What’s your biggest financial goal? Maybe you’re looking to save up for an important purchase, pay off past debts, or just want to be more conscientious about your spending habits. Almost always, a budget is a critical place to begin. And you have plenty of options to get started with the process. You could try keeping an Excel spreadsheet with a log of monthly purchases. Or maybe take a more physical route, stuffing your cash into categorized envelopes.
Though, if you’re looking for a way to track spending that’s more streamlined and on your smartphone, a budgeting app is worth a try. Keep in mind that usually when a financial app is offered for free, it’s monetized more aggressively by the company providing it. So, it might be worth getting a subscription to a paid tool for a couple of months to try out the user experience, and cancel if it’s not a fit.
Whether you’re looking for a whole new way to approach your money mindset or are just trying to be a little more careful with those coins, these five apps focus on practical advice, assist with budgeting, and might help reduce your overall financial stress.
January 2025: This article was updated to reflect current details about the budgeting apps.
Budgeting in your head is tough, especially if no one has shown you the ropes. YNAB (You Need a Budget) makes financial planning manageable. You’ll be able to sync all of your accounts, track your monthly spending, stay on top of your bills, and set aside savings for emergency situations—all in one hub. The company offers online workshops that can give you the skills needed to break free of that pesky debt and increase your savings. After a free 34-day trial, YNAB costs $109 per year—but you can just factor that into your budget.
The breezy user experience provided by Copilot makes the finance app stand out. Once it’s connected to your bank account, transactions are automatically organized into emoji-labeled groups. The app can suggest new amounts for budget categories based on past spending and keep tabs on recurring payments. Acorns, Robinhood, and other apps connect with Copilot to help you keep an eye on any investments. For those who are overwhelmed by the thought of financial tracking, Copilot is an approachable entry point to the world of money management. Unfortunately, the app is available only for iOS users. After a monthlong free trial, the annual subscription costs $95.
The world of investments and returns can be obtuse to a newcomer. Skip the appointments with stockbrokers and consider downloading Acorns instead. It simplifies the investment process by rounding up every purchase you make to the nearest dollar and automatically investing the change into a diversified portfolio. The basic service costs $3 per month, and you can cash out your investments at any time.
If you’re not ready to fully plunge into the risky world of investments, Oportun (formerly called Digit) provides another way to build your savings. It’s an automated process, just like Acorns, but instead of mainly focusing on investments, it’s geared toward saving the money you already have. Every day Oportun withdraws money from your account to deposit into a savings account. The app monitors your spending habits and your income, so it will only withdraw what it thinks you won’t need. Long-term and retirement investments are also available through Oportun. You can try it out for free for 30 days, after which you’ll have to pay $5 per month.
It’s not a budgeting app, but the free Credit Karma app, owned by Intuit, might help you decipher that credit score and how it’s changing over time. Your credit score is very important: Lenders, landlords, and insurers may all want to check it. The number fluctuates and primarily tracks whether you make credit card or loan payments on time as well as how much of your allotted credit is used. The Credit Karma app collates reports from TransUnion and Equifax and then explains the factors affecting your score. While the app is good for score tracking, you’re likely better off ignoring the in-app advertisers pushing loans based on your data.
