Same zero-based method. Different approach to everything else — price, flexibility, data ownership, and customization.
Try Aspire freeNo sign-up. No credit card. Copy to your Drive and start budgeting.
| Feature | Aspire Budgeting | EveryDollar |
|---|---|---|
| Price (full features) | Free | $17.99/month ($79.99/year) |
| Budgeting method | Zero-based envelope | Zero-based (Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps) |
| Platform | Google Sheets (web, iOS, Android) | Web app, iOS, Android |
| Data ownership | Your Google Drive | Ramsey Solutions servers |
| Bank sync | No (CSV import with Turbo) | Paid tier only (Premium) |
| Customizability | Full (it's a spreadsheet) | Limited to app features |
| Partner sharing | Free (Google Sheets sharing) | Requires Premium subscription |
| Spending reports | Built in (free) | Basic reports |
| Trend reports | Built in (free) | Limited |
| Debt payoff tools | Manual (category-based) | Built-in debt snowball (Premium) |
| Financial courses included | No | Yes (Financial Peace University with Premium) |
| Works if company shuts down | Yes — it's your spreadsheet | No — data on their servers |
EveryDollar has strengths — particularly if you're invested in Dave Ramsey's system:
You follow the Dave Ramsey Baby Steps and want a tool built specifically around that framework.
You want Financial Peace University access bundled with your budgeting tool (included in Premium).
You want a polished native mobile app with guided onboarding — not a spreadsheet.
You want built-in debt snowball tracking with visual progress indicators.
You don't want to pay $80/year to budget. Aspire's full feature set is free. Turbo is $5/month if you want CSV import.
You want to own your data. Your budget is a Google Sheet in your Drive. Export it, copy it, modify it — no lock-in.
You want full customizability. Add columns, rename categories, change formulas. EveryDollar's structure is fixed.
You budget with a partner. Share via Google Sheets at no cost. EveryDollar's sharing requires the paid tier.
You want detailed reports. Aspire includes spending reports, trend reports, and income vs. expense breakdowns — all free.
You prefer spreadsheets. If you already live in Google Sheets, your budget should too.
1 Year
$79.99
vs. $0 with Aspire
3 Years
$239.97
vs. $0 with Aspire
5 Years
$399.95
vs. $0 with Aspire
EveryDollar Premium includes Financial Peace University and other courses — but if you just need a budget, that's expensive.
Same zero-based method. Free. In a spreadsheet you own.