Bounded Alternative: Tax Days vs Bounded Compared (2026)
Bounded (listed on the App Store as "Country Days Tracker: Bounded") launched in February 2026 and became the most-rated day counter in the category, with 997 ratings across 16 App Store storefronts by October 2026, 405 of them in the UK. Its hook is photo import: scan your library and it rebuilds years of travel. Its weak spot is the same feature, since inaccurate imported history is the most common complaint in its one- and two-star reviews. Tax Days takes a different approach: automatic background tracking or manual entry, every day editable, and a rules engine that covers all 50 US states and 200+ jurisdictions for $29.99/year. Here is how they compare. (Bounded facts below are from its App Store listing and our review analysis as of October 2026.)
Pricing at a glance
Tax Days
Privacy-first iPhone app. No accounts, and your travel history never reaches our servers. Optional iCloud sync through Apple's CloudKit.
Bounded
Country Days Tracker: Bounded is a 2026 iPhone app that counts days per country with GPS, rebuilds past travel from your photo library, and ships presets for 100+ countries. It is the most-rated app in the category.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Tax Days | Bounded |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cost | $29.99/year or $4.99/month | Annual tiers from $19.99 to $99.99, or $5.99/month (App Store, October 2026) |
| Free use | Yes, a free tier with automatic tracking Yes | Free trial; subscription required for GPS tracking and saving travel history |
| Automatic tracking | Battery-efficient significant-change monitoring, trips proposed for you to confirm | GPS logs which country you are in each day |
| Photo-library history import | No | Yes, restores past travel from photo dates and locations |
| Edit any day | Yes, every trip and day is editable | Yes, add or edit trips manually |
| Tax rules | Statutory tests: US federal SPT, all 50 states, UK SRT, Schengen 90/180 and more Yes | Presets for 100+ countries: 183-day rules, Schengen 90/180, visa and citizenship limits |
| US state residency rules | All 50, including NY's 184-day statutory residency test Yes | Not described on its listing |
| Days in two places | Arrival and departure days count in both jurisdictions Yes | Not described on its listing |
| Evidence attachments | Yes, attach evidence to days and export | Passports, visas and permits stored in-app |
| Data location | On your iPhone + optional iCloud | On your device, no account |
| Widgets and limit alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Platform | iPhone (iOS 17+) | iPhone (iOS 18+) |
Which one is right for you?
Tax Days is best for…
- Anyone whose tax position depends on US state rules, not only countries.
- People who need a record they can correct day by day, with evidence attached.
- Commuters and snowbirds who cross a border and back in a single day.
- Anyone who wants a useful free tier before paying.
Bounded is best for…
- Travellers who want to rebuild years of past trips from their photos.
- Digital nomads tracking visa limits across many countries.
- People who want ready-made presets for 100+ countries' day limits.
Bottom line: Bounded is a well-designed country counter with a fast way to backfill history, and that is why it leads the category on ratings. If you mainly need to know how many days you have had in which country, it is a reasonable choice. If the number has to stand up to a tax authority, especially a US state, Tax Days is built for that: statutory tests per jurisdiction, part-day counting, every day editable with evidence attached, and a free tier before the $29.99/year subscription.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Bounded alternative?
It depends on why you are leaving. If imported history was wrong, choose an app that lets you review and edit every day: Tax Days keeps a day-by-day ledger you confirm as you go. If you need US state tax rules, Tax Days covers all 50 states plus the federal Substantial Presence Test. If you need a country counter with a free history window, Country Days Tracker is another option.
How much does Bounded cost?
Bounded is free to download with a free trial, then a subscription. As of October 2026 its App Store listing shows annual tiers from $19.99 to $99.99 (£19.99 to £99.99 in the UK) and a $5.99 monthly option. Its listing says a subscription is required for GPS auto-tracking, saving travel history, and full app access. Tax Days is $29.99/year or $4.99/month, with a free tier.
Is Bounded's photo import accurate?
It is the main complaint in its reviews. In our October 2026 analysis of Bounded's written App Store reviews, 26 of the 45 one- and two-star reviews concerned retroactive history from photo import. One UK reviewer wrote that it "missed 11 countries and was OUT BY OVER 300 DAYS in some cases", and a US reviewer asked for it to "explain where it got the backlogged travel info from so I could correct it." Photos show where your phone took a picture, not where you slept, so any imported history should be checked day by day.
Does Bounded handle US state tax residency?
Bounded's listing describes country tracking with presets for 100+ countries, Schengen 90/180, and visa and citizenship limits. It does not describe US state rules. Tax Days includes all 50 states with their specific tests, such as New York's 184-day statutory residency rule, plus the federal Substantial Presence Test.
Is Tax Days or Bounded more private?
Both keep your travel history on your device without an account. Bounded's listing says your timeline, photos, and documents are never seen by the developer. Tax Days stores data on your iPhone with optional sync through your own iCloud, and its location tracking is optional: you can log every trip by hand.
Compare Tax Days with other trackers
Ready to try Tax Days?
$29.99/year. No accounts. No ads. Free tier included.