10 Best Budgeting Apps for 2024

Need a new budgeting app since Mint shut down? Here’s a quick breakdown of the top 10 apps with their key features and pricing:

Quick Facts:

• Most apps offer free trials or basic versions
• Bank-grade security with 256-bit encryption
• Connect to 10,000+ financial institutions
• Available on iOS and Android (except Copilot)

Choose Based On:

• Students → YNAB (free year)
• Couples → Honeydue
• Investors → Empower
• Basic tracking → PocketGuard
• Complete solution → Monarch Money

Looking for specific features? Skip to each app’s detailed review below.

Related video from YouTube

YNAB (You Need A Budget)

YNAB gives college students free access for 365 days (with student verification). After that, it’s $14.99/month or $98.99/year.

YNAB works on four simple rules:

1. Give Every Dollar a Job: Put your money into specific categories
2. Embrace True Expenses: Split big expenses into monthly amounts
3. Roll With The Punches: Switch money between categories when needed
4. Age Your Money: Stop living paycheck-to-paycheck

Here’s what makes YNAB stand out:

The results? Users save $600 (on average) in their first two months and $6,000 in year one. The app gets 4.8/5 from 48,000+ iOS users and 4.6/5 from nearly 17,000 Android users.

"The YNAB Method is what sets YNAB apart from any other option for managing money; it’s more than math, numbers, and graphs, it’s a habit-building tool that supports and inspires you to fund a future you’ll love living." – YNAB Team

Got irregular income? Big textbook bills? Random living expenses? YNAB helps break these down into smaller, manageable chunks. And when your plans change (because they will), you can adjust your budget without feeling bad about it.

2. Monarch Money

Monarch Money costs $14.99/month or $99.99/year ($8.33/month). You get a 7-day free trial, or 30 days if you’re switching from Mint.

Here’s what makes Monarch Money different:

"Monarch Money is one of the best budgeting apps available today. It’s easy to use and automatically categorizes transactions so you can see how you’re doing compared to your budget in a few clicks on the website or a few taps in the mobile app." – Eric Rosenberg, Finance Writer

This app is perfect if you want to:

• See your spending AND investments in one spot
• Share money management with your family
• Keep tabs on monthly bills and subscriptions
• Know your exact net worth

While YNAB zeroes in on zero-based budgeting, Monarch Money takes a bigger-picture view. You’ll get tools for both daily spending and long-term money growth – all in one place.

3. Empower Personal Dashboard

Empower (formerly Personal Capital) gives you a free dashboard to see all your money in one place. It’s like having a financial command center for your investments, spending, and net worth.

The free version packs some serious tools:

Here’s the thing: Empower SHINES at investment tracking. The budgeting? It’s more basic. You’ll get:

• Monthly spending limits
• Cash flow updates
• Balance checks
• Spending breakdowns

What It Costs:

The dashboard? FREE. But if you want their money managers, here’s the pricing:

• Up to $1M: 0.89%
• $1M-3M: 0.79%
• $3M-5M: 0.69%
• $5M-10M: 0.59%
• $10M+: 0.49%

Money Talk: One user found $1,750 in sneaky fees using their analyzer. By switching funds, they saved $1,000 every year.

This tool’s for you if you want to:

• See all your money stuff in one spot
• Cut out hidden fees
• Get your retirement game plan
• Keep an eye on your net worth

With $300 billion managed and 18 million users, Empower works best for people who want solid investment tracking plus basic budgeting features.

4. PocketGuard

PocketGuard makes budgeting simple: it tells you exactly how much you can spend after paying bills and hitting savings targets. With 1M+ users and $900M in reached savings goals, this app delivers results.

Here’s what you get with free vs paid plans:

What It Costs:

• $7.99 monthly
• $34.99 yearly (63% off)
• $74.99 lifetime (one payment)

Your money stays safe with bank-grade 256-bit encryption and biometric/PIN security. The app connects to your accounts to track expenses automatically.

