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Best Budgeting Apps of 2025
Here’s a closer look at our picks for the best budgeting apps, including their pros and cons and what type of budgeteers each app is well-suited for.
EveryDollar
EveryDollar
$17.99/month or $79.99/year
(after 14-day free trial)
4.3/5
based on 13,000+ ratings
4.7/5
based on 75,000+ ratings
Wallet by BudgetBakers
Wallet by BudgetBakers
Wallet by BudgetBakers
Free version or $5.99/month, $21.99/month or $49.99 lifetime subscription
(price may vary based on sign-up method used)
4.6/5
based on 350,000+ ratings
4.6/5
based on 5,000+ ratings
Lunch Money
Lunch Money
Lunch Money
$50-$150/year or $10/month
(after 30-day free trial)
4.5/5
based on about 20 ratings
4.4/5
based on a handful of ratings
Rocket Money
Rocket Money
Free version or between $6-$12/month
(after seven-day free trial)
4.6/5
based on 100,000+ ratings
4.5/5
based on 240,000+ ratings
Monarch
Monarch
On Monarch’s website
For a limited time get 50% off your first year with code FORBES50
Monarch
$99.99/year or $14.99/month
(after seven-day free trial)
4.7/5
based on 12,000+ ratings
4.9/5
based on 51,000+ ratings
Albert
Albert
Albert
$14.99/month, $19.99/month or $39.99/month, based on plan
(after 30-day free trial)
4.5/5
based on 120,000+ ratings
4.6/5
based on 240,000+ ratings
Spendee
Spendee
Spendee
Free version, $1.99/month or $14.99/year for Plus; $5.99/month or $35.99/year for Premium
(after seven-day free trial)
4.4/5
based on 55,000+ ratings
4.6/5
based on 5,000+ ratings
Quicken Simplifi
Quicken Simplifi
$2.99 per month (billed annually)
50% discount included
4.5/5
based on 3,000+ ratings
4.5/5
based on 5,000+ ratings
PocketGuard
PocketGuard
$74.99/year or $12.99/month
(after seven-day free trial)
4.3/5
based on 2,000+ ratings
4.6/5
based on 7,000+ ratings
YNAB (You Need a Budget)
YNAB (You Need a Budget)
$109/year or $14.99 month
(after 34-day free trial)
4.6/5
based on 21,000+ ratings
4.8/5
stars based on 55,000+ ratings
Summary of the Best Budgeting Apps
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| COMPANY | FORBES ADVISOR RATING | BEST FOR | COST | ANDROID RATING | iOS RATING | LEARN MORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| | Zero-Based Budgeting | $17.99/month or $79.99/year (after 14-day free trial) | 4.4/5 (based on 13,000+ ratings) | 4.7/5 (based on 70,000+ ratings) | Read Our Review | |
| | Cash Flow Monitoring | Free version or $5.99 a month, $21.99 a month or $49.99 for lifetime subscription (prices may vary) | 4.7/5 (based on 340,000+ ratings) | 4.6/5 (based on 5,000+ ratings) | ||
| | Desktop Budgeting | $50-$150/year or $10/month (after 30-day free trial) | 4.5/5 (based on just 19 ratings) | 5/5 (based on just six ratings) | ||
| | Managing Subscriptions | Free version or between $6-$12/month (after 7-day free trial) | 4.7/5 (based on 99,000+ ratings) | 4.5/5 (based on 230,000 ratings) | On Rocket Money’s website | |
| | Replacing Mint | $99.99/year or $14.99/month after 7-day free trial | 4.7/5 (based on 11,000+ ratings) | 4.9/5 (based on 47,000+ ratings) | On Monarch’s website For a limited time get 50% off your first year with code FORBES50 | |
| | Automatic Savings | $14.99/month, $19.99/month or $39.99/month based on plan (after 30-day free trial) | 4.5/5 (based on 120,000+ ratings) | 4.6/5 (based on 240,000+ ratings) | ||
 | Beginner Budgeteers | Free version, $1.99/month or $14.99/year for Plus; $5.99/month or $35.99/year for Premium (after 7-day free trial) | 4.5/5 (based on 55,000+ ratings) | 4.6/5 (based on 5,000+ ratings) | ||
| | Managing Household Expenses | $2.99/month (with 50% off discount) | 4.2/5 (based on 3,000+ ratings) | 4.4/5 (based on 5,000+ ratings) | On Quicken’s Website | |
| | Tracking Spending | $74.99/year or $12.99/month (after 7-day free trial) | 4.7/5 (based on 2,000+ ratings) | 4.1/5 (based on 500+ ratings) | Read Our Review | |
| | Goal-Setting | $109/year or $14.99 month (after 34-day free trial) | 4.7/5 (based on 21,000+ ratings) | 4.8/5 (based on 55,000+ ratings) | On YNAB’s Website |
Methodology
To create this list, Forbes Advisor analyzed 38 budgeting apps. We ranked each budgeting app on 18 data points within the categories of platform usability and availability of features, customer ratings, costs associated with the app, security and encryption of consumers’ data and desktop availability.
