The flexible GoodBudget alternative
Free to start and manual-first like GoodBudget, but you budget by pay cycle instead of filling strict envelopes, with optional bank sync for Australia, the US, and Canada.
Quick answer
The Budgeting App is a free, manual-first GoodBudget alternative for people who like budgeting by hand but find strict envelopes too rigid. You set a budget for your pay cycle and split it across categories only if you want to, without funding an envelope for everything, on a modern iOS and Android app. You can add optional bank sync for Australia (Open Banking via Fiskil) and the US and Canada (Plaid), while GoodBudget's Premium sync only reaches US banks.
- Permanent free tier. No trial, no credit card.
- Budget your pay cycle. Categories are optional, not one envelope to fill each.
- A modern app built for iOS and Android.
- Optional bank sync: Australia (Open Banking via Fiskil), US and Canada (Plaid).
- GoodBudget's automatic sync is Premium and US banks only.
Common reasons people look past GoodBudget
Locked into envelopes
GoodBudget is built entirely around the strict envelope method. You fill an envelope for every category, and if that feels rigid, there isn't much give.
Built for the US
GoodBudget is a US company: even on Premium, its automatic bank sync covers US banks only, and pricing is in US dollars. Budget from outside the US and there's no automatic sync at all.
A tight free tier
The free plan caps you at 20 envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices, and 1 year of history.
The Budgeting App vs GoodBudget
| Feature | The Budgeting App | GoodBudget |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Yes, permanently free | Yes, but capped (20 envelopes, 1 account) |
| Budgeting method | Flexible category budgeting | Strict envelopes |
| Manual entry | Yes (free plan) | Yes (free plan) |
| Budget cycles | Weekly, fortnightly, monthly | Weekly, fortnightly, monthly |
| Bank sync coverage (paid) | Australia, US, Canada | US banks only |
| Price with bank sync | $9.99/mo or $89.99/yr | $10/mo or $80/yr |
| Devices (free plan) | Unlimited | 2 |
| Transaction history (free plan) | No limit | 1 year |
| Mobile app | iOS + Android | iOS + Android |
| Full web app | No (mobile-first by design) | Yes (desktop browser) |
Prices in USD. GoodBudget pricing sourced from goodbudget.com. Last verified August 2026.
See all plans →Where each app wins
Where The Budgeting App wins
- ✓Flexible, not envelope-only. Budget your pay cycle, and split it across categories only where you want, without funding an envelope for everything.
- ✓Bank sync beyond the US. Optional sync for Australia (Open Banking via Fiskil), the US and Canada (Plaid). GoodBudget's automatic sync is US banks only.
- ✓More on the free plan. Unlimited devices and full transaction history, where GoodBudget's free tier stops at 2 devices and 1 year.
Where GoodBudget still wins
- →Strict envelope discipline. A hard envelope model that some budgeters genuinely prefer. The Budgeting App sets flexible pay-cycle budgets instead.
- →A full web app. Budget from any desktop browser. The Budgeting App is mobile-first, with no full web app.
- →A longer track record. GoodBudget has run the envelope method since 2009, with an established community.
- →Cheaper paid tier in the US. GoodBudget Premium is $80 per year against Pro Sync's $89.99, if US-only bank sync is all you need.
If you love the envelope method, GoodBudget or another envelope app is probably your pick. If envelopes feel too rigid, or you want a modern app with bank sync that reaches beyond the US, that's where The Budgeting App fits.
The differences that count
Flexible budgets, not envelopes
GoodBudget has you fill and refill an envelope for every category. The Budgeting App lets you set a budget for your pay cycle and split it across categories only where you want to, without funding a separate envelope for everything. It's the same manual control, with less admin.
Bank sync beyond the US
GoodBudget's automatic sync is Premium and connects to US banks only. The Budgeting App keeps manual entry free, and adds optional bank sync for Australia (Open Banking via Fiskil) and the US and Canada (Plaid). See the full Australian guide.
How it compares to other budgeting apps
| App | Method | Price (USD) | Free tier | Bank sync | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Budgeting App | Flexible (no strict method) | Free / $89.99/yr | Yes (manual) | AU, US, CA | Flexible budgeting with optional bank sync |
| GoodBudget | Envelope (strict) | Free / $80/yr | Yes (capped) | US only (Premium) | Strict envelope budgeters in the US |
| YNAB | Zero-based (strict) | $109/yr | No (trial only) | US, CA (+ MX) | Committed YNAB-method users |
| EveryDollar | Zero-based (Ramsey) | Free / $79.99/yr | Yes (manual) | US only (Premium) | Followers of Dave Ramsey's method |
| PocketSmith | Forecasting + budget | Free / from $9.99/mo | Yes (limited) | Global (paid) | Long-horizon forecasting |
| Actual Budget | Envelope (open-source) | Free / $7.95/mo (hosted) | Yes (open-source) | Limited | Technical users who self-host |
Competitor pricing and features are from each provider's official pages, in USD, and subject to change. Last verified August 2026.
Switching from GoodBudget
How long does setup take?
Most people have a working budget in under 15 minutes. Add an account manually or connect a bank, create your categories, and set your budgets.
Will I lose my GoodBudget history?
Your GoodBudget data stays in GoodBudget. Most people start fresh. Your envelope amounts are a useful reference for setting your category budgets.
Switching from GoodBudget, answered
It depends what you want. If you love the strict envelope method, GoodBudget or another envelope app is a better match. If you like budgeting by hand but find envelopes too rigid, or you want a modern app with bank sync that reaches beyond the US, The Budgeting App is a strong fit. Both keep manual entry free.
No. You set a budget for your pay cycle and can split it across categories only where you want to, without the strict envelope model, so you get the same manual control with less filling and refilling. If hard envelopes are exactly what you want, GoodBudget may suit you better.
Yes, and it's permanently free: manual entry, offline mode, sync across devices, and weekly, fortnightly, and monthly budgets, with no trial and no credit card. GoodBudget's free plan is also free forever, capped at 20 envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices, and 1 year of history. See all plans.
Yes. Manual entry is free, and you can add optional bank sync with Pro Sync: Open Banking in Australia (via Fiskil), and Plaid in the US and Canada. GoodBudget's automatic sync is Premium too, but it connects to US banks only, so Australian and Canadian users can't use it.
Yes. The Budgeting App has bank sync for Australia (Open Banking via Fiskil) and the US and Canada (Plaid), and manual budgeting works anywhere.
There's no direct import from GoodBudget. Most people start fresh, which takes under 15 minutes. Your GoodBudget envelope amounts are a useful reference for setting your category budgets.
Bank credentials are never stored in The Budgeting App. In Australia, connections use Open Banking, powered by Fiskil. In the US and Canada, connections use Plaid. Access is read-only, meaning the app can see your transactions but can't move money or make changes to your accounts.
GoodBudget is a trademark of Dayspring Technologies, Inc. The Budgeting App is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by GoodBudget. All GoodBudget pricing and feature information is sourced from publicly available information at goodbudget.com. Prices in USD unless stated otherwise. Last verified August 2026.
Start budgeting today
Available on iOS and Android. No sign-up required.
