Software · head to head
Goodbudget vs Spendee
The short version
- 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; Spendee the free Basic plan allows one cash wallet and one budget
- They diverge on capability: Goodbudget covers Envelope budgeting, Spendee covers Budget management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Goodbudget and Spendee actually diverge.
| Attribute | Goodbudget | Spendee |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2012 | 2013 |
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 Goodbudget
- Envelope budgeting
- Shared budgets
- Receipt scanning
Only in Spendee
- Budget management
- Shared wallets
- Financial analytics
Both cover
- Expense tracking
- 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 Spendee
- Sharing a household budget across a couple's devicesnot Spendee
- Tracking debt payoff alongside envelopesnot Spendee
Spendee
- Tracking personal spending across cash and bank accountsnot Goodbudget
- Sharing a budget or wallet with a partner or householdnot 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
Spendee
- The free Basic plan allows one cash wallet and one budget
- Shared wallets are excluded from the free plan
- Premium at $5.99 a month is triple the $1.99 Plus plan, and the pricing page does not quantify what separates them beyond shared wallets
- Bank sync depends on a supported bank list rather than being universal
Pricing, plan by plan
Goodbudget
Free- FreeFree
- 10 envelopes
- Basic tracking
- Plus$5.99/month
- Unlimited envelopes
- Advanced reports
- Receipt capture
Spendee
Free- FreeFree
- Expense tracking
- Budget creation
- 3 wallets
- Premium$6.99/month
- Unlimited wallets
- Advanced analytics
- Investment tracking
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 Spendee if
- You need budget management.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want shared wallets.
Questions people ask
- Is Goodbudget or Spendee better?
- Neither clearly leads. Goodbudget starts at Free and Spendee at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Goodbudget or Spendee?
- Goodbudget starts at Free and Spendee at Free.
- Does Goodbudget or Spendee 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?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- 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 Spendee is typically brought in for.
- What can Goodbudget do that Spendee cannot?
- Goodbudget covers Envelope budgeting, Shared budgets, Receipt scanning. Spendee covers Budget management, Shared wallets, Financial analytics. Both handle Expense tracking, Bank accounts, Web support, IOS support.