The following is the weighting assigned to each category:
- Features and usability: 50%
- Mobile app rating (Apple App Store and Google Play): 20%
- Cost: 15%
- Encryption/security: 10%
- Website version available: 5%
Budgeting apps with a higher overall rating relative to their number of reviews ranked higher on our list, as did those that are completely free. We also prioritized mobile apps with advanced security features, such as biometric authentication, multifactor authentication and encryption. Apps that allow the ability to connect an unlimited number of accounts moved toward the top of our list, as did apps that also have a website version and allow for sharing with family or friends.
How To Choose a Budgeting App
When choosing a budgeting app, you’ll want to consider several factors.
Fees: Prices vary between budgeting apps, and some offer free versions. Typically, paid apps offer advanced features and functionality that could pay off in the long run.
Features: When choosing a budgeting app, look for one with features that cater to your specific financial needs and goals. Many apps offer a trial period, so test run a few to see which have the features that work best for you. Standard features among budget apps include bank account integration, expense trackers, bill reminders, goal setting and the ability to categorize expenses.
Security: When dealing with personal financial information, security should be a top priority. Check to see what security measures a budgeting app utilizes, such as multifactor identification and encryption.
Customer Service: You might run into a problem when using a budgeting app, in which case, quality customer service can be helpful. For this reason, it’s important to compare customer service options between apps before choosing one.
Monarch Money
On Monarch’s website
For a limited time get 50% off your first year with code FORBES50
Monarch Money
$14.99/month or $99.99/year
after seven-day trial
4.8/5
based on 8K+ reviews
4.9/5
based on 36K+ reviews
Are Budgeting Apps Worth It?
Budgeting apps can be valuable tools for managing your finances. Many budgeting apps automatically sync with your bank accounts to import your data, making it easy to view your monthly cash flow and identify areas of spending that can be cut back on (such as forgotten or unwanted subscriptions) as well as how much you can save each month.
Pros and Cons of Budgeting Apps
Pros:
- Syncing: Many budgeting apps will sync with your bank account to import your data, providing an overview of all your financial accounts in one place.
- Goal Setting: Goal-setting features offered by budgeting apps can help you organize your various savings goals and decide how much to allocate to each every month.
- Convenience: One of the main appeals of a budgeting app is convenience. Most apps take the legwork out of building a budget manually and automatically identify and categorize expenses for you.
Cons:
- Fees: While many budgeting apps offer a free version, you typically won’t be able to access the app’s full range of functions. It’s essential to weigh the cost of a budgeting app before purchase to see if the investment will pay off in the long run.
- Device Limitations: Some budgeting apps are accessible via both desktop and mobile devices, while others are only fully functional on one.
Read More: Are Budgeting Apps Worth It?
Alternatives to Budgeting Apps
Personal finance and budgeting don’t have to be managed on an app. Here are some alternative options to budgeting apps you may want to consider.
Budgeting Software
If you’re looking for additional features not offered by standard budgeting apps, consider opting for a budgeting program like QuickBooks or Quicken, which offer expanded capabilities such as tax software integration and payment management.
Spreadsheet Budgeting
If you prefer a hands-on approach to budgeting, you may want to consider spreadsheet budgeting. With spreadsheet budgeting, you’ll record all your sources of income for the month, as well as all transactions across your various accounts. From here, you can categorize your expenses and identify areas where you could save and how to allocate that extra money going forward.
If you’re looking for a starting point, consider following the 50/30/20 budget to divide your expenses.
Cash Envelope Budgeting
Cash envelope budgeting is another strategy for managing your finances. As the name suggests, this strategy involves dividing the cash you earn each month into envelopes based on category, such as money for rent, groceries, paying off debt or building an emergency fund.
Find The Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2025
States Where It’s Hardest (and Easiest) To Save
Most states experience similarly high debt-to-income ratios, making it difficult for households across the nation to save money. However, saving is significantly harder in some states due to various other factors, like higher costs of living, higher percentages of income spent on housing and rising tax rates.
To determine the impact that location has on the ability to save, Forbes Advisor analyzed all 50 states and Washington, D.C., on 10 data points within four categories to pinpoint the states where it’s the most (and least) difficult to save in 2025. The categories are:
- Income/debt
- Cost of living
- Taxes
- Housing costs
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Top 3 States Where It’s Hardest to Save
1. California — Score: 100 out of 100
Saving money is the most challenging in California, with approximately 38% of residents having trouble affording basic expenses. Californians spend a higher percentage of their income on housing than those in any other state in the nation, with 25.83% of earnings going toward housing costs. The state also has the third-highest percentage of individuals paying at least half of their income on housing.
