Best Implementation of Envelope Budgeting (and best support)
MoneyWell user since ~2009 (albeit on and off), and while over the years have tried a number of different apps to address different needs, they all fell short to what MoneyWell does best: manage and make decisions on cash flow.
Mint doesn’t really hit this front and centre, and other services are a bit too cloud-centric. (MoneyWell leverages iCloud only for sync between devices, of which transport is strictly in Apple’s custody, not MoneyWell).
Goes without saying that the support team behind MoneyWell is outstanding.
Excited to see what comes next with MoneyWell, including full featured iOS/iPad app (so it’s less of a ‘companion’) and more features in investments / net worth management.
Mint doesn’t really hit this front and centre, and other services are a bit too cloud-centric. (MoneyWell leverages iCloud only for sync between devices, of which transport is strictly in Apple’s custody, not MoneyWell).
Goes without saying that the support team behind MoneyWell is outstanding.
Excited to see what comes next with MoneyWell, including full featured iOS/iPad app (so it’s less of a ‘companion’) and more features in investments / net worth management.
Show more
QQDMT
Updated review
Apple has solved my biggest gripe with this app with iOS 18. The ability to use FaceID to lock the app and access the native Passwords app to unlock protected documents has made a big difference. The app itself has been rock solid, even if sync can sometimes be a little slow. Since the iPhone app is bundled with the Mac app in the subscription, it is overall a great value and a handy tool to have. Moneywell continues to be the gold standard for those that rely on the envelope budgeting method, and has a much more palatable business model then the likes of YNAB and other less private options.
Show more
NPN4 PLAYER
Syncs well with iPhone
This app is working well on my iPhone 12. It synchronized multiple years of transactions in less than a minute. I am happy to be able to view and edit transactions on my phone.
ACAaron from Canada
Tried to love it
After moneywell was purchased I had very high hopes that many of the gaps and issues would be resolved after a few years of little development from the previous owner.
Unfortunately, this hasn’t been the case.
Sync: so many sync issues with the iOS app from the Mac app. Repeated contact with support had them ‘fix’ the issues…temporarily. I suspect there is a fundamental issue with how syncing is handled.
Scheduled Transactions: repeated issues with existing scheduled transactions not being able to be scheduled with a strange sync error. Support ‘resolved’ each time this happened. Now I have the problem again. Sigh.
Unselecting synced or local file yields some very odd behavior. It is almost as if these moneywell files are separate, but you can’t really tell from the UI. Oddly settings will revert to using a synced file on restart and balances will be all over the place (read: incorrect). Again, I suspect the sync function is fundamentally broken.
Lack of sync with major financial institutions. This was a regression from years past. I suspect syncing using direct connect was deprecated, but no new option is available now for years. I can’t download transactions from major institutions like Chase? What year is this?
Migrated to a recurring fee: while this is the trend for many companies this is hard to swallow for an underperforming app.
Bottom line: I can’t recommend this app. It just lacks basic functionality and is miles behind competitors.
Unfortunately, this hasn’t been the case.
Sync: so many sync issues with the iOS app from the Mac app. Repeated contact with support had them ‘fix’ the issues…temporarily. I suspect there is a fundamental issue with how syncing is handled.
Scheduled Transactions: repeated issues with existing scheduled transactions not being able to be scheduled with a strange sync error. Support ‘resolved’ each time this happened. Now I have the problem again. Sigh.
Unselecting synced or local file yields some very odd behavior. It is almost as if these moneywell files are separate, but you can’t really tell from the UI. Oddly settings will revert to using a synced file on restart and balances will be all over the place (read: incorrect). Again, I suspect the sync function is fundamentally broken.
Lack of sync with major financial institutions. This was a regression from years past. I suspect syncing using direct connect was deprecated, but no new option is available now for years. I can’t download transactions from major institutions like Chase? What year is this?
Migrated to a recurring fee: while this is the trend for many companies this is hard to swallow for an underperforming app.
Bottom line: I can’t recommend this app. It just lacks basic functionality and is miles behind competitors.
Show more
SLShama lama
Subscription based and yet no biometric support
Almost a year since subscription support of this app began, and yet no sign of FaceID on iPhone, or TouchID on the Mac to unlock. What type of development plan is this? I’m happy to support an otherwise excellent implementation of envelope budgeting, but this type of oversight is amateurish at best. Seriously considering dumping this subscription with this type of mentality.
Show more
NPN4 PLAYER
Response from developer
Edit: In case you haven't seen, in iOS 18 it's now possible to lock individual apps behind touch/faceID at the system level, so you don't have to wait for us to add this feature. Original response: Thank you for your review. As I responded to your similar review on the Mac App, this is indeed just the beginning. This release was all about restoring sync—especially for our existing customers—some of whom have been waiting a while for this. Now we've taken over the app and got this version with syncing released we've got lots of improvements planned. Thanks also for your feedback on the icon. I'll advise our "designer" (also me) that it isn't going down well.
