Most budget apps ask for an e-mail address before you have entered a single expense. That account is rarely there for your benefit: it lets the company store your spending on its servers. A small group of apps still works the old way, with the data on your phone and nothing to sign up for. This guide compares five of them.
One note on fairness: this guide is published by the maker of RizKharj, one of the five. Its weak points are listed too. Prices are public list prices in November 2026; check the store page before you decide.
The short answer
- Free with every feature, several currencies, no ads: RizKharj.
- Fastest logging, very simple: Monefy.
- Best design, optional one-time Pro: Cashew.
- Bookkeeping style with assets and liabilities: Money Manager.
- YNAB-style envelopes on your own server: Actual Budget.
Comparison table
| App | Account | Price | Ads | Backup | Currencies |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RizKharj | None | Free, all features | None | Automatic, own cloud | 156 |
| Monefy | None | Free, Pro once | Free version | Own cloud (Pro) | Many |
| Cashew | Optional | Free, Pro 19.99 USD | None | Google Drive | Several |
| Money Manager | None | Free, Pro once | Free version | File | Several |
| Actual Budget | None | Free, open source | None | Own server | One |
"Own cloud" means a file in your own iCloud Drive, Google Drive or Dropbox. Cashew asks for a Google sign-in only if you turn on backup and sync. Actual Budget needs a small server for syncing devices, about 2 dollars a month if you rent one.
What "no account" really gives you
- Nothing to leak. A company that never receives your data cannot lose it in a breach, sell it or hand it over.
- It works offline. On a plane, abroad without roaming or in a basement shop, the app behaves the same.
- No lock-in. If the company disappears, the app on your phone and your backup file still work.
And what it costs you:
- Backup becomes your job. Without an account there is no server copy. Pick an app with an automatic backup to your own cloud folder and turn it on the first day. See how backup passwords work in RizKharj for one way this is done.
- No bank sync. Connecting to a bank needs a server in the middle. The honest replacement is importing a statement file.
- Sharing is harder. A shared budget with a partner works through a shared file, not an invitation link.
Five questions to ask any budget app
- Can I use every screen before entering an e-mail address? If not, it is not a no-account app, whatever the store page says.
- Does it still work in flight mode? Try it before you enter a month of data.
- How does it make money? Ads and "partners" mean your data has a buyer. A one-time purchase, open source or tips do not.
- Where exactly is the backup? "In the cloud" is not an answer. "In a file in your iCloud Drive" is.
- Can I get everything out? Look for CSV export and a complete backup file you can open elsewhere.
The five apps in detail
RizKharj
RizKharj is free with all features: unlimited accounts in 156 currencies, budgets per category, savings goals, debts with people, recurring payments, a bills calendar, loans, reports with PDF and CSV export, widgets, receipt photos, a PIN lock with Face ID and separate books. It has no ads, no tracking and no account. Automatic backup writes to a file in your own iCloud Drive or Google Drive and can be protected with a password. It runs on iPhone, iPad, Android and in the browser, in English, German and Persian.
Weak points: no bank sync (statement import as CSV or camt.053 instead), a young app from a single developer, and few store reviews so far.
Monefy
Two taps to save an expense, no registration, data on the device. The free version shows ads; several accounts, recurring entries and sync to your own Google Drive or Dropbox are part of the one-time Pro purchase. Budgeting is basic.
Cashew
A carefully designed tracker for iOS, Android and the web with budgets, goals, subscriptions and loans. You can use it without signing in; Google sign-in is only for backup and sync. No ads. Pro is a one-time 19.99 dollars or a small subscription.
Money Manager (Realbyte)
Double-entry bookkeeping with assets and liabilities, charts and a calendar view. No account needed. The free version has ads and an account limit; a one-time purchase removes both, and sync between devices is sold separately.
Actual Budget
Open source and local-first, with the envelope method YNAB made popular. There is no company account, but to sync devices you run a small server or pay a host about 2 dollars a month. No app in the stores; you use it in the browser or on the desktop. More on this in free YNAB alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Which budget app does not require an account?
RizKharj, Monefy, Cashew, Money Manager and Actual Budget all work without creating an account. RizKharj and Actual Budget are the two that are free with every feature and show no ads.
Is there a budget app that does not need my bank login?
Yes, all five in this guide. They work by manual entry. RizKharj and Actual Budget can also import a statement file you download from your bank yourself.
Are no-account budget apps safe if I lose my phone?
Only if you have a backup. Turn on automatic backup to your own iCloud Drive or Google Drive, protect the file with a password, and set a PIN lock in the app.
Can I use a no-account app on two phones?
Yes, through a shared file. In RizKharj both devices use the same backup file in a shared iCloud Drive or Google Drive folder. Cashew syncs through one Google account, and Actual Budget through your server.
What is the best free budget app with no ads?
Among the apps without an account, RizKharj and Actual Budget are free with no ads and no paid tier. Cashew's free version is also ad-free, with some extras kept for Pro.