Subscription budgeting web app with envelope-style planning, bank sync and multi-asset accounts
- Envelope
- Zero-based
- Expense tracking
Allocated
One-time-purchase Mac app for envelope-style budgeting with data kept in a local file
Research-based review, not hands-on testing. Last researched .
Overview
Allocated is a macOS-only budgeting app that uses envelope-style category budgeting, a guided start-of-month and end-of-month routine, and CSV bank import. Data is stored in a single JSON file on the user's Mac with rolling backups, with no account or cloud server. It is sold for a one-time fee after a 30-day trial and is built by a single anonymous developer.
Best for: Mac users on a regular paycheck who want a subscription-free, offline envelope budget and are fine importing bank CSVs by hand
Pros and cons
Pros
- One-time $59 price with free updates stated on the vendor site; no subscription or tiers
- Data lives in a single local JSON file with automatic rolling backups; no account needed
- CSV import auto-detects formats from about 15 named US banks and learns categorization rules
- Guided monthly start and end-of-month workflows plus savings goal folders and net worth tracking
Cons
- macOS only; no Windows, web, iOS or Android version listed
- No bank sync mentioned; transactions come in via CSV import or manual entry
- Developer is anonymous and a solo effort, with no public changelog or release history found
- Support and student discounts are handled by personal email only
Features
- Envelope budgeting included
- Automatic bank sync not confirmed not confirmed
- Manual transaction entry not confirmed not confirmed
- Goal tracking included
- Debt payoff tools not confirmed not confirmed
- Investment tracking not confirmed not confirmed
- Bill reminders not confirmed not confirmed
- Reports & charts included
- Multi-currency not confirmed not confirmed
- Shared / household budgets not confirmed not confirmed
- Separate logins for shared budgets not confirmed not confirmed
Envelope budgeting, savings goal folders, CSV bank import with auto-categorization, guided monthly workflow, end-of-month report, net worth tracking, rolling backups
Our review
Short version
Allocated is a macOS-only budgeting app that uses envelope-style category budgeting, a guided start-of-month and end-of-month routine, and CSV bank import. Data is stored in a single JSON file on the user's Mac with rolling backups, with no account or cloud server. It is sold for a one-time fee after a 30-day trial and is built by a single anonymous developer.
Quick profile, not a full review. Built on 2026-09-29 from the vendor site, store listings and public sources. No hands-on testing: I did not sign up, start a trial or connect a bank.
Cost
- No subscription; one-time $59 ($39 for students and medical trainees, by emailed proof)
- No subscription; one-time $59
- One-time: $59
- Trial: 30-day free trial, no credit card
Not confirmed
Founding year; Date of last release/version number; Whether manual transaction entry, multi-currency, bill reminders, debt payoff or shared budgets are supported; Export formats beyond the local JSON data file; Independent reviews; Supported macOS versions.
Notes
Student/trainee price $39.
Ratings are set separately against a shared rubric.
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