The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (2024)

Table of Contents

  • Best budgeting apps
  • What to look for in a budgeting app
  • What is a budgeting app?
  • How do budgeting apps work?
  • Is a budgeting app worth it?
  • Is it better to pay for a budgeting app or use a free app?
  • What are the alternatives to budgeting apps?
  • Tips to use your budgeting app effectively
  • The bottom line
  • FAQs
  • How we tested budgeting apps

Money Banking

Article updated on Sep 6, 2024

Managing your money is much easier with one of these top budgeting apps.

Why You Can Trust CNET Money

Our Experts

The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (1)The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (2)The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (3)

Written by

The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (4)

Liliana Hall

Associate Writer

Liliana Hall is a writer for CNET Money covering banking, credit cards and mortgages. Previously, she wrote about personal credit for Bankrate and CreditCards.com. She is passionate about providing accessible content to enhance financial literacy. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in journalism, and has worked in the newsrooms of KUT and the Austin Chronicle. When not working, she is probably paddle boarding, hopping on a flight or reading for her book club.

See full bio ,

The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (5)

Kelly Ernst

Editor

Kelly is an editor for CNET Money focusing on banking. She has over 10 years of experience in personal finance and previously wrote for CBS MoneyWatch covering banking, investing, insurance and home equity products. She is passionate about arming consumers with the tools they need to take control of their financial lives. In her free time, she enjoys binging podcasts, scouring thrift stores for unique home décor and spoiling the heck out of her dogs.

See full bio

Edited by

Courtney Johnston is a senior editor leading the CNET Money team. Passionate about financial literacy and inclusion, she has a decade of experience as a freelance journalist covering policy, financial news, real estate and investing. A New Jersey native, she graduated with an M.A. in English Literature and Professional Writing from the University of Indianapolis, where she also worked as a graduate writing instructor.

See full bio

CNET staff -- not advertisers, partners or business interests -- determine how we review the products and services we cover. If you buy through our links, we may get paid.

Reviews ethics statement
  • Best overall

    Rocket Money

    The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (7)

    See at Rocket Money

  • Best for diving into the details

    YNAB (You Need a Budget)

    The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (8)

    See at YNAB

  • Best for debt pay-off planning

    PocketGuard

    The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (9)

    See at PocketGuard

  • Best for zero-based budgeting

    EveryDollar

    The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (10)

    See at EveryDollar

  • Best for envelope budgeting

    Goodbudget

    The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (11)

    See at Goodbudget

  • Best for an overall snapshot of your finances

    Quicken Simplifi

    The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (12)

    See at Simplifi

The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (13)

Best overall

Learn more

Our Experts

The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (14)The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (15)The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (16)

Written by

The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (17)

Liliana Hall

Associate Writer

Liliana Hall is a writer for CNET Money covering banking, credit cards and mortgages. Previously, she wrote about personal credit for Bankrate and CreditCards.com. She is passionate about providing accessible content to enhance financial literacy. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in journalism, and has worked in the newsrooms of KUT and the Austin Chronicle. When not working, she is probably paddle boarding, hopping on a flight or reading for her book club.

See full bio ,

The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (18)

Kelly Ernst

Editor

Kelly is an editor for CNET Money focusing on banking. She has over 10 years of experience in personal finance and previously wrote for CBS MoneyWatch covering banking, investing, insurance and home equity products. She is passionate about arming consumers with the tools they need to take control of their financial lives. In her free time, she enjoys binging podcasts, scouring thrift stores for unique home décor and spoiling the heck out of her dogs.

See full bio

Edited by

The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (19)

Courtney Johnston

Senior Editor

Courtney Johnston is a senior editor leading the CNET Money team. Passionate about financial literacy and inclusion, she has a decade of experience as a freelance journalist covering policy, financial news, real estate and investing. A New Jersey native, she graduated with an M.A. in English Literature and Professional Writing from the University of Indianapolis, where she also worked as a graduate writing instructor.

See full bio

CNET staff -- not advertisers, partners or business interests -- determine how we review the products and services we cover. If you buy through our links, we may get paid.

Reviews ethics statement

Why You Can Trust CNET Money

Table of Contents

  • Best budgeting apps
  • What to look for in a budgeting app
  • What is a budgeting app?
  • How do budgeting apps work?
  • Is a budgeting app worth it?
  • Is it better to pay for a budgeting app or use a free app?
  • What are the alternatives to budgeting apps?
  • Tips to use your budgeting app effectively
  • The bottom line
  • FAQs
  • How we tested budgeting apps

The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (20)

Best overall

Rocket Money

Learn more

The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (21)

Written by

Liliana Hall

Associate Writer

Read more from Liliana

Liliana Hall is a writer for CNET Money covering banking, credit cards and mortgages. Previously, she wrote about personal credit for Bankrate and CreditCards.com. She is passionate about providing accessible content to enhance financial literacy. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in journalism, and has worked in the newsrooms of KUT and the Austin Chronicle. When not working, she is probably paddle boarding, hopping on a flight or reading for her book club.

