Software · head to head
EveryDollar vs Goodbudget
The short version
- Each has a real cost: EveryDollar the free version has no bank connection, so every transaction is entered by hand; Goodbudget free plan is capped at 10 regular envelopes, 10 more envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices and 1 year of history
- They diverge on capability: EveryDollar covers Zero-based budgeting, Goodbudget covers Envelope budgeting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which EveryDollar and Goodbudget actually diverge.
| Attribute | EveryDollar | Goodbudget |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 | 2012 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, IOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in EveryDollar
- Zero-based budgeting
- Transaction tracking
- Budget planning
- Financial insights
Only in Goodbudget
- Envelope budgeting
- Shared budgets
- Receipt scanning
- Expense tracking
Both cover
- Bank accounts
- Web support
- IOS support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
EveryDollar
- Zero based monthly budgeting using the Ramsey methodnot Goodbudget
- Tracking bills and sinking funds by categorynot Goodbudget
- Automatically importing bank transactions into a budget on Premiumnot Goodbudget
Goodbudget
- Envelope method budgetingnot EveryDollar
- Sharing a household budget across a couple's devicesnot EveryDollar
- Tracking debt payoff alongside envelopesnot EveryDollar
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
EveryDollar
- The free version has no bank connection, so every transaction is entered by hand
- CSV export of budget data is Premium only
- Spending reports and historical comparisons are Premium only
- Premium costs $17.99 per month billed monthly, and the $6.67 headline rate requires paying $79.99 for a year up front
- The free trial lasts 14 days and is limited to new users
Goodbudget
- Free plan is capped at 10 regular envelopes, 10 more envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices and 1 year of history
- Automatic bank sync is Premium only and works with US banks only
- Premium is limited to 5 devices and 7 years of history
- Free plan gets community support only; email support requires Premium
- Premium costs $10 per month or $80 per year
Pricing, plan by plan
EveryDollar
Free- FreeFree
- Manual budget entry
- Plus$14.99/month
- Bank sync
- Mobile app
- Transaction tracking
Goodbudget
Free- FreeFree
- 10 envelopes
- Basic tracking
- Plus$5.99/month
- Unlimited envelopes
- Advanced reports
- Receipt capture
Which should you pick?
Choose EveryDollar if
- You need zero-based budgeting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want transaction tracking.
Choose Goodbudget if
- You need envelope budgeting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want shared budgets.
Questions people ask
- Is EveryDollar or Goodbudget better?
- Neither clearly leads. EveryDollar starts at Free and Goodbudget at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, EveryDollar or Goodbudget?
- EveryDollar starts at Free and Goodbudget at Free.
- Does EveryDollar or Goodbudget run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, IOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use EveryDollar for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is EveryDollar best used for?
- EveryDollar is most often used for zero based monthly budgeting using the ramsey method, tracking bills and sinking funds by category, automatically importing bank transactions into a budget on premium. Of those, zero based monthly budgeting using the ramsey method and tracking bills and sinking funds by category are not what Goodbudget is typically brought in for.
- What can EveryDollar do that Goodbudget cannot?
- EveryDollar covers Zero-based budgeting, Transaction tracking, Budget planning, Financial insights. Goodbudget covers Envelope budgeting, Shared budgets, Receipt scanning, Expense tracking. Both handle Bank accounts, Web support, IOS support, Android support.