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Goodbudget vs Quicken

Goodbudget logo

Goodbudget

Software

Digital envelope budgeting app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Quicken logo

Quicken

Software

Take control of your finances

From
$3.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; Quicken quicken Simplifi (cloud version) costs $3.99 annually if billed yearly, but renews at full price $6.99/month unless cancelled before renewal
  • They diverge on capability: Goodbudget covers Envelope budgeting, Quicken covers Budget creation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Goodbudget and Quicken actually diverge.

Attributes where Goodbudget and Quicken differ
AttributeGoodbudgetQuicken
Starting priceFree$3.99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, IOS, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
Founded20121983

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 Goodbudget

  • Envelope budgeting
  • Shared budgets
  • Receipt scanning
  • Expense tracking
  • Web support
  • Android support

Only in Quicken

  • Budget creation
  • Bill management
  • Investment tracking
  • Tax planning
  • Investment accounts
  • Credit cards
  • Windows support
  • Mac support

Both cover

  • Bank accounts
  • IOS support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Goodbudget

  • Envelope method budgetingnot Quicken
  • Sharing a household budget across a couple's devicesnot Quicken
  • Tracking debt payoff alongside envelopesnot Quicken

Quicken

  • Individuals managing personal finances via Quicken Simplifi cloud app for budgeting and savings trackingnot Goodbudget
  • Freelancers and self-employed managing business and personal finances via Quicken Business & Personal plannot Goodbudget
  • Users preferring local data storage via Classic desktop editionsnot 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

Quicken

  • Quicken Simplifi (cloud version) costs $3.99 annually if billed yearly, but renews at full price $6.99/month unless cancelled before renewal
  • Renewal pricing significantly higher than introductory rate; annual cost jumps from $47.88 (promotional) to $83.88 (regular renewal)

Pricing, plan by plan

Goodbudget

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 10 envelopes
    • Basic tracking
  • Plus$5.99/month
    • Unlimited envelopes
    • Advanced reports
    • Receipt capture

Quicken

$3.99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the Quicken review.

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.
Goodbudget review

Choose Quicken if

  • You need budget creation.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want bill management.
Quicken review

Questions people ask

Is Goodbudget or Quicken better?
Neither clearly leads. Goodbudget starts at Free and Quicken at $3.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Goodbudget or Quicken?
Goodbudget has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Goodbudget and $3.99/month for Quicken.
Does Goodbudget or Quicken run on more platforms?
Goodbudget runs on Web, IOS, Android. Quicken runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
Can I use Goodbudget for free?
Yes. Goodbudget has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Quicken starts at $3.99/month.
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 Quicken is typically brought in for.
What can Goodbudget do that Quicken cannot?
Goodbudget covers Envelope budgeting, Shared budgets, Receipt scanning, Expense tracking. Quicken covers Budget creation, Bill management, Investment tracking, Tax planning. Both handle Bank accounts, IOS support.
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