Seven in ten people agree that sticking to a budget has many advantages, according to a survey by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, yet only two in five people have ever used one.
That could be because budgeting can seem like a chore — but it doesn’t have to be. Budget apps can help you get your finances organized with just a few taps or swipes on your smartphone.
We’ve made it easy for you to get started by finding the best budgeting apps available. Here’s 10 worth considering:
Mint
Mint tops just about every list of best budgeting apps on the market. Owned by Intuit, the maker of TurboTax and QuickBooks software, Mint is a pioneer among budget apps. That head start gave it an advantage over other apps when it came to learning exactly what users want and need.
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What it’s best for: Keeping tabs on your entire financial situation with a click or swipe
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Who it’s best for: In-depth budgeters who also like custom tips
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Cost: Free
Mint creates an all-in-one, real-time dashboard of your finances so you can track spending, monitor account balances, know when bills are due, and even check your credit score and net worth. And thanks to a recent refresh using a feature called MintSights, the app also analyzes your data to provide personalized advice for saving more, spending smarter, and reaching financial goals.
Simplifi by Quicken
From the makers of Quicken personal finance software, this budgeting tool gets rave reviews despite, having just launched at the beginning of 2020.
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What it’s best for: Tracking savings and spending habits with monthly financial summaries
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Who it’s best for: Those who don’t want to micromanage finances, but want to stay on top of their spending
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Cost: Free for first 30 days; $3.99 a month or $2.99 a month with annual signup
Simplifi produces a consolidated view of your bank accounts, loans, credit cards, and investments, all in one place. Its appeal is a fresh look, effective dashboard, and innovative views of your data that keep you in constant sync with your finances – like watchlists, personalized spending plans, and targeted reports.
New notification and alert features can help you focus on your priorities such as overspending, upcoming bills, or your paycheck deposit. The app comes with a default set of categories, but you can add, edit, and delete categories as you choose.
Wally
Wally is a budget organization, reminder, and calendar tool that streamlines important documents so they're always with you.
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What it’s best for: Everyday expense tracking vs. heavy-duty budget analysis
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Who it’s best for: Families, frequent travelers, and those who like easy-to-read visuals
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Cost: Free
Wally lets you track joint accounts and household budgets by securely syncing shared spending with family members or roommates.
Unlike some other best budgeting apps, Wally also has a global reach, helping travelers or family abroad manage accounts and transactions in more than 200 foreign currencies, and the ability to sync with 15,000 banks in 70 countries.
PocketGuard
This simple budgeting app is focused on keeping tabs on spending by giving you a snapshot of how much money you really have available while you’re on the go.
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What it’s best for: Knowing how much spendable money you have at any moment
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Who it’s best for: Anyone who wants to set clear spending limits and avoid budget-busting splurges
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Cost: Free; PocketGuard Plus is $3.99 a month or $34.99 a year
After connecting your accounts and setting up a monthly savings goal, the app’s “In My Pocket” feature calculates how much leftover money you have to spend each day, week, or month after you pay all bills and necessities. It also analyzes spending in pie chart form and lets you set spending limits in different categories.
For more detail, PocketGuard Plus is an enhanced version that lets you create your own budget categories, incorporate cash transactions, and plan out multiple goals.
You Need a Budget (YNAB)
This zero-based budget app takes a thorough path to creating and maintaining a workable budget plan, including a guide to setting it up and explanations of why you’re taking each step.
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What it’s best for: Drilling down to see where every dollar goes and conquering money challenges
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Who it’s best for: Those who crave a deep dive into crafting a budget and want to break out of the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle
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Cost: Free for the first 34 days; $11.99 a month or $84 a year after that
Operating on the notion of “give every dollar a job,” YNAB gives you the choice of linking your accounts, downloading statements, or entering balances and transactions manually.
A plus for those who want more guidance: YNAB offers more than 15 live online workshops on financial management, such as reaching savings goals and paying down debt. YNAB claims new budgeters save $600 on average in their first two months and more than $6,000 their first year.
Mvelopes
Mvelopes updates the budget-by-envelope method of labeling envelopes by expense category and dividing up cash in each one.
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What it’s best for: Zero-based budgeting
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Who it’s best for: Those who prefer a digital take on traditional, tried-and-true methods
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Cost: Free for the first 30 days; three plan levels with various services, support, and interactive tools after that – Basic for $6 a month; Premier for $9.95 a month; and Plus for $19 a month
It works by linking accounts and assigning transactions to customizable on-screen envelopes and setting up rules to have repeat transactions directed automatically.
So, you can set up a monthly budget with unlimited envelopes, sync it to your bank and credit cards, and manage your money from anywhere. A higher cost “Plus” level also offers access to a dedicated personal financial coach.
Goodbudget
Like Mvelopes, this tool’s approach is also based on the envelope budget system that allocates monthly income toward your expense categories. But it’s specifically designed to be a home budget app that replaces your family budget planner, worksheet, or spreadsheet with software that syncs.
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What it’s best for: Zero-based budgeting
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Who it’s best for: Couples or families who want a connected system of budget priorities
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Cost: Free for two devices and limited envelopes; $7 a month or $60 a year for five devices and unlimited envelopes
Goodbudget allows multiple devices to access the same account, so family members can share and manage a household budget – keeping everyone on the same page with spending.
Steven, a reviewer on Goodbudget’s website, says the app has helped end miscommunication about money. “We've saved money, been on time for all of our bills, and haven't argued over if we can afford something or not,” he says.
Tiller Money
Unlike other budget apps, Tiller Money securely updates Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel with an automated feed of your spending, balances, and transactions each day.
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What it’s best for: Tailoring two of the most widely used spreadsheet platforms, suited to your financial needs
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Who it’s best for: Lovers of spreadsheets
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Cost: Free for 30 days; $6.58 a month
Features include the ability to choose from templates that organize your data for you or let you customize your spreadsheet to suit your needs.
Tiller Money also claims it never sends ads or partner offers based on your financial profile (as some other apps do). And it sends you a daily email summary each morning, where you can see recent transactions and balances from all linked banks, credit cards, and other accounts.
Charlie
Charlie is a budgeting app that focuses on payment planning, helping to automatically identify savings that can be applied to reducing debt. With a little penguin mascot as its chatbot, the easy-to-use app helps users avoid fees and get the best prices on the services.
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What it’s best for: Identifying budget-busters like interest payments, hidden fees, late charges, or multiple accounts that may be costing you more
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Who it’s best for: Beginners who want to find hidden savings and pay down debt
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Cost: Free for the first 30 days; $7.99 a month
In friendly ways, Charlie sends push notifications every day about ways to budget and save, which provide regular opportunities to learn more about money. Its “Autosave” feature lets you target money towards debt, based on rules you pick. For example, every time you shop at Target, $5 can be applied towards your debt.
Fortune City
It may not be for everyone, but Fortune City is a unique option because it combines bookkeeping to track your expenses with a simulation game that builds and grows your own city into a successful metropolis.
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What it’s best for: Learning basic budgeting habits while tracking income and expenses
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Who it’s best for: Budgeters who like a fun, gaming spin
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Cost: Free
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.”
How to Find the Best Budgeting App for You
Apps like these can make budgeting a snap. And by experimenting with these tools, you can find the best budgeting app for you.
