SIMPL for Debt Fighters: a dated plan for every balance
Full disclosure: SIMPL is our product; we make it and sell it. This page describes what money looks like for a debt fighter, what it costs where you live using government price data, what SIMPL does and what it doesn't, and what the other apps cost, so you can decide for yourself.
A month of money, for a debt fighter
What makes it hard
- Minimum payments that barely touch the balance
- Not knowing which debt to attack first
- Balances that creep back up on paid-off cards
- No date to aim at, so it feels endless
What this month costs where you live
An illustrative month for a debt fighter at US-average prices is about $3,600. Prices differ a lot by metro, and not evenly: rents vary far more than groceries. Each line below is scaled by the matching part of the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis's Regional Price Parities for 2024 (US average = 100). Debt payments and savings aren't scaled.
- San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (overall 115.6, rents 194.7): about $5,136 a month
- Monroe, MI (overall 93.5, rents 74.6): about $3,185 a month
- Monroe, LA (overall 83.6, rents 42.8): about $2,691 a month
| Line | US average | Scaled by | Your metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent | $1,400 | rents | $1,400 |
| Utilities | $180 | utilities | $180 |
| Groceries | $400 | goods | $400 |
| Car and gas | $350 | goods | $350 |
| Insurance and phone | $250 | services | $250 |
| Minimum payments (5 debts) | $620 | not scaled | $620 |
| Extra debt payment | $400 | not scaled | $400 |
| Month | $3,600 | $3,600 |
Illustrative amounts, not a statistic about debt fighters; your own month will differ. Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities by MSA (table MARPP), 2024, 387 metropolitan areas.
What SIMPL does for debt fighters
- Debt payoff (snowball or avalanche). Enter each balance, rate and minimum, choose snowball or avalanche, and get a payoff date for every debt.
- Zero-based budget. Find the extra payment by giving every dollar a job.
- Automatic spending categories. See the spending you can cut, category by category.
- Net worth over time. Watch net worth rise as the balances fall.
$199 once · 30-day money-back guarantee
Get SIMPL — $199What SIMPL doesn't do
- SIMPL does not give financial, tax or investment advice, file your taxes, or move money for you. It records, categorises and plans.
- It tracks investment and retirement balances for your net worth; it does not trade or manage them.
- Bank connection runs through Plaid and depends on Plaid supporting your bank; you can always enter or import transactions yourself.
- SIMPL is $199 once and runs on the device you install it on. Using it on more than one device, or sharing it live with a partner, needs Cloud Sync at $4.99 a month (optional).
Independent help, free, and not us
An app records and plans; it doesn't replace real guidance. These official and nonprofit sources are worth knowing for a debt fighter:
- NFCC nonprofit credit counseling: The National Foundation for Credit Counseling connects you with nonprofit counselors.
- CFPB: debt collection: Your rights when a debt collector contacts you.
- AnnualCreditReport.com: The official site for your free credit reports from all three bureaus.
What the other apps cost
| App | Price | Three years |
|---|---|---|
| Ramsey Solutions EveryDollar | $80 a year | $240 over 3 years |
| You Need A Budget | $109 a year | $327 over 3 years |
| Rocket Money | Free to use | — |
| SIMPL | $199 once | $199 |
Published prices, checked April 2026; they change. Several of these apps do things SIMPL doesn't; if one of those is what you need, the subscription may be worth it.
Questions
Is SIMPL a subscription?
No. SIMPL is $199 once, with a 30-day money-back guarantee. The only optional extra is Cloud Sync at $4.99 a month, if you want it on more than one device or shared with a partner.
Does it connect to my bank?
Yes, through Plaid, when Plaid supports your bank. You can also enter or import transactions yourself.
Is SIMPL right for every debt fighter?
Not always. If you want investment advice, bill pay or a credit score, SIMPL doesn't do those. If you only want a free spending feed, a free app may be enough. SIMPL is for people who want a real budget, goals and reports without a yearly bill.