Best Budgeting Apps Of December 2024

Best Budgeting Apps Of December 2024

Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors’ opinions or evaluations.

The best budgeting tool is one that is easy to use and fits your unique needs. To help you find the best one, we’ve ranked the 10 best budgeting apps based on our research.

Quicken Simplifi tops our list of the best budgeting apps, earning 4.8 stars, thanks to its combination of user-friendly services and reasonable cost. You’ll be able to set savings goals, determine how you can safely spend without going over budget and coordinate with a partner or spouse.

You won’t find Mint, the once widely popular budgeting app, on our list since it’s no longer available.

We’ve compared 27 budgeting apps to find the best for managing budgets, savings and expenses. For this review, Forbes Advisor focused on apps available to U.S. consumers. The top 10 apps offer a variety of useful features and tools that can help with a range of personal finance and money management needs.

App details are accurate as of December 16, 2024.


Best for Managing Household Finances

Quicken Simplifi

Cost

$35.88/year

50% off discount included

Android Rating

4.0/5

based on 2.3K+ reviews

iOS Rating

4.2/5

based on 3.9K+ reviews

$35.88/year

50% off discount included

4.0/5

based on 2.3K+ reviews

4.2/5

based on 3.9K+ reviews

Editor’s Take

We chose Quicken Simplifi as the best app for managing household finances because it makes tracking bills, savings goals and cash flow easy. Plus, you can add multiple people to your budget, including your partner or financial planner.

Why We Like It
Simplifi has all the budgeting features you need to manage your finances in one place. You can import transactions automatically, tag and flag transactions, get real-time alerts for unusual expenses or upcoming bills, set savings goals and run various reports.

What We Don’t Like
Simplifi doesn’t offer a free trial, and we don’t like that you may be quoted different prices if you pay for your subscription through Google Play or the App Store instead of the website.

Who It’s Best For
Quicken Simplifi is best for families who want an all-in-one solution for managing household finances.

Pros & Cons

  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Personalized spending plan that adjusts based on habits
  • Can add multiple people to budget
  • No free trial
  • Subscription fees can vary

Details

Quicken Simplifi costs $35.88 per year (50% off included) with a 30-day money-back guarantee. The app connects your bank accounts, credit cards and loans so you can track your total cash flow and net worth. You can also create custom spending categories, set savings goals and receive personalized insights. The Simplifi app is available for both iOS (4.2 stars) and Android (4.0 stars).

Best for Setting Goals

YNAB (You Need A Budget)

Cost

$14.99/month or $109/year

after 34-day trial

Android Rating

4.7/5

based on 19K+ reviews

iOS Rating

4.8/5

based on 52K+ reviews

$14.99/month or $109/year

after 34-day trial

4.7/5

based on 19K+ reviews

4.8/5

based on 52K+ reviews

Editor’s Take

We picked YNAB because it helps users figure out and focus on their financial priorities by giving each dollar a job. It has several features to support setting goals and budgeting efficiently.

Why We Like It
We like that YNAB offers adjustable goal tracking—so you can customize your budget as your needs change—and reports to help you better understand your financial habits. YNAB also has a knowledgeable support team, guides to common questions and free online workshops.

What We Don’t Like
We don’t like that you can only use money already in your linked bank account to allocate funds to your budget with YNAB. You can’t plan ahead for your next paycheck, for example.

Who It’s Best For
YNAB is best for people who want to proactively manage their finances and budget every paycheck. This app isn’t optimized for passive budgeting or irregular use.

Pros & Cons

  • Accessible from several devices
  • Shareable with one other person
  • Live help from YNAB staff, along with interactive webinars
  • Lack of investment tracking
  • The user interface isn’t much different from a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet

Details

YNAB, short for You Need A Budget, is an award-winning budgeting program that specializes in helping consumers save money and get out of debt. It is accessible from desktop and mobile platforms and voice-activated devices. There is no upfront commitment with YNAB, and you can try it risk-free for the first 34 days.

