Comparison

Budget Zero vs Envelopes

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Budget Zero

This app offers a private and simple way to manage your money using a zero-based envelope budgeting system. It allows manual transaction logging without linking bank accounts, helping you track every dollar and stay mindful of your spending.

Highlights
  • Zero-based envelope budgeting
  • Manual transaction logging
  • No bank account linking
  • Private and secure
  • Offline functionality
  • Monthly budget periods
Features
Read full description

The budgeting app that respects your wallet AND your privacy. Budget Zero uses zero-based envelope to budget down to zero - without linking your bank account or tracking your data. Join countless users who've taken control of their money the simple way. WHY BUDGET ZERO? • Affordable - A fraction of the cost of other budgeting apps. • Private - No bank linking. No data selling. Your finances stay yours. • Simple - Manual entry keeps you mindful of every transaction • Powerful - Full envelope budgeting with monthly budget periods HOW IT WORKS 1. Add your accounts (checking, savings, credit cards, cash) 2. Create budget categories and organize them into groups 3. Assign dollars to each category every month 4. Log transactions and watch your budget update in real time 5. Reach zero - every dollar has a job FEATURES • Zero-based envelope budgeting system • Multiple account support (checking, savings, credit, cash) • Monthly budget periods with easy month-to-month navigation • Budget groups for organized category management • Transaction tracking with payee, date, and category • Credit card budget tracking • iCloud-synced across your devices • Works offline - no internet required to budget • Clean, distraction-free interface • Dark mode support BUDGET ZERO PRO Unlock additional features with an affordable one-time or low-cost subscription - a fraction of what competitors charge. Take control of your money. Download Budget Zero today. About Subscriptions: • Subscription Name: Budget Zero Pro • Subscription Length: 1 Month or 1 Year (Auto-renewable) • Subscription Price: $3.99/month or $19.99/year • Payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. • Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. • You can manage or turn off auto-renew in your Apple ID Account Settings at any time after purchase. Links: • Privacy Policy: https://sites.google.com/view/budget-zero-privacy-policy • Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Envelopes

This app helps you manage your money by allocating funds into different spending categories, or "envelopes." You can quickly log expenses to track where your money goes and then refill your envelopes as needed to reach your financial goals.

Highlights
  • Envelope budgeting system
  • Expense logging
  • Financial goal tracking
  • Money allocation
  • Spending mindfulness
Features
Read full description

The Envelopes app empowers you to gain control over your finances. Allocate money to "Envelopes", different buckets of your spending. As you spend money, quickly log your expenses and be mindful where your money goes. At the end of the week, month, or when you pay check comes in, refill the envelopes and celebrate your steps towards wealth. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Budget Zero4 screens
Envelopes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Envelopes at 100% against Budget Zero's 50%. Envelopes also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.2). Budget Zero's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Budget Zero sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Envelopes sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Envelopes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 7 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of Budget Zero's written reviews are positive against 100% of Envelopes's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Budget Zero ships an update every 4 days, Envelopes every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Budget Zero versus Envelopes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBudget ZeroEnvelopes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (5 ratings)5.0 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings57 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.018.0
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGrey Park, LLCJOSCHUA GLAU

Customer experience

Budget Zero

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Envelopes

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Budget Zero

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription1 Month trial$2.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription1 Month trial$19.991 Year
2 purchases

Envelopes

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Yearly7 Days trial$4.991 Year

Questions

Is Budget Zero free?
Budget Zero is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Envelopes free?
Envelopes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Budget Zero or Envelopes?
Envelopes is rated higher. Budget Zero averages 4.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Envelopes averages 5.0 from 7 ratings.
Do Budget Zero or Envelopes have ads?
Neither Budget Zero nor Envelopes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Budget Zero or Envelopes?
Budget Zero ships an update every 4 days, and Envelopes every 2 weeks. Most recently, Budget Zero was updated on October 6, 2026 and Envelopes on October 10, 2026.

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