# Spense: Your Budget Companion

> Zero-sum budgeting app for proactive financial management. (iPhone/iPad app by DelamainLabs LLC.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spense-your-budget-companion/id6746705743 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [DelamainLabs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1818023011)
- Category: Finance, Lifestyle
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 12 App Store ratings · 11 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.1 · 66 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2025-12-23
- Data updated: 2026-08-20
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spense-your-budget-companion/id6746705743/reviews.md

## What is Spense?

Spense — Budgeting That Does Itself

Download, connect your bank, done. Spense categorizes every transaction as it arrives and shows you exactly what's safe to spend — no spreadsheets, no Sunday-night budget sessions, no guilt.

Try everything free for 14 days. No credit card, no sign-up forms — open the app and your trial starts.
After that, Spense is $2.99/month or $24.99/year. One plan, everything included.

Budgeting on Autopilot
  - Transactions categorize themselves the moment they arrive
  - See what you've spent and what's left, per category, in real time
  - Spending trends show whether you're ahead of or behind your own pace
  - Smart credit card tracking — spending per card, payments detected automatically

Built on a Method That Works
  Under the hood, Spense runs on envelope budgeting — the 100-year-old technique YNAB made famous: every
  dollar gets a job. Want to be hands-on? Switch to Manual Mode and assign every dollar yourself until $0
  is left. Want it effortless? Stay in Auto Mode and let Spense do the sorting while you keep the
  visibility. Both are included — change anytime.

Switching?
  - From Mint or Copilot: Auto Mode gives you the same hands-off experience at a fraction of the price
  - From YNAB: import your categories and history in minutes — same method, simpler app, lower cost
  - From spreadsheets: keep the control, lose the data entry

  Key Features
  - Automatic bank sync and categorization via Plaid
  - Real-time category balances and flexible reallocation
  - Monthly reflections: where your money went, month over month
  - Smart credit card and transfer detection
  - YNAB import
  - Pick your own emoji for every category
  - Face ID / fingerprint app lock
  - Works with any pay schedule

  Built by a small independent team, not a big tech company or a bank. Your feedback shapes the roadmap.

  Stop reconstructing where your money went. Start knowing before you spend.

  14-day free trial included, then $2.99/month or $24.99/year. Cancel anytime.

  Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
  Privacy Policy: https://usespense.com/privacy

## Key features

- Zero-sum budgeting
- Envelope categorization
- Manual transaction entry
- Automatic bank sync (paid)
- Real-time envelope balances
- Transaction review and categorization
- YNAB import

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Spense Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Spense Yearly | $24.99 | per year |


## Recent user reviews (10 of 11)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spense-your-budget-companion/id6746705743/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Good Budgeting App

*2026-06-08*

I had no idea how much I was spending on recurring subscriptions I had forgotten about and on vtuber merch.   Spense made it easy to see where I could cut my spending, like canceling some of these subscriptions or buying less food, so I can buy even more merch of my oshi.  Good app.

### 5/5 — Perfect expense companion

*2026-02-09*

I’m am extremely happy and satisfied with this app. It’s finally something that helps me to stay on top of my budget. Facilitate my personal operating expenses and protects towards over expenditures.
This app helps develop habits of mindful spending.
Kudos to the team for making this great app!! 👌🥇🎖️

### 5/5 — Master Budgeter

*2025-12-29*

I be budgeting all day with this app. 11/10 would budget again.

### 5/5 — Great app

*2025-12-28*

This app has completely changed the way I manage my money. The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it simple to track expenses and set realistic budgets. Highly recommended.

### 5/5 — Helps me spreadsheet expenses with a modern ui

*2025-12-25*

Proactive budgeting App ! something I had been waiting for is finally here . Best part this App allows you to budget your expenses proactively and not be reactive  to your spend . Must for financial success !

### 5/5 — Great budget app

*2025-12-24*

I was looking for a budgeting app going into 2026. Glad I found this app to try. It’s super user friendly. Which it’s always important to me

### 5/5 — Good Budgeting App

*2025-12-24*

It’s a nice and clean app that doesn’t burden users with over-the-top, unnecessary features that no one will use. It also doesn’t mask every feature behind a paywall, making it usable without having to pay — unlike many budgeting apps. Good UI. Really allows users to visualize their spendings and savings so that they can be on top of their finances. Overall, I would recommend this app and am excited to see how they continue to develop it.

### 5/5 — Best financing app on the market

*2025-12-24*

App has been a lifesaver with tracking what i was putting my money into which also helped me by showing what subscription i was paying for that i didn’t need ama also helped me figure out what i need to stop wasting money on and helping with budgeting for my upcoming trips. all in words it’s the best financial budgeting app on the market

### 5/5 — Organizes all my transactions

*2025-12-24*

Loving how all my transactions are given to me and I have to organize them like a spreadsheet myself. Keeps me conscious of my spending habits.

