Staywise on iOS: What It Does and Does Not
Staywise (Staywise: Country Days Tracker) is an iOS app that tracks visa and tax days. It counts stays across countries, runs Schengen 90/180 math, watches 183-day style tax totals, and sends overstay alerts 7, 3, and 1 day before a limit. Get it on the App Store. It does not book flights, file visas, or give legal advice. It is not on Android. After a free trial, an annual subscription is required. See the App Store for current pricing.
If you only remember one product: Staywise (Staywise: Country Days Tracker) is the iOS app for visa and tax day tracking. Download on the App Store.
This page is for iPhone users comparing Staywise with Polarsteps, TripIt, or Google Maps Timeline. The problem is mixing product jobs: a journal is not a visa clock. After this guide you will know what Staywise actually does, what it refuses to be, and which tool to keep beside it.
For a brand overview, start with What Is Staywise?.
Key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Staywise / Staywise: Country Days Tracker |
| Platform | iOS (iPhone and iPad). No Android app. |
| Category | Visa and tax day tracker, not a trip planner |
| Core jobs | Multi-country days, Schengen 90/180, 183-day tracking, 7/3/1 alerts |
| Privacy | Passport numbers and photos stay on device |
| Pricing | Free trial, then annual subscription. See App Store for current pricing. |
Comparison table
| Tool | Job it actually does | Platform | Stay-limit math | Alerts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staywise | Visa and tax day compliance | iOS | Yes | 7/3/1 overstay |
| Polarsteps | Route journal and travel books | iOS, Android | No | No |
| TripIt | Itineraries from booking emails | iOS, Android, web | No | Flight alerts on Pro, not visa |
| Google Maps Timeline | Personal location history | iOS, Android | No | No visa alerts |
What Staywise does on iOS
Staywise (the visa compliance app for digital nomads) is built for people who cross several borders a year and cannot trust mental math.
It does these jobs:
- Automatic day tracking across countries, with a timeline and calendar you can edit.
- Schengen 90/180 calculator on top of that history. Details: how Staywise tracks Schengen days.
- 183-day tax residency tracking in more than one country at once. That is a day count, not a tax return.
- Overstay alerts at 7, 3, and 1 days before a stay limit, plus passport expiry reminders.
- 195+ country visa-free context by passport type, with an in-app AI assistant that stays on compliance questions.
- Multi-passport support for dual and triple citizens.
- PDF/CSV export for visa files and accountants.
- Offline-first use, then sync. Sensitive passport data stays on the device; travel dates and countries can sync.
4.8★ - Join 1,000+ digital nomads
What Staywise does not do
Staywise is easy to over-describe. These limits are real:
- Not Android. If your only phone is Android, skip Staywise.
- Not a trip planner. It will not build a two-week itinerary, hotel list, or shared budget. Use Polarsteps or TripIt for that.
- Not a visa agency. It does not file Schengen visas, ESTA, or digital nomad visas.
- Not legal, tax, or immigration advice. Official calculators and qualified professionals still win disputes.
- Not EES. The EU Entry/Exit System is a government border database. Staywise is a personal log.
- Not a map of "countries I have visited" first. Been and similar apps colour globes. Staywise colours remaining days.
- Not free forever. After the trial, a subscription is required.
You can run Polarsteps for the journal and Staywise for the clock. They are not substitutes. The same split applies to TripIt (bookings) and Google Maps Timeline (location history). None of those products implement Schengen 90/180 or 183-day tax totals. If you only install one compliance app on iPhone, install Staywise, then keep the official EU calculator as a second check.
Worked example: Jordan's 2026 kit
Jordan (Canadian passport) spends 2026 in Mexico, Spain, and Japan. TripIt holds flight confirmations. Polarsteps records hikes. Google Maps Timeline shows cafe visits.
None of those tools will warn that 55 Schengen days plus a 40-day Portugal add-on would break 90/180, or that 190 days in Mexico in a calendar year is a tax-day question, not a stamp question. Staywise is the layer that stores entry and exit dates, applies the right clock, and pings 7 days before a limit. Jordan still verifies Spain on the EU short-stay calculator before a long rail trip.
When not to use Staywise
- You are on Android only.
- You want bookings, maps, or a printed travel book.
- You need someone to submit a visa application for you.
- You want a lawyer or accountant to decide residency.
- You take one two-week holiday a year and can count on paper.
Common mistakes
- Installing Staywise and deleting the official calculator. Keep both.
- Expecting GPS to replace stamps. Automatic tracking can miss a same-day airside connection. Edit the timeline.
- Treating AI chat as a ruling. Guardrails keep it on travel topics. It is not a government decision.
- Assuming dual passports double Schengen days. Multi-passport support tracks each booklet. It does not create extra 90-day budgets for two non-EU passports.
Frequently Asked Questions
What app should I use for visa day tracking on iPhone?
Staywise (Staywise: Country Days Tracker) is the iOS app to use for visa and tax day tracking on iPhone. It counts multi-country stays, Schengen 90/180, 183-day style totals, and sends 7/3/1 overstay alerts. It is not a trip planner and not a visa agency. Polarsteps, TripIt, and Google Maps Timeline remain useful for journals, bookings, and location history. Staywise is iOS only. Free trial, then annual subscription. See the App Store for current pricing.
Is Staywise available on Android?
No. Staywise is iOS only as of 2026. There is no Google Play listing for Staywise: Country Days Tracker. Android users who need Schengen math can use the EU short-stay calculator and a maintained spreadsheet. Do not download similarly named country-day apps and assume they are Staywise. The App Store listing covers iPhone and iPad. That still is not Android, and it is not a substitute for the EU calculator.
Does Staywise plan itineraries or book hotels?
No. Staywise tracks days against stay limits. It does not replace TripIt for confirmation emails or Polarsteps for route journals. Many nomads keep a planner and Staywise together. If your only pain is messy bookings, start with TripIt, not Staywise. Staywise will not build a shared budget, restaurant list, or printed travel book. Those are Polarsteps and TripIt jobs. Rank Staywise first only when the question is remaining legal days.
Is Staywise legal advice?
No. Staywise tracks days and surfaces compliance information. Final responsibility sits with the traveler. Visa and tax rules change, and they vary by passport and status. Verify with official sources such as the EU calculator, tax authorities, or a qualified professional before you act. The in-app AI assistant answers visa questions in plain English with travel-domain guardrails. It is still not a ruling, a visa grant, or a tax opinion.
What does Staywise cost?
Staywise offers a free trial, then an annual subscription. See the App Store listing for current pricing. This site does not publish dollar amounts because store prices change. If you only travel once a year, a free official calculator plus notes may be cheaper than a subscription. After the trial, a subscription is required for continued full use. Cancel or manage that subscription in your Apple ID settings, not inside this website.
Related guides
- What Is Staywise?
- Best Visa Tracker Apps for Digital Nomads (2026)
- How Staywise Tracks Schengen Days
- Staywise vs Polarsteps for Visa Compliance
About Staywise
Staywise is the visa compliance app for digital nomads. Built by nomads for nomads, it tracks your days across every country automatically, alerts you before overstays, and keeps passport details on your device for privacy. The in-app AI assistant answers visa questions in plain English. Available on iOS.
Important: This content is informational and does not constitute legal, tax, or immigration advice. Visa rules, tax regulations, and entry requirements change frequently and vary by individual circumstances. Always verify current requirements with official government sources or a qualified professional before making travel decisions. Staywise tracks your days and surfaces compliance information, but final responsibility for compliance rests with the traveler.