Private, open-source budgeting in the browser with end-to-end encryption
- Zero-based
- Expense tracking
- Couples & families
Zero Budget
Zero-based budget with sinking funds, household sharing and optional Plaid bank sync
Not the same as similarly named, unrelated apps such as budgetzero and Zeroed.
Research-based review, not hands-on testing. Last researched .
Overview
Zero Budget is a zero-based budgeting app where each dollar in a month is assigned a job, with sinking funds that roll over and a debt payoff tracker. Manual budgeting and entry are free with no time limit; a single Premium subscription adds reports, net worth history, CSV import/export, household sharing and Plaid bank sync in the US and Canada. It runs in a browser and as an iPhone app; Android is not out.
Best for: Couples and households who want a zero-based budget with sinking funds, in the US or Canada
Pros and cons
Pros
- Manual zero-based budgeting, sinking funds and debt payoff are free with no time limit
- One price per household with no per-partner charge; Premium shares one budget across the household
- Bank sync via Plaid for US and Canada, with rules that auto-categorize incoming transactions
- CSV import that skips transactions already entered, plus CSV export
- Cancelling keeps the budget available on the free tier
Cons
- Android app is not released yet; Android users must use the browser install
- Reports, net worth history, CSV import/export, sharing and bank sync are locked behind Premium
- Bank sync only covers the US and Canada
- Brand new with very few store ratings and no independent reviews found
- Trial length and card requirement differ between the website (14 days, card) and App Store (30 days, no card)
Features
- Envelope budgeting not confirmed not confirmed
- Automatic bank sync included
- Manual transaction entry included
- Goal tracking included
- Debt payoff tools included
- Investment tracking not confirmed not confirmed
- Bill reminders not confirmed not confirmed
- Reports & charts included
- Multi-currency not confirmed not confirmed
- Shared / household budgets included
- Separate logins for shared budgets not confirmed not confirmed
Zero-based budget, sinking funds, debt payoff, transaction rules, receipt/voice entry (iOS), paycheque planning, reports, net worth, household sharing
Our review
Short version
Zero Budget is a zero-based budgeting app where each dollar in a month is assigned a job, with sinking funds that roll over and a debt payoff tracker. Manual budgeting and entry are free with no time limit; a single Premium subscription adds reports, net worth history, CSV import/export, household sharing and Plaid bank sync in the US and Canada. It runs in a browser and as an iPhone app; Android is not out.
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
- Premium $10 USD/month (website; App Store Premium Monthly $10.00)
- $8 USD/month billed yearly (= $96/yr; App Store Premium Yearly $96.00)
- Trial: 14-day trial of Premium per website (card captured up front); App Store text says 30 days with no card
Not confirmed
Founding year; Multiple budgets per account; Multi-currency support; Bill reminders; Privacy policy details; Android release date; Whether Basic tier still exists.
Notes
Apple description still mentions a 'Basic' plan, so pages disagree.
Ratings are set separately against a shared rubric.
Zero Budget alternatives
Free web-based zero-based budgeting for manual entry, installable on phones
- Zero-based
- Expense tracking
- Forecasting
Envelope budgeting with Plaid bank sync on web and iPhone
- Envelope
- Zero-based
- Expense tracking