Best Budgeting Apps to Help You Track, Save & Plan

Budgeting apps are digital tools that connect to your bank accounts and credit cards to automatically track your spending and help you manage your money. Think of them as your personal money assistant that shows you exactly where your cash goes each month – right from your phone, without having to keep receipts or wrestle with spreadsheets.

Most budgeting apps connect directly to your bank accounts and credit cards. This means they can see when you buy a coffee or pay a bill, and they’ll automatically organize those expenses for you.

The main goal? To show you spending patterns you might miss otherwise. When you can see clearly where your cash is going, it’s a lot easier to make a plan and save for what matters.

Getting started with a budgeting app typically involves three main steps:

1. Connect your accounts: Link your checking, savings, and credit cards to the app through secure connections that can read your transactions without touching your money.
2. Let it categorize: The app automatically sorts transactions into categories like “Transportation” or “Groceries,” though you can adjust these if needed.
3. Set limits and track: Tell the app your spending limits for each category, and it will track your progress and send alerts when you’re getting close.

While most budgeting apps work automatically, some let you enter transactions manually if you use cash often. The key is checking in regularly – maybe once a week – to see how you’re doing and adjust your spending if needed.

Even the best budgeting apps have some trade-offs. Here’s what you need to know about the pros and cons:

Are budgeting apps safe?

Cybersecurity is a legitimate concern, but budgeting apps are generally safe to use. The best ones apply multiple security measures like 256-bit SSL encryption and let you erase your information if needed.

You can also take extra steps to protect your account:

• Choose a unique password and update it regularly
• Enable multi-factor authentication when available
• Lock your phone with a password or biometric security
• Enroll in account alerts for new transactions

If you suspect fraud, contact your bank or credit card company right away and consider temporarily locking your cards.

We researched popular budgeting apps to find ones that offer the best combination of features and cost. Here are our top picks.

1. Best for zero-based budgeting: YNAB

Cost: Free for a 34-day trial period, then $14.99/month or $109/year

YNAB uses the zero-based budgeting method to help you stay on top of your money. With this budget system, you assign every dollar of income a job, whether it’s paying a bill, buying groceries, growing your emergency fund, or paying off debt.

Key features:

• Import transactions from connected bank accounts
• Sync your YNAB budget across multiple devices
• Prioritize spending and monitor automatic savings deposits
• Calculate your debt payoff with the YNAB loan planner tool
• Analyze individual spending categories to see where your money goes
• View your net worth

You can share a YNAB subscription with up to six people at no added cost. That’s a plus if you split expenses with roommates, family members, a partner, or a spouse.

Who it’s for: YNAB is suited for individuals and families who want to track every dollar and close spending gaps. It’s also one of the best budgeting apps for people with irregular income from side hustles, freelancing, or gig work since you can allocate money to your budget categories as it comes in.

2. Best for smarter spending: PocketGuard

Cost: Free for a 7-day trial, then $12.99/month or $74.99/year

PocketGuard helps you avoid going over budget by showing you exactly how much money you have to spend after you pay your bills. You can also dig into the details of your spending to make adjustments and be more strategic about where your money goes.

Key features:

• Always know how much you have to spend or save from your paychecks with the Leftover feature
• Create customizable monthly and annual budgets
• Get a comprehensive overview of transactions from all your financial accounts
• Generate custom reports, complete with pie charts
• Add notes and hashtags for detailed monitoring of your spending activity

PocketGuard can also help with tracking debt repayment if you have credit cards or student loans to tackle.

Who it’s for: PocketGuard could be a good budget tracking app for people learning how to make a budget for the first time, or who struggle to stick to their monthly spending plan.

3. Best for envelope budgeting: Goodbudget

Cost: Free for 10 envelopes per month, or $10/month or $80/year for unlimited envelopes

The envelope budgeting method uses cash to manage your spending in different categories. Goodbudget can sync connected financial accounts so transactions are automatically imported into Goodbudget.

Key features:

• Create digital envelopes for all your budgeting categories, from rent and utilities to groceries to nights out with friends
• See how much money you have left in each envelope as you spend throughout the month
• Sync and share your budget with members of your household so everyone is aware of what each envelope holds
• Create envelopes for long-term savings goals or sinking funds for recurring expenses
• Track your debt payoff progress to see when you’ll be debt-free

Goodbudget doesn’t have as many extra bells and whistles as other top budget apps, but that might appeal to you if you prefer simplicity or use the 50/30/20 budget method. This 50/30/20 rule allocates 50% of your net pay to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings and debt repayment.

Who it’s for: Goodbudget can provide a smooth transition to digital budgeting for people who have previously relied on the envelope method or budget spreadsheets.