The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (22)

Written by

Kelly Ernst

Editor

Read more from Kelly

Kelly is an editor for CNET Money focusing on banking. She has over 10 years of experience in personal finance and previously wrote for CBS MoneyWatch covering banking, investing, insurance and home equity products. She is passionate about arming consumers with the tools they need to take control of their financial lives. In her free time, she enjoys binging podcasts, scouring thrift stores for unique home décor and spoiling the heck out of her dogs.

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CNET editors independently choose every product and service we cover. Though we can’t review every available financial company or offer, we strive to make comprehensive, rigorous comparisons in order to highlight the best of them. For many of these products and services, we earn a commission. The compensation we receive may impact how products and links appear on our site.

Editorial Guidelines

Writers and editors and produce editorial content with the objective to provide accurate and unbiased information. A separate team is responsible for placing paid links and advertisem*nts, creating a firewall between our affiliate partners and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers.

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The Only 6 Budgeting Apps You Need to Consider (2024)

FAQs

What is the #1 budgeting app? ›

The 10 best budgeting apps of September 2024
AppCostBest for
Simplifi$47.88 billed annuallyQuicken users
EmpowerFreeA complete view of finances
Goodbudget$10 monthly or $80 annuallyThe digital envelope system
EveryDollar$12.99 monthly or $79.99 annuallyFirst-time budgeters
6 more rows

What are 5 major things to consider in your budget? ›

Common expenses to include in your budget include:
  • Housing. Whether you own your own home or pay rent, the cost of housing is likely your biggest monthly expense. ...
  • Utilities. ...
  • Vehicles and transportation costs. ...
  • Gas. ...
  • Groceries, toiletries and other essential items. ...
  • Internet, cable and streaming services. ...
  • Cellphone. ...
  • Debt payments.

Should you trust budgeting apps? ›

Research the tools you use.

Though reading the fine print for every app you use may seem tedious, it's a good idea to do a bit of research before you enter your bank account information to any website or app. Review the terms and conditions page and look up online reviews of the providers from reliable sources.

What budget app is better than Mint? ›

1. Quicken Simplifi. The Quicken Simplifi app offers a wealth of features, including customized reports and personalized spending plans. Once you import data like your bank account and billing information, the Simplifi app allows you to track income and spending, manage savings goals and stay on top of bills.

Is Mint going away? ›

Mint will go offline March 23, 2024.

Intuit®, which owns Mint and other personal finance platforms like QuickBooks® and TurboTax®, suggested users migrate to Credit Karma, which it also owns. But that's far from the only option. Budgeting apps are a great way to get a grip on your finances.

What is the 50 20 30 rule? ›

Key Takeaways. The 50-30-20 budget rule states that you should spend up to 50% of your after-tax income on needs and obligations that you must have or must do. The remaining half should dedicate 20% to savings, leaving 30% to be spent on things you want but don't necessarily need.

What is the $1 rule? ›

What is the $1 rule? The $1 rule is my spin on the age-old cost-per-use idea, specifically calling out a dollar as the benchmark. Before buying an item, figure out how many times you'll use it. If it breaks down to $1 or less per use, I give myself the green light to buy it.

What is a 6 6 budget? ›

The most common in my practice is a 6+6 budget that shows six months of actuals and six months of forecasts. As the year progresses, forecasts should become more accurate. When they don't, it's time for a conversation. Mid-fiscal-year budget recompilations are a burden for not just business leaders but finance staff.

Is there a completely free budget app? ›

We like the Goodbudget app because it's optimized for envelope budgeting as a couple or family. You can sync a shared household budget with more than one person, and the free version offers plenty of functionality.

Is Mint a safe app? ›

Is Mint safe to use? Mint is a personal finance app that is safe to use. The company has safety features including multi-factor authentication and security scanning tools to keep your account and personal data safe. Mint is free to use and includes many useful features.

What are the disadvantages of budgeting apps? ›

Cons. Lack of commitment and attention: Many people who utilize a budgeting app have good intentions when setting up their accounts. Yet, research has shown a lack of commitment and follow-through regarding maintaining the goals set.

Is Rocket money better than Mint? ›

Is Rocket Money better than Mint? Rocket Money isn't necessarily better than Mint, and Mint isn't necessarily better than Rocket Money. Both Rocket Money and Mint provide helpful financial services if you want to create budgets or save up money for specific goals.

What is the best app to keep track of spending? ›

Best expense tracker apps
  • Best app for planners: Quicken Simplifi.
  • Best app for serious budgeters: You Need a Budget (YNAB)
  • Best app for beginners: Goodbudget.
  • Best app for over-spenders: PocketGuard.
  • Best app for small business owners: QuickBooks® Online.
  • Best app for employees' business expenses: Expensify.

Is Mint free to use? ›

Mint is available in both a free and paid version. The paid version is called Mint Premium and costs $4.99 a month.

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