FAQ / ANSWERS, NO FINE PRINT
Asked and answered.
Is Basin really free?
Yes. Free Basin is a complete budgeting app: the daily number, manual transactions, recurring bills, savings goals, reminders, and spending summaries. Basin+ ($4.99/month) adds automation — bank connections, automatic imports, subscription detection, forecasting, and deeper insights.
How does the daily number work?
Basin starts with money you can plan with, subtracts bills, goals, protected buffers, and planned expenses, then spreads what remains across the days ahead. Spend under today and the extra can carry forward or move to savings. Spend over and Basin smooths the impact into future days.
Do I have to budget by category?
No. Categories are optional in Basin. The core workflow is simpler: protect bills, goals, and planned money first, then check one daily number.
Can I use Basin without connecting a bank?
Yes. Manual logging is a first-class, permanently free path. Bank connections are part of Basin+ and exist to remove typing — not to make the app usable.
Where does my budget data live?
Basin is local-first: your budget lives on your device by default. If you turn on Basin+ bank connections, that data flows through Plaid with bank-grade security, and you can disconnect at any time without losing anything you entered.
Does Basin work for irregular income?
Yes. Freelancers, contractors, tipped workers, and anyone with variable income can plan from Available to Budget: the money Basin is allowed to use after savings, taxes, emergency money, and other protected funds are excluded.
What happens when I go over?
Basin shows the impact instead of scolding you. Overspending today lowers the days ahead unless you add income, reduce a planned expense, or accept a calmer replan at the weekly check-in.
Can Basin help me pay off debt?
Yes. Basin+ includes debt payoff trackers: add a card balance or loan with its monthly payment, and Basin sets that payment aside before your daily number — the same protection bills get — then shows your progress and a live debt-free date that moves closer with every payment.
How does Basin handle credit card bills?
Two ways. Log a one-time statement payment and Basin spreads it across the days until it’s due, so a big bill never blows up one day. With Basin+ connected to your bank, recurring card payments are detected automatically and protected like any other bill.
What does Basin+ cost, and can I cancel?
Basin+ is $4.99 USD per month, billed through your Apple ID, and you can cancel anytime. If you cancel, your bank connection pauses but every transaction, bill, and goal you have stays exactly where it is — Basin keeps working manually.
When is it launching?
Basin is launching on iPhone first. Join the launch list and you will get the App Store link the moment it is live.