toolsUpdated March 1, 2026

Best Zero-Based Budgeting Tools

Choosing the right zero-based budgeting tools 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

Anaplan

Enterprise ZBB at scale.

Pros

  • Enterprise-scale ZBB
  • Flexible modelling
  • Cross-functional support

Cons

  • Very expensive
  • Needs ZBB methodology training
  • Complex setup
Custom (typically GBP 75,000+/yr)Enterprises implementing ZBBVisit site
2

Planful

ZBB within structured planning.

Pros

  • Structured ZBB framework
  • Good reporting
  • Part of full platform

Cons

  • Requires methodology design
  • Full subscription needed
  • Mid-market pricing
Custom (typically GBP 25,000+/yr)Mid-market teams adopting ZBBVisit site
3

Oracle EPM Cloud

Enterprise ZBB with decision packages.

Pros

  • Enterprise-grade ZBB
  • Decision package management
  • Approval workflows

Cons

  • Very complex
  • Oracle ecosystem
  • Expensive
Custom (enterprise)Large enterprises with formal ZBBVisit site
4

Excel / Google Sheets

Manual ZBB using templates.

Pros

  • Full control
  • Free or bundled
  • No lock-in

Cons

  • Extremely time-consuming
  • Error-prone
  • No workflow automation
Free / bundledSmall teams testing ZBB
5

SAP Analytics Cloud

ZBB planning within SAP ecosystem.

Pros

  • SAP integration
  • Structured ZBB
  • Enterprise scalability

Cons

  • SAP ecosystem required
  • Complex licensing
  • Steep learning curve
Custom (enterprise)SAP customers implementing ZBBVisit 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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