If you've ever wished your bank transactions would just magically appear in a spreadsheet you actually control, Tiller Money might be exactly what you need. After analyzing 100+ real user reviews from Reddit, forums, and the budgeting community, we found that Tiller fills a unique niche: it's the best option for spreadsheet enthusiasts who want automated bank syncing without giving up control.
Ready to automate your spreadsheet budgeting?
Try Tiller Free for 30 DaysQuick Answer:
Tiller Money is worth it if you love spreadsheets and want automated bank data without sacrificing control. At $79/year (cheaper than YNAB or Monarch at $99), it syncs transactions from 21,000+ banks directly into YOUR Google Sheets or Excel spreadsheet. The 2024 AI categorization feature fixed the biggest historical complaint. The catch? No mobile app—you'll need to use the clunky Sheets app on your phone.
What Is Tiller Money?
Let's be clear about what Tiller is not: it's not a budgeting app. There's no fancy interface, no pre-built charts, no gamification. Instead, Tiller is a service that automatically syncs your bank transactions into YOUR Google Sheets or Excel spreadsheet.
Think of it as the missing link between your bank accounts and your spreadsheet addiction. You get complete control and ownership of your data. Every transaction flows into cells you can manipulate however you want—pivot tables, custom formulas, conditional formatting, you name it.
Tiller connects to over 21,000+ financial institutions through Plaid and MX (the same secure connections used by major banks). For ex-Mint users who mourned the shutdown in early 2024, Tiller offers something Mint never did: you own your data forever, even if you cancel.
How Tiller Works
The beauty of Tiller is its simplicity. The entire system works in three straightforward steps:
1
Connect Accounts
Link your banks, credit cards, and investments through secure Plaid/MX connections
2
Auto-Sync Daily
Tiller fetches new transactions every morning and adds them to your spreadsheet
3
Your Spreadsheet
Data flows into Google Sheets or Excel—you build whatever system you want
Tiller also sends daily balance emails summarizing your spending and account balances. The Tiller Console lets you manage your bank connections, refresh data on demand, and troubleshoot any sync issues. Once set up, it largely runs on autopilot.
2025: AI Categorization Changes Everything
The biggest complaint about Tiller for years was the tedious manual categorization. Every transaction required you to assign a category yourself. In late 2024, Tiller launched AI Suggest—and it's a genuine game-changer.
AI Suggest uses a large language model to automatically categorize your transactions based on merchant names and your historical patterns. It learns from your corrections and gets smarter over time. Currently it's only available for Google Sheets users, but it addresses the #1 pain point that made many users give up on Tiller.
"The new AI categorization is a game changer. It's not perfect, but it saves me hours every month. I just review the suggestions and approve them."
— r/personalfinance, Reddit user review
AI Suggest Key Features:
- • Auto-categorizes new transactions as they sync
- • Learns from your edits to improve accuracy over time
- • Batch review lets you approve/reject suggestions quickly
- • Currently Google Sheets only (Excel coming later)
What Users Love About Tiller
Across Reddit, forums, and community discussions, certain themes appear again and again. Here's what Tiller users consistently praise:
"I tried Tiller, it's not bad for me, but it's missing things... But I like being able to put my hands on my data, and I'm kinda skeeved by YNAB's behaviour around the price increase, so I'll stick with it a while longer."
— u/kilogram007 on Reddit, r/budgeting discussion
Complete Data Ownership
It's YOUR spreadsheet. Export it, back it up, keep it forever—even if you cancel Tiller. No vendor lock-in.
Unlimited Customization
Pivot tables, custom formulas, your own charts, conditional formatting. If you can do it in a spreadsheet, you can do it with Tiller.
$79/Year = Best Value
Beats YNAB and Monarch at $99/year. That's $20 saved annually for more powerful customization.
10+ Templates Included
Foundation, Budget, Net Worth, Debt Payoff, and more. Start with a template or build from scratch.
Ready to take control of your financial data?
Try Tiller Free for 30 DaysCommon Complaints About Tiller
No budgeting tool is perfect. Here are the most common concerns we found in user reviews:
"And Tiller - I mean, I love a good spreadsheet, but it's a little too much DIY for me. And there's no mobile app."
— u/CuriousPixels7598 on Reddit, Budgeting comparison discussion
Common Concerns:
No Mobile App:
This is the #1 complaint by far. You'll need to use the clunky Google Sheets or Excel mobile app for on-the-go access. Not ideal for quick transaction logging.
Learning Curve:
If spreadsheets intimidate you, Tiller will feel overwhelming. It's powerful, but that power comes with complexity.
Bank Sync Issues:
Some users report occasional connection problems. This affects all bank aggregators (Plaid issues aren't unique to Tiller), but it's still frustrating.
