Good Next Move

Budgeting apps, tools, and spreadsheets

Compare manual entry, connected importing, continuing access, and the record you want to keep.

Prepared by Good Next Move editorial · Original editorial guidance and examples prepared with AI assistance. Provider facts are shown separately with their dated source evidence; these pages do not claim personal testing or professional credentials.

Reviewed

Provider facts have their own verification dates. How we check sources and choose resources.

Check free-access budgeting tools

These listings have current evidence of free access. Inspect each profile for setup, optional paid services and other limits.

Free access does not by itself establish every feature, no account requirement or a permanent no-subscription promise. Mixed free-and-paid offers remain labeled separately in the comparison.

Start here

A budgeting app, spreadsheet, or worksheet can help organize a period’s income and expenses. The useful selection question is how you will enter activity, inspect totals, review differences, and keep the record. A structured application may fit one routine; a flexible spreadsheet may fit another. More features do not remove the need to understand the numbers.

Use the hub for the decision

Use the app-versus-spreadsheet guide to compare maintenance. Inspect manual and connected entry separately from the budget method. Continuing unpaid access, temporary trials, and paid features need offer-specific checks. Try the original starter template with a hypothetical example before copying private information into a new tool; use the couples hub when sharing becomes the main decision.

Choose your starting question

Each path answers a different part of this topic.
Your situationFirst taskGuide
I want a simple first recordCompare an app with an inspectable spreadsheet workflow.Budgeting app or spreadsheet: compare the workflow
I want to reduce entry workCheck institution coverage and import review responsibilities.Manual entry or connected importing for a budget?
I want to understand access and chargesRead the intended offer and its limits.Understand budgeting-tool access and cost terms

