9 Best Budgeting Apps of 2025

Maintaining a budget is one of the first steps in achieving good financial health. There are different ways to make and keep a monthly budget, including writing it out by hand, using a spreadsheet or logging your expenses in a budgeting app. Going the mobile app route can save you time and make budgeting easier when you can automatically track how your money is spent. These best budgeting apps can help you manage your money so you can enjoy a strong financial future.

Ask a financial advisor for help creating a custom financial plan that maximizes your savings for future growth.

1. Monarch

Cost: $14.99/month

Monarch stands out among the best budgeting apps for its comprehensive suite of tools designed to help users better control their personal finances. With an intuitive interface and robust features, Monarch makes it easy for individuals and families to track spending and set financial goals, while monitoring progress over time. The app’s clean design and customizable dashboards allow users to see their entire financial picture at a glance, making budgeting less overwhelming and more actionable.

One of Monarch’s key strengths is its focus on goal-oriented budgeting. Users can create custom budgets tailored to their unique needs, whether they are saving for vacation, paying off debt or building an emergency fund. Monarch automatically syncs with thousands of the best banks and credit unions, ensuring that transactions are updated in real time and categorized accurately. This seamless integration helps users stay on top of their finances without the hassle of manual entry.

A free one-week trial gets you started.

2. YNAB

Cost: $14.99/month

You Need a Budget, or YNAB for short, is another zero-based budgeting app with a slightly different take. It helps you get to a point where you can budget a month ahead by using last month’s income to pay this month’s bills.

YNAB is a good app to try if you want to get really detailed with your budget numbers and you appreciate the use of visuals to see where your money is going. This is one of the most comprehensive budgeting apps available, which is great if you want something more advanced than what most free budget apps offer.

YNAB offers a free 34-day trial so you can test its services before signing up.

3. Empower

Cost: Free

If you have different types of investments or savings beyond your emergency fund, the Empower app could be the ideal budgeting solution.

This app syncs with your bank account, credit card and investment accounts so you can easily get a snapshot of your net worth. You can manage your budget while also checking your debt payoff progress or monitoring your retirement accounts and other investments.

Empower is free to use if you just want it for budgeting and tracking expenses. If you decide you want to take advantage of Empower’s investment advice, there is a fee for that.

4. Credit Karma (formerly Mint)

Cost: Free

As one of the most popular budgeting apps, Mint has always been a solid choice when you want a free budget app to track spending and calculate income each month. However, its merger with Credit Karma has allowed users to benefit from additional features and tools while still maintaining access to most of the features they love from Mint.

When you download the Credit Karma app for Apple or Android devices, you can sync your bank accounts so they automatically record budgeting expenses and income. You can then use the app to:

Easily categorize expenses
Generate real-time reports on spending
Track your monthly bills
Create a monthly budget

Credit Karma also allows you to check your credit score for free with free credit monitoring.

5. PocketGuard

Cost: $12.99/month

PocketGuard is another budgeting app designed for people who prefer simplicity when managing their money.

Similar to Credit Karma, PocketGuard syncs up with your various financial accounts. Where it differs, however, is in its approach to budgeting. This financial app helps you create your budget based on your spending habits and then alerts you to areas where you can save money.

PocketGuard is also helpful if you are interested in lowering your monthly expenses. The app reviews your recurring expenses, such as cable TV, cell phone service and streaming subscriptions, and helps you find better deals on them with different service providers.

You can try the service for free for seven days before signing up for a membership.

6. EveryDollar

Cost: Free plan or Premium plan for $17.99/month

Zero-based budgeting means giving every dollar in your budget a job each month. The goal is to have $0 left over to eliminate wasteful spending.

The EveryDollar app, created by Dave Ramsey, is designed for people who follow the zero-based budget approach. This app, which you can download on Apple and Android devices, makes it easy to assign every incoming dollar a purpose.

There is a free budget app version of EveryDollar, or you can upgrade to EveryDollar Premium for a fee. The Premium version allows for additional features, such as bank connectivity, a financial roadmap tool, paycheck planning, goal setting and group financial coaching.

To test all the features, try out the Premium plan with a 14-day free trial.

7. HoneyDue

Cost: Free

HoneyDue is a free budgeting app designed specifically for couples who want to manage their finances together. In today’s fast-paced world, tracking shared expenses can be challenging, but HoneyDue offers a convenient solution by allowing partners to collaborate on their joint financial goals. This app stands out in the crowded field of budgeting tools by focusing on the unique nature of financial planning for couples, making it easier to communicate about money matters and stay on the same page financially.

One of the standout features of HoneyDue is its ability to link multiple bank accounts, credit cards and loans, providing a comprehensive view of a couple’s financial landscape. This transparency helps partners understand their collective financial health and make informed decisions together. The app also allows users to categorize expenses, set monthly limits and receive alerts when they approach their budget thresholds. There is even an in-app chat feature so you and your partner can communicate directly about upcoming expenses or a pending bill.

By facilitating open communication about spending habits, HoneyDue helps couples avoid financial misunderstandings and work towards common financial goals.

8. Rocket Money

Cost: Free plan or Premium plan for $6 to $12/month (varies)

Rocket Money automatically tracks and categorizes expenses, providing users with a clear picture of their spending habits. This automation not only saves time but also reduces the likelihood of human error, ensuring that your budget remains accurate and up-to-date. Meanwhile, personalized insights and recommendations help users identify areas where they can cut costs and save more effectively.

Rocket Money also excels in subscription management, a feature that sets it apart from many other budgeting apps. In today’s digital age, it is easy to lose track of your various subscriptions, leading to unnecessary expenses. Rocket Money helps users identify and manage these subscriptions, allowing them to cancel unwanted services with ease.

This proactive approach to subscription management, along with automated expense tracking, can lead to significant savings over time.

9. Goodbudget

Cost: Free plan or Premium plan for $10/month

Managing your budget as a couple can be challenging, but it is crucial that you put a system in place that works for both of you. The Goodbudget app makes that less of a hassle.

With this app, you can sync accounts across multiple devices so everyone involved in the budgeting process can see what is going in and out. Goodbudget uses digital envelopes to divvy up expenses, so you can add as many or as few budgeting categories as you need.

You can sync Goodbudget accounts on up to two devices for free. After that, you will need to pay a fee to upgrade your account.

Bottom Line

These best budgeting apps can help simplify your financial planning since they can take the heavy lifting out of making a budget. Once you have a budget in place, it becomes easier to prioritize savings goals, pay off debt or work toward other financial goals. Whether you choose a free budget app or a paid one, the best budgeting apps included here are some of the best tools for tackling your personal finances to help you moving forward.

Budgeting Tips

Consider talking to a financial advisor about which budgeting system or budget app fits into your financial plan. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
If you’d prefer an alternative to mobile budgeting apps, take advantage of our free online budget calculator. Also, when making a budget don’t focus solely on income and expenses. Creating a specific budget line item for investing in a retirement account, taxable brokerage account or an emergency savings fund are also key elements of wise financial stewardship.