toolsUpdated March 1, 2026

Best Free Budgeting Software

Choosing the right free budgeting software can make or break your finance function. We have researched, tested, and compared the leading options to help UK finance teams make an informed decision. Below you will find honest reviews with real pros, cons, and pricing -- no affiliate links, no sponsored placements.

How we evaluated

We evaluated each option based on five criteria: feature depth, ease of use, value for money (with UK pricing where available), integration ecosystem, and customer support quality. We prioritised tools with strong UK presence or global availability, and tested each where trial access was available.

1

Google Sheets

Free spreadsheet platform with templates for budgeting. Collaboration built in.

Pros

  • Completely free
  • Real-time collaboration
  • Huge template library

Cons

  • No data governance
  • Manual processes
  • Not purpose-built for finance
FreeVery small teams and sole traders
2

Causal (Free Tier)

Visual financial modelling with a generous free plan. Named variables and scenario comparison.

Pros

  • Free tier with useful features
  • Visual model building
  • Scenario comparison

Cons

  • Limited integrations on free plan
  • Not full budgeting suite
  • Data limits on free tier
Free (limited)Startups building their first financial modelVisit site
3

Pry (Free Tier)

Startup financial planning with free tier. Basic hiring plans and revenue models.

Pros

  • Free tier available
  • Startup-focused
  • Simple interface

Cons

  • Very limited on free plan
  • Startup use case only
  • Basic features
Free (limited)Very early-stage startupsVisit site
4

Wave

Free accounting software with basic budgeting via reports. Invoicing, payments, and bookkeeping.

Pros

  • Completely free accounting
  • Good for freelancers
  • Invoice and payment tools

Cons

  • Very basic budgeting
  • Limited reporting
  • Ad-supported
FreeFreelancers and micro-businessesVisit site
5

Notion + Templates

Flexible workspace with community budgeting templates. Not purpose-built but adaptable.

Pros

  • Free tier available
  • Highly customisable
  • Good for documentation alongside budgets

Cons

  • Not a financial tool
  • No calculations engine
  • Manual data entry
Free tier availableTeams already using Notion wanting basic budget trackingVisit site

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

We evaluated each option based on feature depth, ease of use, UK pricing, integrations, and support quality. We tested tools where trial access was available and spoke with finance professionals who use them daily.

No. Grove FP is included where relevant (we are transparent about this), but rankings are based on our honest assessment. We do not accept payment for placement.

We review and update this list quarterly. The last update was March 2026. If you spot something outdated, please let us know at hello@grove.financial.

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