VAGUE_LOGIC  I wanted to move all my applications from the PC to the Mac. For personal finance, I have used Quicken for years although I stuck at Quicken 2000 as it did all I needed.

After searching reviews I narrowed the choice down to three products. Checkbook looked the simplest and was least expensive; on that basis I decided to try it first. I actually bought the Pro version as it was still less expensive than the competition. My only concerns were that it might mess up imports from Quicken and be a bit light-weight.

As it turned out I was wrong on both points. The QIF file import worked near perfectly even sorting out the UK date format correctly. Only the "Type" of payment failed to come over although cheque numbers did. Even with several years of transactions, I was able to manually populate this field using the selection, sorting, and multiple record update features of Checkbook Pro.

The interface is brilliantly straightforward, the help has always pointed me in the right direction and I find it much quicker to use than Quicken. The only shortcoming is on the reporting side if you need that. It does summaries but is not as comprehensive as much more expensive rivals. I'm not worried as what I want and maybe this will come with updates.

Don't pay anymore for personal finance software buy this and give the developer a boost by getting the Pro version.  
(Version 2.0.1)

TEXASSTARGAZER  I have tried every checkbook application I have found for the Mac. So far this one is the best in my opinion. Very reasonable price makes it even better.  
(Version 1.8.1)

SKYHORSE  I've been using this application now for three and a half years, and have many thousands of entries in it. I came to it the hard way, after using Quicken since 1993 (in Windows) and finding that since the Y2K change to Quicken that it began to forget an occasional previously reconciled transaction every now and then, which made it impossible to balance my checkbook. This happened in both Windows and Macintosh versions. I've also tried most of the other Macintosh financial software over the last six years as well. Some like iBank had a very rough transition to Universal, and others either didn't have what it took over time or lacked the right mix of features to be able to quickly and easily track my finances in ten different accounts including investments, with transfers between them. Checkbook has never faltered anywhere! It has consistently produced accurate, very easy to use and track results, is very easy to set up, and does exactly what it says it will, inexpensively and effectively. It doesn't have all the reporting features of Quicken or neat pie charts like some, but the charts it does produce are clear and easy to read...and do cover all categories of info. This is an outstanding application that combines both ease of use with utter reliability and accuracy. I couldn't recommend it more highly.  
(Version 1.8.1)

FRANCOLA  Perfect for what I needed! Replaces your checkbook registry and automates many of the things necessary to keep up with your finance.  
(Version 1.8)

CRUCIAL  A great app.

Behaves as you would expect it to, its stable, easy to use, has a totally consistent interface. To be recommended, especially at the price of $18 and often on 'special' for less.

The search, or filter is incredible allowing you to see in an instant what you have spent in any time period, or on any type of transaction.

A few issues though.

1. The icons have to be some of the ugliest I have ever seen on a mac app.

2. Updates are very slow. 2.0 has been promised as any day now for over 9 months.

3. The simplicity of the app creates problems as it is lacking some refinement. This would be ok in a 1.0, but not a 1.8 that has been out for 3 plus years and is still not at 2.0.

4. Types have to be set in each accounts preferences individually, and have to be added twice for deposit and withdrawal. They also can not be copied from account to account. Splits are very primitive, to the point that they are basically useless.

5. Transactions are color coded, but with only three colors it is impossible to see if a transfer is a deposit or withdrawal.

6. Missing the ability to turn columns on and off. All your accounts including loans and credit cards have a check column even though these account types do not normally have checks.

7. Not enough keyboard equivalents means that you are constantly moving from mouse to keyboard while reconciling.  
(Version 1.8)

MUSI  I bought this app over a year ago and it is great. I do a lot of transfers from one account to another (one account for ATM POS and online banking, and the other for checks), and this app tracks this superbly. It has a section for notes so you can log your receipts, payments, etc. It is extremely stable, accurate in its calculations, and has a very easy intuitive GUI. It also allows for flexible and user-definable reports. When I see the screenshots of all the similar apps, I still am very glad I bought this one. Highly recommend it.  
(Version 1.8)

DANA SUTTON  This could be used as a textbook example of what a good Cocoa application can be like: simple, clean, straightforward, no bells, no whistles, just does the job with no fuss.   
(Version 1.5)

ANONYMOUS  continued previous post

when I switched off showing of currency symbol everything get right. Just afrer relaunch of app.  
(Version 1.4)

ANONYMOUS  I can't use my region setting for currency. Here we have format like 1 234,56 but when I try to enter 123,45 it turns into 00123, and 123.45 turns into 12 345 so there is no tip for waiter...  
(Version 1.4)

ANONYMOUS  My wife and I have used this program for some time. Support is fantastic and the program continues to improve. The program is easy to use, stable on my system, has lots of features and the value is the best. 5 stars is not enough.  
(Version 1.4)