YNAB prides itself on focusing on your present situation and future possibilities rather than looking into past financial insights. The YNAB app is available for both iOS (4.8 stars) and Android (4.7 stars).

Best for Tracking Spending

PocketGuard

Cost

Free version; Plus is $12.99/month or $74.99/year

Android Rating

3.7/5

based on 2K+ reviews

iOS Rating

4.6/5

based on 7K+ reviews

Free version; Plus is $12.99/month or $74.99/year

3.7/5

based on 2K+ reviews

4.6/5

based on 7K+ reviews

Editor’s Take

We picked PocketGuard as the best app for tracking spending thanks to its simple interface. It shows how much money you have, how much you put toward bills and how much is left over. The app also shows you a personalized pie chart of your expenses. To prevent overspending, you can set spending limits directly in the app.

Why We Like It
We like PocketGuard because it lets you choose between the envelope, 50/30/20 and zero-based budgeting methods. You aren’t stuck with a budgeting strategy you don’t like and can fully customize your spending plan to meet your needs.

What We Don’t Like
We don’t like the limitations of this app’s free version. If you want to access all the features, such as the ability to customize your spending categories and manually input information, you must pay for the Plus version.

Who It’s Best For
PocketGuard is a good option for you if you want to keep track of how much money you have left to spend after paying your bills and other expenses. The app can even notify you when you’re close to using up your budget or exceeding a spending limit you’ve set.

Pros & Cons

  • Ability to integrate bank accounts from thousands of institutions
  • Real-time spending availability for specified categories
  • Build custom budgets and set goals for savings
  • Some features are only available to paid users
  • PocketGuard website is challenging to navigate

Details

The In My Pocket feature helps you manage cash flow by showing how much money you have to save or spend after you cover your bills, budgets and goals. Linking your bank accounts and credit accounts is required for In My Pocket. PocketGuard identifies your recurring income, expenses and savings goals and calculates your monthly cash flow.

Keep in mind that the app limits some features in the free version, such as tracking your cash flow and the ability to create your own spending categories. The PocketGuard app is available for both iOS (4.6 stars) and Android (3.7 stars).

Best for Sole Proprietors and Freelancers

CountAbout

Cost

Standard is $9.99/year and Premium is $39.99 per year

after 45-day trial

Android Rating

4.6/5

based on 170+ reviews

iOS Rating

4.2/5

based on 90+ reviews

Standard is $9.99/year and Premium is $39.99 per year

after 45-day trial

4.6/5

based on 170+ reviews

4.2/5

based on 90+ reviews

Editor’s Take

CountAbout is our top pick for sole proprietors because it has bookkeeping, accounting and budgeting features to help you manage your personal and business finances in one place.

Why We Like It
CountAbout is the only budgeting app on our list with built-in invoicing and receipt-capturing features. Plus, you can create customizable budgets and reports for accounting purposes.
All plans come with a 45-day free trial, one of the longest trial periods on our list.

What We Don’t Like
There is no free version of CountAbout. This is unfortunate, considering the Standard plan still requires you to import transactions manually. Some users also report finding the app tricky to navigate at first.

Who It’s Best For
CountAbout is best for sole proprietors and freelancers who want a single platform to manage and monitor both their personal and business finances.

Pros & Cons

  • 45-day free trial
  • Invoicing features for sole proprietors and freelancers
  • Can import data from Quicken and Mint
  • Auto-sync transactions from banks and credit cards (Premium plan only)
  • No free plan
  • Less modern interface
  • Receipt uploading and invoicing cost extra

Details

CountAbout has two plans: Standard ($9.99 per year) and Premium ($39.99 per year). Both plans offer a 45-day free trial, so you can try them out before committing.

The Standard plan lets you enter transactions manually, import Quicken Interchange Format (QIF) files and see your savings projections. The Premium plan takes it up a notch by automatically connecting to your bank accounts and credit cards, so you don’t have to import your spending manually.

