Rules
Categorize transactions exactly the way you want.
Set up rules once and FreeBudget handles the sorting automatically — for every new transaction that matches, forever.
Your rules, your categories
Stop correcting the same transactions month after month.
FreeBudget auto-categorizes thousands of common merchants out of the box. But your spending is personal — your Costco run might be groceries, your Costco run next week might be household supplies, and only you know the difference. Rules give you that control.
A rule watches for transactions that match your criteria and automatically assigns the category you specify. You can match on description text, amount direction, or both. You can apply the rule to all accounts or just one. You can even rename the transaction description at the same time — useful for replacing cryptic bank strings with something you'll actually recognize.
Rules run before FreeBudget's default categorization, so they always win. The more precisely you define a rule, the higher its priority. And if you've already imported months of history, you can apply any rule retroactively with one click.
Built for precision
Flexible Matching
Match transactions by description using Contains, Starts With, or Exact Match. Case-insensitive, so you never have to worry about capitalization.
Amount Conditions
Apply rules only to money in, money out, a specific amount, or any transaction — so the same merchant can be handled differently based on context.
Account Scoping
Apply a rule globally across all accounts, or limit it to a specific account. Perfect when the same merchant means different things in different contexts.
Description Override
Rename a transaction description at the same time as categorizing it. Replace cryptic bank strings like "POS DEBIT 4821" with something readable.
Retroactive Application
Created a rule but have old transactions that should match? Apply any rule to your existing transaction history with one click.
Works Everywhere
Rules run on bank-synced transactions, CSV imports, and auto-categorized entries. They take priority over default categorization every time.
Frequently asked questions
How are rules different from auto-categorization?
Auto-categorization uses built-in merchant recognition to assign categories. Rules are custom overrides you define — they always run first and take priority. If you want Costco to always be "Groceries" instead of "Shopping," a rule does that reliably, every time.
What happens if two rules match the same transaction?
FreeBudget uses a specificity hierarchy to decide which rule wins. Account-specific rules beat global ones. Exact amount conditions beat general ones. Exact match beats starts with, which beats contains. Longer match text beats shorter. If everything is equal, the rule created first wins.
Do rules affect transactions I already categorized manually?
No. Rules only apply to transactions that haven't been manually categorized. Your deliberate choices are always preserved.
Can I apply a rule to past transactions?
Yes. When you create or edit a rule, you can choose to apply it retroactively to any existing transactions that match. This is useful when you set up rules after you've already imported a batch of history.
Can I turn off auto-categorization and use only rules?
Yes. You can disable auto-categorization entirely and rely solely on rules and manual categorization. Rules still run even when auto-categorization is turned off.
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