The private budgeting app
that puts your data first
Most budgeting apps make money from your data. CountAbout makes money from subscriptions — and nothing else. No ads, no data selling, no tracking. Just straightforward budgeting tools, automatic bank sync, and Quicken import — starting at $19.99/year.
Why privacy matters in a budgeting app
Your budgeting app knows more about you than almost any other piece of software you use. It sees your income, your rent, your medical bills, your subscriptions, your guilty pleasures. That data is extraordinarily valuable — and most budgeting apps treat it that way.
Free budgeting apps like Credit Karma (formerly Mint) and Empower monetize your financial behavior by showing targeted ads, recommending financial products for a commission, or selling anonymized spending data to third parties. Even some paid apps track browsing behavior or upsell premium financial services.
CountAbout works differently. We are a small, independent company founded in 2013 with a simple business model: you pay a subscription, and we build you good software. We only collect your email address — no names, no phone numbers, no Social Security numbers. Your bank credentials go directly to our data aggregator, MX, and CountAbout never sees or stores them. Your financial data is encrypted and stored in AWS.
A private budgeting app is not a luxury. It is a reasonable expectation. CountAbout exists to meet it.
6 reasons CountAbout is the most private budgeting app
No ads, ever
CountAbout has never displayed an advertisement. No banners, no sponsored recommendations, no “offers for you.” Your budgeting experience is yours alone.
No data selling or mining
We do not sell, share, or monetize your financial data in any way. We do not build behavioral profiles. We do not share data with advertisers, affiliates, or data brokers.
Subscription-supported model
Our revenue comes from subscriptions — $19.99/year Basic, $54.99/year Premium. That is it. No hidden revenue streams, no upsells to financial products, no referral commissions.
Bank-grade encryption
Your data is encrypted and stored in AWS. Bank credentials are handled by MX, our data aggregator — CountAbout never sees or stores your bank login. We only collect your email address to create your account.
Import from Quicken & Simplifi
CountAbout is the only web-based budgeting app that imports your full Quicken and Simplifi transaction history. Switch without losing years of financial records.
Projected Register Balance
See your future account balance on any date based on scheduled transactions. Plan ahead with confidence — a feature most budgeting apps simply do not offer.
CountAbout vs ad-supported budgeting apps
How does CountAbout’s privacy compare to the alternatives?
| Feature | CountAbout | YNAB | Credit Karma (Mint) | Rocket Money | Empower | PocketGuard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ad-Free | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Sells User Data | Never | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tracks Browsing | No | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Subscription Only (no upsells) | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Import from Quicken | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Annual Price | $19.99 – $54.99 | $109 | Free (ad-supported) | $48 – $144 | Free (ad-supported) | Free / $74.99 |
Privacy & budgeting — what to know
What does “private budgeting app” mean?
A private budgeting app is one that does not monetize your financial data. It does not show ads, sell your spending habits to third parties, or use your information to market financial products to you. CountAbout fits this definition completely — our only revenue source is subscriptions.
Does CountAbout sell my financial data?
No. CountAbout has never sold, shared, or monetized user financial data. We are subscription-supported and have no advertising or data-brokering relationships. Your transaction history, account balances, and spending patterns stay between you and CountAbout.
How does CountAbout make money?
Subscriptions. CountAbout Basic costs $19.99/year for manual entry, and CountAbout Premium costs $54.99/year with automatic bank sync. There are no ads, no affiliate commissions, no upsells to investment advisory services, and no data licensing deals.
Is my bank login stored by CountAbout?
No. CountAbout uses MX, a regulated financial data aggregator, to connect to your bank. Your bank credentials are entered directly with MX and are never transmitted to or stored by CountAbout. MX is used by thousands of banks and fintech companies and is subject to financial industry security standards.
Can I export my data if I leave?
Yes. CountAbout lets you export your full transaction history at any time in standard formats. Your data belongs to you, and you can take it with you whenever you choose. There is no lock-in.
Start budgeting
with total privacy
45-day free trial. All features included. No credit card required. See why CountAbout was named Forbes Best Budgeting App 2024.
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