Comparison
Cleo alternative: plain-language money, minus the bank feed
Cleo sells an AI money assistant that chats with you about spending — a fun pitch, but it needs your bank feed and a subscription. If you want plain-language answers about your money without either, a dated calendar with an on-demand AI beats a chatty dashboard.
- Ask, don't scroll
Pro AI answers questions in plain language across your whole ledger.
- No bank connection
The assistant reads your entered data, not a live bank feed.
- Free core
The calendar and reports are free; AI is a one-time Pro unlock.
- A real forecast
Beyond chat, a dated projection shows the next ninety days.
Chat is a feature, not a product
The value of a money assistant is a fast, trustworthy answer — "can I afford this trip?" or "why is this month tight?" A calendar-first app gives you that answer as a query against your dated ledger, and it shows its work: the projection underneath the answer.
Comparison
| Cleo | Cashflow Calendar | |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Chat-first assistant | Calendar-first, AI on demand |
| Bank linking | Required | None by design |
| Pricing | Subscription tiers | Free core, one-time Pro |
| Forecast | Limited | Dated balance projection, unlimited on Pro |
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free Cleo alternative?
Yes. Cashflow Calendar's calendar and reports are free forever, and the AI assistant is a one-time Pro unlock.
Can I ask questions about my spending?
Yes — Pro AI reads your entered transactions and answers in plain language.
Do I need to link a bank?
No. Manual entry and CSV import are the designed path.
Answers with the math visible
Free core, one-time Pro, no bank feed.