1.   Monarch: Budget & Track Money

Monarch empowers you to manage your finances, investments, and goals in one place. Its clean interface, collaborative features, and data-driven insights make it a compelling choice for tech-savvy individuals and couples seeking a comprehensive financial management tool.

What it's best for: Monarch combines budgeting, investment tracking, and financial goal setting in a single, user-friendly platform.  It’s bill reminders and subscription tracking are great ways to avoid late fees and gain insight into recurring expenses.

Who it is best for: Monarch's sweet spot is for tech-savvy individuals and couples seeking an all-in-one financial management app.

Cost: Monarch offers a free 7-day trial, followed by two subscription plans:

• Monthly: $14.99
• Annual: $99.99

2. Simplifi by Quicken

Simplifi by Quicken is a user-friendly and accessible budgeting app that can be a great option for individuals looking to get started with managing their finances. Simplifi automatically categorizes your transactions, helps you build a budget based on your income, and tracks your progress towards your goals. However, if you need advanced features like investment tracking, bill pay, or extensive customization, you might want to consider other apps.

What it's best for: Personalized insights. The app analyzes your spending and offers tailored suggestions to help you save money.

Who it is best for: Simplifi's user-friendly interface makes it a great starting point for those new to budgeting.

Cost: Free plan with basic features.  Premium plan $3.99 monthly.

3. YNAB (You Need a Budget) - Our Top Pick

YNAB uses a unique budgeting method that helps you allocate your income to different categories, such as rent, food, and transportation. YNAB also provides you with tools to track your progress and stay on track with your budget.

YNAB is also known for its dedicated and supportive community of users who share tips, advice, and encouragement. They also offer comprehensive educational resources and live workshops to help you learn and succeed with the method.

Why we like it: Unlike traditional budgeting apps, YNAB is proactive, requiring you to assign a “job” to every dollar.  This allows you to decide where your money is going versus other apps that show you where your money was already spent.

What it's best for: Getting results. YNAB has a proven track record of having helped countless individuals achieve their financial goals. Their method is based on sound financial principles and has been shown to be effective in managing finances.

Who it is best for: YNAB is a great budgeting app for people who are serious about getting their finances in order and are willing to pay for a budgeting app with a proven track record of success.

Cost: Comes with a 43-day free trial, then $99 per year.

4. PocketGuard

PocketGuard uses a unique algorithm to help you save money. It does this by tracking your income and expenses, and then identifying areas where you can cut back. PocketGuard also provides a service where it attempts to negotiate lower rates on your behalf for recurring bills like cable, internet, and phone plans, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars a year.

What it's best for: PocketGuard is a good budget-friendly option for users who want to try out a budgeting app before committing to a paid plan.

Who it is best for: Those looking to save money. PocketGuard attempts to negotiate lower rates for your recurring bills like cable, internet, and phone plans, potentially saving you money without any effort on your part.

Cost: Free for the basic version, $12.99 for PocketGuard Plus.

5. Wally

Wally is a free budgeting app that aims to bring clarity and control to your personal finances through an AI-powered approach. While many budgeting apps focus solely on tracking income and expenses, Wally aims to provide a more comprehensive picture of your financial health. They incorporate features like net worth tracking, goal setting, and bill management, all within the same app.

What it's best for: Wally prioritizes a clean and user-friendly interface, making it easy to understand your finances at a glance.

Who it is best for: Wally is great for tech-savvy individuals who appreciate the AI-powered insights and data visualization.

Cost: Free for the basic version, premium plan costs $8.99 a month.

6. Qapital

Qapital shines for individuals who find traditional budgeting methods boring or tedious. It uses features like progress bars, animations, challenges, and rewards to make saving fun and engaging.

Qapital also allows you to set up various "rules" for automatic saving. These rules can round up your purchases, transfer fixed amounts regularly, or trigger saving based on specific spending habits. This automation and gamification make saving easier and helps you stick to your goals.

What it's best for: Making budgeting less tedious. By gamifying saving, this app is ideal for those who struggle with traditional budgeting methods. If you're already comfortable with traditional budgeting methods and want advanced features, other apps might offer more customization and control.

Who it is best for: Qapital excels in presenting your progress and financial data in a visually appealing way. Progress bars, charts, and animations make it easier for visual learners to understand their financial situation and stay motivated.

Cost: Qapital offers a free basic plan with limited features. Paid plans start at $3 a month and run as high as $12 per month.

7. Fortune City

Available on both Android and iOS is takes gamification to the next level as it combines expense tracking with a simulation game where you can build and grow your own city into a successful metropolis.  The app rewards you for daily use, lets you analyze your expenses at a glance, and helps you keep track of both short-term and long-term balance sheets. In addition, a search function allows you to better understand spending habits – distinguishing between “wants” and “needs.”

What it's best for: Making savings fun! The app combines financial management with a fun and interactive experience, making it enjoyable to track your finances.

Who it is best for: Best for those who may be turned off by traditional budgeting apps. This app stands out for its gamification approach, motivating users who find traditional budgeting methods tedious.

Cost:  Free for basic features, $2.49 a month or $19.99 a year to unlock all features.