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Software · head to head

EveryDollar vs PayPal

EveryDollar logo

EveryDollar

Software

Budget every dollar, build wealth faster

From
Free
Rated
-
PayPal logo

PayPal

Software

The simpler, safer way to pay and get paid

From
$29/month
Rated
-

The short version

  • Only EveryDollar has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: EveryDollar the free version has no bank connection, so every transaction is entered by hand; PayPal currency conversion on international purchases and sends carries a 4.00 percent fee, and 3.00 percent in other conversion scenarios
  • They diverge on capability: EveryDollar covers Zero-based budgeting, PayPal covers Payment processing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which EveryDollar and PayPal actually diverge.

Attributes where EveryDollar and PayPal differ
AttributeEveryDollarPayPal
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelfreemiumusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, IOS, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android, Api
Founded20141998

Identical on both: 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
  • Bank accounts
  • IOS support

Only in PayPal

  • Payment processing
  • PayPal Checkout
  • Invoicing
  • Business debit card
  • Working capital loans
  • Shopify
  • WooCommerce
  • BigCommerce

Both cover

  • Web 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 PayPal
  • Tracking bills and sinking funds by categorynot PayPal
  • Automatically importing bank transactions into a budget on Premiumnot PayPal

PayPal

  • Paying online merchants without sharing card detailsnot EveryDollar
  • Sending money to friends and family domestically and internationallynot EveryDollar
  • Holding balances in multiple currencies for cross border purchasesnot 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

PayPal

  • Currency conversion on international purchases and sends carries a 4.00 percent fee, and 3.00 percent in other conversion scenarios
  • Instant transfer to a bank or debit card costs 1.75 percent of the amount, with a minimum of 0.25 USD and a maximum of 25.00 USD
  • International personal transactions carry a 5.00 percent fee regardless of payment method, with a minimum of 0.99 USD and a maximum of 4.99 USD
  • Sending domestic personal payments funded by a credit card costs 2.90 percent plus a fixed fee of 0.49 USD
  • Instant transfers are capped at 25,000.00 USD per transaction

Pricing, plan by plan

EveryDollar

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Manual budget entry
  • Plus$14.99/month
    • Bank sync
    • Mobile app
    • Transaction tracking

PayPal

$29/month
  • Standard$2.99/transaction
    • Card payments
    • PayPal checkout
    • Invoice payments

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 PayPal if

  • You need payment processing.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want paypal checkout.

Questions people ask

Is EveryDollar or PayPal better?
Neither clearly leads. EveryDollar starts at Free and PayPal at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, EveryDollar or PayPal?
EveryDollar has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for EveryDollar and $29/month for PayPal.
Does EveryDollar or PayPal run on more platforms?
EveryDollar runs on Web, IOS, Android. PayPal runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
Can I use EveryDollar for free?
Yes. EveryDollar has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PayPal starts at $29/month.
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 PayPal is typically brought in for.
What can EveryDollar do that PayPal cannot?
EveryDollar covers Zero-based budgeting, Transaction tracking, Budget planning, Financial insights. PayPal covers Payment processing, PayPal Checkout, Invoicing, Business debit card. Both handle Web support, Android support.

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