Best Budgeting Apps of 2025

Level up your financial strategy with powerful apps that simplify budgeting, saving, and investing—no matter your experience level.

Smart Budgeting Tools for First-Time Users

Getting started with personal finance can feel overwhelming, but the right tools make it easier to build healthy habits and track your progress in real time.

Mint
Still a go-to for budgeting beginners, Mint connects with your accounts, sorts your spending automatically, and highlights areas for improvement—without charging a fee.

YNAB (You Need A Budget)
More than a tracker, YNAB teaches you to assign every dollar to a purpose. It’s ideal for those who want to build intentional, forward-thinking money plans.

PocketGuard
Not sure how much you can safely spend? PocketGuard shows what’s available after your essentials are covered, making it easy to stay within limits.

Goodbudget
Great for shared finances, this envelope-based system lets you allocate income into categories. It works seamlessly across devices—perfect for families or couples.

Advanced Features for Financial Pros

If you’re already budgeting consistently or managing multiple financial goals, these tools offer deeper insights and greater flexibility.

Wealth Dashboards
Apps like Empower or Personal Capital bring all your investments together—stocks, retirement funds, crypto—in one live portfolio view.

Custom Budget Engines
These let you build dynamic budgets tailored to evolving priorities like student loans, vacations, or large purchases. They’re ideal for users with complex cash flow.

AI-Enhanced Planning
Newer platforms study your patterns and adapt automatically, sending intelligent alerts and forecasting future expenses to help you stay ahead.

Tight Security Standards
Modern finance apps now offer biometric login, two-factor authentication, and advanced encryption—key features for safeguarding sensitive information.

Written By

A finance, credit card, and investment expert, Eric studied the world’s greatest financial minds and turned their insights into practical, actionable guidance to help readers grow credit, manage money, and invest wisely.