I’ve used iBank/Banktivity since I moved to it from Quicken when Quicken abandoned the Mac.
It meets my needs and I use it for both my personal and business finances (but I have pretty simple business finance needs). It meets all your list, except it is a subscription. I’m pretty sure it can do budgeting and savings goals stuff, but I don’t use that (I just try to ensure my incomings exceed my outgoings and let the rest of my finances take care of itself).
Yes, any subscription requirement makes software DOA for me as does any syncing via “the cloud”.
I gave SEE a tryout about 2 years ago, switching from Moneydance after 14 or so years, for almost a year, and did use the mobile component. The mobile app was the draw for me - I wanted to be able. to get full history while I was traveling with just an iPad. The mobile Appin SEE is missing some things that is in the full app, like reports. But I noticed that the mobile app was badly not in sync with the main app toward the end, and, despite the fact that I liked the app otherwise, I switched back to Moneydance. Unfortunately, as others have said, the mobile app of Moneydance is basically a data entry app with limited history, but I switched back because I could never figure out why the SEE mobile app was having issues.
I do not pay for the subscription for Plaid with Moneydance - I just do downloads and imports for the accounts that do not work with the standard download from the app.
While I imagine the dedicated apps already mentioned probably do what you want (I’ve never tried any), a relational database will do pretty much anything you want along such lines. FileMaker Pro’s probably the best (but $$$ and pretty steep learning curve, but fun to learn if you’re into that kind of thing), Ninox is relatively inexpensive and somewhat easier to learn).
FWIW, I’ve been using Excel spreadsheets to manage my finances for decades. One is my checkbook register, recording all deposits and withdrawals. One tracks my investments. And one is my annual budget (grouping expenses by category and by month).
When I buy anything, I log it in the budget spreadsheet, update the checkbook sheet (for payments via debit card or check) and keep the paper receipts for reconciling at the end of the month. I log on to my banks’ web sites every evening to look for unexpected charges (which might be fraudulent or mistakes) and I log the day’s changes in my investments’ value.
I prepare a separate set of spreadsheets each year and archive previous years for historic reference.
It’s not difficult (although it can sometimes be time consuming) and it almost certainly doesn’t do as much as actual personal finance apps, but it works for me and can be implemented with literally any spreadsheet app you like.
I use Banktivity and I don’t have a subscription so I checked it out on their website. They have an interesting ’subscription’ policy as noted there:
"We don’t hold your data hostage
If you pay once, but then choose not to renew, you retain access to your data indefinitely. You can even add and edit transactions, accounts, reports and budgets manually with an expired subscription.
Pay once, get updates for free
If you choose not to renew your subscription you keep getting updates to the software, free. Yep, that’s right, you’ll have access to updates which contain bug fixes, features and enhancements. Some new features and services may require an active subscription. But giving you our updates is our way of trying to woo you back to being a paying subscriber – we believe you’ll see all the great new stuff and want to re-subscribe."
I, too, was going to set up a spreadsheet for use as a checkbook register. But then I came upon this:
I’ve been using it for more than a year. I have no complaints, given it is free to download and to use.
Looks nice but no mention of an iOS version
After being stuck on Quicken 2007 for years, I am very happy to pay for the latest Quicken every year – there have been lots of new features added. I wonder if it’s exclusion to Canada and the USA has to do with compatibility with banks. I download transactions from our bank accounts anyway, so I imagine that I could use it anywhere as long as my bank allowed compatible downloads.
5 posts were split to a new topic: Software for administering a decedent’s estate
SeeFinance 2 was a complete rewrite. I forget when but sometime in the last 4 years(?). I’ve used See since version 1 was in Beta. Its weakest area for me is generating reports. I just haven’t mastered the report functions, probably because I only use them once a year at tax time. Then I have to futz around relearning how to get the info I want. There are also financial institutions that don’t support downloads to See. Schwab did but stopped. Otherwise I like the program, and I use it every day.
I agree the reports need a lot of work. I’ve given some suggestions to the author and hopefully he takes them into consideration in the future. I use them more than once a year and also have to futz with them every time.
Diane
Count me in this camp, also for decades.