Personal budgeting apps aren’t just “nice to have” anymore—they’re practically essential. In 2025, a wide range of apps caters to everyone from absolute beginners to seasoned finance fans. Whether you prefer hands-on envelope budgeting or a fully automated, AI-powered assistant, there’s something out there for you. Gone are the days of Mint (it shut down in early 2024), so former Mint fans are branching out to find replacements. Modern tools automatically sync with your bank, categorize your spending, set goals, and even offer investment tracking. Best of all, they use bank-level encryption and two-factor authentication to keep your data safe.

YNAB (You Need a Budget) – Best Overall

If you’re serious about controlling every dollar, YNAB is hard to beat. Their zero-based budgeting approach means you assign every dollar a job—whether it’s groceries, rent, or savings. You actually sit down (virtually) and allocate your income each month. Yes, it takes commitment, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll see exactly where your money goes.

• Platforms: iOS, Android, Web/Desktop, Apple Watch
• Key Features: Zero-based budgeting method, automatic bank sync, goal-tracking, financial reports, and free workshops
• Pricing: \$14.99/month or \$109/year (includes a 34-day free trial). Up to 6 users per account at no extra cost.
• Security: Bank-level encryption, two-factor authentication
• Pros: Total control over every dollar, excellent educational resources, high customer satisfaction (4.8/5)
• Cons: Steep learning curve, manual effort required, cost is higher than many competitors

PocketGuard – Simplest Free/Low-Cost Option

PocketGuard is perfect if you want a quick overview and don’t want to fuss with categories. Link your checking, savings, and credit accounts, and it automatically categorizes transactions. Its signature feature, “In My Pocket,” shows you exactly how much you have left after setting aside bills and savings. You can also add hashtags to transactions and negotiate bills right through the app.

• Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
• Key Features: Automatic expense tracking, net-worth dashboard, subscription monitoring, bill reminders, built-in negotiation tool, split transactions across categories
• Pricing: Free basic version; PocketGuard Plus is \$7.99/month or \$34.99/year (includes unlimited accounts/categories, recurring bills, subscription negotiation, data export)
• Security: Uses Plaid for bank-level encryption
• Pros: Extremely user-friendly, helpful free tier, low-cost upgrade option, built-in subscription negotiation
• Cons: Free tier limits accounts and categories, only a 7-day trial for Plus, no credit score monitoring

Goodbudget – Best for Envelope-Style Families

Inspired by the old-school envelope system, Goodbudget lets you manually allocate money into digital “envelopes” for groceries, rent, fun, and more. Because you enter income and expenses by hand, you stay fully engaged with your budget. It’s a smart way for couples or families to plan together—everyone sees the same envelopes, and you can sync across devices.

• Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
• Key Features: Envelope budgeting, manual entry, share budgets with family/partners, category templates, sync across multiple devices
• Pricing: Free plan (1 account, 2 devices, limited envelopes); Premium is \$10/month or \$80/year (unlimited envelopes/accounts, up to 5 devices)
• Security: Data encrypted; email/password login
• Pros: Encourages disciplined planning, excellent for joint and individual spending, intuitive envelope interface, free plan covers very basic needs
• Cons: No automatic bank syncing—everything is manual, which can be tedious if you have many categories or accounts

EveryDollar – Zero-Based (Ramsey-Style)

Built around Dave Ramsey’s zero-based budgeting philosophy, EveryDollar offers a no-frills approach. On the free plan, you enter transactions manually—perfect for total beginners. Upgrade to Premium, and you get auto-imports from your bank, plus more detailed reporting and bill reminders.

• Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
• Key Features: Zero-based monthly templates, manual tracking (free), automatic bank sync and deeper insights (Premium), bill reminders
• Pricing: Free basic version; EveryDollar Premium is \$17.99/month or \$79.99/year (14-day free trial)
• Security: Encrypted bank connections via third-party services
• Pros: Simple, clean interface, ideal for absolute beginners, clear zero-based method
• Cons: Free version is very limited, Premium is relatively pricey for added features, lacks advanced tools like debt payoff planners

Simplifi by Quicken – Great for Beginners

If you like things simple, Simplifi (from Quicken) might be your sweet spot. It links to all your accounts—checking, savings, loans, and investments—and builds a personalized spending plan that adapts as bills come and go. It even forecasts your cash flow so you know what’s coming next.

• Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
• Key Features: Automatic account syncing, spending plan, customizable alerts, cash-flow projections, optional LifeHub add-on (\$1.99/mo) for secure document storage
• Pricing: \$2.99/month billed annually (\$35.88/year), 30-day free trial (no monthly plan)
• Security: Bank-level encryption, secure connections
• Pros: Affordable, plenty of automation, helpful visual charts, good forecast tools, strong customer support
• Cons: Fewer budgeting rules and guidance than YNAB or PocketGuard, not as flexible for advanced users

Monarch Money – Best for Multi-Account Tracking

Monarch Money is a powerhouse if you want everything in one place—bank accounts, credit cards, loans, investments, even crypto. You can invite family members or a financial advisor to view (and help manage) your budgets. It’s perfect for households or anyone who wants a bird’s-eye view of net worth.

• Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
• Key Features: Syncs virtually any financial account, unified net-worth dashboard, flexible “Flex Budget” system that adapts if you overspend, collaborative sharing with family/partners/advisors
• Pricing: \$14.99/month or \$99.99/year (7-day free trial)
• Security: Bank-level encryption, two-factor authentication
• Pros: Deep aggregation of accounts, high customer satisfaction, easy collaborator access at no extra cost, strong customer support
• Cons: Subscription cost is on the higher side, fewer specialized features (no bill negotiation or debt payoff tools)

Copilot – Sleek Design & Advanced Tracking

Copilot stands out with its polished, intuitive interface. It tracks spending, budgets, investments (including crypto), and recurring subscriptions. The ability to tag transactions with custom emojis and colors makes it feel more like a game than a chore. Note: as of 2025, Copilot is only available on iOS and Mac.

• Platforms: iOS, iPad, Mac (no Android or Windows yet)
• Key Features: Automatic expense tracking, trend analytics, customizable tags, recurring bill tracking, crypto-wallet integration, beautiful dashboards
• Pricing: \$13.00/month or approximately \$95/year (annual billing); offers a free trial period
• Security: Local encryption plus secure connections to banks
• Pros: Gorgeous interface, unlimited custom tags and categories, no ads, excellent support, handles crypto seamlessly
• Cons: No Android/Windows support yet, higher subscription price, best suited for Apple ecosystem users

Rocket Money (formerly Truebill) – Best for Cutting Costs

Rocket Money shines if you want to trim monthly bills and cancel unused subscriptions. Besides basic budgeting, it negotiates bills on your behalf—if it succeeds, you share a percentage of the savings. It also includes a credit score monitor, making it a nice all-in-one for bill slayers.

• Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
• Key Features: Expense categorization, subscription tracking, bill negotiation service, Experian credit score monitoring, simple budget overviews, in-app transfers
• Pricing: Free basic version; Premium is “pay-what-you-want” between \$6–\$12/month (or \$72–\$144/year), which unlocks bill negotiation, budget exports, real-time updates
• Security: Bank-level encryption, secure data connections
• Pros: Excellent at finding and canceling unwanted subscriptions, helpful bill negotiation, free plan covers basics, credit monitoring included
• Cons: Free version lacks advanced features, negotiation fee (35–60% of savings) can be steep, no dedicated debt payoff tools

Honeydue – Best for Couples & Shared Finances

Honeydue is built for two. You and your partner link accounts, share budgets, and track expenses together, while keeping certain accounts private if you choose. There’s even an in-app chat with emojis so you can discuss transactions as they happen.

• Platforms: iOS, Android (no web version)
• Key Features: Joint budgeting, shared expense tracking, privacy controls per account, bill reminders, in-app chat with emojis
• Pricing: Completely free
• Security: Bank-level encryption, secure connections
• Pros: Perfect for couples, no cost, privacy toggles, alerts when spending limits approach
• Cons: Mobile-only (no desktop), limited category customization, lacks advanced features like investment tracking or bill negotiation

Summary Comparison

Recommendations by Use Case

• Beginners: Simplifi by Quicken offers clear visuals, cash-flow forecasts, and a gentle learning curve. Alternatives: PocketGuard or free EveryDollar.
• Families/Envelope Budgets: Goodbudget’s digital envelopes and shared access make it ideal for couples and families on tight budgets.
• Comprehensive Control: You Need a Budget (YNAB) lets you micromanage every dollar—great if you want ultimate control and are willing to learn.
• Couples: Honeydue’s shared views, privacy toggles, and in-app chat are perfect for partners syncing finances without full transparency.
• All-in-One (Budget + Investing): Empower (formerly Personal Capital) tracks both spending and investments, giving you a big-picture net-worth view.
• Bill Cutting: Rocket Money excels at subscription tracking and negotiating bills—hands-off savings without lifting a finger.
• Design & Power Users: Copilot’s beautiful interface, unlimited tags, and crypto integration make budgeting fun and flexible—best for Apple ecosystem enthusiasts.

Every app balances price, ease of use, and features differently. Free offerings (PocketGuard, Honeydue, Empower) cover the basics admirably, while paid subscriptions (YNAB, Monarch, Copilot) provide deeper control and advanced insights. All these platforms use secure connections and support iOS/Android (except Copilot, which is Apple-only). Ultimately, choose based on whether you prioritize simplicity, collaboration, or granular analytics. Happy budgeting in 2025!

“Find the app that fits your style—whether you need hands-on control or a set-it-and-forget-it helper—and watch your financial confidence grow.”