Budgeting app alternatives for envelope budgeters
Honest guides for people leaving another budgeting app: what you'd gain, who should stay put, and how to move your budget over in an evening. Every price is checked on the competitor's own site.
People usually switch budgeting apps for one of three reasons: the price went up, the app stopped fitting how they think about money, or the app went away entirely (as Mvelopes did in December 2022). Whatever the reason, the hardest part isn't learning a new app. It's rebuilding your categories and trusting the new balances.
These guides are written for envelope budgeters: people who give every dollar a job before they spend it. Each one compares prices and features, is honest about who should stay where they are, and walks through the switch step by step. If you're coming from YNAB, EnvelopeBudget can import your budget directly. From other apps, recreating your envelopes usually takes 10 to 15 minutes, and you can bring transactions in with SimpleFIN bank sync or OFX/QFX files from your bank.
| App | Price | Envelopes | Bank sync | Moving to EnvelopeBudget |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EnvelopeBudget | $4/mo, $40/yr, or $60 lifetime (first 500) | Unlimited, with rollover | Optional via SimpleFIN $15/yr or Plaid $30/yr | — |
| YNAB | $14.99/mo or $109/yr | Categories (zero-based) | Included | Built-in YNAB import |
| Goodbudget | Free; Plus $8/mo; Premium $10/mo | 10 + 10 free; unlimited paid | Premium only (US) | Recreate envelopes |
| EveryDollar | Free; Premium $17.99/mo or $79.99/yr | Budget lines (zero-based) | Premium only | Recreate budget lines |
| Mvelopes | Shut down Dec 29, 2022 | — | — | Recreate envelopes |
-
YNAB alternative
Keep the envelope method for $40/year instead of $109, and bring your YNAB history with the built-in import.
-
Goodbudget alternative
Unlimited envelopes on every plan, and bank sync for about $5.50/month instead of $10 for Premium.
-
EveryDollar alternative
Give every dollar a job with envelopes that roll over, and bank sync without the $79.99/year Premium plan.
-
Mvelopes alternative
Mvelopes shut down in December 2022. Here's how to get digital envelopes, bank sync, and debt envelopes back.
Want the full side-by-side details instead? See EnvelopeBudget vs other budgeting apps, including Monarch Money and Actual Budget.
