EveryDollar review: A back-to-basics budget app
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Updated: July 31, 2023
3.8
3.8
Cost4
Customer service3.8
Ease of use4.3
Tools and resources 3.8
Synchronization4
Accessibility4
EveryDollar is a good choice for those who are in search of simple, back-to-basics budgeting software. There's a free version that lets you enter your transactions yourself. However, if you want the app's full functionality and automatic sync features, expect to pay up.
Building a budget is one of the basic premises of personal finance. A budget can help you come up with a spending plan so you can give each dollar a job and actually know where your money is going. EveryDollar strives to be a budgeting software that helps you do just that.
I’m not going to lie — EveryDollar has some stiff competition, including Empower and YNAB (You Need a Budget) that are huge in the budgeting software space. But I believe that the EveryDollar app does have several unique selling points that could make it a good option for you.
EveryDollar features
What is EveryDollar?
EveryDollar is a budgeting app created by personal finance guru Dave Ramsey to help users make the budgeting process easier and find the financial freedom they want. Following the principles of the zero-sum budget, the software aims to “give every dollar a job” so that everything is accounted for and you know exactly where your money’s going.
You can pick between a free version and a paid version of the program. There’s a free 15-day trial for the paid version, so you can try it before you shell out the $99 a year for it.
How does the EveryDollar app work?
First things first: You need to create an account via the website. You input your name, email address and password, as well as country, state and ZIP code (note, however, that currently EveryDollar is available only for those in the U.S. or Canada). Then you’ll receive a confirmation email and you’re ready to budget.
EveryDollar comes with eight spending categories, but you also have the ability to create custom categories. You can also set up saving accounts (such as for emergencies), which EveryDollar calls “Funds.”
Next to each category, you can input the amount that is “Planned.” For things like your emergency fund, you can input your current balance as well as your savings goal. Within each category, you can make notes, track transactions or make it a fund. If it’s a category you will be updating frequently, you can “Favorite” it so that it shows up at the top.
When you make a category a fund, you are making it a savings goal.
Next to the “Planned” portion of each category, which is how you start your budget, is the “Remaining” category. You can also toggle between “Remaining,” which is the default setting, and “Spent” to see how much of your budget you’ve used.
After setup, comes the maintenance. If you have the paid version (called EveryDollar Plus), you can sync your bank accounts with funds and spending categories. This way, the accounts update themselves. If you’re using the free version, you have to do all of your updating manually. EveryDollar helps demonstrate if you’re spending is on or off track through graph displays of your spending.
Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps
After all of your income and expenses are set up, you have the option to assess where you are in the Baby Steps journey. Baby Steps are Dave Ramsey’s signature and are intended to be a guide to help you get out of debt and build wealth. The seven steps are:
- Step 1: Save $1,000 emergency fund
- Step 2: Pay off all debt using the snowball method
- Step 3: Save 3–6 months of expenses
- Step 4: Save 15% for retirement
- Step 5: Start a college fund for the kids
- Step 6: Pay off the house
- Step 7: Build wealth and give
EveryDollar is clearly focused on being just a budgeting software. Its purpose is to help people get their money in order. It’s not trying to be anything that it’s not. And the result is a simple, user-friendly interface that’s also easy on the eye.
EveryDollar app alternatives
This budget app from Dave Ramsey has some serious competition. Empower and YNAB (You Need a Budget) are two huge names in the personal finance app space. Each service offers something slightly different, so think about your needs closely to get the right app.
| Highlights | Empower | YNAB | EveryDollar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.3/5 | 3.8/5 |
| Budgeting | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Investment monitoring | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Retirement planning | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Bill payment | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Manual entries | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bill management | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Review | Empower review | YNAB review | EveryDollar review |
| More info | Get started | Get started | Get started |
Bottom line on EveryDollar
The EveryDollar app is a good option for users looking for simple, back-to-basics budgeting software with little to no frills. It doesn’t strive to do wealth management or investing. It’s best suited to those new to budgeting who need to get their finances organized. The Baby Steps are also a fantastic way to introduce users to the basics in arranging financial security.
But if you want a more comprehensive financial picture with your budget? You’re better off with Empower, YNAB or another alternative.
Dave Ramsey on budgeting
Everyone has some financial fat to trim. See Dave Ramsey's advice to help you declutter your life and your finances.
A caller asked Dave Ramsey if $1,000 is still enough for an emergency fund? Here's what financial factor he said you can use as a emergency fund barometer.
Kara Perez is a freelance personal finance writer.
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