You can also add receipt image uploading ($10 per year) and small-business invoicing ($60 per year). The CountAbout app is available on both iOS (4.2 stars) and Android (4.6 stars).

Best for Tracking Net Worth

Empower Personal Dashboard™

Android Rating

3.9/5

based on 19K+ reviews

iOS Rating

4.7/5

based on 44K+ reviews

3.9/5

based on 19K+ reviews

4.7/5

based on 44K+ reviews

Editor’s Take

We picked Empower Personal Dashboard™ (formerly Personal Capital) as the best budgeting app for tracking net worth because of its outstanding reporting, investment management and spend-tracking features.

Why We Like It
We like Empower because it gives customers a holistic view of their finances, from day-to-day spending to portfolio performance. It also offers desktop capabilities for those who prefer budgeting on a computer.

What We Don’t Like
We don’t like that you must have at least $100,000 in investment savings to use this platform’s robo-advisory services.

Who It’s Best For
Empower Personal Dashboard is best for those who want a free app to show them their overall finances and help them understand their net worth.

Pros & Cons

  • Several tools available to monitor investment portfolio performance
  • Detailed analytics of cash flow, budgeting, net worth and transactions
  • Features that focus on short-term and long-term financial goals
  • Empower Personal Cash (interest-bearing, no-fee checking account) is available
  • Portfolio management service minimum balance is $100,000
  • User interface is limited in customizations

Details 

Empower Personal Dashboard™ has several savings tools designed to help build retirement savings and emergency funds and pay down debt. It also has excellent advisory tools, including an investment checkup, investment fee analyzer, financial planning, cash flow tracking, education cost planning and real-time net worth tracking. All of these tools give detailed insights into your current financial picture while helping you plan for the future.

Getting started with the app is simple: All users need to do is link bank accounts, credit cards, student loans, mortgages and other line items from their budget. From there, the app will gather information to produce a full financial picture. The Empower app is available for both iOS (4.7 stars) and Android (3.9 stars).

Best for Replacing Mint

Monarch Money

Cost

$14.99/month or $99.99/year

after seven-day trial

Android Rating

4.7/5

based on 6K+ reviews

iOS Rating

4.9/5

based on 30K+ reviews

Learn More

On Monarch’s website
Get 30% off your first year with code WELCOME

$14.99/month or $99.99/year

after seven-day trial

4.7/5

based on 6K+ reviews

4.9/5

based on 30K+ reviews

Editor’s Take

We picked Monarch because it provides an overview of your finances, allowing you to see all your accounts in one place. It’s one of the best replacements for Mint because, while similar to the now-defunct budgeting app, it offers additional features. Monarch allows you to collaborate with your partner or a financial advisor on your budget and offers more options when creating savings goals.

Why We Like It
We like Monarch because you can customize your dashboard, choosing what you want to see and what you don’t. Monarch categorizes your transactions for you and you can access and filter them all in one place. Monarch is available on both desktop and mobile, unlike many other popular budgeting tools.

What We Don’t Like
We don’t like that Monarch isn’t free, as Mint was. You’ll pay either $14.99 or $8.33 a month for this app, but you will have an ad-free budgeting experience.

Who It’s Best For
Monarch is best for those who want to link multiple financial accounts and make custom budgeting and savings goals. The app provides a comprehensive personal finance platform, and you can budget on your own or with a partner.

Pros & Cons

  • Share with partner
  • Collaborate with a financial advisor
  • Unlimited, customizable goals
  • Automated tracking features
  • No free version
  • Can’t pay bills
  • No bill-lowering tool

Details

Monarch listens to its users and changes things accordingly. According to its website, new features are released monthly based on user feedback. Some other enticing features of Monarch include tracking net worth, investments, bills and subscriptions; budgeting rollovers; and customizable spending reports. Monarch is available on both iOS (4.9 stars) and Android (4.7 stars). Former Mint users may qualify for an introductory price discount.

