monarch money vs quicken simplifi: Simplify Budgeting App Review: Features, Pros, Cons, and Pricing

monarch money vs quicken simplifi: Get a comprehensive overview of the Simplify budgeting app, including its features, pros, and cons. Learn how it compares to other budgeting apps and if it's the right fit for your financial needs.

October 16, 2024 at 14:36

Simplify Budgeting App Review: A Comprehensive Overview

Are you tired of juggling multiple financial accounts and struggling to stay on top of your expenses? Look no further than Simplify, a user-friendly budgeting app designed to make managing your finances a breeze. In this review, we'll delve into the features, pros, and cons of Simplify, and see how it compares to other budgeting apps on the market.

Simplify Budgeting App Overview

Simplify is a web-based budgeting app that can be accessed on both computers and mobile phones. It's designed for personal budgeting, providing a comprehensive overview of your finances at a glance.

Dashboard and Customization

The dashboard is fully customizable, allowing you to tailor it to your specific needs. On computers, you can link accounts, view balances, and track your net worth. On mobile devices, linked bank accounts and balances are pinned to the top, with other categories customizable by swiping and dragging.

Account Linking and Transaction Import

Simplify allows you to link multiple accounts, importing transactions automatically. Most banks import 90 days of transactions, while Mint imports 10,000 transactions. You can also manually categorize transactions if the automatic categorization is incorrect.

Categorization and Rules

Categorization is not perfect, but you can adjust it by clicking on a transaction and selecting a new category. You can also create rules for future transactions, applying the new category to all future transactions. Additionally, you can apply rules to past transactions.

Additional Features

Simplify displays your net worth prominently on the dashboard, and offers customization options for both computer and mobile versions. The app is available for both web-based and mobile use.

Categorizing and Customizing with Quickin

Quickin comes with preset categories and subcategories that can be customized to your personal preference. You can edit, rename, move, or delete categories and subcategories to create a system that makes sense to you. It's recommended to edit the categories and subcategories before categorizing transactions to simplify the process.

Budgeting Tools

Simplify doesn't use a traditional budget format, instead offering two unique tools to help you stick to your budget:

  • Spending Plan: A budget-like tool that categorizes income and expenses.
  • Watch List: A tool to track and manage spending.

The spending plan format includes:

  1. Income after bills and savings
  2. Plan spending (variable expenses)
  3. Other spending (miscellaneous or irregular expenses)
  4. Money available (how much is left to spend per day)

Budgeting Features in Simplify

Simplify offers several budgeting features, including:

  • Amount to Spend: Shows the total amount left to spend after paying all bills and planned expenses, with a breakdown of daily spendable amounts based on the number of days left in the month.
  • Watch List: A feature to track overspending in specific categories or stores, with customizable rules and notifications.
  • Rules: Customizable rules for transactions, allowing for automatic categorization based on pay, store, or category.
  • Notifications: Automatic notifications via email, text, or push notifications, with the option to opt out of unwanted notifications.
  • Invite and Share Budget: Invite and share your budget with others, such as spouses, partners, or financial advisors.
  • Reports: Visual reports to help track spending and budget.

Simplify by Qapital Budgeting App Review

Pros:

  • Affordable at $48 per year (currently)
  • Extremely visual and easy to use
  • Offers customer support through a help center and 247 bot
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Automates budgeting and customizes to individual needs
  • Great for those who want a simple and easy-to-use budgeting app

Cons:

  • No free trial available
  • Doesn't work with Apple Card
  • Doesn't track credit score
  • May not be suitable for those with extremely inconsistent income
  • Limited features compared to other budgeting apps

Pricing:

  • $48 per year (currently)
  • No free trial available, but offers 30-day money-back guarantee

Comparison to Other Budgeting Apps:

Simplify is more affordable than other budgeting apps, but may lack features. It's suitable for those who want a simple and easy-to-use budgeting app, but may not be suitable for those with complex financial needs. Compare to Money Monarch, which offers more features and customization options, but at a higher cost.

In conclusion, Simplify is a user-friendly budgeting app that's perfect for those who want a simple and easy-to-use solution. While it may lack features compared to other budgeting apps, its affordable pricing and automated budgeting features make it an attractive option for those looking to take control of their finances.