The 7 best budgeting apps of February 2024 (2024)

Consider YNAB, which is short for “you need a budget,” if you want to take a hands-on approach to your budgeting.

The platform uses the zero-based budget method, in which you assign a job to every dollar you make, such as expenses, savings and paying off debt. When you set up your account, you specify your expenses and savings goals, as well as how much money you currently have in the bank.

YNAB works differently from other budgeting apps because you only budget the money that you actually have, not future income. For instance, you’ll set a goal and then fund that goal as the money comes in, so all the money you have in your accounts is clearly earmarked by a budget category; like a virtual envelope system.

This process is idiosyncratic and takes some time to get used to.

YNAB also has features like a loan calculator and spending and net worth reports. It may require you to be a bit proactive —and spend more time in the app —than some other budgeting tools, but it also gives you a sense of control over your budgeting. It’s a more expensive option with no free version.

Pocketguard is an easy-to-use option that provides a simple dashboard that describes how much money you spend each month and how much you (hopefully) have left over. When you connect your bank accounts, the platform automatically detects your recurring bills and income, giving you a headstart to creating your budget.

Transactions are divided into various categories depending on the merchant, and you can add your own custom categories. You can also set up notifications that you will let you know if you are getting close to your budget in a specific category.

The In My Pocket feature shows you how much money you have to spend depending on your monthly income and expenses. The Debt Payoff Plan helps you build a personal repayment plan. Pocketguard also partners with Billshark to negotiate bills on your behalf. However, many of these features —including personal Debt Payoff Plan and setting unlimited category budgets —are only available with the premium version.

If you’re planning to budget as a couple or family, Zeta offers ways to spend, save and plan as a unit. Using an envelope system, you can set money aside for upcoming bills and pay those bills via the platform, as well as set and save towards certain goals. You can also set up weekly or monthly spending trackers and get updates when money is spent or received.

Zeta works a little more like a bank than other budgeting apps in that you will have a joint account with your partner or family that you can use to make payments and deposits and write checks. Each member also gets a free debit card and there are bill pay features.

Once you have a joint account, you can also add personal accounts for free. While many of the features are available with the free version, you can subscribe to Zeta+ for more automation and card controls like spending limits.

Goodbudget uses the envelope budgeting method, which entails setting aside the money you need for the month, whether that’s groceries, gas or debt payments. The tool likely makes sense for people who want to budget by planning ahead instead of just tracking spending. You can add “envelopes” that are designated for your specific needs and goals.

You can’t connect bank accounts on Goodbudget, so you’ll have to manually add your account balances, transactions and debt. Adding such transactions manually can be tedious. If you want a more hands-off approach to budgeting, the app may not be for you.

Goodbudget’s premium version allows you to add unlimited envelopes and accounts while the free version is limited to 20 envelopes and one account. With the premium version, you can use up to five devices and access to seven years of history and email support. The free version only allows for two devices, a year of history and community support via discussion forums.

Buddy is a mobile-only app that allows you to track your expenses and income in order to keep your spending on track. When you add an expense, you can choose a category for it,such as clothes or healthcare. You can also include notes on each expense or income you add, and there’s a budgeting section to plan ahead for the month and see how much money you’ll have remaining when you pay for rent, utilities and more.

Most functionalities require a premium subscription, including setting up multiple budgets, adding debt accounts and adding custom categories for your goals. The free version is really only useful if you want to track your transactions —and you can’t connect your bank account unless you upgrade, so you’ll have to add them manually.

The premium version comes with features such being able to see all your subscriptions in one place, additional insight into your patterns in the form of widgets and help canceling subscriptions and lowering bills.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive way to budget and track your finances across, it may be worth paying for Monarch Money. The platform allows you to track your bank accounts and credit cards alongside your investments (including cryptocurrency), real estate, loans and more —and it uses all this data to calculate your net worth as it changes.

Monarch offers a ton of features, including customizable reports, goal tracking and the ability to manage all of your bills and subscriptions in one calendar. It automatically pulls data from your accounts and allows you to track your spending and forecast your future spending. You can also plan towards big expenses and even retirement.

For no extra cost, you can invite your partner to your account and get a joint view of your shared finances.

Stash is a personal finance app that comes with tools for saving, investing and budgeting. Users can opt for automated investing or to choose their own investments from a pool of thousands of stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and use a debit card with stock rewards.

While there is the ability to budget for goals directly in your Stash banking account, the emphasis does appear to be on investing and banking more so than budgeting. If you’re looking for comprehensive budgeting tools, this may not the app for you —but if you’re hoping to start investing alongside your budgeting, it’s worth considering.

You can choose between the Stash Growth for $3 a month or Stash+ for $9. The second option offers a few extra features, including market insights and two “Kids Portfolios,” which are custodial accounts.