Envelopes: Budget Manager

This is a really terrific app for keeping track of money that is in your bank account that is earmarked for specific categories to keep you from spending it. I love the simplicity of the app, it's not complicated. I like the new formatting and theme colors. The one issue that seems to me could easily be resolved that I really wish they would take seriously, is "iCloud syncing". I would like to be able to pick up my iPad and see exactly where I left off on my iPhone. Or to allow my wife to be able to pick up her iPhone and see what is in the Envelopes simultaneously. Right now we both have to make entries separately to stay on the same page with our money. This could be easily done by allowing people to sign in to an account. This would give the app five stars.

Had the free one which was just ok. This one has considerably vast improvements. Can put a memo in and transfer between envelopes. Can do a quick deposit on multiple accounts and manually select which accounts get the deposit. I still keep a paper budget but use this when checking figures and when out and about to see what I have left in each envelope. Didn’t mind paying the 7 dollars for it because I use it daily and like the improvement from the one that used to be free. Maybe in a future update can have separate envelopes grouped together. One for daily budget grouped together and another set of envelopes for weekly budget. Not necessary but I balance my budget weekly to make sure everything balances out and I am on track. Could call the groups of envelopes whatever fits the individuals needs. Separate files of envelopes so to say. Other than that works perfect for me. Keeps me in check on my spending.

I had the older version—which was previously free. I feel like these apps (old and current version) are the same. They do have the ability to write a note for each transaction. The color scheme and look is different and the layout looks cleaner. I am putting it at 3/5 stars because it is $7! I tried a tooooon of different apps out there to have another free app, but I wanted something simple like this. So with that said, why is this simple app $7? It does the trick though. Update: I’m putting it at 4/5 because there are some features I like with this version: How to auto fill budgeted amounts (all or just selected envelopes). I like the layout of how the transactions appear in each envelope too.

To start, is this app worth the $6/7 I paid for it? Absolutely not—MAYBE $3, but that’s a strong maybe. The concept itself is just way too simple to justify spending almost $10 on, but since it’s really only one of two of its kind, I bit the bullet and I will say that I’m still happy with the purchase. Now, the concept is perfect. It’s such a simpler way to track my spending since I do use actual cash envelopes, instead of using an expense tracker. I’m absolutely happy that they’ve made this into an app and that they don’t make you link an account to use it like a bank or however that would work (although, that’s a good idea for a separate app). The colors are weird, and I wish there were way more. Also, the app looks a little outdated. If you have people spending $6 on an app, at least make the software look modern. GoodNotes 5, Procreate, Notability, etc. were all about the same amount of money and this app doesn’t do even a FRACTION of what they do... Which brings me back to my first point, the price. Overall, it’s a great concept. I just hope the developers will listen to the reviewers, as we’ve all pretty much said the same things. When the changes happen, I will change my rating.

I bought this app because Envelopes 2 finally died. Without warning. I didn’t even know this version existed until I went to the App Store to find an easy, similar envelope budgeter (so uh... thanks for the A+ customer service, guys.) It’s definitely not worth $7, but for it is it’s great. EXCEPT that it’s missing two QUITE IMPORTANT facets that were in Old Faithful: Notes, and Auto-Budget. Yeah yeah, if you put the same amount in, don’t set a budget for it, blah blah blah. But if you don’t know how much you’re getting each pay, it’s SO MUCH EASIER to Auto-Budget and see what’s leftover for saving or spending! Notes alone would be useful, but without both it’s just crippling. For $7 I would expect full functionality and - as a whim- more than 10 envelope colors (two of which are nearly identical??)