Flamingo vs Days Monitor: Which Tax and Visa Tracker Is Right for You?

Quick Comparison

What Flamingo Does Well

Flamingo has some features that make it appealing for certain use cases:

Visa Requirements Database

Flamingo syncs with IATA's database to show visa-free travel options and passport rankings. If you frequently check whether you need a visa for a destination, having this built into your tracking app is convenient. Days Monitor doesn't include visa requirement information.

Permanent Residency Tracking

Beyond tax residency, Flamingo helps track requirements for maintaining permanent residency or progressing toward citizenship. You can store documents, track up to 5 presence requirements per country, and get alerts about compliance. This is useful for immigrants working toward naturalization.

Privacy-First Approach

Like Days Monitor, Flamingo stores data locally on your device and iCloud rather than on company servers. They don't collect or store your information. This is a shared value between our apps.

Built-in Compliance Tests

Flamingo includes pre-built trackers for the UK Statutory Residence Test, US Substantial Presence Test, and Schengen 90/180 rule. If your situation matches one of these common scenarios, you don't have to configure anything.

Achieve or Avoid Modes

An interesting feature: you can set up trackers to either achieve tax residency (spend enough days to qualify) or avoid it (stay under the threshold). This dual-mode approach is useful for people who need to manage both scenarios.

Where Days Monitor Differs

Days Monitor takes a different approach:

Simpler Pricing

Flamingo uses tiered pricing with different feature sets at each level. This can be confusing when you're trying to figure out what you actually get. Days Monitor has a single pricing tier with all features included. No calculating whether you need "Settler," "Resident," or "Globetrotter."

Broader Device Compatibility

Flamingo requires iOS 17.0 or later, which means you need a relatively recent iPhone (iPhone XS or newer). Days Monitor works with iOS 15.0+, supporting older devices. If you have an iPhone 8 or similar, we'll work and Flamingo won't.

Canada Province Tracking

Days Monitor includes province-level tracking for Canada alongside US state tracking. Flamingo's documentation doesn't specifically mention Canadian provinces. For snowbirds and cross-border workers between the US and Canada, this matters.

Free Web Calculators

We offer free Schengen and Substantial Presence Test calculators on our website with no signup required. Even if you don't use our app, you can access these tools. Flamingo doesn't offer web-based tools.

Custom Rules Flexibility

While Flamingo has pre-built tests for common scenarios, Days Monitor lets you create tracking rules for any jurisdiction with any threshold. If you're tracking something Flamingo doesn't have a preset for, you'd need to work around their system. With Days Monitor, you just set up the rule yourself.

Flamingo Considerations

A few things to keep in mind about Flamingo:

• Tiered pricing complexity: Users have reported confusion about which features are included at which tier
• iOS 17 requirement: Excludes older iPhones (iPhone X and earlier, plus some iPhone 8 models)
• Smaller user base: With 47 ratings versus larger competitors, there's less community feedback
• NYC only for cities: City tax tracking is currently limited to NYC with more cities "coming soon"

That said, Flamingo has a 4.4-star rating with users praising the intuitive design and responsive customer support.

Days Monitor Limitations

Days Monitor focuses on different priorities:

• No visa requirements database: Flamingo includes IATA visa data; we don't
• No permanent residency features: Flamingo has dedicated PR tracking with document storage; we focus on day counting
• No pre-built UK SRT: Flamingo has this built in; you'd set it up manually in Days Monitor
• Less immigration focus: Flamingo is designed for expats and immigrants; we're more tax-focused

Who Should Choose Flamingo

Flamingo is built for users who:

• Need visa requirement information integrated into your tracking app
• Are working toward permanent residency or citizenship and need to track those requirements
• Want pre-built UK Statutory Residence Test support
• Have a newer iPhone (iOS 17+) and prefer Flamingo's interface
• Don't mind tiered pricing if the lower tier meets your needs

Who Should Choose Days Monitor

Days Monitor is built for users who:

• Want simple, single-tier pricing with all features included
• Have an older iPhone (iOS 15+) that won't run Flamingo
• Need Canada province tracking alongside US states
• Want free web calculators without installing an app
• Prefer maximum flexibility to create custom rules for any jurisdiction
• Focus primarily on tax residency rather than immigration/visa tracking

The Bottom Line

Flamingo and Days Monitor share a privacy-first philosophy but target slightly different use cases. Flamingo leans toward expats and immigrants who need visa information and permanent residency tracking. Days Monitor focuses on tax residency with maximum flexibility for custom jurisdictions.

Days Monitor is designed for tax-focused travelers who need custom jurisdiction rules, broader device compatibility, and simple pricing. Flamingo is designed for expats and immigrants who need visa requirements and permanent residency tracking. Your choice depends on which priorities matter more for your situation.

Download Days Monitor

Try both and see which interface and feature set fits your situation. Both offer trials so you can evaluate before committing.

Tax and immigration rules vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. This comparison is for informational purposes and should not be considered tax, legal, or immigration advice. Consult with qualified professionals for guidance on your specific situation.