Comparison

Budget Zero vs Zerosum

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 budgeting to give every dollar a job, without linking your bank account or tracking your data. Try Budget Zero Pro free for a month, or pay once with Lifetime and skip the subscription. 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 leftover money that rolls into next month 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 • Import your budget from YNAB: accounts, categories, transactions and balances • Multiple account support (checking, savings, credit, cash) • Monthly budget periods with easy month-to-month navigation • Rollover: unspent money carries into the next month, and you can move it to another budget • Budget groups for organized category management • Transaction tracking with payee, date, and category, plus transfers between accounts • Budgets filled in from each payee's last transaction • Credit card payment budgets that keep card spending covered • iCloud-synced across your devices • Works offline - no internet required to budget • Clean, distraction-free interface • Dark mode support BUDGET ZERO PRO Pro unlocks unlimited budgets, accounts and transactions. Start with a free month on the monthly or yearly plan, or buy Lifetime once and keep Pro forever. Either way, it costs a fraction of what other budgeting apps 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: shown in your local currency on the App Store before purchase • Free Trial: the monthly and yearly plans start with a 1-month free trial for eligible new subscribers. Unless you cancel at least 24 hours before the trial ends, the subscription starts and renews automatically. • Lifetime: a one-time purchase that unlocks Budget Zero Pro permanently. It does not renew. Price shown in your local currency on the App Store before purchase. • Payment will be charged to your Apple 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 Account Settings at any time after purchase. Links: • Privacy Policy: https://budgetzeroapp.com/privacy • Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Zerosum

This app helps you meticulously plan your finances using a zero-based budgeting approach. It allows you to allocate every dollar before spending, track savings goals, and gain insights through detailed analytics and forecasts. You can choose between automatic bank syncing or manual entry, and even share your budget with family.

Highlights
  • Zero-based budgeting
  • Savings goal tracking
  • Financial analytics and forecasts
  • Recurring transaction scheduling
  • Bank sync or manual entry
  • Family budget sharing
Features
Read full description

Zerosum is zero-based budgeting that actually makes sense. Plan every dollar before you spend it, hit your savings goals, and always know exactly where your money is going. PLAN EVERY DOLLAR Start each month by planning where every dollar goes, so your spending matches your priorities before the money is gone. SAVINGS GOALS THAT FIT REAL LIFE Save on a schedule, refill monthly categories, save by a date, or track open-ended balances. Simple goals for how people actually budget. ANALYTICS AND FORECASTS Net worth, spending by category, cash flow, income trends, and financial forecasts. Twelve reports that help you make better decisions. RECURRING TRANSACTIONS Set bills, subscriptions, and paychecks once with flexible scheduling: daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, or any custom interval. Never enter the same transaction twice. BANK SYNC OR FULLY MANUAL Connect your accounts for automatic imports, or go fully manual. Your workflow, your choice. SHARE WITH FAMILY Share a budget with your partner or family so everyone stays on the same page. Your money, organized. Start with a free 1 month trial. SUBSCRIPTIONS Zerosum offers Basic, Plus and Pro plans, each available monthly or annually. Prices are shown in the app before purchase. Payment is charged to your Apple Account at confirmation of purchase, and your subscription renews automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage or cancel anytime in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use: https://zerosum.so/terms Privacy Policy: https://zerosum.so/privacy

Screenshots

Budget Zero4 screens
Zerosum4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Zerosum at 5.0 against Budget Zero's 4.3. Zerosum also leads on review sentiment (95% vs 75%) and ratings volume (33 vs 6). On price, update cadence, 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 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Zerosum sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Zerosum holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Zerosum has 33 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Budget Zero's written reviews are positive against 95% of Zerosum's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Budget Zero ships an update every 3 days, Zerosum every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Budget Zero versus Zerosum: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBudget ZeroZerosum
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (6 ratings)5.0 (33 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews95.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings633 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS18.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size21 MB11 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperGrey Park, LLCPedro Fidalgo

Customer experience

Budget Zero

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Zerosum

All ratings31 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews20 reviews
Positive95.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative5.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Budget Zero

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription1 Month trial$3.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription1 Month trial$29.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$79.99
6 purchases

Zerosum

Subscriptions6
  • Zerosum Basic (Monthly)1 Month trial$5.991 Month
  • Zerosum Plus (Monthly)1 Month trial$8.991 Month
  • Zerosum Pro (Monthly)1 Month trial$12.991 Month
Show 3 more
  • Zerosum Basic (Annual)$39.991 Year
  • Zerosum Plus1 Month trial$59.991 Year
  • Zerosum Pro (Annual)1 Month trial$89.991 Year

Questions

Is Budget Zero free?
Budget Zero is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Zerosum free?
Zerosum is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Budget Zero or Zerosum?
Zerosum is rated higher. Budget Zero averages 4.3 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Zerosum averages 5.0 from 33 ratings.
Do Budget Zero or Zerosum have ads?
Neither Budget Zero nor Zerosum shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Budget Zero or Zerosum?
Budget Zero ships an update every 3 days, and Zerosum every 2 days. Most recently, Budget Zero was updated on October 27, 2026 and Zerosum on October 25, 2026.

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