Software · head to head
Simplifi vs Goodbudget
The short version
- Only Goodbudget has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Simplifi there is no free tier at all; 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: Simplifi covers Budget tracking, Goodbudget covers Envelope budgeting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Simplifi and Goodbudget actually diverge.
| Attribute | Simplifi | Goodbudget |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Founded | 2020 | 2012 |
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 Simplifi
- Budget tracking
- Spending analysis
- Goal tracking
- Cash flow insights
- Credit cards
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.
Simplifi
- Personal budgeting with automatic bank transaction importnot Goodbudget
- Tracking spending, savings goals and net worth in one placenot Goodbudget
Goodbudget
- Envelope method budgetingnot Simplifi
- Sharing a household budget across a couple's devicesnot Simplifi
- Tracking debt payoff alongside envelopesnot Simplifi
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Simplifi
- There is no free tier at all
- The advertised $3.99 a month requires annual billing, against $6.99 paying monthly
- The subscription auto renews yearly at the then current price, which the terms state is subject to change rather than fixed
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
Simplifi
On request- Monthly$5.99/month
- Budget tracking
- Spending insights
- Goal setting
- Annual$59.99/month
- All monthly features
- Discounted rate
Goodbudget
Free- FreeFree
- 10 envelopes
- Basic tracking
- Plus$5.99/month
- Unlimited envelopes
- Advanced reports
- Receipt capture
Which should you pick?
Choose Simplifi if
- You need budget tracking.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want spending analysis.
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 Simplifi or Goodbudget better?
- Neither clearly leads. Simplifi starts at On request and Goodbudget at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Simplifi or Goodbudget?
- Goodbudget has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Simplifi and Free for Goodbudget.
- Does Simplifi 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 Goodbudget for free?
- Yes. Goodbudget has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Simplifi starts at On request.
- What is Simplifi best used for?
- Simplifi is most often used for personal budgeting with automatic bank transaction import, tracking spending, savings goals and net worth in one place. Of those, personal budgeting with automatic bank transaction import and tracking spending, savings goals and net worth in one place are not what Goodbudget is typically brought in for.
- What can Simplifi do that Goodbudget cannot?
- Simplifi covers Budget tracking, Spending analysis, Goal tracking, Cash flow insights. Goodbudget covers Envelope budgeting, Shared budgets, Receipt scanning, Expense tracking. Both handle Bank accounts, Web support, IOS support, Android support.