Why people move from Lunch Money to Cadence
Cadence vs Lunch Money
| Cadence | Lunch Money | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $2.49/m | From ~$7.15/m |
| Available in Canada & USA | Yes | Yes |
| iOS, Android & Web apps | Yes | Limited |
| Multi-currency support | Yes | Yes |
| TFSA, RRSP, FHSA tracking | Yes | Yes |
| AI training on your data | No | No |
| Official MCP integration | Yes | Community |
| Passkey sign-in (all devices) | Yes | No |
| Works without bank syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Bank syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Budget & transaction tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Net worth tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Financial goals | Yes | Limited |
| Reporting | Yes | Yes |
| Insights & suggestions | Yes | Limited |
| Automations | Yes | Yes |
Competitor prices are approximate conversions. Pricing reflects annual plans billed yearly. Based on publicly available data as of March 2026.
Fully Featured Plans - Just Pick Syncing
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Lunch Money alternative?
Cadence is the closest alternative to Lunch Money for people who want the same privacy-first, independent approach but live mostly on their phone rather than a desktop. Both cover Canadian and US accounts, bank syncing, net worth and manual entry. Cadence adds full native mobile apps, first-class goals and a lower price.
Is Cadence cheaper than Lunch Money?
Yes. Cadence starts at $2.49 CAD / $1.99 USD per month billed annually, while Lunch Money is pay-what-you-want with a $60 USD per year minimum (about $5.00 USD per month) from 15 March 2026. Cadence also offers a one-time Lifetime purchase, which Lunch Money does not.
Does Lunch Money have a mobile app?
Yes, on both iOS and Android - but they are companion apps to a web-first product. Lunch Money’s own documentation says the full setup process, advanced rules and data analysis work better on a desktop. Cadence is built the other way round: the iOS and Android apps are the full app, with the web app as an equal third surface rather than the main one.
Which handles multiple currencies better?
Lunch Money does, and it is not close. It supports over 160 currencies with stored historic exchange rates, while Cadence supports CAD, USD and GBP. If you hold accounts in many currencies, Lunch Money is the stronger tool. If you are moving between Canadian and US dollars, Cadence covers that corridor and adds Canadian and US registered account tracking.
Does Cadence support TFSA and RRSP like Lunch Money?
Both do. Lunch Money supports tracking TFSA, RRSP and RESP accounts, and Cadence supports TFSA, RRSP, FHSA, RESP and RDSP alongside US account types such as 401(k), Roth IRA, HSA and 529 plans. This one is a genuine tie.
Can I connect an AI assistant to either?
Both, but differently. Cadence runs an official MCP server that Claude, ChatGPT and Gemini connect to with a secure sign-in and no keys to paste. Lunch Money has a public developer API with several community-built MCP servers on top of it, which means more flexibility if you are technical and more setup if you are not.
Is Cadence free?
Cadence is a paid subscription with a 14-day free trial (a card is required to start the trial). Lunch Money offers a 30-day trial. Neither has a permanently free tier.