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Ask HN: Privacy Respecting Personal Finance/Budget App?

by kernoble on 5/13/19, 10:31 PM with 4 comments

I'm looking for something like Mint.com for my S.O. and I to monitor our spending.

I'm wary of using any free tool, because it seems that just about every "free" service/tool out there is actually profiting from the "surveillance capitalism" model/network.

Are there any tools out there that are easy to use and privacy respecting? I'm more than happy to pay or give up some features.

  • by gubsz on 5/14/19, 12:24 AM

    Not directly answering you question, but on a similar note, would you be more willing to use the "free version" of these tools if they did the following:

      - Explain what data they share
  - Explain who they're sharing the data with
  - Give full control over what data is shared
  - Give the ability to easily delete/export your data once you decide you no longer want to use the application
    I thought it might be an interesting experiment to offer both a "free" and "paid" version. Rather than cutting features for the "free" version, you would instead sell the user's semi-anonymized data. This could even be something like a sliding scale for those more privacy conscious, with more reimbursement given for more data shared.

  • by kasey_junk on 5/13/19, 11:46 PM

    I use YNAB though I’ve never vetted their privacy respect.

    Their business model is more obvious though & I like their opinionated approach to budgeting.

  • by sandman007 on 5/14/19, 11:38 AM

    I use https://goodbudget.com/ which has sync facility which i found lacking from many personal finance apps. I checked their privacy statement and they don't sell or share our info with third parties.

  • by auslegung on 5/14/19, 1:22 AM

    Check out everydollar.com. I don’t know their privacy policies but in general I trust Dave Ramsey and it’s one of his products.