Best Budgeting Apps for 2024
If you’re looking to get your finances in order, budgeting apps are the perfect solution. Budgeting apps can help you keep track of your bills, avoid overspending, and manage your money more effectively. But with so many options out there, how do you decide which is the best for you? We’ve done the research and made a list of the best budgeting apps to help you find the right fit.
- Best for Setting Savings Goals – i YNAB
- Best for Monitoring Daily Activities – i Mint
- Best for Couples – i Monarch
- Best Free Option – i Mint
- Best for Investors – i Personal Capital
Whether you’re interested in budgeting to help you save up for home improvements, such as purchasing new roller blinds for the living room and mattresses for each bedroom in your house or a new bathtub, or if you’re trying to save money for retirement, these budget apps make it easier to accomplish financial goals.
You cannot accomplish financial goals without getting a clear vision of where your money is going on a monthly basis and tracking how much is coming in compared to the amount going out. The best budgeting apps make it easy to integrate all of your accounts into one place, automatically pulling in all of your expenses (including your spouses) to one consolidated budget.
What to Look for In a Budgeting App
Budgeting apps can be an invaluable tool when it comes to managing your finances. With so many different apps available, it can be difficult to know which one is best suited for your needs. We’ve narrowed down priorities into three big categories:
- User experience
- Cost
- Security
Budget Apps Must be Easy to Use
First, the app should be user-friendly – this is perhaps the most important factor when choosing a budgeting app. The app should be easy to navigate and understand without requiring any additional help or tutorials. Additionally, it should provide clear instructions on how to enter information, create budgets, and track progress over time – all of which are critical functions for successful budgeting. A good way to check for user-friendliness is by looking at user ratings.
The Best Budget Apps Are Affordable!
Second, you’ll want to consider the cost. Some budgeting apps may be free to use, while others require a paid subscription or one-time payment. Paying for more advanced features can be worth it if you need more advanced features. But if you are starting out, consider a free option or free trial to test your budgeting skills and the app’s capabilities.
Mint’s budget app is free and offers everything you’ll need to manage your budget.
Security and Reputation: Key Factors in Choosing a Budgeting App
When selecting a budgeting app, prioritize security and reputation. Choose an app that uses encryption technology to safeguard your sensitive financial data. Additionally, consider the company’s track record and reputation for responsible data handling.
Mint exemplifies these principles. As a subsidiary of Intuit, the company behind trusted financial tools like TurboTax, Credit Karma, and QuickBooks, Mint inherits a strong foundation of security and reliability. With over 100 million customers across these platforms, Intuit demonstrates a commitment to data protection and responsible financial services.
This combination of robust security measures and a reputable parent company makes Mint a compelling choice for individuals seeking a secure and reliable budgeting solution.
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Best for Setting Savings Goals
YNAB, short for You Need A Budget, is an award-winning budgeting program specializing in helping consumers save money and get out of debt.
You Need a Budget is based on the envelope method and helps users separate spending by category and track spending progress in real-time.
✓ Create And Manage Budgets
✓ Track Spending
✓ Create Savings Goals
✓ Free Trial for 34 Days
Best for Monitoring Daily Activities
The Mint budgeting app comes with a daily budget planner, which suggests budget goals based on your spending. You can adjust your goals (and/or add new ones) as you use the app.
✓ Upgrade To Go Ad-Free
✓ Get Personalized Insights
✓ Monitor Daily Activity
Best for Couples
Managing money can be complicated. Track all of your accounts in one place, collaborate with your partner, and create a long-term plan to achieve your goals. Get personalized advice along the way.
✓ Create Savings Goals
✓ Free Trial for 7 days
✓ Add Multiple Users
Best Free Budgeting App: Mint (soon moving to Credit Karma)
It can be difficult to manage your and your spouse’s expenses, especially if you both have multiple credit cards. With Mint’s budgeting tool, it’s easy to integrate all your accounts and cards into one consolidated place, including everything from credit cards to checking accounts and investments.
Mint offers a user-friendly free budgeting app to manage all your financial accounts, including investments. This includes individual and joint accounts, allowing you and your partner to track your combined net worth. Mint automatically updates your net worth based on your income and debt levels, offering a clear picture of your financial health.
Best for Investors
Personal Capital is an online wealth management platform that combines digital technology with highly personalized service to provide a holistic view of your finances.
✓ Investment Tracking
✓ Personalized Financial Advice
✓ Net Worth Tracking
How to Choose a Budgeting App That’s Right for Me
The best budgeting app for you is one that you will use! So, the best way to choose a budgeting app is to try them out! We recommend taking advantage of free trials or testing out free apps to see which one you enjoy using the most.
i The Trusted Company Reviews Editorial Rating isn’t a simple average of all reviews. Our editorial team analyzes each company or product for a wide variety of factors and generates a review that we feel fairly represents the overall value to consumers. We consider price, affordability, quality, materials, ingredients, functionality, durability, comfort, convenience, and more. Trusted Company Reviews may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made as a result of our reviews and content.
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