Another huge barrier to savings is the state’s high cost-of-living index, the second highest among all states.
2. Hawaii — Score: 91.80 out of 100
Hawaii has the highest cost-of-living index and the most expensive housing costs of any state in the country, with the average price of a home reaching $875,900. With the cost of living so elevated, it’s not surprising that Hawaii also has the highest debt-to-income ratio in the country, as residents struggle with costly debt payments relative to their incomes.
3. Florida — Score: 89.58 out of 100
Rising housing costs are a main roadblock to saving money in Florida. When a significant portion of your income goes toward housing costs, it can be extremely challenging to save money, especially when prices on everyday goods are also elevated.
In Florida, 30.09% of residents (a higher percentage than any other state) spend more than half of their income on housing. And housing costs keep rising, increasing 33.77% from 2021 to 2024—the largest increase for any state during that period.
Top 3 States Where It’s Easiest to Save
1. North Dakota — Score: 0 out of 100
North Dakota, which has the 12th-lowest overall cost of living index, ranked as the easiest state to save money in. In addition to enjoying a relatively low cost of living, the state has the lowest percentage of residents paying at least half of their income on housing. In fact, North Dakotans pay just 15.32% of their total income on housing, the second lowest in the nation.
With less money going toward housing costs, North Dakota residents have more money to put away each month, which likely contributes to the state’s low percentage (7.3%) of residents experiencing food scarcity.
2. Kansas — Score: 16.35 out of 100
Like North Dakota, low housing costs make it easier for Kansas residents to save money. Kansans pay the 10th lowest percentage of their income on housing costs, and only 18.84% of individuals pay over half of their income on rent. Overall, census data shows that Kansas has the fourth-cheapest housing costs in the country.
3. Iowa — Score: 18.50 out of 100
Iowa ranked as the third easiest state to save money, with the second lowest rent costs in the nation. Thanks to low housing costs, Iowans only pay 16.51% of their income on housing (compared to 25.83% in California). Additionally, Iowa’s cost of living index is the eighth lowest in the country, at 89.7.
Although 31.30% of Iowans report difficulty paying for everyday expenses, this is a lower percentage than in most other states.
Methodology
To determine the states where it’s hardest (and easiest) to save, Forbes Advisor analyzed data for all 50 states and Washington, D.C., on the following 10 metrics:
• Household debt-to-income ratio: 15% of the total score
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of New York Consumer Credit Panel and BLS Q1 2025
• Change in household income from 2021 to 2024: 7.5% of total score
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates from 2021 and 2024
• Cost of living index: 17.5% of total score
Source: Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, Q2 2025
• Percentage of households having difficulty paying usual expenses: 10% of total score
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey (HPS) (August-September 2024)
• Percentage of households where there is sometimes not enough food to eat: 8% of total score
Source: U.S. Census Bureau HPS (August-September 2024)
• Housing costs as percentage of income: 15% of total score
Source: 2024 ACS 1-year estimates
• Percentage of renters paying more than 50% of income on rent: 15% of total score
Source: 2024 ACS 1-year estimates
• Change in housing costs from 2021 to 2024: 5% of total score
Source: 2021 and 2024 ACS 1-year estimates
• Effective income tax rate: 5% of total score
Forbes Advisor Income Tax Calculator, using the median U.S. household income
• Effective property tax rate: 2% of total score
Source: 2024 ACS 1-year estimates for median real estate tax paid and median home value
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a budgeting application?
Budgeting applications are software designed to help users manage their finances and create successful budgets using tools such as expense tracking, goal setting, custom budget categories, automatic expense categorization and monitoring of recurring charges.
Why is budgeting important?
Budgeting is an important part of personal finance management, helping you keep track of how much money you’re earning and where it’s going. By creating a budget, you can ensure that your essential expenses are covered while also working toward other financial goals, such as building an emergency fund, saving for a vacation or paying off debt.
“How to finance not only your day-to-day needs but also your aspirations—that’s the objective of people everywhere, in every income group, in every circumstance,” wrote famed personal finance author Sylvia Porter in her “Money Book.”
What is the best budgeting app not linked to a bank account?
If you don’t want to link your bank account to a budgeting app, consider YNAB. The app allows file-based imports of transactions.
What is the best free budget app?
Some of the budgeting apps on our list have free versions, but none of them offer their full suite of features without a paid subscription. If you’re in search of a completely free budget app, consider Honeydue.
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