Replace Tiller?

NOT REALLY · don't bother
catalog price reference $6.58/mocategory 💰 personal financereported replacement votes 0

A consolation build is possible, but the paid product's decisive value sits outside a solo rebuild. For Tiller, import financial CSV files into a transparent spreadsheet model with rules and templates. The hard boundary is automated bank feeds, spreadsheet connectors, templates, and support, plus financial integrations, compliance, and trust.

the prompt
Build a closest honest personal substitute for Tiller in an empty repository.
Use Next.js 15, TypeScript, SQLite, Drizzle ORM, and local-first encryption; do not offer alternative stacks.
The core loop is: import financial CSV transactions into a transparent spreadsheet model, categorize them with rules and templates, reconcile balances, and export clean reports without moving money.
Make the first run work locally with one documented command.
Store all user data locally by default and make export straightforward.
Put secrets in .env, ship .env.example, and never commit credentials.
Support CSV and OFX import with saved column mappings and duplicate detection.
Implement accounts, transactions, transfers, categories, payees, notes, and split transactions.
Add deterministic categorization rules whose matches can be inspected and undone.
Provide reconciliation, monthly budget, cash-flow, net-worth, and export views.
Keep an immutable import log and require explicit confirmation before destructive changes.
Encrypt local data, create automatic backups, and document restore on a fresh machine.
Include clear empty, loading, success, and recoverable error states.
Add input validation, safe filenames, and graceful handling of unavailable APIs.
Write focused tests for the core transformation and one end-to-end happy path.
Create a README with setup, architecture, permissions, data location, and backup steps.
Do not add accounts, billing, telemetry, analytics, or a hosted control plane.
Do not claim to reproduce proprietary data, network liquidity, regulated access, or frontier infrastructure.
Deliberately leave out initiating payments or moving money.
Deliberately leave out tax, payroll, or accounting compliance guarantees.
Deliberately leave out screen-scraped bank access and commercial institution aggregation.
Finish by running the tests and listing the exact commands used.

$ open in your agent (prompt prefilled, you press enter) or copy it raw · this prompt is generated from the build plan · improve it via PR

why people still pay

People still pay for Tiller because people pay because accurate money records and dependable institution connections are worth more than the visible charts. The recurring cost buys import normalization, reconciliation, rule drift, exchange rates, backups, audit trails, tax changes, bank APIs, and support, not just the visible interface.

what you lose

xautomated bank feeds, spreadsheet connectors, templates, and support

xdirect bank feeds

xtax filing guarantees

xpayroll and payments

xaccountant ecosystem and support

prior art to inspect before buildingActual BudgetActive local-first open-source personal finance application.
reported replacements · 0share on X ↗"Tiller replacement research and build prompt"
questions
What does the Tiller verdict mean?

The directory does not recommend replacing this one from a prompt. Recheck price before merge. Read the breakdown above.

What price does this directory record show for Tiller?

The directory records $6.58/month for Tiller, checked 2026-07-31. Verify the source before making a purchase decision. This reference stays outside retail Stack Math unless current matched evidence supports the comparison.

What do I lose by replacing Tiller?

Honestly: automated bank feeds, spreadsheet connectors, templates, and support; direct bank feeds; tax filing guarantees; payroll and payments; accountant ecosystem and support. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.

Is there an open-source alternative to Tiller?

The listed prior art includes Actual Budget (Active local-first open-source personal finance application.). Inspect those projects before starting from a blank prompt.