If you're new to personal finance or a seasoned pro looking to get the most out of your money strategy, using the proper budgeting apps can help elevate how you manage, save, and grow your income. The best part? Many of these apps are free, easy to use, and have valuable features to help you achieve your financial goals more quickly and efficiently.
In this detailed guide, we review the best budgeting apps of the year for individuals either new to budgeting or those looking to take their money management process to the next level. There is an app for every type of money manager. We give you many options for couples' budgeting apps, featuring a slick expense tracker, savings app, and even free budget apps for iOS.
Budgeting apps can simplify financial planning by displaying your income, expenses, savings goals, and investments from your smartphone or desktop. They are a digital budgeting calculator that tracks and does all the math for you.
These features help create better money habits without using spreadsheets and entering everything manually.
Apps are not all created the same way. Keep in mind these important considerations:
For novices, a clear and straightforward interface is beneficial. However, experts may appreciate reports and features that they can customize.
Not all apps charge a fee. Some of the best apps are free, while others cost a nominal amount monthly but may offer premium features.
Creating categories, tags, and savings goals is very helpful for visualizing your finances.
Most budgeting apps use bank-level encryption. Always look for apps with biometrics and policies ensuring they secure your financial data.
If you will be budgeting with your partner, look for budgeting tools for multi-use and accounts.
Best For: Serious budgeters who want complete control over every dollar
Platform: iOS, Android, Web
Price: $14.99/month or $99/year (34-day free trial)
YNAB is more than a budgeting app—it's a budgeting philosophy. It teaches users to give every dollar a job, prioritize needs, and roll with the punches when life throws curveballs.
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Bonus: YNAB is a top pick among financial experts for its strategy-based approach.
Best For: Beginners looking for a free all-in-one tool
Platform: iOS, Android, Web
Price: Free (with ads), Mint Premium available for $4.99/month
Mint has been a staple among free budget apps for iOS and Android for years. It offers bank syncing, bill tracking, budgeting, and free credit monitoring all in one app.
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Best Feature: Alerts for unusual spending and budget overruns.
Best For: Couples and envelope-style budgeting
Platform: iOS, Android, Web
Price: Free basic plan, $8/month or $70/year for Plus
Goodbudget uses the envelope method digitally, making it ideal as one of the top budgeting tools for couples. It emphasizes conscious spending over automation.
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Why It’s Great: Helps partners coordinate and plan with shared envelopes.
Best For: Tracking how much you can safely spend
Platform: iOS, Android, Web
Price: Free basic version, PocketGuard Plus $7.99/month or $79.99/year
PocketGuard’s most significant appeal is its “In My Pocket” feature, which shows how much money you have left after covering bills, goals, and necessities.
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Best Use: Ideal for everyday users who want to control overspending.
Best For: Zero-based budgeting fans
Platform: iOS, Android, Web
Price: Free, or Ramsey+ plan with bank sync for $17.99/month
Developed by Dave Ramsey, EveryDollar emphasizes zero-based budgeting and simplicity. You manually plan for every dollar of your income—ideal for hands-on budgeters.
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Highlight: Great for those following the “Baby Steps” financial strategy.
Best For: Visual planners who like intuitive dashboards
Platform: iOS, Android, Web
Price: $5.99/month or $47.99/year
Simplifi is a modern budgeting app with clear visuals and excellent financial health metrics. It helps track subscriptions, plan, and manage goals with precision.
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Why We Love It: Combines the best of traditional Quicken tracking with modern app convenience.
Best For: Couples managing finances together
Platform: iOS, Android
Price: Free
Zeta is an innovative, user-friendly digital budgeting tool for couples, whether married, dating, or managing shared expenses as roommates.
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Standout: Built with shared money conversations and transparency in mind.
Every app on this list includes some expense tracker and savings app features. Here’s how these functions support your financial health:
Apps that combine both features make it easier to stay accountable—and even gamify the process of improving your finances.
Financial compatibility is key in any relationship. Using shared budgeting tools for couples like Zeta or Goodbudget helps ensure:
Set financial meetings (even monthly check-ins) using your app’s insights to keep both partners on the same page.
If you’re just getting started, here are the best free budget apps for iOS and Android:
These apps offer core budgeting tools at no upfront cost, and many include optional upgrades for exploring deeper features.
Your budgeting app is only as useful as your consistency and honesty.
Among the best budgeting apps this year for people with varying backgrounds and financial sophistication, it's nice to have tools that enable those using the app to pick and choose the features that best suit their personality, financial objectives, and way of life. Whether your finances are all yours to manage or you and your partner are managing finances together, there's a budgeting product for you.
It's helpful to start small. Choose a few, familiarize yourself with the features, and continue using the ones that offer a familiar, clear, and motivating experience! Digital budgeting tools make your path to financial freedom easier than it seems.
This content was created by AI