Goodbudget

What Is Goodbudget?

Goodbudget is a digital version of the classic envelope budgeting system. Instead of stuffing cash into physical envelopes labeled “groceries,” “gas,” and “rent,” you create virtual envelopes and allocate your income across them. When an envelope is empty, you’re done spending in that category for the month.

The app has been around since 2010 (originally called EEBA — Easy Envelope Budget Aid) and has built a loyal community of users who love the envelope method. It syncs across devices, so multiple family members can access the same budget from their own phones.

Debt tracking is part of the system — you create envelopes for debt payments and track balances over time — but Goodbudget is fundamentally a budgeting app, not a debt payoff planner.

Who Is Goodbudget Best For?

Couples managing money together. Goodbudget’s shared budgeting is its strongest feature. Both partners see the same envelopes, the same balances, and the same spending in real time. There’s no wondering “how much is left in the grocery budget” — you both know, always.

Privacy-conscious users. Unlike most modern budgeting apps, Goodbudget doesn’t connect to your bank accounts. All transactions are entered manually. This means more work, but it also means you’re not sharing your bank credentials with a third party. For people who are cautious about data sharing, this is a real advantage.

Envelope method fans. If you’ve used cash envelopes before and want a digital version, Goodbudget is the most faithful translation of that system. The visual metaphor of filling and spending from envelopes makes budgeting concrete and easy to understand.

Families teaching kids about money. The envelope concept is simple enough for teenagers to understand, and the shared budget means parents can give kids visibility into how household finances work. It’s a practical money education tool.

Pricing

The free version includes 10 envelopes, 1 account, 1 device sync, and basic reporting. For many people, 10 envelopes is enough to get started, though you’ll feel the limitation as your budget gets more detailed.

Goodbudget Plus costs $10/month or $80/year and unlocks unlimited envelopes, up to 5 accounts, 5 device syncs, debt tracking, and more detailed reports. The annual plan brings the effective cost down to about $6.67/month.

Our Take

Goodbudget is a solid budgeting app with a clear identity. The envelope method is proven, the shared budgeting is well-executed, and the no-bank-linking approach is a legitimate selling point for privacy-minded users.

But if you’re here specifically to find a debt payoff tool, Goodbudget probably isn’t what you need. It tracks debt balances and lets you budget for payments, but it won’t generate a payoff schedule, compare strategies, or tell you when you’ll be debt-free. You’ll need to figure out your payoff strategy elsewhere and use Goodbudget to budget for the payments.

The $10/month price for Plus also feels steep for what you get, especially when competitors like EveryDollar offer free zero-based budgeting and YNAB offers a more feature-rich experience for a similar price.

If you’re a couple looking for shared envelope budgeting, Goodbudget is worth trying. The free tier is a genuine starting point, and you can decide if the Plus features are worth it after you’ve lived with the system for a month or two. Just know that you’ll likely want a separate debt-focused tool alongside it.