For freelancers and 1099 workers
Know what's safe to spend after taxes.
Fern reads your bank, marks a tax share from each deposit you confirm, and shows what's left to spend.
Free to start · Pro from $12.99/mo. Your money stays in your bank.
Want a quick number first? Try the free tax calculator
Safe to spend
After $780 for taxes · $6,600 for savings goals
- Spendable$22,814.05
- Tax set-aside$779.64
- Goals$6,600.00
How it works
Three steps, then it's a glance.
- 01
Link your bank
Connect checking and savings through Plaid. Fern reads balances and transactions. It can't move money.
- 02
Confirm your deposits
Fern flags deposits that look like work income. You tap to confirm each one; nothing counts until you do.
- 03
See what to set aside
Each confirmed deposit gets a tax share at your rate, and safe to spend updates: cash, minus taxes, minus goals.
Features
Built for income that changes every month.
The same screens as the app, with example numbers. Everything below is something Fern does today.
Safe to spend
One number for what's really yours: your cash across accounts, minus your tax set-aside, minus what's put toward goals.
After $780 for taxes · $6,600 for savings goals
- Spendable$22,814.05
- Tax set-aside$779.64
- Goals$6,600.00
Toward Q4 2026
Confirm a deposit and Fern marks its tax share at your rate (25% here). The gauge shows how far into the period you are before the next payment.
- Period passed48%
- Set aside this period$779.64
Quarterly deadlines
The IRS due dates for estimated tax, with what you've set aside for each period. Fern doesn't file or pay; it helps the money be there when you do.
- JAN 15Q4 2026Sep 1 – Dec 31$779.64
- APR 15Q1 2027Jan 1 – Mar 31—
- JUN 15Q2 2027Apr 1 – May 31—
Spending by month
See where each month went, by month and by category, from the transactions Fern already reads.
Spent this month
- Jun: $3.4K
- Jul: $3K
- Aug: $3.7K
- Sep: $3.1K
- Oct: $2.9K
- Nov: $3.3K$3.3KSpent
Write-offsPRO
Fern flags purchases that may be deductible. You choose how much was for work and confirm each one.
- Adobe Creative CloudTo review−$59.99
- GitHubWrite-off−$21.00
- Coworking day passTo review−$25.00
Confirmed write-offs lower your suggested rate.
Suggested ratePRO
An estimate from self-employment tax, federal brackets and your state, for your filing status. You set the final %.
of each confirmed deposit
- Self-employment tax14%
- Federal income tax9%
- State income tax4%
Goals
Set a target and Fern keeps that money out of safe to spend. Guideline cards work a common rule of thumb through your numbers.
of $19,419 · 6 months of spending
A common guideline is an emergency fund of 3–6 months of essential expenses. With irregular 1099 income, guides often point to the higher end: about 6 months.
General guideline, not financial advice.
Privacy and trust
Your money stays in your bank.
Fern is a budgeting tool. It reads your accounts to do the math, and the set-aside is a number in the app, not a transfer. You stay in charge of every rate and every deposit.
- Bank connectionPlaid, read access
- Moves your moneyNever
- Where your money staysYour own bank
- Files or pays your taxesNo, you do
- Tax adviceNo. Estimates you control
- Fern AIAnswers from your own numbers
Pricing
Free to start. Pro when you want more.
Free
Free forever
- One linked bank
- Tax set-aside at a rate you choose
- Safe to spend
- Quarterly deadlines
- Spending by month and category
- Savings goals
Pro PRO
Save 42% yearly$7.50/mo billed yearly, or $12.99 monthly. 7 days free for new subscribers.
- Everything in Free
- Suggested rate with its breakdown
- Write-off finder
- Fern AI
- More than one linked bank
Prices in USD. Pro is billed through your app store account; cancel anytime in its subscription settings.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Does Fern move my money?
No. Fern reads your accounts through Plaid to do the math. The tax set-aside is a number Fern tracks for you; your money stays in your own bank account.
Is this tax advice?
No. Fern shows estimates from rules you control. It isn't a tax preparer and doesn't give tax or financial advice. For your situation, talk to a tax professional.
How does Fern work out what to set aside?
You choose a percentage, and Fern applies it to each deposit you confirm as work income. With Pro, Fern suggests a rate from self-employment tax, federal brackets and your state for your filing status, lowered by write-offs you confirm. You set the final number.
Does Fern file or pay my quarterly taxes?
No. Fern shows the IRS estimated-tax due dates and what you've set aside for each period. You file and pay the way you normally do.
What's in Pro?
The suggested rate with its breakdown, the write-off finder, Fern AI and linking more than one bank. Pro is $12.99 a month or $89.99 a year, with 7 days free for new subscribers.
Can I use Fern on the web?
Yes. Sign in with the email you use in the app to see your Fern numbers on a bigger screen. You link banks in the app.
Is there an Android app?
It's coming soon to Google Play. Join the Android list and we'll email you once when it's out. Join the Android list
Know your number before you spend it.
Free to start. Link a bank, confirm a deposit, and see what's safe to spend.
On Android, or have a question?
Send a note and we'll reply. On Android? Join the Android list.