Software · head to head
Goodbudget vs E*TRADE
The short version
- Only Goodbudget has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Goodbudget free plan is capped at 10 regular envelopes, 10 more envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices and 1 year of history; E*TRADE stock and ETF trades were $0 commission but options carried a $0.65 per-contract fee, broker-assisted trades added a $25 surcharge, and margin interest rates ranged from 12.70% to 13.20% depending on balance tier (Internet Archive capture, 3 January 2023)
- They diverge on capability: Goodbudget covers Envelope budgeting, E*TRADE covers Advanced trading tools.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Goodbudget and E*TRADE actually diverge.
| Attribute | Goodbudget | E*TRADE |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | freemium | transaction |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Founded | 2012 | 1956 |
Identical on both: 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 Goodbudget
- Envelope budgeting
- Shared budgets
- Receipt scanning
- Expense tracking
Only in E*TRADE
- Advanced trading tools
- Options and futures
- Research tools
- Mobile trading
- Wire transfers
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.
Goodbudget
- Envelope method budgetingnot E*TRADE
- Sharing a household budget across a couple's devicesnot E*TRADE
- Tracking debt payoff alongside envelopesnot E*TRADE
E*TRADE
- Budget Managementnot Goodbudget
- Expense Trackingnot Goodbudget
- Investment Trackingnot Goodbudget
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
E*TRADE
- Stock and ETF trades were $0 commission but options carried a $0.65 per-contract fee, broker-assisted trades added a $25 surcharge, and margin interest rates ranged from 12.70% to 13.20% depending on balance tier (Internet Archive capture, 3 January 2023)
Pricing, plan by plan
Goodbudget
Free- FreeFree
- 10 envelopes
- Basic tracking
- Plus$5.99/month
- Unlimited envelopes
- Advanced reports
- Receipt capture
E*TRADE
On request- Stock & ETF TradingFree
- Commission-free trades
- Real-time quotes
- Advanced Trading$undefined/month
- All Stock & ETF features
- Options, futures
- Advanced tools
Which should you pick?
Choose Goodbudget if
- You need envelope budgeting.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want shared budgets.
Choose E*TRADE if
- You need advanced trading tools.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want options and futures.
Questions people ask
- Is Goodbudget or E*TRADE better?
- Neither clearly leads. Goodbudget starts at Free and E*TRADE at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Goodbudget or E*TRADE?
- Goodbudget has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Goodbudget and On request for E*TRADE.
- Does Goodbudget or E*TRADE run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, IOS, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- Can I use Goodbudget for free?
- Yes. Goodbudget has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. E*TRADE starts at On request.
- What is Goodbudget best used for?
- Goodbudget is most often used for envelope method budgeting, sharing a household budget across a couple's devices, tracking debt payoff alongside envelopes. Of those, envelope method budgeting and sharing a household budget across a couple's devices are not what E*TRADE is typically brought in for.
- What can Goodbudget do that E*TRADE cannot?
- Goodbudget covers Envelope budgeting, Shared budgets, Receipt scanning, Expense tracking. E*TRADE covers Advanced trading tools, Options and futures, Research tools, Mobile trading. Both handle Bank accounts, Web support, IOS support, Android support.