# Alternatives to Goodbudget

Envelope budgeting, manual-first.

Goodbudget ranks #9 of 14 in Budgeting apps, with an Alt Score of 64. It is proprietary, freemium from $10/month and available on iOS, Android and Web. 9 of 10 checklist rows are verified against a public source.

Source: https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/goodbudget/
Category: Budgeting apps

## Where Goodbudget stands out

- **Envelope / zero-based budgeting** — 5 of 13 apps with a verified answer have this

## Overview

- **Who it's for**: Households and couples who want to budget together using the envelope method, without linking bank accounts or sharing account credentials.
- **What you get**: A digital version of envelope budgeting: money is divided into virtual envelopes for categories like rent, groceries, or savings. Transactions are entered manually rather than pulled in via bank sync, giving users direct control over what's tracked. The budget syncs across web, iPhone, and Android so multiple household members see the same envelope balances in real time. Extra tools support saving toward specific goals and paying down debt.
- **How it works**: Users set up envelopes for their spending categories, fill them with money at the start of each budgeting period, and manually log each purchase against the relevant envelope as they spend. Balances update and sync across devices, so anyone sharing the budget can see what's left in each envelope.

## Profile

- **License**: Proprietary (verified 2026-07-11)
- **Pricing model**: Freemium (verified 2026-07-11)
- **Starts at**: $10/month (verified 2026-07-11)
- **Platforms**: iOS, Android, Web
- **Status**: active (verified 2026-07-11)

## Ranked alternatives

| # | App | Alt Score | Licence | Platforms |
|---|-----|-----------|---------|-----------|
| 1 | [Lunch Money](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/lunch-money.md) | 86 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android |
| 2 | [Quicken](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/quicken.md) | 82 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS |
| 3 | [Simplifi](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/simplifi.md) | 82 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android |
| 4 | [Actual Budget](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/actual-budget.md) | 78 | MIT | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web |
| 5 | [YNAB](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/ynab.md) | 73 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android |
| 6 | [GnuCash](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/gnucash.md) | 68 | GPL-2.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| 7 | [KMyMoney](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/kmymoney.md) | 68 | GPL-2.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| 8 | [PocketGuard](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/pocketguard.md) | 68 | Proprietary | ? |
| 9 | [Monarch Money](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/monarch-money.md) | 64 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android |
| 10 | [Copilot Money](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/copilot-money.md) | 60 | Proprietary | macOS, iOS, Web |
| 11 | [EveryDollar](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/everydollar.md) | 60 | Proprietary | Web, iOS, Android |
| 12 | [Firefly III](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/firefly-iii.md) | 60 | AGPL-3.0 | Web |
| 13 | [HomeBank](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/homebank.md) | 60 | GPL-2.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux |

Alt Score = Verified coverage (90%) + Visibility (10%). See https://altcatalog.com/how-alt-score-works/

## Feature comparison

Legend: Yes / No / Partial / ? (not verified).

| Budgeting apps checklist | Goodbudget | Lunch Money | Quicken | Simplifi | Actual Budget | YNAB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Freemium | Subscription | Subscription | Subscription | Free | Subscription |
| Starts at | $10/month | $100/year | $3.49/month | $2.99/month | ? | $109/year |
| License | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary | Proprietary | MIT | Proprietary |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Web | Web, iOS, Android | Windows, macOS | Web, iOS, Android | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web | Web, iOS, Android |
| Bank sync (regions) | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes |
| Manual entry mode | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Envelope / zero-based budgeting | Yes | Partial | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Investment tracking | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | No |
| Multi-currency | No | Yes | Yes | No | Partial | No |
| Shared budgets | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reports & net worth | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CSV import | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Local-only data option | No | ? | Partial | No | Yes | ? |
| Subscription price | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |

## Sources

Sources for Goodbudget. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.

- **Platforms**: iOS, Android, Web — <https://goodbudget.com/what-you-get/> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “Available on the Web, Android, and iPhone.”
- **License**: Proprietary — <https://goodbudget.com/terms-of-use/> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Note: Services Content"), are the proprietary property of Dayspring or its licensors, with all rights reserv"
  - Quote: “All content on the Services and their selection and arrangement, but excluding User Content (the ”
- **Pricing model**: Freemium — <https://goodbudget.com/help/billing/subscribe-to-goodbudget/> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “US $10/month or $80/year”
- **Starts at**: $10/month — <https://goodbudget.com/help/billing/subscribe-to-goodbudget/> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “US $10/month or $80/year”
- **Status**: active — <https://goodbudget.com/help/billing/subscribe-to-goodbudget/> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “US $10/month or $80/year”
- **Bank sync (regions)**: Partial — <https://goodbudget.com/help/automatic-bank-sync/which-banks-can-i-link-to-my-accounts/> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “Goodbudget uses Plaid to connect your GB Accounts and your real-life banks in the United States only.”
- **Manual entry mode**: Yes — <https://goodbudget.com/help/getting-started-guide/step-5-record-expenses/> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Note: Add Transaction" button. This will open up the "Add Transaction" window where you can record your transactions."
  - Quote: “Add an expense by clicking on the ”
- **Envelope / zero-based budgeting**: Yes — <https://goodbudget.com/envelope-budgeting/> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “The cash for each month's expenses is taken out and divided into envelopes for each budget category.”
- **Multi-currency**: No — <https://goodbudget.com/help/budgeting-with-goodbudget/5/> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “Goodbudget is currency-neutral, meaning there are no currency symbols (e.g., $, €, £) within the app or on the website.”
- **Shared budgets**: Yes — <https://goodbudget.com/help/mobile-apps/share-budget-w-partner/> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “you'll be able to share your budget with your partner by having them login to Goodbudget on their device using the same username / email address and password you created when you registered.”
- **Reports & net worth**: Yes — <https://goodbudget.com/blog/2016/11/reports-help-you-see-where-it-all-goes/> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “This report shows if you're living within your means, or just plain ol' spending more than you're making.”
- **CSV import**: Yes — <https://goodbudget.com/help/using-accounts/how-to-import-csv/> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “From the Transactions window on the home page, click on 'Import Bank Transactions.' Click on 'Choose File' and select the CSV file you want to upload.”
- **Local-only data option**: No — <https://apps.apple.com/us/app/goodbudget-budget-planner/id471112395> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “Share your budget across multiple devices including iPhones, other smartphones, and the web. Transactions get backed up to the cloud and are accessible from other devices.”
- **Subscription price**: Partial — <https://goodbudget.com/help/billing/subscribe-to-goodbudget/> (verified 2026-07-11)
  - Quote: “US $10/month or $80/year”

---
Ranked by verified data, never by who paid. https://altcatalog.com/trust/