Let me show you how Spense works!
It's easier than you think. I'll walk you through everything.
How Spense Works
Envelope budgeting made simple. Choose the mode that fits your style and take control of your money.
Three Ways to Budget — All Included in Pro
Pick the approach that fits your life
Classic Mode
YNAB-StyleZero-sum budgeting like YNAB. Transactions sync from your bank, and you approve each one and assign money to categories yourself.
- Bank sync via Plaid
- Approve each transaction
- Assign money to categories yourself
- Full control over every dollar
Best for: YNAB fans who want the traditional envelope budgeting experience with bank sync.
Auto Mode
Hands-OffLet Spense do the work. Automatically creates categories, subcategories, and sets budgets for you based on your spending patterns.
- Bank sync via Plaid
- Auto-created categories & subcategories
- Budgets set automatically
- Smart transaction categorization
Best for: Busy people who want Spense to handle the budgeting automatically.
Manual Mode
Privacy-FirstNo bank connection required. Enter transactions yourself for complete privacy and total control over what goes into your budget.
- No Plaid authorization needed
- Enter transactions yourself
- Full manual control
- Total privacy
Best for: Privacy-conscious users who prefer not to link a bank account.
Classic vs Auto Mode (both use Plaid)
| Feature | Classic Mode | Auto Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Bank connection | Plaid | Plaid |
| Categories | You create them | Auto-created |
| Budgets | You set them | Auto-set |
| Transactions | Approve & assign | Auto-categorized |
| Control level | Full (YNAB-style) | Hands-off |
| Price | Pro ($2.99/mo) | Pro ($2.99/mo) |
Both modes are included in Pro. Prefer a completely bank-free budget? Manual Mode — no Plaid required — is also included in Pro.
Getting Started in 4 Steps
Set up your budget and start spending with purpose
Create Your Envelopes
Set up categories for your spending: Groceries, Dining, Entertainment, Rent, Savings, and more. These are your digital "envelopes" that hold your budgeted money.
Example envelopes:
Allocate Your Income
When you get paid, distribute your income across your envelopes. Every dollar gets a job. This is the key to proactive budgeting—you decide where money goes before you spend it.
$0 left to allocate
Spend and Track
As you spend, transactions are assigned to envelopes. With Auto Mode, this syncs and categorizes automatically. With Classic Mode, transactions sync from your bank and you approve each one. Either way, you always know how much is left in each envelope.
Review and Adjust
Life happens! If you overspend in one envelope, move money from another. Need more for dining this month? Take it from entertainment. The flexibility is the power of envelope budgeting.
Move $50 from Groceries to Dining Out?
Which Option is Right for You?
Choose based on your budgeting style and goals
Manual Mode (Pro)
- Want privacy-first, hands-on budgeting
- Don't want to connect bank accounts
- Prefer entering transactions yourself — no spreadsheets
Classic Mode (Pro)
- Love the YNAB zero-sum approach
- Want bank sync but approve each transaction
- Want full control over category assignments
Auto Mode (Pro)
- Want Spense to handle everything
- Too busy to manually categorize
- Want automatic budgets based on spending
Pro tip: Pro users can switch between Classic and Auto modes anytime in settings!
Learn more
The story, the method, and the safety of envelope budgeting.
Envelope Budgeting Guide
Everything you need to know about the envelope method, from basics to advanced strategies.
Why I Built Spense
The personal story behind Spense — how Grandma's kitchen envelopes inspired modern budgeting.
Is Bank Linking Safe?
How bank linking works, what apps can and can't do, and how to choose a secure budgeting app.