Safe to spend you can trust
One number for day-to-day decisions: cash after bills, buffers, and set-asides—not a vanity balance.
Windows · local-first · freeware
Honest books.
Honest books.
Safe to spend.
A money app that tells you the truth when books don’t match the bank— then gets out of your way. Import exports from your bank, set Safe to spend, sort a few charges, close the month.
No bank passwords stored
Data stays on your PC
CSV · OFX · PDF import
Optional BYOK Plaid
Demo figures below use fictional household data — not a real account.
Home
Safe to spend
$2,847.32
On track · buffer $1,000 held
Checking after bills & set-asides. Intentional 0% float separate.
Do this next
Match bank ending balance
Books $4,120.00 · bank $4,287.50 on Primary checking. One tap sets Safe to spend from bank.
Set Safe to spend from bank
Sort charges
Up next
Rent $1,850 · Fri · Paycheck $3,200 · next Fri
Built for open-rarely honesty
Most apps hide the gap between your books and the bank. HonestSpend surfaces it first—then gives you one honest next step.
Books ≠ bank, called out
After import, see the gap. One-tap “Set Safe to spend from bank” when the ending balance is the truth.
Freeware money-in
Download CSV, OFX/QFX, or PDF from your bank site. We never store bank logins. Optional BYOK Plaid with your keys.
Sort charges · close the month
A short review queue keeps tax and reports clean. Month-close checklist when you’re ready—not every day.
Local-first on your PC
Ledger lives under your profile (or a folder you pick, e.g. OneDrive). Uninstall keeps data so books survive reinstalls.
Simple by default · Full books when needed
Daily Home is quiet. Flip to Full books for ledgers, rules, tax vault, and CPA-depth work.
The app, with demo data
Accurate UI layouts from HonestSpend Windows (Simple mode). Numbers and payees are fictional demo info for the marketing site.
Import — set books from the bank
Pick a CSV or OFX export, map to an account, optional ending balance. When bank and books differ, the next step is honest—not buried.
- CSV · OFX/QFX · PDF statements
- Inbox drop folder for batch imports
- “Set Safe to spend from bank” after a mismatch
Import
Bank CSV (pick file)
Target account · Primary checking
File: Primary-checking-2026-07.csv
Ending balance entered: $4,287.50
Import file
Pick OFX/QFX…
After import
42 rows · 3 duplicates skipped
Books $4,120.00 ≠ bank $4,287.50. Set Safe to spend from bank ending balance?
Set Safe to spend from bank
Sort charges
Home
After import / bank — honesty card
Home keeps the mismatch visible until you act. Primary action aligns Safe to spend with the trusted bank figure; secondary path is Sort charges.
- Clear books vs bank amounts
- Sample payees from the last import
- No silent “sync” that invents cash
Safe to spend
$2,680.00
Books behind bank · review below
After import / bank
Books ≠ bank on Primary checking
Books $4,120.00 · bank ending $4,287.50 (+$167.50).
ACME PAYROLL
+$3,200.00
RIVER GROCERY
−$84.12
Set Safe to spend from bank
Sort charges
Sort charges — short review queue
Only what still needs a category or fee check. Confirm fee-like payees so they stop hitting Safe to spend by accident.
- Payee · amount · suggested category
- Fee confirm / dismiss
- Rules can learn from your choices
Sort charges
3 left
CLOUD HOSTING CO
−$29.00
Suggested: Software
Accept
Change category
Skip
ATM FEE — BRANCH
−$3.50
Fee check Confirm so Safe to spend stays honest.
Yes, a fee
Not a fee
CORNER COFFEE
−$6.45
Close the month — checklist, not a chore every day
When the queue is clear and books match, mark the month closed. Progress stays visible on Home so you open the app rarely—on purpose.
- Import done · uncategorized cleared
- Reconcile / set books from bank when needed
- Mark month closed when the list is green
Safe to spend
$2,847.32
Matched bank · July ready to close
Close the month
July 2026 · 3 of 4 done
Import latest bank export
Books matched bank ending balance
Sort charges queue empty
Confirm tax set-aside for the month
Do next close step
How it works
Four steps. No bank password vault. No daily busywork.
Import
Download CSV/OFX from your bank site (or drop into the inbox). Optional: your own Plaid keys.
Match bank
When books ≠ bank, one tap sets Safe to spend from the ending balance you trust.
Sort a few
Clear the short queue so categories and fees stay clean for tax and reports.
Close the month
Checklist green → mark closed. Open rarely until the next import reminder.
Why “honest”?
Cloud budget apps often show a polished number while silently treating bank sync as truth— or your spreadsheet as truth—without saying which. HonestSpend is local-first: your books are day-to-day truth, and bank exports (or optional BYOK link) keep them honest. When they diverge, we say so.
| Topic | HonestSpend |
|---|---|
| Bank passwords | Never stored here |
| Ledger location | Your PC (or folder you choose) |
| Money-in default | CSV / OFX / PDF freeware path |
| Cloud ledger | None — we don’t host your books |
| Price | Freeware / open source |
Get HonestSpend for Windows
Microsoft Store build (MSIX) is the recommended path when available. GitHub releases include a portable zip for sideload / power users.
FAQ
Straight answers. More detail on the privacy page.
Do you store my bank password?
No. The freeware path uses files you download from your bank. Optional bank link uses Plaid keys you provide (BYOK)—not our vault.
Where does my data live?
On your computer, by default under %USERPROFILE%\.financial-os, or a folder you choose in Settings (including OneDrive if you point it there).
Is there a subscription? What’s the price?
No subscription. Source stays open. Official store builds are a one-time $49.99 purchase (lifetime personal) that will unlock Windows, Mac, and mobile clients. Pre-launch: 50% off through October 21, 2026 (~$24.99) via Microsoft Store promo. Optional third-party services (Plaid, xAI) are only if you bring your own keys.
What is Safe to spend?
Cash you can use without bouncing checking—after known bills, buffers, and set-asides. It’s the primary Home number in Simple mode.
Windows only?
Yes for the polished WinUI client today. The engine is local Python/API-first so other clients can follow; Mac/Linux/mobile are roadmap, not vapor promises on this page.
Who is it not for?
Not payroll, not e-file tax filing, not a replacement for your bank’s website. Households and freelancers who want honest cash control are the sweet spot.