Schengen Simple Alternative: Tax Days Compared (2026)
Schengen Simple does one thing and does it carefully: it tells you the longest you can stay in the Schengen Area on any date without endangering trips you have already planned. It has 369 US App Store ratings and a 4.8 average (October 2026). If Schengen is your only rule, it is a strong choice. If you also need to know whether those days make you a tax resident somewhere, in Europe, the UK or a US state, that is outside its scope. Tax Days covers Schengen 90/180 alongside tax tests for 200+ jurisdictions for $29.99/year. (Schengen Simple facts below are from its App Store listing 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.
Schengen Simple
Schengen Simple is a focused iPhone planner for the Schengen 90/180 rule: it analyses your whole trip calendar to show how long you can stay on any date, with multi-traveller support. One-week free trial, then an annual subscription.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Tax Days | Schengen Simple |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free tier, then $29.99/year or $4.99/month Yes | One-week free trial, then an annual subscription |
| Schengen 90/180 | Yes | Yes, its sole focus, tested against the official EU calculator |
| Plan the longest possible trip | Days remaining under the rule | Yes, longest stay on any date without breaking future trips |
| Tax residency rules | US federal SPT, all 50 states, UK SRT, 183-day rules and more Yes | No, Schengen only |
| Automatic tracking | Optional background tracking, or manual entry Yes | Trip calendar you enter |
| Multiple travellers | No, one person per app | Yes, a calendar per family member |
| Border-check view | No | Passport Control mode |
| Human support | Email support | Personalised support from a real person |
| Platform | iPhone (iOS 17+) | iPhone (iOS 15+) |
Which one is right for you?
Tax Days is best for…
- Anyone for whom Schengen days are one question and tax residency is another.
- Remote workers and expats who split time between the EU, the UK and the US.
- People who want days logged automatically rather than entered by hand.
Schengen Simple is best for…
- Non-EU travellers whose only constraint is the Schengen 90/180 rule.
- Families planning Schengen trips for several people at once.
- Anyone who wants the longest possible stay worked out for a given date.
Bottom line: Schengen Simple is a specialist, and a well-reviewed one. If your only concern is not overstaying in Schengen, especially for a family, it does that job with more planning depth than a general tracker. Tax Days is the better fit when the same days also matter for tax: it counts Schengen 90/180 and applies residency tests for the US, its 50 states, the UK and the other jurisdictions it covers, in one record.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Schengen Simple alternative?
If you only need Schengen 90/180, another dedicated calculator, or the official EU short-stay calculator, does the job. If you also need tax residency tracking, Tax Days covers Schengen alongside US federal and state rules, the UK Statutory Residence Test, and 183-day rules elsewhere.
Does Schengen Simple track tax residency?
No. Its App Store listing describes a Schengen 90/180 planner. Schengen day limits are an immigration rule and are separate from tax residency, which each country (and each US state) tests in its own way.
How much does Schengen Simple cost?
Its listing describes a one-week free trial followed by an annual subscription, with prices varying by country. Check the App Store in your country for the current price. Tax Days has a free tier and costs $29.99/year or $4.99/month for Pro in the US.
Can Tax Days plan Schengen trips for my whole family?
Not yet. Tax Days tracks one person's days. Schengen Simple supports multiple travellers, each with their own calendar, which is a real advantage for families.