Security
Your data stays yours.
Bank-level encryption, Plaid-powered connections, and a strict no third-party data selling policy.
"Your financial data stays private. We never sell or share your data with third parties."
When you hand your financial data to an app, you are trusting it with some of the most sensitive information you have. Where you shop, how much you earn, what you owe. That trust should not be taken lightly.
Many "free" budgeting apps make money by selling your transaction data to advertisers, data brokers, or financial companies looking to target you with offers. FreeBudget does not do this. We will NOT sell, share, or monetize your financial data with third parties.
Bank connections are handled through Plaid, the same trusted service used by apps like Venmo, Robinhood, and Coinbase. When you link an account, your bank credentials go directly to Plaid. FreeBudget never sees or stores your login information. We only receive the transaction and balance data needed to power your budget.
All data is protected with TLS encryption in transit and AES-256 encryption at rest through our cloud database provider — the same standards used by major banks. You're only enabling read-only access to your accounts. We can see balances and transactions, but we can never move money, initiate transfers, or make any changes to your bank accounts.
FreeBudget was created as a passion project and does not have any outside investors. That means there is no pressure to monetize your data, no incentive to add ads, and no hidden agenda. The product exists to help people budget, and that is the entire business model.
How we protect your data
Security is not a feature. It is a foundation.
Bank-Level Encryption
All data is protected with TLS encryption in transit and AES-256 encryption at rest through our cloud database provider.
Powered by Plaid
Bank connections are handled by Plaid, trusted by millions and used by Venmo, Robinhood, and Coinbase.
No Third-party Data Selling
We never sell, share, or monetize your financial data with third parties. Your information is yours, period.
Read-Only Access
FreeBudget can only view your account balances and transactions. We can never move money or make changes to your accounts.
No Ads or Trackers
No advertising SDKs, no analytics trackers selling your behavior to third parties. Your usage data stays private.
Open & Transparent
Built with a clear mission: free financial tools for everyone. No investors, no hidden agenda.
Frequently asked questions
Can FreeBudget move money from my accounts?
No. FreeBudget has read-only access to your financial data. We can see your balances and transactions, but we can never initiate transfers, make payments, or change anything in your bank accounts. This is a deliberate security choice.
How does Plaid protect my bank credentials?
When you link a bank account, you enter your credentials directly into Plaid, not into FreeBudget. Plaid handles the authentication with your bank and sends us only the transaction and balance data we need. We never see or store your bank username or password.
Does FreeBudget sell my data to third-parties?
No. We do not sell, share, or monetize your financial data with third-parties in any way. We do not run ads and we do not work with data brokers. Your financial information is used only to provide the budgeting service you signed up for.
What encryption does FreeBudget use?
All data is encrypted in transit via TLS and encrypted at rest using AES-256 encryption through our cloud database provider. This is the same encryption standard used by major banks and financial institutions.
Ready to take control of your finances?
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