Best budget spreadsheet in 2026: one-time templates vs YNAB and Tiller
Should I buy a budget spreadsheet or pay for a budgeting app?
If you are happy to type or paste your transactions, a one-time spreadsheet costs less than one month of most budgeting apps: Centwren is $12 once with a monthly budget, 12 month tabs, sinking funds and net worth in Excel and Google Sheets. YNAB ($109 a year) and Tiller ($99 a year) sync your bank for you.
Centwren Budget Planner: Know where every dollar goes, all year
from $12Monthly budget with 12 month tabs and a yearly view
Secure checkout · 14-day fix-or-refund if it doesn't work as described (terms)How we compared
- One-time or subscription
- Bank sync or manual entry
- Price on each seller's page
Budget spreadsheets and apps side by side
| What buyers compare | Centwren Budget Planner (CyberMax) | YNAB | Tiller | Kappa Templates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $12 once | $14.99/month or $109/year | $99/year | $15 |
| Bank sync | No, manual or paste | Yes | Yes, into your sheet | No |
| Method | Monthly budget, sinking funds | Zero-based (YNAB method) | Your own sheet | Template |
| Excel and Google Sheets | Both | App | Both | See its page |
Sources: Centwren Budget Planner (our live page) · YNAB (checked 2026-11-11) · Tiller (checked 2026-11-11) · Kappa Templates (checked 2026-11-11).
The options and their published prices
| Option | Published price | Notes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centwren Budget Planner (CyberMax) | from $12 | Monthly budget with 12 month tabs and a yearly view; Sinking funds and net worth; Excel and Google Sheets | Our page |
| YNAB | $14.99/month or $109/year | Pick it if you want bank sync and the YNAB method in an app | Their page |
| Tiller | $99/year | Pick it if you want bank transactions fed into your own spreadsheet automatically | Their page |
| Smart Budgeting Template (Kappa Templates, Gumroad) | $15 | Pick it if you prefer that template's layout | Their page |
Rival prices as shown on each seller's own page (Apify Actors: Apify's public pricing API), checked 2026-11-11. Prices change; check the seller's page before buying. Options whose price we could not confirm on that day are left out.
Where YNAB, Tiller and the template are better
- YNAB: Bank sync, phone apps and a guided zero-based method.
- Tiller: Feeds bank transactions into your own Google Sheets or Excel daily.
- Smart Budgeting Template (Kappa Templates, Gumroad): A different layout you may prefer.
Which one should you pick?
Choose Centwren Budget Planner if
- you prefer one payment to a yearly fee
- you are fine entering or pasting transactions
- you want it in your own spreadsheet
Choose YNAB if
- you want bank sync and the YNAB method in an app
Choose Tiller if
- you want bank transactions fed into your own spreadsheet automatically
Choose Kappa Templates if
- you prefer that template's layout
What Centwren Budget Planner includes
- Monthly budget with 12 month tabs and a yearly view
- Sinking funds and net worth
- Excel and Google Sheets
- One payment of $12, no subscription
- Free printable preview
Budget spreadsheet questions
Should I buy a budget spreadsheet or pay for a budgeting app?
If you are happy to type or paste your transactions, a one-time spreadsheet costs less than one month of most budgeting apps: Centwren is $12 once with a monthly budget, 12 month tabs, sinking funds and net worth in Excel and Google Sheets. YNAB ($109 a year) and Tiller ($99 a year) sync your bank for you.
How do I make a budget spreadsheet?
List income, then fixed bills, then variable spending and savings goals per month, and track actual spending against each line.
What is a sinking fund?
Money you set aside each month for a known future cost, like car repairs or holidays.
Does it work in Google Sheets and Excel?
Yes, it comes as a file for Excel and a copy for Google Sheets.
Is YNAB worth it?
If you want bank sync and the YNAB method, many people find it worth the yearly fee; if you enter transactions yourself, a spreadsheet costs less.
Centwren Budget Planner: Know where every dollar goes, all year
from $12Know where every dollar goes, all year
Secure checkout · 14-day fix-or-refund if it doesn't work as described (terms)Free how-tos
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Free: the Free Planner Sampler
4 printable previews (budget, debt payoff, focus planner, habit tracker), then 5 short emails with formulas that make a budget stick.