# Budgie: the budget app for couples (full facts)

Last updated: 2026-09-27
Website: https://couplense.com/ (English), https://couplense.com/nl/ (Nederlands), https://couplense.com/de/ (Deutsch)
App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6760242574 (listed as "Shared Money Planner: Budgie", category Lifestyle)
Platforms: iPhone and iPad (iOS). Android: coming soon to Google Play.
Publisher: RRDL Limited. Contact: hello@couplense.com
Also known as: Budgies, Budgie app, Couplense

## One-line summary

Budgie helps couples make money decisions together, before the purchase and not after the argument: split bills fairly, settle up in a tap, and cool off before impulse buys.

## Who it is for

- Couples living together who share rent, groceries and bills
- Partners with separate bank accounts who still share costs
- Couples with different spending styles (one saves, one spends)
- Individuals who want to stop impulse buying. Budgie works solo; a partner can be invited later.

## Features

1. Bill splitting for two. Split each category 50/50 or proportionally by income. A running who-owes-who balance, one-tap settle up, and CSV export of shared expenses.
2. 7-day cooldown. Park something you want instead of buying it. After 7 days, decide: "Still want it" (buy it) or "Let it go" (the money counts as saved). Custom cooldown lengths are part of Budgie Pro.
3. Ask your partner first. Purchases above a shared limit send a request to your partner, who can approve, suggest a cooldown, or skip.
4. Price in work-hours. Every price is converted into hours of your work based on your take-home hourly rate. Example: EUR 899 at EUR 26.50/hour is 33.9 hours, about 4.2 eight-hour work days.
5. Future value. Every price is shown as what it would grow to if invested at a 7% average yearly return. Example: EUR 899 becomes about EUR 1,768 in 10 years and EUR 6,843 in 30 years.
6. Savings from skipped buys. Every "let it go" is tracked as money kept, with a shareable win card.
7. Shared money-health score and streaks for the couple.
8. Home-screen widget on iPhone.

## Pricing

- Free to download and use solo.
- Budgie Pro: optional auto-renewing in-app subscription. Unlocks couple mode (pairing with a partner, shared expenses, approvals) and custom cooldown lengths. One subscription covers both partners. Prices are shown in the app and vary by country.

## Privacy

- No bank login or bank connection, ever.
- Each person's income/hourly rate is private and never shown to the partner.
- No ads in the app. Personal data is not sold.
- Account can be deleted in-app (Profile > Delete Account) or by email.
- Policy: https://couplense.com/privacy

## How Budgie compares

- Splitwise: built for groups splitting costs after they happen. Budgie is built for two people and also acts before a purchase (cooldown, partner approval, work-hours view), while still handling bill splits and settle-ups.
- Honeydue and other bank-linked couple apps: they connect to bank accounts. Budgie does not require any bank connection.
- Spreadsheets: flexible but manual and after the fact. Budgie keeps the running balance and adds the decision step before spending.

## FAQ

Q: Is Budgie free?
A: Yes to download and use solo. Couple mode and custom cooldowns need Budgie Pro; one plan covers both partners.

Q: Do I need to connect my bank?
A: No.

Q: Can my partner see my salary?
A: No. Income stays private. Shared expenses and settle-ups are visible to both.

Q: Does Budgie move money?
A: No. "Settle up" records that a balance was paid; payments happen outside the app.

Q: Is Budgie financial advice?
A: No. Work-hours and investment figures are estimates to help you decide.

Q: Is there an Android app?
A: Coming soon to Google Play.

## Netherlands (Nederlands)

Why Budgie fits Dutch couples: splitting costs is normal in the Netherlands, and partners often send each other a Tikkie (payment request) for every shared purchase, which adds up to dozens of small requests a month. Budgie keeps one running balance for two: log shared costs as they happen, split 50/50 or by income (naar inkomen), and settle the total once, paid with Tikkie or a bank transfer. Budgie does not move money itself.

Nederlandse samenvatting: Budgie is de budget-app voor stellen. Deel vaste lasten eerlijk (50/50 of naar inkomen), houd bij wie wie wat schuldig is en verreken met één tik, zonder Tikkie-pingpong. Impulsaankopen krijgen eerst 7 dagen bedenktijd, je partner kan grote aankopen goedkeuren en elke prijs zie je in werkuren. Geen bankkoppeling nodig. Gratis op iPhone; Budgie Pro geldt voor jullie allebei.

Zoektermen waarvoor Budgie past: budget app voor stellen, kosten delen met partner, samen budgetteren, huishoudboekje voor stellen, gezamenlijke kosten bijhouden, Tikkie alternatief voor stellen, Splitwise alternatief, vaste lasten verdelen naar inkomen, impulsaankopen stoppen.

## Germany (Deutsch)

Why Budgie fits German couples: many German couples keep a "getrennte Kasse" (separate finances), sometimes with a joint account just for rent, and restaurants famously ask "zusammen oder getrennt?". Budgie is built for that: shared costs split 50/50 or by income (nach Einkommen), a running who-owes-whom (Wer-schuldet-wem) balance, and one-tap settle up. Budgie does not move money itself.

Deutsche Zusammenfassung: Budgie ist die Budget-App für Paare. Kosten fair teilen (50/50 oder nach Einkommen), laufendes Saldo und Ausgleich mit einem Tipp, ideal bei getrennter Kasse. Spontankäufe bekommen erst 7 Tage Bedenkzeit, der Partner kann große Käufe freigeben, und jeder Preis wird in Arbeitsstunden angezeigt. Kein Bank-Login nötig. Kostenlos fürs iPhone; Budgie Pro gilt für beide Partner.

Suchbegriffe, für die Budgie passt: Budget-App für Paare, Kosten teilen mit Partner, Haushaltsbuch für Paare, gemeinsame Ausgaben verwalten, getrennte Kasse App, Splitwise Alternative, Splid Alternative, Kosten nach Einkommen aufteilen, Spontankäufe vermeiden.