Best for Getting Out of Debt

EveryDollar

Cost

Free version; Premium is $17.99/month or $79.99/year

after 14-day trial

Android Rating

3.9/5

based on 11K+ reviews

iOS Rating

4.7/5

based on 67K+ reviews

Free version; Premium is $17.99/month or $79.99/year

after 14-day trial

3.9/5

based on 11K+ reviews

4.7/5

based on 67K+ reviews

Editor’s Take

We think EveryDollar is the best app for getting out of debt, thanks to its zero-based budgeting approach. This approach encourages you to purposefully allocate every dollar of income to avoid overspending and work toward becoming debt-free.

Why We Like It
We like EveryDollar’s user-friendly interface and the ability to customize budget categories to fit your needs. The app has a free version as well as a 14-day free trial if you want to try Premium.

What We Don’t Like
You won’t be able to import transactions automatically with this app unless you pay for a Premium subscription. Free plans are stuck with manual imports.

Who It’s Best For
EveryDollar is best for those committed to paying off debt who feel comfortable using the zero-based budgeting method to do so.

Pros & Cons

  • Zero-based budgeting approach helps prioritize debt repayment
  • Offers a free version and free trial of the premium version
  • Financial coaching calls available with Plus
  • Plus subscription required for automatic importing
  • Manual expense tracking in the free version can be time-consuming

Details

EveryDollar’s free plan has basic budgeting features, such as creating custom categories, manually inputting transactions and setting due dates for bills. You can access your budgets on multiple devices and share household budgets with others.

The EveryDollar Plus subscription is $17.99 per month or $79.99 per year. It unlocks additional features like automatic transactions, bank account syncing and personalized recommendations for expense tracking. Plus users also gain access to group financial coaching calls. The EveryDollar app is available on both Android (3.9 stars) and iOS (4.7 stars).

Best for Tracking Credit Scores

Credit Karma

Android Rating

4.7/5

based on 2.9M+ reviews

iOS Rating

4.8/5

based on 7M+ reviews

4.7/5

based on 2.9M+ reviews

4.8/5

based on 7M+ reviews

Editor’s Take

We picked Credit Karma as the best app for tracking your credit because it helps you stay on top of changes to your score and financial health. It isn’t a true replacement for an everyday budgeting app, but its expense tracking and net worth monitoring tools make it useful for managing money.

Why We Like It
We like that Credit Karma gives you a big-picture view of your financial health. You can categorize expenses, track spending by month and monitor your net worth across various accounts. You also have access to several credit monitoring tools that alert you when your score changes and provide personalized tips for boosting your score.

What We Don’t Like
Credit Karma doesn’t provide common budgeting features found with other apps, like the ability to create custom budgets or set financial goals.

Who It’s Best For
Credit Karma is best for anyone who wants to monitor their credit and gain insights into their overall financial strengths and weaknesses.

Pros & Cons

  • Entirely free to use
  • Access to TransUnion and Equifax credit reports
  • Can track monthly expenses and net worth
  • Limited budgeting features compared to other apps
  • Can’t track spending for the year—just by month

Details

Credit Karma is a free app that gives you access to your TransUnion and Equifax credit reports. It also offers money management tools to track your spending and monitor your net worth.

When Mint shut down in 2024, parts of it were absorbed by Intuit Credit Karma. You can link accounts from thousands of U.S. financial institutions to track your net worth. However, not all features and insights previously supported on Mint are available on Credit Karma. The Credit Karma app is available for both iOS (4.8 stars) and Android (4.7 stars).

Best for Simple Finances

Fudget

Cost

Free version; Plus is $19.99/year or $14.99/six months

after seven-day trial

Android Rating

4.8/5

based on 1K+ reviews

iOS Rating

4.7/5

based on 600+ reviews

Free version; Plus is $19.99/year or $14.99/six months

after seven-day trial

4.8/5

based on 1K+ reviews

4.7/5

based on 600+ reviews

Editor’s Take

We found Fudget to be the best choice for those who crave simplicity in a budgeting app. It lacks many features found in competitor apps, but its barebones approach may appeal to users who find other tools too complex or cluttered.

