Free, open-source, local-first envelope budgeting you host yourself
- Envelope
- Zero-based
Killer Budget
Free web app for zero-based budgeting with carry-over balances, goals and reports
Status unclearStatus unclear. We could not verify that this product is actively maintained or what it currently offers.
Research-based review, not hands-on testing. Last researched .
Overview
KillerBudget is a free web app using the zero-based (envelope-style) method, with month-to-month balance carry-over, savings goals and spending reports. The free version places no limits on accounts, categories, transactions or history. The site is responsive for phones and shows no bank connection.
Best for: People who want a free, simple zero-based budget in the browser without bank linking
Pros and cons
Pros
- Free version has unlimited accounts, categories, transactions and data retention
- Balance carry-over reflects overspending or savings in the next month
- Goals and reports included in the free tier
- Mobile-friendly responsive design and quick signup
Cons
- No native mobile apps
- No bank sync mentioned on the vendor site
- Site refers to a 'free version' but no paid tier or future pricing is published
- No about page, changelog, or team information, so maintenance and ownership are unclear
- Very little independent coverage found
Features
- Envelope budgeting included
- Automatic bank sync not confirmed not confirmed
- Manual transaction entry included
- 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
Zero-based budgeting, balance carry-over, goals, reports, unlimited accounts/categories/transactions
Our review
Short version
KillerBudget is a free web app using the zero-based (envelope-style) method, with month-to-month balance carry-over, savings goals and spending reports. The free version places no limits on accounts, categories, transactions or history. The site is responsive for phones and shows no bank connection.
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.
Status: killerbudget.com and app.killerbudget.com (sign-in page) are live; a Wayback capture dated 2026-08-01 is identical to the current page, and captures exist since Dec 2021. No changelog, app-store listing or dated updates found, so recent maintenance cannot be confirmed.
Cost
- Free (the site describes 'the free version' but shows no paid plan)
- None listed
Not confirmed
founded year; last update; bank sync; import/export; privacy policy; multiple budgets; debt payoff; developer; future pricing; Reddit post details (could not fetch).
Notes
/about returns 404.
Ratings are set separately against a shared rubric.
Killer Budget alternatives
One-time-purchase Mac app for envelope-style budgeting with data kept in a local file
- Envelope
- Zero-based
- Expense tracking
Free zero-based envelope budget template for Google Sheets, with optional paid add-on
Not a personal budgeting app
- Envelope
- Zero-based
- Couples & families