22 Best Personal Finance Apps to Manage Your Budget
Feel more in control of your money by downloading one of these top-rated budgeting apps and tools.
Paying attention to your finances is obviously important, but sometimes it can feel overwhelming. If you’re stressed out about money, you’re definitely not alone. A 2018 survey by Northwestern Mutual found that money was the dominant source of stress for 44% of Americans.
And it’s no wonder people are stressed about their personal finances. After all, trying to keep track of all the money you have coming in, going through the seemingly endless pile of bills, building savings, establishing an emergency fund, paying down debt — it’s all a lot to keep track of.
One way you can stop stressing out and feel more in control of your money is downloading a personal finance app. These budgeting apps make it easy to do everything from tracking your expenses to budgeting to putting money into savings. Other apps make it easy to get cash when you’re in a pinch and payday isn’t here just yet, while a few of these can help you keep track of your billing cycle so you don’t get hit with those late fees.
You use smartphone apps for everything from dating to tracking pregnancy, so why not use an app to help manage your finances? We’ve rounded up the best personal finance apps to help you feel more confident in your finances, save money, and know exactly where each dollar is going.
Acorns
Acorns is an automated savings tool that rounds up your purchases on linked credit or debit cards, and then invests that “spare change” into your investment portfolio. So if you spend $2.75 on something with a linked card, that extra 25 cents is invested. You’d be surprised at how much it adds up over time, but you can also choose to make larger recurring or one-time investments in Acorns.
Mint
Mint is one of the more popular personal finance apps on the market, and it’s easy to see why. It brings together all of your financial data in one place so that you can track how much you’re spending in different categories, like groceries, travel, home expenses, and more. It allows you to set and track financial goals. Lastly, it also offers a free credit score tracking option.
Personal Capital
If you’re looking for a one-stop shop to monitor your investments, retirement, real estate assets, savings goals and spending in one place, you might want to consider Personal Capital. It continuously tracks all these aspects of your finances and gives you a look at your personal net worth. If that’s not enough, it also helps keep track of when your bills are due.
Simplifi by Quicken
Simplifi by Quicken helps you monitor your budget and spending habits, The app offers an approachable but informative snapshot displaying your spending plan, your bank accounts, your top spending categories, your spending watchlists, your spending over time and your income each month. It also offers a projected balances tool, which is a visual representation of your estimated balance over the next 30 days, based on your recurring transactions. How cool is that?
Empower
Empower is a banking app that offers some unique features. For one thing, there are no overdraft fees — ever. It also keeps track of your spending and offers personalized recommendations on how to save. Lastly, Empower offers up to $250 cash advances without late fees, interest, or credit checks — which can be a lifeline when you have an emergency expense and your bank account is running low.
You Need a Budget
The main idea behind the You Need a Budget app is that it helps you become more intentional about your spending by having you allocate each dollar towards a certain expense category before you spend it. The app also guides you through making a budget step-by-step and allows you to link your bank accounts and credit cards. It couldn’t be easier to get your finances in order.
Chime
Chime is an online-only financial company that offers savings and checking accounts. There are no monthly account fees or minimum balance requirements, and once it’s time to travel again, there are no fees to use your card abroad. Additionally, if you set up direct deposit to your Chime account, you can receive your paycheck two days earlier than you would at a traditional bank.
Digit
With Digit, saving couldn’t be easier. It pays attention to your spending habits and income and automatically determines when and how much money to put in savings. Every few days, it’ll transfer a small amount of money into your Digit savings account, and you probably won’t even notice it’s gone. All you have to do is sit back and watch your savings grow.
Albert
Albert has some cool features that make it stand out from the crowd. It offers up to a $100 no-fee cash advance from your upcoming paychecks, which can be helpful if you’re hit with a big expense right before payday. It also uses algorithms to analyze your income and spending throughout the week, and then transfers extra money to a savings account automatically. It can also help you invest, budget, and find deals on insurance.
Prism
It happens to the best of us — you forget when a bill is due, and suddenly you’re slapped with a late payment fee. With Prism, you don’t have to worry. It keeps track of all your bills and sends you reminders about due dates. It even has an option for you to pay your bills from within the app.
Jamie Ballard (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor who covers news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics, including sex and relationships, TV, movies, books, health, pets, food and drinks, pop culture, shopping, and personal finance. She regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, and YouGov, among other publications. When she’s not working, you can find her running, traveling, or scrolling TikTok. Follow her on Twitter.
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