Frequently asked questions
Short answers. Each one links to the section of the manual that has the detail.
Getting started
Do I have to create an account or sign up?
No. There is no sign-up, no email, no password to create. You open the app, go through a four-step wizard, and start using it.
This is not a convenience we decided to hand you: there is no account because there is no server of ours to keep your data on.
Does it work without internet?
Yes. Recording, reviewing, budgeting and viewing charts all work offline, because everything is on the phone. You only need the internet to refresh exchange rates or upload a backup to Google Drive, and both are optional.
See it in the manual: Multiple currencies and exchange rates
Which version of Android do I need?
Android 8.0 or later.
Does it work on a tablet?
It is designed and tested for phones, in portrait. On tablets it may rotate to landscape, and the layout is not built for that shape. That is why we are not offering it for tablets today.
Which languages is it in?
Eleven: Spanish, English, Portuguese, French, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Hindi, Bengali, Urdu, Arabic and Indonesian. The translation includes the sample categories, not just the buttons.
Where do I download it?
It is being prepared for Google Play. Once it is published, the download link will appear on this site's home page.
Your data and your privacy
Where is my financial data stored?
In the local database on your phone, inside the app's private storage. Your accounts, transactions, budgets and receipt photos do not leave it unless you make a backup.
Can you see how much money I have?
No — and this is not a promise, it is that the channel does not exist. There is no server of ours for your data to be uploaded to, so there is nowhere we could look at it.
If you turn on Drive backup, the file goes to your Google Drive account. That account is yours; we have no access to it.
So does anything leave the phone?
Yes, one thing: if the app crashes, a crash report is sent to Firebase Crashlytics, which is Google's. It carries crash data, your device model and an installation identifier.
It does not carry your transactions, your amounts or your categories. It is on by default and you can turn it off in Settings. We spell it out because that is exactly what the Privacy Policy says.
How do I delete all my data?
From Settings → Delete data, inside the app and without asking our permission. It leaves the app as freshly installed. Backup files saved on your phone are not deleted: those are under your control.
Can I stop someone seeing my balances if they pick up my phone?
Yes. App lock asks for your fingerprint or face when you open it. And screenshot blocking, which is on by default, keeps your amounts out of screenshots and the recent-apps view.
Backups and changing phone
How do I make a backup?
From Settings → Backups. You can do it locally (it stays on the phone), to your Google Drive, or leave automatic backups on and stop thinking about it.
Do I need Google Drive?
No. A local backup needs neither a Google account nor a connection. Drive is an option so the file is not only on the phone you could lose.
Does it back up on its own?
Yes, if you turn automatic backup on. It runs in the background at the frequency you choose and keeps working after a phone restart. If you are signed in to Drive, it uploads the file and prunes the oldest ones.
How do I move my data to a new phone?
Make a backup on the old phone, install BudgetMate on the new one, and restore that file.
When you restore a backup that came from another device, the app will ask for the key it was encrypted with. Get hold of it before you change phones, not after.
What happens if I lose the backup key?
Backups are encrypted with AES-256, so without the key that file cannot be opened. We cannot open it either: we do not have your key.
That is why the app lets you see it before you need it: under Settings → Security you can view it, copy it or save it as a PDF, after confirming your identity. Do it once and keep it somewhere safe.
Everyday use
How do I record an expense?
Tap add on the transactions screen, choose "expense", type the amount and pick the account and category. The note and the receipt photo are optional.
I moved money from my bank account to cash. Is that an expense?
No, it is a transfer, and the app treats it separately precisely so it does not pollute your statistics: the money is still yours, it just changed place.
I deal in two currencies. Can I keep both?
Yes, as many as you need. Each account has its own currency and one of them is the primary, which is what consolidated totals use. Rates refresh from the internet, or you type them by hand if your bank applied a different one.
See it in the manual: Multiple currencies and exchange rates
Does it handle credit cards with a statement date?
Yes. A card is set up with its statement and payment dates, and the app shows the balance of the cycle in progress. For purchases in another currency you can configure how your bank converts them.
I have expenses that repeat every month. Do I record them one by one?
No need. Define them as recurring transactions, with their frequency, and stop having to remember.
Can I get my data out to Excel?
Yes — export an .xlsx file for the period you choose, and open it in Excel, LibreOffice or Google Sheets.
Can I import that Excel back in?
No. The .xlsx is for reading and sharing your data, not for returning it to the app. To move data between phones, a backup is the thing that works.
Question not here?
The manual covers every screen in more detail. If that does not settle it either, write to us and we will answer.