Perfect Match For:

• College students (named Best Money App for College Students 2022)
• Anyone wanting to cut back on spending
• People who need help lowering their bills
• Those who want clear spending boundaries

Users give it 4.7/5 stars (6,500+ App Store reviews) and 3.6/5 stars (1,700+ Google Play reviews). It’s a solid choice if you want straightforward budgeting focused on spending control.

5. Goodbudget

Goodbudget takes the envelope budgeting method and makes it digital. It’s built for families who want to manage money together.

Here’s what you get:

• Manual expense tracking
• Digital envelope system
• Spending charts
• 256-bit encryption
• Sync across devices
• Money management guides

The app doesn’t link to your bank – you enter transactions yourself or import bank files. Yes, it takes more time. But many users say this hands-on approach makes them more mindful of their spending.

Price:

• Free: Basic features
• Plus: $8/month
• Annual Plus: $70/year (save $26)

This app fits you if you:

• Share finances with a partner
• Like to track expenses manually
• Want to teach kids about money
• Use envelope budgeting
• Prefer hands-on money management

You can use Goodbudget on your phone (iOS/Android) or computer. Want privacy when sharing accounts? You can hide specific bills on different devices.

6. EveryDollar

EveryDollar is a phone-based budgeting app from Ramsey Solutions that launched in 2015. It’s built on a simple idea: plan where your money goes BEFORE you spend it.

The app keeps things simple with three main sections:

• What you plan to spend
• What you’ve spent
• What’s left

Here’s what makes EveryDollar stand out: Users spot an average of $790 in extra spending during their first two months.

"If you’ve been searching for advice on managing your money, you’ve probably come across Dave Ramsey." – CNET Money

But it’s not perfect. Here’s what you should know:

• Works only in the US and Canada
• Free version = manual data entry
• Premium costs $79.99/year (no monthly option)
• You’ll need to sort transactions yourself (even with Premium)

EveryDollar might be your match if you:

• Like Dave Ramsey’s money advice
• Want no-frills budgeting
• Can handle manual entries (free version)
• Need help tracking where money goes

The free version handles basic budgeting just fine. Want bank syncing and extra features? Try Premium free for 14 days.

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7. Copilot

Copilot is a budgeting app made specifically for Apple users. It works on MacOS and iOS devices, and costs $13/month or $95/year ($7.92/month).

Here’s what makes Copilot different: It uses AI to do the heavy lifting for you.

The app automatically:

• Sorts your transactions
• Updates your net worth
• Sends custom alerts about spending
• Tracks Venmo payments and who owes you money

Want to group expenses? Copilot lets you create rules for recurring transactions. You can bundle your rent, electric, gas, and water bills into one category. Makes tracking WAY easier.

"I’ve been really impressed at how easy it’s been to keep up with and how little ongoing effort it takes." – Author, Millennial Money with Katie

What You Get:

• AI that categorizes expenses for you
• Snapshots of your money (daily/monthly/yearly)
• Investment tracking
• Net worth updates
• Budget adjustment tools

Perfect Match For:

• Apple users (it ONLY works on Apple devices)
• People who hate manual tracking
• Investors who want everything in one place
• Visual learners
• Folks who want their budget on autopilot

Getting started takes 5 minutes: Just connect your accounts and set up your notifications. That’s it.

8. Honeydue

Honeydue is a free money management app for couples that works on both iPhone and Android.

You control what your partner sees. Share just the basics like account balances, or go deeper with transaction details – it’s up to you.

Here’s what sets Honeydue apart:

• Splits expenses into shared and personal categories
• Sends budget limit notifications
• Built-in chat for money talks
• Tracks bill payment responsibilities
• Connects to loans and investments

"Honeydue is a budgeting app with one simple mission: helping couples manage their money better together." – Millennial Money

| Feature Comparison | Honeydue | Mint | YNAB | | — | — | — | | Best For | Couples | Individual | Individual | | Cost | Free | Free | $14.99/month | | Bill Alerts | Yes | Yes | No | | Joint Banking | Yes | No | No | | Investment Tracking | Yes | Yes | No |

Who needs this app?

