Compare
ShowMeTheMoney, YNAB, Goodbudget and Monarch
ShowMeTheMoney, the envelope budgeting app, beside three popular budgeting apps: what each one does and what it costs. Their details come from their own websites as of November 2, 2026.
| ShowMeTheMoney | YNAB | Goodbudget | Monarch | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budgeting method | Envelopes: give every dollar a job | Decide what every dollar is for before you spend it | Envelopes | Category or "flex" budgeting, with rollovers |
| Price | $39 a year or $3.99 a month | $109 a year or $14.99 a month | Free, or Premium at $80 a year or $10 a month | $99.99 a year or $14.99 a month |
| Free plan or trial | 30-day trial, no card | 34-day trial, no card; a year free for college students | Free plan: 20 envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices, 1 year of history | First week free |
| Runs on | macOS, Windows, Linux, or your own server | Web, iPhone, Android, Apple Watch | Web, iPhone, Android | Web, iPhone, Android |
| Bank connection | Optional, through SimpleFIN ($1.50 a month or $15 a year, plus tax, paid to them) | Included, for selected US, Canadian, UK and EU banks | Premium only, US banks | Included |
| Sharing | Up to 4 people, each with their own sign-in, on your own server | Up to 6 people | Budgets sync and share across devices | Features for couples |
Prices in US dollars before tax. Each app's details are from the page its name links to, as of November 2, 2026; check there for anything newer.
What sets ShowMeTheMoney apart
- Envelope budgeting at the centre. Every dollar goes into an envelope, envelopes group into stacks, and you always see what's ready to budget.
- Reads your bank statements, even PDFs. Point at a statement once and every later one in that layout imports itself, including statements that cover several accounts. How PDF import works.
- Reconciles to the cent. Accepting a statement checks your books against it, and reconciled transactions are locked. How reconciliation works.
- Runs on your own computer or server, so your records stay with you, and if a subscription lapses everything stays readable and exportable.
- Costs less than YNAB and Monarch: $39 a year.
Try it yourself
Every feature, free for 30 days, no card needed.