ProofstayCompare
Proofstay vs TaxBird
Quick answer
Both track the days you spend in each state, province or country for tax residency. TaxBird records automatically in the background and costs $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year after a 30-day trial.[1] Proofstay records when you open the app and from your photos, proofs each record so later changes show, keeps everything on your iPhone with no account, and costs $29.95 a year for Plus.[4,5]
We make Proofstay. Facts about other apps come from their App Store listings, websites and privacy policies, checked on 26 Oct 2026; prices, ratings and features change. Ratings are for one App Store country. Spot an error? Tell us and we will correct it.
Side by side
TaxBird and Proofstay at a glance
| Proofstay | TaxBird | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free to record, every rule. Plus: $5/month, $20/6 months, $29.95/year (7-day trial on 6 and 12 months) | $4.99/month or $39.99/year; 30-day free trial[1] |
| Rules and places | Schengen 90/180, US states (incl. New York), US Substantial Presence Test, 182-day visitor, Ontario OHIP, UK Statutory Residence Test, countries | Countries worldwide, US states, Canadian provinces, New York City[1] |
| How days are recorded | An approximate location (about 1 km) when you open the app, at most once an hour; past days rebuilt from the date and place of your photos; tickets and receipts; manual entry. No continuous background GPS | Automatic background location tracking; planned travel for projections[1] |
| Reports | Audit report PDF for any period (Plus), CSV and the raw proofed log (free, always) | Yearly reports to share with your accountant ("Full Report Summary" and "Full Report Detail")[1,2] |
| Tamper-evident log | Yes: each entry carries the fingerprint (SHA-256) of the one before; corrections are new entries | Not stated[1] |
| Account and data | No account, no server holding your days; on the iPhone and, if you turn on backup, your own iCloud. No analytics in the app | Registration and an account profile; App Store privacy label lists Location, Contact Info and Identifiers as data linked to you. The privacy policy (last modified 11/02/2020) says: "we may provide location information we collect to third parties for the purpose of providing advertising relevant to you."[1,3] |
| App Store rating | Not yet on the App Store | 3.94 (244 ratings, US)[1] |
TaxBird is the better choice if
- you want fully automatic background recording without opening an app[1]
- you need New York City tracked separately from the rest of the state[1]
- you need it today: TaxBird is on the App Store, Proofstay is not yet
Proofstay is the better choice if
- you want the record to stay on your iPhone, with no account[5]
- you want a record that shows any later change, for an audit[6]
- you want past days rebuilt from your photos, and tickets attached to the day they belong to
- you also need Schengen, the Substantial Presence Test, OHIP or the UK test counted in the same app
Sources
- Apple App Store (US), TaxBird - Residency Tracker. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- TaxBird, Home page. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- TaxBird, Privacy policy (last modified 11/02/2020). Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- Proofstay, Proofstay: features and pricing. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- Proofstay, Privacy policy. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
- Proofstay, About: how the rules are tested. Checked 26 Oct 2026.
FAQ
Questions
How much is TaxBird?
TaxBird lists $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year, with a 30-day free trial (App Store, checked 26 Oct 2026).
Does Proofstay track in the background like TaxBird?
No. Proofstay takes an approximate location when you open the app, at most once an hour, and fills earlier days from your photos, to avoid draining the battery. TaxBird records in the background.
Where Proofstay fits
Proof first, counting second.
Proofstay records the country, US state or Canadian province you are in every day on your iPhone, proofs each record the moment it is made, and turns any period into a day-by-day report. Free to record. Coming soon to the App Store.
See how Proofstay works →More comparisons