Follow a focused guide

Inspect current resource facts

Current resource facts. An unknown value means current evidence does not establish it.
ResourceAccessCostDocumented featuresPlatformsScoped selection factsVerified tiers & offersLimits & evidence
YNABApp or toolTrial accessChecked Oct 2, 2026$109.00 per year · Annual subscription, before applicable taxChecked Oct 2, 2026Annual subscription is billed annually, not monthly, Separate monthly subscription also offered, Subscription sharing with up to six people, Spending targets and transaction import, Direct bank import supports selected US institutions, 34-day trial when signing up directlyChecked Oct 2, 2026Not currently verifiedShared access: One subscription can be shared by a group of up to six people. (Subscription sharing; owner included in the total); Bank connection markets: Direct import supports selected US, Canadian, UK, and EU banks. (Each institution must be checked; no universal coverage claim)Checked Oct 3, 2026Annual plan before applicable tax · US · Paid access · $109.00 billed annually (Annual plan before applicable tax, US) · Shared access: One subscription can be shared by a group of up to six people. (Subscription sharing; owner included in the total); Bank connection markets: Direct import supports selected US, Canadian, UK, and EU banks. (Each institution must be checked; no universal coverage claim) Monthly plan before applicable tax · US · Paid access · $14.99 per month (Monthly plan before applicable tax, US) · Shared access: One subscription can be shared by a group of up to six people. (Subscription sharing; owner included in the total); Bank connection markets: Direct import supports selected US, Canadian, UK, and EU banks. (Each institution must be checked; no universal coverage claim) Direct-signup trial · US · Trial access · Price not currently verified · 34-day trial · No credit card required when signing up directly; Third-party app-store terms can differChecked Oct 3, 2026
  • Choose the actual billing basis you are comfortable paying.
  • Bank connectivity varies by institution; decide what you want to share before inviting another person.
Inspect sources & dates
HoneydueApp or toolFree accessChecked Oct 3, 2026Free accessCouples money management, Choice of what information to share with a partner, Provider has a United States English app entryChecked Oct 2, 2026iOS, AndroidChecked Oct 2, 2026Partner visibility: Account owner can share balances and transactions, balances only, or neither; a transaction can be hidden. (Provider help article dated August 24, 2019; verify the current app controls)Checked Oct 3, 2026App access described in provider help · US · Free access · Optional monthly tips are separate from access; Help article dated August 24, 2019; confirm current store termsChecked Oct 3, 2026
  • Verify support for your particular bank before connecting it.
  • This listing covers the budgeting app, not the separate joint banking waitlist.
Inspect sources & dates
GoodbudgetApp or toolFree and paid accessChecked Oct 2, 2026$80.00 per year · Premium; free plan also availableChecked Oct 2, 2026Envelope budgeting, Household budget syncing, Free plan: one account and two devices, Premium adds automatic syncing for US banksChecked Oct 2, 2026Web, iOS, AndroidChecked Oct 2, 2026Free access limits: 10 regular and 10 additional envelopes; one account; two devices; one year of history. (Free plan); Bank connection markets: Automatic sync for US banks only. (Premium; individual institution support must be checked); Shared access: Up to five devices. (Premium device limit, not a verified participant count)Checked Oct 3, 2026Free plan · US · Free access · One account; Two devices; One year of history · Free access limits: 10 regular and 10 additional envelopes; one account; two devices; one year of history. (Free plan) Premium annual · US · Paid access · $80.00 billed annually (Premium annual, US) · Automatic bank sync for US banks only · Bank connection markets: Automatic sync for US banks only. (Premium; individual institution support must be checked); Shared access: Up to five devices. (Premium device limit, not a verified participant count) Premium monthly · US · Paid access · $10.00 per month (Premium monthly, US) · Automatic bank sync for US banks only · Bank connection markets: Automatic sync for US banks only. (Premium; individual institution support must be checked); Shared access: Up to five devices. (Premium device limit, not a verified participant count)Checked Oct 3, 2026
  • Select a tier that covers the number of accounts and devices you actually need.
  • Automatic bank syncing and manual tracking are different workflows.
Inspect sources & dates
MonarchApp or toolPaid accessChecked Oct 2, 2026Paid access; cost unverifiedShared household financial dashboard, Separate and joint accounts in one view, Partner transaction review, Shared budgets and goalsChecked Oct 2, 2026WebChecked Oct 2, 2026Partner visibility: Separate and joint accounts can appear in one shared view. (Does not establish that some entries can be hidden from a partner); Shared access: Household dashboard and partner transaction review. (Exact seat count not established)Checked Oct 2, 2026No tier-specific offers currently verified
  • Joint visibility should be a deliberate agreement between both people.
  • Confirm the current plan, charge and bank coverage; a historical testimonial is not current pricing evidence.
Inspect sources & dates
Actual BudgetApp or toolFree accessChecked Oct 2, 2026Free accessFree open-source budgeting software, Envelope budgeting, Local operation and optional sync server, Optional end-to-end encryption, Optional third-party bank syncingChecked Oct 2, 2026Web, Windows, macOS, LinuxChecked Oct 2, 2026Offline operation: Local operation and an optional sync server. (Software operation; hosted-service costs and all offline operations not established); Bank connection markets: Optional third-party bank syncing. (Exact institution and market support not established)Checked Oct 2, 2026Recorded resource access · US · Free access · Additional offer and feature limits not establishedChecked Oct 2, 2026
  • Optional hosting and bank-sync providers have their own costs and terms.
  • A self-managed setup needs a backup and maintenance routine.
Inspect sources & dates
EveryDollarApp or toolFree and paid accessChecked Oct 2, 2026$79.99 per year · Premium; free manual-budgeting version availableChecked Oct 2, 2026Ongoing free version with manual transaction entry, Custom monthly budget categories, Household access with separate sign-in emails, Premium bank-connect feature is separate from free accessChecked Oct 2, 2026WebChecked Oct 2, 2026Free access limits: Continuing version supports manual entry and custom budget categories. (Free version); Bank connection markets: Bank-connect importing is a Premium feature. (Premium; specific institutions and markets not established); Export: Budget data can be exported as CSV. (Premium); Shared access: Household access with separate sign-in emails is described. (Household feature; no seat count or offer-specific scope stated)Checked Oct 3, 2026Free version · US · Free access · Manual transaction entry; bank connect is Premium · Free access limits: Continuing version supports manual entry and custom budget categories. (Free version) Premium annual · US · Paid access · $79.99 billed annually (Premium annual, US) · Bank connection markets: Bank-connect importing is a Premium feature. (Premium; specific institutions and markets not established); Export: Budget data can be exported as CSV. (Premium) Premium monthly · US · Paid access · $17.99 per month (Premium monthly, US) · Bank connection markets: Bank-connect importing is a Premium feature. (Premium; specific institutions and markets not established); Export: Budget data can be exported as CSV. (Premium) Premium trial for new users · US · Trial access · Price not currently verified · 14-day trial · New users only · Bank connection markets: Bank-connect importing is a Premium feature. (Premium; specific institutions and markets not established); Export: Budget data can be exported as CSV. (Premium)Checked Oct 3, 2026
  • This listing covers spending organization; evaluate the provider’s broader advice separately.
  • Choose between manual tracking and the optional premium services on their actual terms.
Inspect sources & dates
Vertex42 Money ManagerApp or toolFree accessChecked Oct 2, 2026Free accessMoney management spreadsheet template, Income and expense planning and transaction tracking, Excel and Google Sheets versions, Personal-use download licenseChecked Oct 2, 2026Excel, Google SheetsChecked Oct 2, 2026Session formats: Income and expense planning with transaction tracking. (Excel and Google Sheets versions); Free access limits: Personal-use download license. (Recorded template; commercial reuse not established)Checked Oct 2, 2026Recorded resource access · US · Free access · Additional offer and feature limits not establishedChecked Oct 2, 2026
  • Spreadsheet editing can introduce errors; review formulas and keep backups.
  • The provider’s personal-use license does not permit redistribution or resale.
Inspect sources & dates
Making a Budget and Budget WorksheetFree learning resourceFree accessChecked Oct 2, 2026Free accessBudgeting explanation and linked worksheet, Steps for listing income, bills and expenses, Public educational material from consumer.govChecked Oct 2, 2026WebChecked Oct 2, 2026Session formats: Budget explanation and a linked worksheet. (Public education; no bank connection or individualized advice established)Checked Oct 2, 2026Recorded resource access · US · Free access · Additional offer and feature limits not establishedChecked Oct 2, 2026
  • A worksheet needs your own current figures and regular updates.
  • This is general education, not an individual financial plan.
Inspect sources & dates

Questions to resolve

Which resources have continuing unpaid access?

Inspect the current access and feature evidence below. An access label does not establish that all premium features are included, and a trial is a separate arrangement.

Does importing mean I no longer review transactions?

No. Imported activity can still require checking categories, missing entries, transfers, and duplicates using the tool’s documented process.

Can a spreadsheet be enough?

It can be a workable recording format if its entry, review, sharing, and backup tasks fit what you want to do. The original template provides a small example to inspect.

Try a practical first action

Related decisions

Find resources for this goal

Focused guides

Tools for this topic

All tools & templates

Relevant resources

8 current listings

YNAB

App or tool

Annual subscription is billed annually, not monthly.

$109.00 per year · Annual subscription, before applicable tax

Read details

EveryDollar

App or tool

Ongoing free version with manual transaction entry.

$79.99 per year · Premium; free manual-budgeting version available

Read details