Control your spending with envelopes, not after-the-fact budgets.
Not a web app. Principal Plan runs fast in the privacy and security of your own PC or Mac. Download it free, use it for 60 days, then purchase your preferred license in the app.
Envelope based personal accounting software using an allocation model so you give every dollar a job the moment it arrives. See exactly what's available for groceries, clothing, and more—before you spend. Create a simple budget in a few minutes that you can print or export to CSV (which opens in Excel). Available in six languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese.
Features at a glance
Local, private, secure and fast
Not a web app — runs entirely on your PC or Mac. No cloud account required and your finances never leave your computer.
Envelope-first planning
Give every dollar a job the moment it hits your account. Adjust allocations when income changes so your plan always reflects reality.
Accounts & transfers
Create checking, savings, credit, and other accounts. Transfers keep everything balanced across accounts and envelopes—automatically.
Templates for recurring transactions
Build transaction templates for recurring income and bills, then apply them with a single click.
Easy transaction import
Import from your bank in CSV, OFX/QFX, or QIF. Intelligent Import skips duplicates, suggests envelopes using patterns learned from your own transaction history, and re-imports new downloads hands-free with an optional folder watch.
Reconcile with confidence
Use the Reconcile view to match statements quickly while seeing only uncleared activity.
Reports you can carry
Print envelope summaries in multiple sizes—from business card to letter—for quick reference anywhere.
Available in six languages
Use Principal Plan in English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, or Portuguese — switch languages anytime in Settings.
Detailed documentation
Access the Principal Plan Help Library for a multi-language guide to using Principal Plan.
Get Principal Plan
60-Day Free Trial. No credit card required—just install it, set it up, and try it out for 60 days. After the trial, purchase your preferred license in the app: monthly, annual, or a one-time forever license.
Choose your platform to get started.
What makes Principal Plan different?
- Not a web app — Desktop‑native software that runs locally on your PC or Mac. Your data stays on your computer for maximum privacy and security.
- Envelope budgeting — Unlike traditional budgeting that tracks spending after the fact, Principal Plan works by allocating income across envelopes the moment it arrives. You plan with what you actually have in hand, not future projections or estimates.
- Professional‑grade ledgers — Access Account and Envelope ledgers that give you precise control over every transaction. A dedicated reconcile mode makes matching bank statements fast and painless while showing only uncleared activity.
- Accounts stay perfectly balanced — By design, the total of all your bank accounts always equals the total of all your envelopes. This mathematical certainty eliminates the confusion and discrepancies common in other financial software.
- Clear "available to spend" — Every envelope shows exactly how much money is available for that category right now. Visual warnings appear when you go below your threshold, making overspending immediately visible and fixable before it becomes a problem.
- Templates & Allocation Plans — Transform recurring income and bills into reusable templates. Apply your entire paycheck allocation or monthly bill payments with a single click, automatically distributing money across the right envelopes.
- Flexible organization system — Bundle envelopes together to group related categories. For instance, housing could bundle together mortgage, utilities, and more.
- Portable reference materials — Print wallet-sized balance summaries in multiple formats (business card size, planner size, or full letter) so you can carry your current envelope balances with you for quick reference while shopping.
Simple, Fair Pricing
After your 60-day trial, purchase your preferred license in the app—choose the one that works best for you:
- Monthly — $1.99/month
- Annual — $19.99/year
- Forever License — $39.99 one-time fee. Pay once, use it forever with no recurring fees.
For questions, please contact us at info@thomsens.net.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a web app?
No. Principal Plan runs locally on your own PC or Mac. Your data stays on your computer—no cloud account and nothing stored on our servers.
How does pricing work?
Use Principal Plan free for 60 days. After the trial, purchase your preferred license in the app: $1.99/month, $19.99/year, or a one-time forever license for $39.99. The forever license lets you use the software indefinitely with no recurring fees.
What is envelope budgeting?
Envelope budgeting gives every dollar a specific purpose the moment it arrives — you allocate income across virtual envelopes for each spending category. Unlike traditional budgets that track spending after the fact, it helps you plan with what you actually have available.
What platforms are supported?
Principal Plan runs on Windows 10 or later and macOS 10.13 (High Sierra) or later. Try it free for 60 days with no credit card required.
Can I import transactions from my bank?
Yes. Principal Plan imports the CSV, OFX/QFX, and QIF files that banks provide. Intelligent Import detects duplicates, suggests envelopes using patterns learned from your own transaction history, and can optionally watch a folder for new downloads. All matching happens locally on your computer.