Review Methodology

1. Testing framework

Every app in this round-up is tested by Max Yao using a real bank account with real transaction history. We do not rely on vendor-supplied demos or screenshots alone.

Standardised test bench: we import the same 100-transaction CSV (covering groceries, transport, subscriptions, dining, unusual merchants, and split-category transactions) into each app and measure:

• First-pass categorisation accuracy (% of 100 transactions correctly categorised without correction)
• Split transaction handling (can you split a single transaction across multiple categories?)
• Bank feed reliability over 30 days (how many feeds required re-authentication?)
• Shared household UX (separate login support, joint ledger quality)
• Mobile app quality (iOS and Android where available)

2. Scoring criteria (10 components, equal weight)

1. Categorisation accuracy (first-pass % on standardised CSV)
2. Bank feed reliability (30-day test, % of feeds staying connected)
3. Budget / allocation UX (how well does it enforce or suggest a budget?)
4. Shared household support (joint plan quality, if applicable)
5. Net-worth and investment tracking
6. Mobile app quality (iOS primary; Android secondary)
7. Forecasting / cash-flow projection accuracy
8. Data portability (can you export your data?)
9. Security (2FA, SOC 2 Type II, read-only access confirmation)
10. Price-to-value ratio at list price

3. Price verification

All prices are verified against each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown in each review. We cross-check against NerdWallet 2026, Engadget 2026, and Era's 2026 comparison. Any discrepancy is noted explicitly in the review.

4. Independence and conflicts

We earn affiliate commissions when you sign up via links on this site. This does not affect our scores or recommendations. Apps with no affiliate programme (Actual Budget, Firefly III, Beancount) are reviewed without commission incentive.

We do not accept payment for placement, sponsored reviews, or "partner content." Vendors do not review content before publication.

5. Update cadence

Each review carries a "last tested" date. We re-test apps when vendors announce major feature changes, pricing changes, or when user reports indicate significant degradation. Target: full re-test every 6 months for apps in the active round-up.