What it does
Lunch Money combines personal transactions, recurring items and configurable budgets in a web app, with mobile companions for reviewing spending. It supports manual entries, CSV imports and connected bank accounts, with custom budget periods and category or general-pool rollovers. Access requires a subscription after a 30-day trial.
After registering, choose Start fresh to set up categories and currency preferences, or Set up demo to explore a budget with sample data. Transactions can be entered manually, imported through CSV or synced from supported banks. Manually managed accounts also work for cash and gift-card balances.
Set the period before the amounts
Open Budget Settings at the upper right of the Budget page to choose the period and starting date. A two-week cycle can follow your paydays. Changing this setting later deletes old budget allocations because the new period applies across your budget history.
Next decide whether you want to budget against expected income, income already received or the larger of the two. Category and general-pool rollover settings determine how unused money or overspending carries forward. These choices matter when income varies.
Subscription and mobile access
Lunch Money costs US$10 a month. The annual pricing selector currently displays US$100 a year and lets you choose an amount. Both routes include all features. The 30-day trial needs no card, and the service offers a price-lock guarantee at the rate you select. You can pause a subscription and retain your data, with unused time credited for future use.
The main budgeting workspace is on the web. Its iOS and Android companion apps let you review transactions, change categories, add tags and notes, and inspect spending charts while away from a computer.
Strengths
- Manual and CSV accounts provide alternatives to bank sync.
- Budget periods, income treatment and rollovers are configurable.
- The mobile companion supports transaction review without opening the full web workspace.
Watch out for
- Changing the budget period removes old budget allocations.
- Full budgeting is centered on the web; the mobile app is a companion.
Best for
- People whose budgets need to follow a custom pay cycle
- Households combining connected accounts with manual cash or gift-card records
Sources
- Getting started with Lunch Money (Oct 27, 2026)
- Budgeting 🆕 | Knowledge Base (Oct 25, 2026)
- Set up a Lunch Money budget (Oct 27, 2026)
- Lunch Money pricing and trial (Oct 27, 2026)
- Official Lunch Money mobile companion (Oct 27, 2026)