Kakeibo app comparison
| App | Price | Your data | Best at | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zaimu Waitlist open |
Free plan; one-time payment for the core; optional Pro subscription | On your device, no account or bank | The full kakeibo ritual: four pillars, a 72-hour impulse filter and a monthly reflection | Not in the stores yet |
| Kakeibo — The Mindful Budgeting App getkakeibo.com |
One-time payment, no subscription (price varies by store) | Offline; local database, no accounts | Monthly wizard, a guided 5-step reflection, 27 currencies, CSV export and SQLite backup | No bank statement import; no public reviews on its site |
| Kakeibo: Mindful Spending Halil Goktepe |
Free; Premium $2.99/month or $29.99/year | On the device, no bank linking | Receipt scanner, widgets, a no-spend day calendar and streaks | Some features sit behind a subscription; few public ratings |
| Kakebo: AI Budget Planner Aurelien Ribon |
Free; Pro $3.99/month or $29.99/year; Max $6.99 | Email account to sync and share | Voice logging, an AI assistant and a budget shared with a partner | Requires an account and cloud services |
| KaBuddy: Budget & Kakeibo Pedro Eduardo Salvador |
Free; Premium $2.99 one-time | On the device; iCloud sync | Very light (3.1 MB), five languages including Spanish and a PDF monthly ledger | Tags and filters are Premium-only; listed on the App Store |
| Kakebo: Track Expense & Budget RellowTeam |
Free with ads and in-app purchases | On the device, per its listing | The most downloaded: 50,000+ on Google Play and 4.6 stars (about 1,390 reviews) | Has ads; more a general expense manager than a strict kakeibo |
Prices in US dollars from the US store listing; they may vary by country. “One-time payment” means no subscription.
How we put it together
We have not used each app for weeks. The table records what each developer states on its store listing or website as of 13 October 2026, nothing more. We use four criteria: fidelity to the method (four pillars and a monthly reflection), how your data is handled, real cost over a year and how easily you can log an expense.
Zaimu is in development and is included as a reference, not a recommendation. If you spot an outdated detail, write to us and we will fix it.
How to choose
- You want to pay once and keep everything on your phone: Kakeibo — The Mindful Budgeting App or KaBuddy fit; Zaimu aims at the same with more design and the 72-hour filter.
- You would rather talk to the app than type: Kakebo: AI Budget Planner, accepting that it uses an account and cloud.
- Receipts and widgets help you: Kakeibo: Mindful Spending.
- You accept ads and want the most proven option: Kakebo: Track Expense & Budget.
- What you care about most is the method: try it on paper first with our free kakeibo template; you will then know which app you need.
Where Zaimu fits
Zaimu aims to be the most carefully made kakeibo app: a monthly ritual with guided reflection, a 72-hour impulse filter, no accounts or bank connection and a design inspired by Japanese ledger books. You can already try it free in your browser.
Sources
- getkakeibo.com
- Kakeibo: Mindful Spending on the App Store · Google Play
- Kakebo: AI Budget Planner on the App Store
- KaBuddy on the App Store
- Kakebo: Track Expense & Budget on Google Play
A kakeibo that is only yours
Zaimu keeps your data only on your device. Try it free in your browser, no account needed.
Try Zaimu free