• Couples sharing finances
• Partners with mixed accounts
• People who need bill reminders
• Anyone wanting free budget tools

Setup takes 10 minutes: Download, connect accounts, pick sharing settings.

Security Features:

• 256-bit encryption
• Multi-factor authentication
• Touch ID support
• FDIC-insured joint accounts

9. SoFi Insights

SoFi Insights is a free app that puts your money management on autopilot. It tracks spending, monitors your credit, and connects you with financial experts.

The app helps you stay on budget by setting weekly spending limits based on what you earn and spend. It links to your accounts through Plaid and breaks down your spending into categories.

"SoFi lets me see everything in one place – my accounts, investments, credit, you name it. It’s my go-to dashboard for checking my net worth." – Austin W., SoFi Ambassador

Perfect for people who:

• Want free credit tracking
• Need pro money advice
• Like seeing all accounts in one spot
• Want rewards for credit improvement

Getting Started:

• Sign up for SoFi
• Connect your accounts
• Pick spending limits
• Book advisor chat
• Watch your credit score

You can use SoFi on your phone (iOS/Android) or computer. Plus, when your credit score jumps by 5+ points, you’ll earn points to swap for cash or stocks.

10. Credit Karma Money

Credit Karma Money is a banking app that gives you checking and savings accounts with zero monthly fees. Here’s what you get:

The 4.10% APY on savings is a BIG deal – it’s about 10x more than the national average of 0.45% (as of October 2023).

The app comes with some nice perks:

For tracking your money, here’s what you’ll get:

What’s Missing:

• No way to set monthly budgets
• Can’t sort spending into categories
• Need a Credit Karma membership
• Basic budgeting tools compared to other apps

Perfect Match For:

• Current Credit Karma users
• People who want that high savings rate
• Basic transaction tracking needs
• Debit card fans

Getting Started:

1. Sign up for Credit Karma
2. Confirm who you are
3. Pick Spend or Save account
4. Add direct deposit
5. Get the mobile app

Bottom line: It’s a solid choice if you want simple banking with basic money tracking – just don’t expect fancy budgeting features.

What Works and What Doesn’t

Here’s a no-nonsense look at these budgeting apps:

Let’s talk security:

Pick your app based on your main need:

"I want people to take the fear out of the money conversation." – Todd Curtis, YNAB CEO

Here’s what you need to know:

• Free apps = basic features, good for starters
• Paid apps = more tools, need time to learn
• Most connect to your bank automatically
• Security varies A LOT between apps

Watch out for:

• Apps can be hard to learn at first
• Bank connections sometimes break
• Prices go up (YNAB just added $10)
• Privacy risks with linked accounts

Start with free versions before you pay. And hey – sometimes a simple spreadsheet works just as well as these fancy apps.

Which App Should You Choose?

Here’s how to pick the perfect budgeting app for your college life:

Student-friendly options that won’t break the bank:

"Look at how the app makes money. Is it ads? Affiliate sales? Your data? Free apps need to make money somehow." – Mykail James, MBA, certified financial education instructor

Pick your match:

• New to budgeting? Start with PocketGuard
• Want details? Try YNAB
• Split costs often? Get Honeydue or Splitwise
• Need better savings? Check out Credit Karma Money
• Want everything? Go with Monarch Money

Pro tip: Test free versions first. Apps like Rocket Money and Empower offer solid free features. Only upgrade if you use it daily for a month.

"People need to see progress. Set your end goal first – whether it’s saving $10,000 or paying off debt – then use your budget to get there." – Eric Croak, CFP®

Here’s a fact: Forbes Advisor says 40% of people live paycheck to paycheck in 2023. Pick an app you’ll stick with – that’s what matters most.

FAQs

What is the #1 budgeting app?

Quicken Simplifi tops our list of budgeting apps in 2024. Here’s what you get:

Is there a truly free budget app?

Yes! Here are the best free apps that won’t cost you a penny:

"We picked Quicken Simplifi as our #1 household budgeting app because it makes money management SIMPLE. You can track bills, set goals, and watch your cash flow without getting lost in complicated features." – Editorial Team

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