Home / Guides / Budget
Guide · Budgeting
Tiller vs Excel budget
Tiller Money pours bank transactions into Google Sheets or Excel on a subscription. A plain Excel budget is usually planned vs actual you update yourself. Both live in spreadsheets — the real split is auto-import cost versus ownership of a one-time file.
May earn commissions. SoloDesk may earn a commission if you buy through affiliate links on this page. Recommendations are based on what we think fits the use case. See our affiliate disclosure.
Side-by-side
| Tiller | Spreadsheet (one-time) | |
|---|---|---|
| Bank feeds | Automated into Sheets/Excel | Manual entry or your own CSV |
| Cost | Paid subscription (verify current pricing) | Free DIY / one-time template |
| Templates | Foundation + community builds | Layout you buy or design |
| Best if | You hate typing every purchase | You already reconcile and want no feed fee |
| Link | Tiller affiliate placeholder | Product CTA below |
When Tiller fits
- You want bank transactions poured into a real spreadsheet automatically
- You like Sheets/Excel but will pay monthly to avoid typing
- Community templates built around auto-imported data matter to you
When a one-time Excel budget is enough
- Freelance income is lumpy and you prefer a 12-month planned-vs-actual grid
- You share one file with a partner or bookkeeper without another login
- You already export CSV occasionally and do not need live feeds
- You do not want another subscription after invoicing and tax software
Also consider
Comparing envelope apps? See YNAB vs spreadsheet budget and EveryDollar vs Excel budget. Broader roundup: Budget apps vs Excel 2026.
Yellowcell monthly budget spreadsheet
One-time Excel download: planned vs actual, transaction log, twelve-month view. Soft alternative when Tiller’s bank-feed subscription is more than you need.