The OpenBudget alternative to Tiller
Tiller syncs your bank into a spreadsheet you build and maintain. OpenBudget syncs into Sheets or Excel and lets any AI assistant read it too.
Secured byPlaid
OpenBudget vs Tiller, at a glance
Both put your transactions in a spreadsheet. The difference is how much you assemble yourself, and what your AI can do with it.
OpenBudget
Tiller
Price
$60/yr, or $9.95/mo
$99/yr, annual only, no monthly option
Setup
Connect a bank and transactions flow in, no spreadsheet to build
You build and maintain the spreadsheet and categories
Spreadsheet sync
Auto-sync to Google Sheets and Excel
Auto-sync to Sheets and Excel, with a deep template library
AI access
Live MCP for Claude, ChatGPT, and any AI client
Claude MCP (beta), plus AI auto-categorize
Bank connections
Plaid, 10,000+ US institutions
Plaid and Yodlee, ~21,000 institutions
Learning curve
Works out of the box
DIY: steeper, but you own the whole system
When Tiller is the better pick
- You want maximum control and own every formula. Tiller is the mature spreadsheet-first tool.
- You want a large ready-made template library for Google Sheets and Excel.
- You want Yodlee as a fallback aggregator alongside Plaid for tricky banks.
When OpenBudget is the better pick
- You want the spreadsheet sync without building or maintaining the spreadsheet.
- You want to ask any AI assistant about your money, not just Claude in beta.
- You would rather pay $60 a year than $99, with a monthly option if you want it.
Built around what your AI can do.
Say it once, it's a rule.
Tell your assistant the right category once. New transactions get it automatically.
Split a charge by what's in it.
Your assistant reads what's in an order and splits the charge into separate parts.
Know exactly what you owe.
Every card and loan in one place, so your assistant can tell you where you stand.
What it costs
OpenBudget
$5/mo billed annually ($60/yr), or $9.95 monthly. 7-day free trial. One plan, everything included.
Tiller
$99/year (about $8.25/mo), billed annually with no monthly option. 30-day free trial.
Questions, answered.
- Does OpenBudget sync to Excel like Tiller?
- Yes. Transactions auto-sync into Google Sheets or Excel, the same live spreadsheet workflow Tiller is known for.
- Do I have to build a spreadsheet?
- No. You connect a bank and transactions flow in automatically. With Tiller you assemble and maintain the spreadsheet yourself, which is the point for some people and the friction for others.
- Does Tiller have AI now?
- Yes, to be fair. Tiller added a Claude MCP server in beta plus AI auto-categorization. OpenBudget's MCP works with any AI client and is bundled with the spreadsheet sync.
- Which connects to more banks?
- Tiller uses both Plaid and Yodlee and claims around 21,000 institutions. OpenBudget uses Plaid with 10,000+ US institutions. Both are US-focused.
- Is my bank data safe?
- Bank connections run through Plaid, read-only. OpenBudget never stores your credentials and cannot move money.