FAQ
General
What is DonFlow?
DonFlow is a browser-based budget tracking app that shows where your financial plan and reality diverge. It runs entirely in your browser — no server, no signup, no tracking.
Is it really free?
Yes. Free forever. No freemium, no premium tier, no "free for 30 days." MIT licensed open source.
Does it work offline?
Yes. Once the page loads, DonFlow works without internet. Your budget doesn't need WiFi.
Can I use it on mobile?
Yes. DonFlow is a responsive web app. Open it in your mobile browser.
vs. Other Tools
DonFlow vs. YNAB
| DonFlow | YNAB | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free forever | $99/year |
| Account required | No | Yes |
| Data location | Your browser | YNAB's servers |
| Bank sync | Manual CSV/XLSX upload | Automatic via Plaid |
| Plan vs. Reality | ✅ Core feature | ✅ Envelope budgeting |
| Privacy | Zero tracking | Analytics + third-party data sharing |
Choose DonFlow if: You want zero-cost, zero-tracking budget planning and don't mind manual imports.
Choose YNAB if: You want automatic bank sync and don't mind paying $99/year and sharing data with their servers.
DonFlow vs. Mint (RIP)
Mint was shut down in 2024. If you're looking for a Mint replacement:
- DonFlow is free (Mint was ad-supported)
- DonFlow doesn't require bank credentials (Mint used Plaid/Yodlee)
- DonFlow doesn't show ads (Mint was famous for credit card ads)
- DonFlow's plan-vs-reality view is more actionable than Mint's category tracking
DonFlow vs. Toss (토스)
| DonFlow | Toss | |
|---|---|---|
| Data location | Your browser | Toss servers |
| Account required | No | Yes (Korean phone number) |
| Budget planning | ✅ Plan vs. Reality | Basic spending summary |
| Custom categories | ✅ Full control | Limited |
| What-if simulation | ✅ Built-in | ❌ |
| Open source | ✅ MIT | ❌ |
Choose DonFlow if: You want to design your budget structure, not just view auto-categorized transactions.
Choose Toss if: You want automatic transaction tracking from Korean bank accounts.
DonFlow vs. Spreadsheets
| DonFlow | Google Sheets / Excel | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | 30 seconds | Hours (formulas, formatting) |
| Drift alerts | ✅ Automatic | ❌ Manual formulas |
| What-if simulation | ✅ Built-in | DIY with formulas |
| CSV import | ✅ Auto-detect columns | Copy-paste |
| Data privacy | Browser only | Google/Microsoft servers |
| Maintenance | Zero | Constant formula fixing |
Choose DonFlow if: You want budget structure without spreadsheet maintenance.
Choose spreadsheets if: You need highly custom calculations or already have a working system.
Data & Privacy
Where is my data stored?
In IndexedDB inside your browser. It never leaves your machine.
Can I sync across devices?
Not automatically. You can export your data as JSON and import it on another device. This is by design — syncing requires a server, and we don't have one.
What if I clear my browser data?
Your DonFlow data will be deleted. Export a JSON backup first if you want to keep it. We cannot recover your data because we never had it.
Can I read my data in 10 years?
Yes. Your exports are JSON and CSV — formats that will outlive us all.
What if DonFlow stops being maintained?
It keeps working. It's a static site with no server dependencies. Fork the repo and host it yourself. MIT licensed.
Technical
What's the tech stack?
React + TypeScript + Vite, with Dexie.js (IndexedDB), SheetJS (file parsing), and Tailwind CSS. Hosted on GitHub Pages.
How does CSV import work?
SheetJS parses your file locally in the browser. DonFlow auto-detects date, amount, and description columns from 14+ bank statement formats. Your file never leaves your machine.
Why not use a service worker for offline?
DonFlow works offline after the initial load because it has no server calls to make. A service worker could cache the initial assets, but the core functionality is already offline-first by architecture.