If you invest in the Pakistan Stock Exchange, you have probably come across Investify - one of the more popular stock tracking apps in Pakistan. But is it the best option for serious investors?
In this post, we compare Zarify and Investify across the features that matter most to Pakistani investors.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Zarify | Investify |
|---|---|---|
| Live PSX prices | Yes | Yes |
| XIRR returns | Yes | No |
| Time-Weighted Return (TWR) | Yes | No |
| KSE-100 benchmark comparison | Yes | No |
| Auto-import broker PDFs | Yes | No |
| Dividend tracking | Yes | Basic |
| Fee and tax tracking | Yes (WHT, CDC, broker fees) | No |
| Multi-portfolio | Yes | No |
| Screenshot/privacy mode | Yes | No |
| Export CSV/PDF reports | Yes | No |
| Works offline | Yes (PWA) | Requires internet |
| Free | Yes - no ads, no premium | Free with limitations |
| Platforms | Web, Android, iOS (soon) | Android, iOS |
Performance Metrics - The Biggest Difference
This is where the two apps are fundamentally different.
Investify shows basic profit/loss - your current market value minus what you paid. That is a simple calculation that ignores some critical factors:
- When did you invest each rupee?
- How long has your money been working?
- What is your annualized return?
- Are you actually beating the KSE-100 index?
Zarify calculates XIRR and TWR - the same metrics used by professional fund managers worldwide.
Why This Matters
Suppose you invested Rs. 200,000 in January and Rs. 300,000 in October. Your portfolio is now worth Rs. 560,000. Investify would show you a simple profit of Rs. 60,000 on Rs. 500,000 invested - a 12% return.
But XIRR tells a different story. Since the Rs. 300,000 was only invested for 3 months, your actual annualized return is closer to 18%. That is a much better picture of how your money performed.
Without XIRR, you cannot fairly compare your performance against a fixed deposit, a mutual fund, or the KSE-100 index.
Auto-Import Broker Confirmations
One of the most time-consuming parts of portfolio tracking is data entry. Every time you buy or sell, you need to manually enter the trade.
Zarify solves this with auto-import:
- Upload your broker's PDF confirmation directly in the app
- Or forward the confirmation email to your dedicated import address
- The app extracts symbol, quantity, price, fees, and date automatically
- Supported brokers: Next Capital, Arif Habib, and more being added
Investify requires manual entry for every transaction. For active traders making multiple trades per week, this adds up to hours of tedious work.
Fee and Tax Awareness
When calculating your true returns, fees and taxes matter. On a typical PSX trade, you pay:
- Broker commission
- CDC charges
- CVT (Capital Value Tax)
- Withholding Tax on dividends
Zarify tracks all of these individually. Your P&L and XIRR calculations account for every rupee spent on fees and taxes - giving you the true net return.
Investify does not track these costs separately. Your reported returns may look better than reality because fees are not deducted.
KSE-100 Benchmark
The most important question for any stock picker: "Am I beating the market?"
Zarify plots your portfolio returns against the KSE-100 index on the same chart, normalized to the same start date. You can see at a glance whether your stock selection is adding value or if you would be better off in an index fund.
Investify does not offer benchmark comparison. Without it, you have no frame of reference for your performance.
User Interface and Experience
Zarify is built with a clean, modern dark-themed interface. Key design choices:
- Compact stock rows with essential info at a glance
- Screenshot mode to hide values when sharing screens
- Responsive web app - works on desktop, tablet, and mobile
- Fast loading with offline support (PWA)
Investify has a functional but more basic interface focused on mobile use. It does not offer a web version, which means you cannot check your portfolio from a desktop browser.
Multi-Portfolio Support
Zarify supports multiple portfolios within one account. This is useful for:
- Separating long-term holdings from short-term trades
- Tracking different strategies independently
- Managing a family member's portfolio alongside yours
Investify does not support multiple portfolios.
Pricing
Zarify - completely free. No ads, no premium tier, no hidden charges.
Investify - free with basic features, but some functionality may require a paid plan.
Which One Should You Choose?
If you want a simple app to see your current stock prices and basic P&L, Investify does the job.
But if you are serious about understanding your investment performance - with XIRR, benchmark comparison, auto-import, fee tracking, and professional-grade analytics - Zarify is the clear choice. And it is free.