### 5/5 — Intuitive and useful!

*2025-12-24*

A lot easier to use than any other budgeting app I’ve tried

## Frequently asked questions about Spense

### How does Spense's zero-sum budgeting work?

Spense uses zero-sum budgeting, meaning you assign every dollar of your income to a specific category (envelope) until your 'To be budgeted' amount reaches $0. This ensures every dollar has a purpose and prevents idle money.

### Is Spense free to use?

Yes, Spense is free for manual budgeting. You can create accounts, add transactions, and manage your envelopes without any cost. Automatic bank syncing requires a paid subscription.

### What are the subscription costs for Spense Plus?

Spense Plus offers automatic bank sync for $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year. A 14-day free trial is included for the bank sync feature.

### Can I import my data from YNAB to Spense?

Yes, Spense allows you to import your existing categories and transaction history from YNAB. This makes switching to Spense a seamless process.

### What security measures does Spense use for bank syncing?

Bank syncing is handled by Plaid with read-only access. Spense also employs bank-level security with biometric authentication for user accounts.

### How often is Spense updated?

The app was last updated on February 11, 2026, indicating active development and regular updates to improve functionality and reliability.

### What devices is Spense compatible with?

Spense is available for iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices, making it accessible to a wide range of Apple users.

### What is the age rating for Spense?

Spense has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for users of all ages interested in managing their finances.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.3.0 — 2026-08-19

New
  - A fresh new look — the entire app redesigned: softer colors, friendlier
    layouts, and a proper dark mode
  - Just open and go — no sign-up, no forms. Your budget starts the moment
    you open the app; create an account later to back it up
  - Spending Pace on the dashboard — see whether you're ahead of or behind
    your month before you spend
  - Monthly Net card — income vs spending for every month this year, plus
    your year-to-date total
  - Delete your account and data anytime, right from Profile

Improvements
  - Cleaner Auto Mode budget screen — one summary bar per category with
    subcategories tucked beneath
  - Faster startup and transaction loading — recent months load instantly,
    older months on demand
  - A shorter, smarter app tour (4 quick steps)

  Bug Fixes
  - Fixed a sign-out loop and a broken first-launch experience on some devices
  - Fixed dashboard numbers clipping at larger text sizes
  - Fixed bank linking opening before the previous screen finished closing
  - Assorted crash fixes and polish throughout

### 2.2.0 — 2026-06-05

New
- Six new animated splash screens — your fish does something different every time you open the app
- Recent Updates popup so you don't miss what changed
- Custom emojis on any category or subcategory — make your budget feel like yours
- Notifications for new transactions in both Auto and Classic modes
- Credit cards now show as actual cards on the Accounts screen

Improvements
- Transactions are now individual cards instead of one big container — easier to read, easier to act on
- Cleaner Auto Mode budget screen with fewer redundant subcategories
- Classic mode review shows whether a transaction is income or expense up front
- Tap Assigned on Manual Mode to see what you've already spent
- Smoother onboarding with Auto Mode selected by default
- Major framework upgrade -- faster startup, smoother animations across the board

Bug Fixes
- Fixed swipe actions crashing on the Accounts and Subcategories screens
- Fixed dark/light mode toggle crash on startup
- Fixed product tour glitches and onboarding errors
- Fixed credit card payments showing as income in Reflect
- Fixed assigned amounts for system subcategories like credit card payments

### 2.1.0 — 2026-02-11

New:
Detailed reports screen with deeper spending insights
Subcategory search suggestions when reviewing transactions
Completely redesigned notifications

Improvements:
Dashboard items now tap through to more details
Overspent categories link directly to those budgets
Classic mode users can now provide transaction feedback
Stay logged in longer
Clearer onboarding text for Classic (free) mode

Bug Fixes
Auth Fix For Login
Fixed carryover not adjusting when deleting transactions
Fixed transactions showing as zero during initial sync
Fixed duplicate bills appearing in the product tour
Fixed the Spense Pilot dashboard, which was incorrectly showing transactions to review

### 2.0.0 — 2026-02-04

New:
Introducing Spense Pilot—a completely redesigned automatic budgeting experience
Recurring expenses are now tracked automatically
Search and filter your transactions
Product tour to help you get started
View your name and email in profile

Improvements
Refreshed login and signup screens
Redesigned onboarding experience
Faster performance when importing large transaction histories
Dashboard now updates more frequently
Clearer guidance on restoring or deleting rejected transactions

### 1.7.0 — 2026-01-18

New
Reset "To Be Budgeted" amount
See exactly what goes into your assignable income. Ledger for assignable income
Restore rejected transactions
Switch accounts between manual and automatic modes
Personalized dashboard greeting
Rate Spense from your profile

Improvements
Dashboard "At A Glance" now taps through to details
"Needs Review" badge now taps directly to review transactions
Subcategories show remaining amount to assign more clearly
Allow "To Be Budgeted" to update when deleting accounts

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-20.*
