Honest comparison · Updated June 2026
DuetWallet vs Goodbudget
DuetWallet for couples who want a guided weekly money conversation with shared and private envelopes. Goodbudget for couples who want proven, hands-on envelope budgeting and are happy to share one budget, and one login.
TL;DR
- Want a structured weekly money chat, not just a budget? Pick DuetWallet.
- Want deep, manual envelope budgeting with a free option? Pick Goodbudget.
- Goodbudget has a real free tier and Android/web; DuetWallet is iOS-only and trial-then-paid.
- Goodbudget shares one whole budget; DuetWallet keeps each partner's personal envelopes private.
Feature comparison
| Feature | DuetWallet | Goodbudget |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly guided Money Date | ✓ | ✗ |
| Envelope budgeting | 3 envelopes: Ours/Yours/Theirs | Unlimited (paid); 10+10 free |
| Private personal envelopes per partner | ✓ | ✗ |
| Alignment Score over time | ✓ | ✗ |
| Automatic bank sync | ✗ | Premium only (US banks) |
| Platforms | iOS only | iOS, Android, web |
| Sharing across two partners | Two logins, synced | Shared single login, 2 devices free |
| Free tier | 7-day trial | Yes (limited) |
| Privacy-first (no ads, no data sales) | ✓ | Subscription-funded, no ads |
Pricing
Goodbudget
Free tier · Premium $10/mo or $80/yr
Free: 10 + 10 envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices, 1 year of history
Where Goodbudget is better
- Real free tier you can use indefinitely
- Works on Android and the web, not just iOS
- Deeper, more flexible envelope system with unlimited envelopes on Premium
- Time-tested method with a devoted, long-running community
- Optional automatic US bank sync on Premium
- Available today, not pre-launch
Where DuetWallet shines
- Guided weekly Money Date, not just a budgeting screen
- Alignment Score that tracks how in-sync you are over time
- Three-envelope model with private Yours/Theirs per partner
- Two separate logins, so the budget isn't one shared account
- Offline-first with encrypted local data
- Privacy-first: no ads, no data selling, EU-hosted anonymous analytics
Who should pick which
Pick DuetWallet if…
- You want a weekly ritual and conversation, not just a budget to maintain
- You each want private personal envelopes alongside a shared one
- You're both on iPhone and privacy matters more than a free tier
Pick Goodbudget if…
- You love hands-on envelope budgeting and want it to go deep
- You need Android or web, or a genuinely free option
- You're fine sharing one login and one combined budget
Honestly? Use a spreadsheet if…
- You're spreadsheet-literate and already have a system that works
- You don't want a third-party app touching your finances
- You'd rather not pay for an app or learn a new one
Switching from Goodbudget?
We'll add a CSV import after launch. Until then, you can start your Money Date practice from current accounts directly.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is DuetWallet an envelope app like Goodbudget?
Both use envelopes, but differently. Goodbudget is a full, flexible envelope-budgeting system with unlimited envelopes on Premium. DuetWallet uses just three: Ours (shared), Yours, and Theirs (private to each partner), built around a couple's weekly conversation rather than detailed category tracking.
Does Goodbudget connect to my bank?
Not on the free plan. Every transaction is entered manually. Goodbudget's paid Premium plan ($10/month or $80/year) adds automatic bank sync for US banks. DuetWallet is manual and offline-first at launch, with no bank sync.
How do couples share in each app?
Goodbudget shares one budget by having both partners log in to the same account (two devices on the free plan, five on Premium), so everything is visible to both. DuetWallet gives each partner their own login and keeps personal Yours/Theirs envelopes private while syncing the shared Ours envelope.
Which is cheaper?
Goodbudget. It has a free tier (10 regular plus 10 annual/goal envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices) you can use indefinitely, and Premium is $10/month or $80/year. DuetWallet has no free tier: a 7-day full-access trial, then $6.99/month or $49.99/year covering both partners.
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Ready to try the guided way?