*Netspend is not an investment advisor. The knowledge in this post is general information and should not replace the advice of an investment advisor. For more information, please reach out to an investment advisor in your area.
Sticking to a budget can be tough. It’s easy to forget or give up on complex budgeting systems. And budgets that deny you special treats and fun spending can quickly get abandoned.
That’s why so many people turn to apps to lend them a helping hand. The best budgeting apps blend a user-friendly experience with automation and reminders to keep you on track. But with so many on the market, how do you choose the right one?
We’ve rounded up some of the best budgeting apps, depending on your needs, cost, and availability.
Best free budgeting apps
Mint
Often cited as one of the best free budgeting apps, Mint has more than earned its reputation.
Mint pulls all of your accounts into one place by linking up with cash accounts, credit cards, investments, and bill accounts. It provides a transparent overview of your cash flow and even helps you save money with its Bill Negotiation feature which can help you lower your monthly bills.
Available on: iPhone and Android™
Cost: Free
Personal Capital
While it’s primarily for investment management, Personal Capital offers financial tools (i.e-Net Worth calculator, Retirement Planner, Investment Checkup Savings Planner) as a free way to manage your budget and track your spending.
Like most budgeting apps, you can connect all your checking, savings and debt accounts as well as 401(k) accounts. If your aim is to build wealth and manage investments too, it doubles up as a way to monitor your net worth and track your portfolio.
If you are looking for any type of investment advice or wealth management services, Personal Capital does charge a fee to use their team of financial advisors.
Available on: iPhone and Android™
Cost: Financial Tools are Free
Best budgeting apps for couples
Honeydue
As well as being a free app, Honeydue is an ideal pick for couples who want to take more control over joint finances. Couples can sync up bank accounts, loans, credit cards, and investment accounts into one central place.
You can categorize expenses, set monthly limits on spending, and even set up notifications and reminders when you’re getting close to hitting them. There’s even a chat feature to discuss your finances with your partner without it getting lost in WhatsApp messages.
Available on: iPhone and Android™
Cost: Free
Goodbudget
Goodbudget takes the traditional envelope budgeting method and puts a fresh 21st-century spin on it.
The envelope system allocates different amounts of cash to different categories such as rent/mortgage payments, groceries, bills, emergency savings, and so on.
Traditionally, you would withdraw cash and divide it between labelled envelopes. The way it works is by only allowing you to spend whatever is in the envelope. It’s a simple way to curb overspending.
Goodbudget does all of this digitally so you don’t have to deal with cash. You can have up to 20 different envelopes to manage your budget in the free version, but you can upgrade for more.
The app doesn’t connect to your accounts, so it’s purely for separating your money either individually or as a couple.
Available on: iPhone and Android™
Cost: $8 per month or $70 per year
Best budgeting app for simplified budgeting
PocketGuard
One of the reasons a lot of personal budgets fail is because they’re overly complicated. If you’re looking for a simplified approach to budgeting, the PocketGuard app could be just the thing.
PocketGuard is big on simplifying the budgeting process but still allows you to connect all your financial accounts in one place. You can set savings goals and spending goals to help you avoid overspending. The PocketGuard Plus plan also offers a debt payoff feature to help keep your debt repayments on track.
Available on: iPhone and Android™
Cost: Free version, or $7.99 per month, $79.99 per year, or $99.99 for a lifetime membership
Wally
Wally provides a streamlined and highly user-friendly budgeting experience, with lots of handy images and graphics to help you understand your finances better. In the app, you can track income and expenses while getting a clear picture of your remaining budget to help you avoid overspending.
There’s both a free and a paid version, and it’s also suitable for using foreign currencies. It might not have lots of features, but it’s refreshingly simple.
Available on: iPhone and Android™
Cost: Free version, or a lifetime subscription to Wally Premium for $74.99
Best budgeting app for features and capabilities
You Need a Budget (YNAB)
If you’re looking for a budgeting app with all the bells and whistles you can imagine, You Need a Budget is one of the most popular options on the market thanks to its extensive list of features.
YNAB’s website claims that new budgeters save an average of $600 in their first two months, and even more on a long-term basis.
It’s praised for helping budgeters do a complete budget makeover and get advice from its extensive educational resources. While it may be more difficult to learn everything this app has to offer, it’s a great pick for someone who wants a bit more substance to their budgeting system.
While there’s a free 34-day trial, YNAB is one of the pricier options out there.
Available on: iPhone and Android™
Cost: Free trial, $14.99 per month or $98.99 per year
Which budgeting app is right for you?
To narrow down your options, you can ask yourself a few simple questions:
Does your future budgeting app need to be suitable for iPhone and Android™ devices?
Do you want a simple, no-frills app or one with an extensive range of features?
Are you willing to pay a monthly or annual subscription or does it need to be free?
Are you looking for a budgeting system as an individual, a couple, or a family?
Most budgeting apps these days (including all of the above) are available both on iPhone and Android, but your first step should be to double-check.
Apps such PocketGuard, Wally, and Goodbudget are great for a more basic approach to budgeting and won’t require a steep learning curve.
However, for those who want to overhaul their budget and leave no stone unturned, You Need a Budget and Mint are great picks that will do pretty much everything you need them to.
