The Budgeting App is a manual-first spend tracker from New Zealand, with an optional Pro Sync plan that adds bank feeds and needs and wants sorting. Cleer Money is built the other way round: an Australian budgeting app where your bank connection and the want or need swipe are the core of the product, not an add-on. Both connect Australian banks through the Consumer Data Right. Choose The Budgeting App if you want to log spending by hand, use Android or track several currencies. Choose Cleer Money if you want your transactions sorted into wants and needs with as little effort as possible.
Side by side
| Feature | Cleer Money | The Budgeting App |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Bank-connected, want or need on every purchase | Manual logging first, bank sync optional |
| Free plan | Cleer Lite: manual entry, CSV import, want or need swipe, 3 budgets and insights for the current week, fortnight or month | Manual logging, up to 2 accounts and weekly, fortnightly or monthly budgets |
| Price with bank connection | $7.99/mo or $79.99/yr AUD, 7 days free | Pro Sync $11.99/mo or $109.99/yr AUD |
| Manual-only paid plan | Not needed, Lite is free | Pro from $4.59/mo AUD, plus a lifetime option |
| Needs and wants | On every plan, the centre of the app | Pro Sync only |
| Open Banking | CDR via Fiskil | CDR via Fiskil in Australia, Plaid in the US and Canada |
| Budget periods | Weekly, fortnightly or monthly budgets, on the free plan too | Weekly, fortnightly or monthly budgets |
| Multi-currency | No | Yes |
| Platform | iOS | iOS and Android |
| Region | Built in Queensland for Australia | Built in New Zealand, global |
Competitor details last checked: 7 October 2026 from The Budgeting App's website and Australian App Store listing. Prices and plans change, so confirm current details before you rely on this.
Where The Budgeting App is stronger
It is on Android as well as iPhone, works offline, supports multiple currencies and has a cheap manual-only Pro plan with a lifetime option. It also has more options for people who like to log by hand: budget rollover, a calendar view, savings and loan trackers, tags and an app lock. If you want to type in every purchase yourself, it is built for that.
Where Cleer Money is different
Cleer Money starts from your bank, not a blank ledger. Transactions arrive through Open Banking and you make one decision on each one: want or need. That decision drives everything else, from your budgets and pace to the insights on what your wants are really costing you. Want or need sorting, 3 budgets and insights for the current week, fortnight or month are all on the free plan. The thinking behind it is set out in the money awareness method.
The short version
- Choose The Budgeting App if you prefer logging spending by hand, use Android or need several currencies.
- Choose Cleer Money if you want your Australian bank transactions sorted into wants and needs with as little effort as possible.
Next: compare with YNAB or PocketSmith, read the FAQ or browse all budgeting alternatives in Australia.