The business model difference
Empower (formerly Personal Capital) is free because it's a lead-generation tool for Empower's wealth management arm. Sign up with over $100k in tracked assets and you'll likely get an advisor call within days, offering a paid 0.89% AUM advisory service.
WealthMap has no advisory arm. There's no one to call you. The app is a paid product, not a funnel — €5.99/month, €34.99/year, or €69.99 lifetime.
If you don't want sales calls and don't want to be a product, this is the deciding factor.
Privacy and security
Empower aggregates your accounts via Yodlee. Your bank credentials (or OAuth tokens) and transaction history flow through their infrastructure.
WealthMap has no server and no aggregator. Data lives on your iPhone. iCloud sync is opt-in and end-to-end encrypted by Apple.
Empower's 2024 1.2★ App Store rating reflects significant user dissatisfaction — particularly around the sales-call experience after signup. WealthMap is currently 5.0★.
International support
Empower is US-only. Their account aggregation, retirement planning, and investment fee analysis all assume US accounts and US tax law.
WealthMap is built for an international audience. 16 currencies, property index data for 40+ countries (ECB, UK Land Registry, FRED, OECD, BIS), and no assumptions about your country's tax system.
For expats, dual-residency individuals, or anyone holding assets in multiple countries, this matters.
Pricing
Empower is free. WealthMap is paid (€5.99/month, €34.99/year, or €69.99 lifetime).
The trade-off: Empower is free because they want to convert you to a 0.89% AUM advisory client. On a €500k portfolio, that's €4,450/year in fees. WealthMap's lifetime tier is €69.99 once.
If you don't want the advisor pitch, WealthMap pays for itself the moment you decline the first call.