Software · head to head
Tiller Money vs Acorns
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Tiller Money no native mobile app means mobile access limited to Google Sheets or Excel apps; Acorns a flat monthly subscription regardless of balance, so $3 a month on Bronze is a heavy percentage on a small account
- They diverge on capability: Tiller Money covers Auto-populates financial data, Acorns covers Round-up investing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Tiller Money and Acorns actually diverge.
| Attribute | Tiller Money | Acorns |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $79/year | On request |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Platforms | Web, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel | Web, IOS, Android |
| Founded | 2015 | 2012 |
Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Tiller Money
- Auto-populates financial data
- Customizable spreadsheets
- Budget tracking
- Financial templates
- Google Sheets
- Excel
Only in Acorns
- Round-up investing
- Automated investing
- Portfolio management
- Recurring investments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- IOS support
- Android support
Both cover
- Bank accounts
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Tiller Money
- Budget Managementnot Acorns
- Expense Trackingnot Acorns
- Investment Trackingnot Acorns
Acorns
- Automated investing of spare change from everyday purchasesnot Tiller Money
- Retirement saving through Acorns Later IRA accountsnot Tiller Money
- Checking and high-yield savings alongside investingnot Tiller Money
- Custodial investing and debit cards for children through Acorns Earlynot Tiller Money
- Earning cashback that is invested rather than bankednot Tiller Money
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Tiller Money
- No native mobile app means mobile access limited to Google Sheets or Excel apps
- Spreadsheet-based interface can be intimidating for non-technical users unfamiliar with formulas
- Requires manual customization and setup of templates and formulas for advanced features
- No built-in investment performance tracking or analysis at the depth some competitors offer
- Customer support is email and community-based, not real-time chat or phone support
Acorns
- A flat monthly subscription regardless of balance, so $3 a month on Bronze is a heavy percentage on a small account
- The emergency savings account and the 1 percent IRA match need Silver at $6 a month
- Custom portfolios, Acorns Early for children and Money Manager are Gold tier only at $12 a month
- There is no free tier
Pricing, plan by plan
Tiller Money
$79/year- Annual Subscription$79/year
- Unlimited transaction import
- Up to 5 connected spreadsheets
- AutoCat categorization
Acorns
On request- Lite$4.99/month
- Round-up investing
- Automated portfolio
- Plus$9.99/month
- All Lite features
- Checking account
- Dollar-based investing
- Premier$19.99/month
- All Plus features
- Premium investing
Which should you pick?
Choose Tiller Money if
- You need auto-populates financial data.
- You work on Web, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel.
- You also want customizable spreadsheets.
Choose Acorns if
- You need round-up investing.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want automated investing.
Questions people ask
- Is Tiller Money or Acorns better?
- Neither clearly leads. Tiller Money starts at $79/year and Acorns at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Tiller Money or Acorns?
- Tiller Money starts at $79/year and Acorns at On request.
- Does Tiller Money or Acorns run on more platforms?
- Tiller Money runs on Web, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel. Acorns runs on Web, IOS, Android.
- What is Tiller Money best used for?
- Tiller Money is most often used for budget management, expense tracking, investment tracking. Of those, budget management and expense tracking are not what Acorns is typically brought in for.
- What can Tiller Money do that Acorns cannot?
- Tiller Money covers Auto-populates financial data, Customizable spreadsheets, Budget tracking, Financial templates. Acorns covers Round-up investing, Automated investing, Portfolio management, Recurring investments. Both handle Bank accounts, Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Tiller Money: How much does Tiller Money cost?
Tiller Money costs $79 per year with no free tier. A 30-day free trial is available. The annual subscription includes 5 connected spreadsheets and unlimited categories.
SourceTiller Money: Does Tiller work with Google Sheets and Excel?
Yes. Tiller automatically feeds daily bank transactions and account balances to Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel spreadsheets you own. Your data remains yours permanently.
SourceTiller Money: How many banks and financial institutions does Tiller connect to?
Tiller connects to 21,000+ US banks, credit card accounts, brokerages, and loan servicers via Yodlee and MX data providers. New banks are added weekly.
SourceTiller Money: What is AutoCat in Tiller?
AutoCat is Tiller's 100% customizable automatic categorization feature that learns your spending patterns. You can set rules like 'file all grocery store transactions above $10 as groceries and below $10 as snacks.'
SourceTiller Money: Does Tiller have a mobile app?
Tiller does not have a dedicated mobile app. Instead, it uses Google Sheets and Excel apps on mobile devices to access your spreadsheets. Mobile access is primarily for viewing, not transaction entry.
Source