Why We Like It
Fudget removes all the bells and whistles that can make other budgeting apps difficult to use. You simply input your income, add your expenses and mark charges as paid or unpaid (almost like a checkbook ledger). Fudget also allows you to change currency symbols and languages.

What We Don’t Like
Fudget’s simplicity is both its greatest strength and its biggest weakness. You can’t sync accounts, automate expense tracking or track your net worth. Also, many of the app’s features are only available in the paid version.

Who It’s Best For
Fudget may appeal to high school or college students who want to learn how to budget without being overwhelmed by complex features. It’s also good for those with simple financial situations or who are tracking expenses for a specific goal or spending category, like house renovations.

Pros & Cons

  • Free version available
  • 7-day free trial for paid version
  • Can customize currencies and languages
  • Beginner-friendly interface
  • Lacks standard budgeting features like account syncing
  • Many features only available in paid version

Details

Fudget’s free plan comes with up to five budgets and 250 entries on one device. The Fudget Plus subscription costs $19.99 per year or $14.99 every six months. It unlocks unlimited budgets and entries, multi-device syncing and additional features like folders, reminders and a calculator. The Fudget app is available for both iOS (4.7 stars) and Android (4.8 stars).

Best for Envelope Budgeting

Goodbudget

Cost

Free version; Premium is $10/month or $80/year

Android Rating

3.9/5

based on 19K+ reviews

iOS Rating

4.6/5

based on 12K+ reviews

Free version; Premium is $10/month or $80/year

3.9/5

based on 19K+ reviews

4.6/5

based on 12K+ reviews

Editor’s Take

We chose the Goodbudget app because it offers an easy, digital version of the time-tested envelope method. By dividing your funds into envelopes labeled by category, such as rent and groceries, Goodbudget helps you plan your spending by giving every dollar a purpose.

Why We Like It
We like the Goodbudget app because it’s optimized for envelope budgeting as a couple or family. You can sync a shared household budget with more than one person, and the free version offers plenty of functionality.

What We Don’t Like
We don’t like that Goodbudget doesn’t let you link your bank accounts, meaning you have to track everything manually. You also can’t see all of your finances in one place.

Who It’s Best For
Goodbudget is best for you if you like the idea of using the envelope system to budget and want to create and maintain a strict spending plan.

Pros & Cons

  • Free version is similar to the paid version
  • Low-cost paid version
  • Digitizes the envelope budgeting method
  • Free version restricts users to one financial institution
  • You must manually add each purchase

Details

The free version of Goodbudget is similar to the paid version, Goodbudget Premium. The Premium version contains all of the same features with extended capabilities. For example, the free version gives each account 20 envelopes for organizing your finances, while the paid version gives you unlimited envelopes.

The platform is accessible from a mobile device, tablet or desktop. The Goodbudget app is available for both iOS (4.6 stars) and Android (3.9 stars).

Goodbudget also offers Budget Bootcamp courses to teach users how to stop living paycheck to paycheck, get rid of debt and create a budget that works. Goodbudget also offers a crash course to help tackle financial emergencies.

Summary of the Best Budgeting Apps of 2024


Methodology

To create this list, Forbes Advisor analyzed 27 budgeting apps. We ranked each budgeting app on 18 data points within the categories of consumer ratings, costs associated with the app, security and encryption of consumers’ data, desktop availability and the ability to share the app with someone else.

