Both: item catalog, photos, receipt attachments
Stick with Home Inventory if…

you only use Apple devices, want a true one-time purchase with no server to manage, and do not need to share your inventory with anyone else.

Switch to KeepTrack if…

you want your partner or family to have access, need the inventory on an Android phone or laptop, want warranty reminder emails, or want AI search and a formatted insurance claim export.

Feature KeepTrack Home Inventory (iOS)
Platform & Sync
Works on iPhone and iPad Yes — PWA installs to home screen Yes — native app
Works on Android Yes — PWA No — iOS only
Web browser on any laptop Yes No web interface
Syncs across all your devices Yes — all devices see the same inventory No — data stays on one device
Works without internet Yes — syncs automatically when back online Yes — always local
Cost Free to self-host ~$4.99 one-time, no subscription
Server required Yes — Docker on any machine you own or rent No — runs entirely on device
Sharing & Collaboration
Multiple household members with shared access Yes — four permission levels No — single-device, single-user
Invite partner or family by email Yes No
Public read-only share links Yes No
Core Inventory
Item catalog with photos and serial numbers Yes Yes
Rooms and location hierarchy Yes Yes
Receipt attachments Yes Yes
Receipt OCR — fills price and date from a photo Yes
CSV import and export Yes Limited export options (Apr 2026)
Smart Features
Warranty email reminders Yes — sent automatically
Depreciation calculator Yes
AI search — ask in plain English Yes
Insurance claim export (formatted PDF / CSV) Yes — adjuster-ready PDF export; not insurance-formatted
NFC tag support Yes — tap to open item
Visual floor plan view Yes
Home Assistant integration Yes

— Not documented as of April 2026.

When KeepTrack is the better fit

The whole household can use it — on any device

Invite a partner, parent, or housemate by email and they get their own login with the access level you choose. KeepTrack syncs across every device they own — iPhone, Android, laptop. Home Inventory for iOS keeps everything on one phone with no sharing and no syncing across people or devices. If more than one person in your home owns stuff, KeepTrack is a fundamentally different tool.

Not limited to the Apple ecosystem

Open KeepTrack in any browser — iPhone, Android phone, Windows laptop, or tablet. Home Inventory for iOS is Apple-only and has no web interface, so you cannot check your inventory from any non-Apple device.

Warranty emails before things expire

Log a warranty end date when you add an item and KeepTrack sends a reminder email before it lapses. Home Inventory for iOS does not document warranty reminder emails as of April 2026 — you would need to remember to check manually.

Insurance claim report without the legwork

One click generates a formatted document with photos, serial numbers, purchase prices, and depreciated values — exactly what an insurance claim requires. Home Inventory can produce a PDF but not in an insurance-specific format as of April 2026.

Where Home Inventory (iOS) has the edge

Nothing to set up beyond the App Store — and nothing to maintain

Home Inventory for iOS needs nothing beyond the one-time purchase. No Docker, no VPS, no configuration. KeepTrack requires a host machine — a home server or a cheap VPS — and an upfront setup step. For a single person on one iPhone who does not want to run infrastructure, Home Inventory's simplicity is a genuine advantage, not a compromise.

One payment, no ongoing costs or server bills

Around $4.99 once and you own it. KeepTrack is free, but self-hosting has indirect costs — a VPS runs roughly $3–6/month, and there is the time to configure and maintain it. For a single-person, single-device household, Home Inventory may be the lower total-effort option.

Data truly never leaves your device

Home Inventory stores everything locally — nothing to intercept on a network, nothing to breach on a server. KeepTrack keeps your data on a server you control, which is private, but it does involve a server and network connection.

Native iOS experience

A native app integrates more deeply with iOS — system fonts, the native share sheet, Shortcuts support, and Apple's HIG design language. KeepTrack's PWA covers most use cases but is not a native app.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main difference between KeepTrack and Home Inventory for iOS?

Home Inventory for iOS stores your data locally on your Apple device — there is no server, no sync, and no sharing. That makes it simple and very private, but your inventory is tied to one device and one person. KeepTrack runs on a server you control, syncs across all your devices, lets household members share access, and works on iOS, Android, and any web browser — not just Apple devices.

Does KeepTrack sync across devices where Home Inventory doesn't?

KeepTrack syncs your inventory to a central server you control, so any browser or device with your login sees the same data. Home Inventory for iOS stores data locally on one device and does not sync to other devices or users — if you add an item on your iPhone, your partner's iPhone will not see it.

Is KeepTrack free compared to Home Inventory's one-time cost?

Home Inventory for iOS is a one-time purchase of around $4.99 with no ongoing fees. KeepTrack is free to self-host — you run the Docker container on a machine you already own or a cheap VPS, and there is no per-user charge. The trade-off is that KeepTrack requires a server to run, while Home Inventory needs nothing beyond the App Store purchase.

Can I switch from Home Inventory for iOS to KeepTrack?

If Home Inventory for iOS supports CSV or spreadsheet export, you can bring that file into KeepTrack's import tool and map the columns. A dedicated one-click importer for Home Inventory does not currently exist. Check the app's export options; if a spreadsheet export is available, the migration is straightforward.

Does KeepTrack work on iPhone if I switch from Home Inventory?

KeepTrack's Progressive Web App works in Safari on iPhone — you can add it to your home screen and it behaves like an app, including offline operation and camera-based barcode scanning. KeepTrack also works on Android, iPad, and any laptop or desktop browser. A native iOS app is in development but not yet released.

Try KeepTrack free — no credit card

Self-host in minutes with Docker. Works on any device, for the whole household.

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