Top 10 Budgeting Apps to Track Expenses
Managing your expenses effectively starts with the right tool. Budgeting apps simplify money tracking, categorize spending, and help you stay on top of your financial goals. Here are ten standout apps that bring clarity and control to your finances.
1. You Need A Budget (YNAB)
YNAB stands out for its zero-based budgeting approach—every dollar gets a job. It encourages users to plan ahead, anticipate irregular expenses, and “age” their money by spending last month’s income. It’s highly educational and designed to change your money mindset.
2. Monarch Money
A powerful all-rounder with flexible budgeting tools, Monarch offers both high-level and category-based budgeting. It includes net worth tracking, investment dashboards, and shared budgeting for couples or financial advisors.
3. PocketGuard
Perfect for beginners, PocketGuard calculates your “In My Pocket” funds—what’s left after bills, goals, and necessities. It also helps identify wasted money on subscriptions and features a simple debt payoff tracker.
4. Goodbudget
Based on the envelope system, Goodbudget allows for tactile budgeting—allocating money into “envelopes” per category. Its free version is manual-input only, while the premium unlocks sync and automation.
5. Empower (formerly Personal Capital)
Ideal for those combining budgeting with investing. Empower provides spending snapshots alongside net worth tracking and portfolio insights, all in one free app.
6. Simplifi by Quicken
Tailored for beginners, Simplifi delivers intuitive spending plans and cash flow projections. It’s designed for those who want guidance without complexity, at an affordable price.
7. Tiller
A spreadsheet-based solution that feeds your account data into Google Sheets or Excel, Tiller gives total customization for budget lovers who prefer a DIY spreadsheet approach.
8. Honeydue
Built for couples, Honeydue enables shared budgeting and individual account privacy. You can coordinate bills, chat within the app, and manage finances together seamlessly.
9. EveryDollar
Dave Ramsey’s zero-based budgeting app—focused on simplicity and intention. The free version is manual-entry; the premium includes bank syncing for ease.
10. Mint
A classic and reliable budgeting app from Intuit, Mint aggregates transactions across accounts, categorizes spending, and provides monthly insights and alerts—all for free.
How to Choose the Best App for You
| Need/Priority | Recommended Apps | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|
| Hands-on zero-based budgeting | YNAB, EveryDollar | Encourage intention and targeted spending |
| Full financial overview | Monarch Money, Empower | Combines budgeting with investments/net worth |
| Beginner-friendly, simple | Simplifi, PocketGuard | Intuitive interfaces and guidance |
| Envelope-style budgeting | Goodbudget | Visual category-based cash allocation |
| Spreadsheet lovers | Tiller | Total control with spreadsheet customization |
| Shared finances (couples) | Honeydue, Monarch | Collaborative tools and privacy control |
| Free alternatives | Mint, Goodbudget (free version), Empower | Budgeting features without the cost |
Final Thoughts
Finding a budgeting app that fits your style and goals is a game-changer. Whether you want hands-on dollar assignments (YNAB), a broader financial snapshot (Empower), or a lightweight way to visualize spending (PocketGuard), there’s an app for that.
Let your comfort and finance goals guide you:
- Want control and accountability? Try YNAB or EveryDollar.
- Need financial tracking beyond budgeting? Empower or Monarch could be perfect.
- Just starting out? Go with PocketGuard or Simplifi first.
- Love envelopes or spreadsheets? Goodbudget or Tiller can tailor to your preference.