The following is the weighting assigned to each category:

  • Mobile app rating (App Store and Google Play): 35%
  • Cost: 25%
  • Encryption/Security: 15%
  • Account integration capabilities: 10%
  • Website version available: 10%
  • Ability to share: 5%

Budgeting apps with a higher overall rating relative to their number of reviews ranked higher on our list, as did those that are completely free. We also prioritized mobile apps with advanced security features, like biometric authentication, multifactor authentication and encryption. Apps that allow the ability to connect an unlimited number of accounts moved toward the top of our list, as did apps that also have a website version and allow for sharing with family or friends.


Why Is Budgeting Important?

You budget so that you can afford the things you want to do.

“How to finance not only your day-to-day needs but also your aspirations—that’s the objective of people everywhere, in every income group, in every circumstance,” wrote famed personal finance author Sylvia Porter in her “Money Book.”

Without such a plan you’re liable to discover that your desires outpace your means.

“And many of you are seeking help because you have an uncomfortable feeling that you ought to be able to manage better than you do,” Porter wrote.

That’s what is happening to too many Americans.

Nearly half of households carry credit card debt, according to the Federal Reserve’s most recent Survey of Consumer Finances, which can eat a tidy sum out of your bottom line in a period of high interest rates.

Meanwhile, 37% of Americans wouldn’t be able to cover a $400 unexpected expense with cash.

A properly constructed budget would allow you to avoid overspending and build up your emergency fund.


How To Budget

There are many ways to make a budget, as the variety in our winning apps demonstrates. But the core part of any budget plan is to spend less than you earn.

How you go about doing that depends on your personal preferences. Perhaps you want to allocate a certain amount for a given category, such as groceries or entertainment, and then spend only within those limits. Or maybe you don’t particularly care where the spending goes month to month as long as you’re putting enough away into a high-yield savings account

You could analyze your spending with a detailed digital spreadsheet that you populate yourself, or you could sync your various accounts to a budgeting app and set your goals there.

Whichever strategy you employ, remember to give yourself some grace. There’s no need to drive yourself crazy trying to account for every last single dollar.

Pro Tip

Build in breathing room. Rounding up your expenses to the nearest dollar or five dollars can provide a comfortable pad, so one math mistake doesn’t result in an overdraft fee. Another way to do this is to set a false bottom threshold in your account—instead of considering $0 as the bottom of your checking account, consider $200 as the bottom. This approach can serve as a safety net in a worst-case scenario.

How To Make a Budget Plan

How To Budget for Groceries

How To Budget for a Vacation

How To Budget for Rent

How To Budget for a Wedding


What Is a Budgeting App?

A budgeting app is designed to help you optimize the spending and savings choices you make each month. By putting all your financial commitments and goals in one place, a budgeting app can give you better visibility into your financial choices and habits.

Most will allow you to sync your bank accounts, automatically registering income and spending in real time. You can categorize your purchases and thereby see how well you’re sticking to your goals. For instance, if you’ve already spent your allotted entertainment budget before the end of the month, you’ll know to hold off.

Some budgeting apps will use a specific budgeting approach—like envelope budgeting or zero-based budgeting—while others will address budgeting more generally, allowing for customization based on your needs.

Pick the one that best aligns with how you like to interpret your ongoing finances. The best budgeting app for you is the one you’ll actually use.


Pros and Cons of Budgeting Apps

Pros

  • Syncing. Many budgeting apps let you sync multiple accounts to see an overview of your finances in one place.
  • Goal setting. Budgeting apps make it easy to set multiple financial goals, such as a vacation or a down payment on a house, and see your progress toward them.
  • Convenience. Apps are easily accessible from your mobile phone or tablet for on-the-go spend tracking and budget check-ins.
  • Automation. Apps give you a more hands-off way to create and manage your budget. Compared to manual budgeting methods, you can save time and energy.

Cons

  • Device limitations. Desktop versions of budgeting apps are not always available. And when they are, they might not be as user-friendly as the mobile versions.
  • Fees. Many budgeting apps charge monthly usage or subscription fees, and those that don’t may have in-app ads.
  • Time commitment. Budgeting apps don’t take away the effort involved in keeping and maintaining a budget. You’ll still need to set goals, categorize spending and work out kinks particular to whichever app you select. For instance, your app may not sync with your health savings account servicer.


