# EnvelopeBudget vs Liquid Budget

> EnvelopeBudget ($4/mo) vs Liquid Budget ($5/mo). EnvelopeBudget costs less per year. Pick EnvelopeBudget for people who want hosted envelope budgeting with optional manual entry or bank sync through SimpleFIN or Plaid, plus debt-payoff planning and shared budgets; pick Liquid Budget for people who want a low-cost, web-first envelope budget with mobile apps and optional bank sync, including those moving an existing envelope budget over.

Source: https://budgetingapps.org/compare/envelopebudget-vs-liquid-budget

EnvelopeBudget, our Editor’s Pick, has a financial interest in BudgetingApps.org.

## Key differences

- **Price:** EnvelopeBudget is cheaper: about $40 a year versus $50 a year for Liquid Budget, a difference of $10. EnvelopeBudget also offers a lifetime option ($60 ($60 lifetime (first 500 members; remaining spots not stated))).
- **Trying it first:** Free trials: EnvelopeBudget (34-day free trial, no credit card required) and Liquid Budget (45-day free trial, no credit card required).
- **Budgeting method:** EnvelopeBudget is built for envelope, zero-based and expense tracking budgeting; Liquid Budget for envelope, zero-based, forecasting and expense tracking. They overlap on envelope, zero-based and expense tracking.
- **Platforms:** Both run on Android, iOS and Web.
- **Feature differences:** EnvelopeBudget lists debt payoff tools and shared / household budgets, which Liquid Budget’s listing does not confirm.
- **Separate logins for shared budgets:** Invite family or teammates to the same budget with their own logins. Sharing one password or sign-in link does not count. Separate logins do not necessarily mean private accounts or transactions. EnvelopeBudget: Yes. Invite family and team members to shared budgets with their own logins. Manage member access and transfer budget ownership; eligible family members can share the family owner's subscription access. Liquid Budget: Not confirmed. Check whether each person gets their own login.
- **Bank sync:** EnvelopeBudget: Optional SimpleFIN ($1.50/mo or $15/yr paid to SimpleFIN) or Plaid ($3/mo or $30/yr add-on). Plaid is enabled in the web, iOS and Android apps, per current owner confirmation; the vendor changelog documents Plaid connections and mobile bank-sync updates. Liquid Budget: Plaid (included) or SimpleFIN (optional, requires own account).

## Which should you choose?

- **EnvelopeBudget is best for:** people who want hosted envelope budgeting with optional manual entry or bank sync through SimpleFIN or Plaid, plus debt-payoff planning and shared budgets.
- **Liquid Budget is best for:** people who want a low-cost, web-first envelope budget with mobile apps and optional bank sync, including those moving an existing envelope budget over.

Full reviews: [EnvelopeBudget](https://budgetingapps.org/apps/envelopebudget.md), [Liquid Budget](https://budgetingapps.org/apps/liquid-budget.md)