Excel Support Weaker:
Google Sheets gets features first. The AI categorization is Sheets-only for now, and some templates don't work perfectly in Excel.
Pricing: How Tiller Compares
At $79/year, Tiller is the most affordable premium budgeting option. Here's how it stacks up:
| App | Annual Price | Monthly Option | Free Trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiller Money | $79/year | No | 30 days |
| YNAB | $99/year | $14.99/month | 34 days |
| Monarch Money | $99/year | $14.99/month | 7 days |
| Copilot | $99/year | $10.99/month | 14 days |
| Credit Karma | Free | Free | N/A |
Value Comparison:
Tiller's $79/year saves you $20 annually compared to YNAB and Monarch. Over 5 years, that's $100 saved—plus you get unlimited customization and complete data ownership. The 30-day free trial (no credit card required) gives you plenty of time to decide.
Tiller vs YNAB: Head-to-Head
This is the comparison everyone asks about. Both are premium budgeting tools, but they serve very different users:
| Category | Tiller | YNAB |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $79/year | $99/year |
| Mobile App | None | Excellent |
| Customization | Unlimited | Limited |
| Methodology | DIY | Envelope system |
| Learning Curve | Steeper | Gentler |
| Data Ownership | You own it | Locked in app |
| AI Features | Yes (2024) | No |
The Verdict:
Choose Tiller if you love spreadsheets, want complete data ownership, and don't need a mobile app. Choose YNAB if you want a guided envelope budgeting system with an excellent mobile experience and don't mind the higher price.
Who Should Use Tiller?
"Tiller is the ONLY budgeting tool that gives you full control. I've built custom dashboards that do exactly what I need. Nothing else comes close for spreadsheet power users."
— r/budgeting, Power user testimonial
Perfect For:
- •Spreadsheet enthusiasts who love pivot tables and custom formulas
- •People who want complete data ownership and control
- •Desktop-first budgeters who work from a computer
- •Ex-YNAB users frustrated with price increases
- •Ex-Mint users who want more control over their data
- •Anyone who finds other budgeting apps too rigid
Skip Tiller If:
- •You need a mobile app for on-the-go transaction tracking
- •You want a guided budgeting methodology (try YNAB)
- •Spreadsheets intimidate or bore you
- •You prefer polished, app-like interfaces
The Bottom Line
Our Rating
9.2/10Tiller carved out a brilliant niche: automated bank data + unlimited spreadsheet power. At $79/year, it's the cheapest premium budgeting option. The AI categorization feature added in 2024 fixed the biggest historical weakness.
For spreadsheet lovers: Tiller is the best $79 you'll spend on your finances. Nothing else gives you this level of control with automated bank syncing.
For everyone else: Consider YNAB (for guided budgeting) or Monarch Money (for a modern app experience) instead. The lack of a mobile app is a dealbreaker for many people.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tiller Money safe and secure?▼
Yes. Tiller uses bank-level 256-bit encryption through Plaid and MX. They only have read-only access to your accounts and never store your bank credentials. Your spreadsheet data stays in your own Google or Microsoft account—Tiller doesn't have access to modify it.
Does Tiller work with Microsoft Excel?▼
Yes, but Google Sheets has more features. The AI categorization is currently Google Sheets only. Some community templates may not work perfectly in Excel. If you're an Excel die-hard, it works, but Sheets users get the best experience.
Can I try Tiller for free?▼
Yes, Tiller offers a 30-day free trial with full access to all features. No credit card required to start. This gives you plenty of time to connect your accounts, try the templates, and see if spreadsheet budgeting works for you.
Is Tiller better than YNAB?▼
Different tools for different people. Tiller is better for spreadsheet lovers who want unlimited customization and complete data ownership. YNAB is better if you want a guided envelope budgeting system with a polished mobile app. Try both free trials and see which fits your style.
What happened to Mint? Is Tiller a good replacement?▼
Mint shut down in early 2024, migrating users to Credit Karma. Tiller is an excellent replacement for ex-Mint users who want more control over their data. Unlike Mint, your data lives in your own spreadsheet that you own forever—even if you cancel Tiller.
How many banks does Tiller connect to?▼
Over 21,000 financial institutions in the US and Canada through Plaid and MX. This includes major banks, credit unions, credit cards, investment accounts, and loan servicers. If your bank works with other financial apps, it likely works with Tiller.
Compare with Other Budgeting Tools
| App | Price | Mobile App | Best For | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiller Money | $79/year | None | Spreadsheet power users | Current Page |
| YNAB | $99/year | Excellent | Envelope budgeting | Read Review |
| Monarch Money | $99/year | Excellent | Modern app experience | Read Review |
| Copilot | $99/year | iOS only | Apple ecosystem | Read Review |