How To Choose a Budgeting App

Remember, the app is a tool. While the tool needs to have the functions required for you to set and monitor your budget, it also must be a tool you don’t mind using. Take into account design and appearance, in addition to the following:

  • Fees. Budgeting apps differ in their costs. Some are free—or offer free versions—while others charge a monthly fee. While it may be tempting to choose a free app, don’t overlook the paid ones. If a budgeting app can significantly improve your financial outlook, it may be worth the investment.
  • Features. Each app has unique features and benefits, so it may make sense to test a few different apps to see which one best fits your needs. Many offer a free trial period. If you’ve used a mobile banking app, you have a head start on the features you’ll be seeking. Typical features in the leading budgeting apps include: connecting all your financial accounts, receiving notifications of upcoming bill payments, designing a budget, credit score monitoring, tracking spending, setting up financial goals and more.
  • Security. The security of your personal information is extremely important, especially around banking data and logins. While most budgeting apps have some level of security, some are more sophisticated than others. Be sure to look into the level of security encryption of each app. On their websites, you may find security features such as 256-bit encryption and multifactor authentication. Along with using a secure Wi-Fi network, features like this will help deter intruders from accessing your information.
  • Customer service. If you run into an issue when using a budgeting app, having a technical team you can reach out to can be helpful. When selecting a budgeting app, be sure to find out what customer service options are available, both from the app and from the desktop version, if applicable. It also may help to read reviews of others’ experiences with the app you’re considering.

Pro Tip

When searching for the perfect budgeting app, consider your personality first. Do you like to see how the sausage is made, or do you want to set it and forget it? Apps like YNAB help you understand where every dollar is going, while apps like PocketGuard help you automate budgeting so you rarely have to think about it.


Alternatives to Budgeting Apps

Budgeting apps aren’t the only way to manage your money and track your spending. Here are some alternatives to budgeting apps to consider.

Budgeting Software

Spreadsheet Budgeting

Cash Envelope Budgeting


Are Budgeting Apps Worth It?

You may feel silly paying a company to help you spend less money. And if you’re someone who can naturally spend less than you earn, and are able to add to your savings each pay period, you can probably eschew an app.

But many struggle to keep up with their finances, especially as they get married, have kids and move up in their careers. With so many accounts to monitor, an app can help you craft and stick to your budget. If that helps you build an emergency fund or get out of debt, then the price will have been worth it.

The challenge with budgeting generally—whether managed with an app, a spreadsheet or more manual means—is committing not only to having a budget, but to ensuring your financial decisions are in line with that budget. Many people find that the interactivity and automation provided by a budgeting app help keep them motivated to stay on top of their personal finances.

Read More: Are Budgeting Apps Worth It?

Find The Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What are the best free budgeting apps?

There are several excellent free budgeting apps to choose from here that may meet your needs. However, the best free budgeting app for you is the one that will best serve your personal financial goals. Both Empower and Credit Karma are free and may be good apps to start with. Good Budget, EveryDollar, Pocket Guard and Fudget each have free versions.

What is the easiest budgeting app?

While many budgeting apps claim to have user-friendly interfaces, each person has different likes and preferences. It is difficult to say which budgeting app is easiest to use, but all of the budgeting apps on our list are designed to provide a positive user experience.

What is the best budget app for couples?

The overall best budgeting app for couples is Quinken’s Simplifi, which is our top-rated app.

What is the best budgeting app not linked to a bank account?

If you don’t want to give your bank account information to a budgeting app, YNAB allows for file-based import of transactions as well as manual and automatic tracking. Goodbudget doesn’t connect to your bank account either—instead, it requires you to record each transaction manually.


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Information provided on Forbes Advisor is for educational purposes only. Your financial situation is unique and the products and services we review may not be right for your circumstances. We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals or to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Forbes Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners.

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