RiceBowl
Search for a free budget app and you will get a long list. They are not free in the same way, and the difference matters more than any feature comparison, because it determines what the product is optimised for.
The four models
- Free because you are the product. The app monetises by recommending financial products based on your transactions. This was Mint's model.
- Free trial dressed as free. Full functionality for a couple of weeks, then a paywall in front of everything, including data you already entered.
- Free but crippled. A permanent free tier so limited it functions as an advert — a cap of a handful of transactions, or a single budget category.
- Free tier, paid convenience. The core job works permanently for nothing; payment buys automation and extras.
How to check which one you are looking at
Three questions settle it quickly. Does the free tier require a card? Can you export your data if you stop paying? And what does the privacy policy say about sharing with partners or advertisers? An app that wants a card for a free plan is running a trial. An app that locks your data behind a renewal is holding it hostage.
What RiceBowl's free plan includes
RiceBowl is the fourth model. The Free plan is permanent, needs no card, and covers the core job: your spendable number, manual income and expense entry, recurring bills and subscriptions, category breakdown, spending charts, and debt tracking.
New accounts start with 14 days of Plus so the extras can be tried. When that ends you pick Plus or Free, and choosing Free keeps everything listed above — nothing you entered gets locked. Plus is $5/month or $48/year and buys automation rather than access: receipt and statement scanning, CSV and Google Sheet import, full month history, bill reminders, email summaries, and sharing with up to four other people.
Common questions
Is RiceBowl’s free plan permanent?
Yes. The Free plan has no time limit and no card is required. It covers your spendable number, manual entry, recurring items, category breakdown, spending charts, and debt tracking.
What happens when the 14-day Plus trial ends?
You choose Plus or Free. Choosing Free keeps every core feature and nothing you entered is locked away.
What does Plus cost?
Plus is $5 per month or $48 per year. It adds receipt and statement scanning, CSV and Google Sheet import, full month history, bill reminders, email summaries, and sharing with up to four other people.
Does RiceBowl sell my data or show ads?
No. Transactions and balances are never sold or shared with advertisers, and are not used to train AI.
