Envelope budgeting apps, compared honestly.
Stuffed, Goodbudget, YNAB and plain paper envelopes all do the envelope method differently. Here's who each one suits, including when Stuffed isn't the right pick.
Updated 21 October 2026
The short version
- Stuffed suits someone on iPhone who wants the cash stuffing method itself: payday fills the envelopes, no bank login, no account.
- Goodbudget suits a couple who want shared envelopes on several devices, including Android and the web.
- YNAB suits someone who wants bank import and a full zero based budget, and is happy to learn a system.
- Paper envelopes suit someone who is paid in cash and wants the physical limit of an empty envelope.
| Stuffed | Goodbudget | YNAB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Envelopes, filled on payday | Envelopes | Zero based: give every dollar a job |
| Bank connection | None, by design | Manual entry; import options vary by plan | Direct import for selected US, Canadian, UK and EU banks |
| Account needed | No | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, plus iPad and Mac via the App Store | iPhone, Android, web | iPhone, Android, web, Apple Watch |
| Share with a partner | Not yet | Yes | Yes |
| Where your budget lives | On your iPhone | Their servers, synced | Their servers, synced |
| Trial | 7 days | Free plan with limits | 34 days |
Competitor details are from each company's own website as of 21 October 2026. Prices and plans change, so check their sites before you decide.
Stuffed
Stuffed is built around one moment: payday. You open your pay and every envelope tops up to its plan, along with goals and debts. Between paydays you log each spend against its envelope and see what's left, and about how much a day you can spend. There is no bank connection and no account, and your budget stays on your phone. It's made in Australia, works with weekly, fortnightly, monthly and irregular pay, and works in Australian dollars, US dollars and other currencies.
Where it falls short: it's for iPhone only today, and it can't share one budget between two people.
Goodbudget
Goodbudget is a long running envelope budgeting app on iPhone, Android and the web. Its strength is sharing: a household can keep the same envelopes in sync across several phones. You sign up with an account, and the free plan has limits on envelopes and devices. Stuffed vs Goodbudget goes deeper.
YNAB
YNAB (You Need A Budget) is a zero based budgeting app: every dollar gets a job before you spend it. It can import transactions directly from selected banks in the US, Canada, the UK and the EU, and runs on phones, the web and Apple Watch. It takes more learning than an envelope app and costs more than most. Stuffed vs YNAB goes deeper.
Paper envelopes
Real cash in real envelopes is the original method and still works well when you're paid in cash. Its limits show up when your pay lands in a bank and most spending is by card or online: you withdraw cash just to put it in envelopes, and bills, subscriptions and savings don't fit in an envelope at all. Stuffed exists for that gap.