SIMPL for Households: one budget the whole family can see
Full disclosure: SIMPL is our product; we make it and sell it. This page describes what money looks like for a household, 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 household
What makes it hard
- Bills land on different days from paydays, so money looks free when it isn't
- Dozens of small purchases add up to more than the big bills people worry about
- Irregular costs (car repairs, school trips, holidays) arrive as emergencies
- Two adults spending from the same accounts with no shared picture
What this month costs where you live
An illustrative month for a household at US-average prices is about $5,800. 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 $8,021 a month
- Monroe, MI (overall 93.5, rents 74.6): about $5,202 a month
- Monroe, LA (overall 83.6, rents 42.8): about $4,483 a month
| Line | US average | Scaled by | Your metro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent or mortgage | $1,900 | rents | $1,900 |
| Utilities | $300 | utilities | $300 |
| Groceries and household goods | $1,000 | goods | $1,000 |
| Gas and car costs | $450 | goods | $450 |
| Childcare and activities | $900 | services | $900 |
| Insurance and phone | $400 | services | $400 |
| Debt payments | $350 | not scaled | $350 |
| Savings and sinking funds | $500 | not scaled | $500 |
| Month | $5,800 | $5,800 |
Illustrative amounts, not a statistic about households; 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 households
- Zero-based budget. Give every dollar a job on payday, including the irregular costs, so nothing looks spare that isn't.
- Automatic spending categories. Transactions sort themselves into categories, so the forty small purchases show up as a number.
- Savings goals. Separate goals for the emergency fund, holidays and car repairs, each with its own progress.
- Cash-flow forecast. See when the balance dips between paydays before it happens.
$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 household:
- CFPB consumer tools: Plain-language guides from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (a federal agency) on budgeting, credit and debt.
- FDIC Money Smart: Free money-management lessons from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
- USA.gov benefit finder: Check which federal benefits your household may qualify for.
What the other apps cost
| App | Price | Three years |
|---|---|---|
| You Need A Budget | $109 a year | $327 over 3 years |
| Monarch Money | $99 a year | $297 over 3 years |
| Ramsey Solutions EveryDollar | $80 a year | $240 over 3 years |
| 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 household?
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.