4. Best for building wealth: Empower personal dashboard

Cost: Free

Empower positions its budgeting tools as a way to reach bigger goals. It’s also one of the best free budgeting apps thanks to its comprehensive range of built-in tools.

Key features:

• Securely connect all of your financial accounts to track monthly expenses, debt, and investments
• Get financial advice to help you navigate different life stages, whether you’re a young professional who’s just starting out or you’re already counting down to retirement
• Analyze your portfolio to see how your investments perform and understand your risk level
• Track your daily spending and monitor cash flow
• Monitor your debt payoff and savings progress
• Easily calculate your net worth

Empower is almost like having a personal financial advisor in your mobile device or laptop. The more accounts you connect, the easier it becomes for Empower to offer you personalized budgeting advice.

Who it’s for: Empower is designed for people who want to build long-term wealth. Empower advertises no minimum investment limits for its Empower Investment Account.

5. Best family budget app: EveryDollar

Cost: $0 for the free version, and $17.99/month or $79.99/year after a free 14-day trial

Offered by Ramsey Solutions, the EveryDollar app uses a zero-based budgeting method.

Key features:

• Automatically add new transactions into your budget as they happen, so you can easily see where your money goes
• Use paycheck planning to see what you have to spend to stay on budget
• Split transactions and set due date reminders for upcoming bills to help you avoid paying late
• Stay on track and get support with expert coaching

EveryDollar states you can create unlimited budget categories and line items.

Who it’s for: The EveryDollar budgeting tool could appeal to people who follow the Dave Ramsey baby steps method or who want advice from financial experts when making a budget.

6. Best budget app for couples: HoneyDue

Cost: Free, though tipping is optional

Honeydue is designed with joint budgeting in mind for couples looking to manage their finances together. It helps partners track shared expenses while respecting individual spending habits.

Key features:

• Track all of your accounts through a shared dashboard
• Decide how much information you’re comfortable sharing for each account
• Set up bill payment reminders for yourself or your partner to help you avoid late payments
• Choose your budget categories and set spending limits for each one
• Chat about everyday spending, upcoming bills, how much to save for the month, and securely manage debt through the HoneyDue mobile app

Unlike some of the other budgeting apps reviewed here, HoneyDue doesn’t have a desktop platform. You’ll need to download the app to your Android or Apple device.

Who it’s for: Couples who value financial transparency and want to share in budgeting tasks, while keeping the lines of communication open.

7. Best for setting financial goals: Monarch

Cost: 7-day free-trial, then $14.99/month or $99.99/yearly

Monarch is a budgeting app that includes budgeting and planning features. Whether you want to save for a vacation or a down payment on a home, Monarch can help you budget your way to success.

Key features:

• The app sorts transactions into spending categories for you when you connect your bank accounts
• Scan everyday spending and mark transactions as reviewed so you can easily keep track of what you’ve checked
• Set clear financial goals and use the app to monitor your progress
• Check for recurring subscriptions that may be costing you money unnecessarily
• Visualize where your money goes with customizable charts

Monarch’s focus is more on setting goals you can achieve in a few months to a few years, rather than longer-term goals like retirement. You can, however, track your net worth to see how your wealth is increasing.

Who it’s for: Monarch uses an intuitive approach to goal-setting, which could make it a good choice for people who have specific financial targets they want to hit. You can make your budget shareable if you’re goal-planning with a spouse or partner.

8. Best for spreadsheet lovers: Tiller

Cost: Free 30 days, then $79/year

Are you a spreadsheet nerd? Tiller automatically tracks daily spending in customizable spreadsheets.

Key features:

• See all your financial data in one centralized spreadsheet
• Customize Tiller templates for your own expense categories and goals
• Track your budget, work to pay off debt, and monitor your net worth

Who it’s for: Tiller is best for people who want to get expenses under control while maintaining the flexibility and power of a spreadsheet.

With so many options out there, picking the right app can feel overwhelming. Here are the key factors to consider:

• Your budgeting style: Do you want to use zero-based budgeting to give every dollar a specific job, or do you prefer a simpler 50/30/20 split?
• Who’s using it: Managing finances with a partner? Look for apps designed for couples. Flying solo? A personal dashboard might be all you need.
• Time commitment: Some apps are “set it and forget it,” while others need daily check-ins. Pick one you’ll actually use.
• Budget for the app: Free options work great, but paid apps sometimes offer features that save you more than the subscription costs.

Most apps offer free trials, so download a few and take them for a test drive before committing.

We’ve shared our picks for the best budgeting apps, but experimenting with different tools can help you find your perfect match. Whether you use an app or go old-school with pen and paper, the key is finding a system that keeps you consistent and accountable – like creating a paycheck budget routine that works for your lifestyle.