Quick start

Buoy works best in this order: account, security, bank, budget. Each step links to a longer guide.

1. Create your account at buoy-ai.com/app or in the Android app. Sign up with email and password or with Google. Your free trial starts right away and there is no card to enter.
2. Verify your email. Buoy emails you a code; a banner on the dashboard stays up until you enter it. Bank linking needs a verified email.
3. Turn on two-factor. Banks require it before Buoy can link an account. A passkey or an authenticator app works best. See Two-factor and security.
4. Connect a bank from the Accounts tab. Your last 30 days arrive within a minute and up to two years of history follow in the background. See Connect a bank.
5. Create a budget from the Budgets tab with Create Budget. Give each category an amount for the period. See Create a budget.
6. Turn on Count-Up for the categories where you tend to overspend, like dining out or shopping. Each one then earns a small allowance every day, and what you don’t spend builds up. See Count-up budgeting.

After that, Buoy mostly runs itself. Transactions sync on their own, most get categorized automatically, and your streaks start counting.

Tip

If you share money with a partner or family, one person with Premium creates the family first, then invites the others. See Family sharing.