15 Best Budget Apps for 2026 (Honest Reviews & Comparisons)
I've tested every major budgeting app so you don't have to. Here's what actually works for different budgeting styles, plus the apps to avoid.
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Key Takeaways
- ✓YNAB is best for serious budgeters (saves users $6,000/year on average)
- ✓Copilot is best for Apple users who want premium design
- ✓Monarch Money is best for whole-picture financial planning
- ✓EveryDollar is best for simple budgeting (Dave Ramsey method)
- ✓Mint is gone - migrated to Credit Karma (not a budgeting app)
Starting 2026 with a budget resolution? You're not alone. January sees 400% more searches for budget apps than any other month. But most people download an app, use it for two weeks, and quit.
I've tested over 20 budgeting apps over the past 5 years. The truth? Most apps work. The difference is which app works for your brain and your budgeting style.
This guide covers:
- 15 apps with honest pros/cons for each
- Which app matches your style (quiz at the end)
- Price comparison - free vs paid apps
- What happened to Mint and where to go instead
Already use our Freelancer Budget Calculator or Net Worth Calculator? A budgeting app helps track your progress between calculations.
1. YNAB (You Need A Budget) - Best Overall
YNAB
$99/year
or $14.99/month
Pros
- • Zero-based budgeting (every dollar has a job)
- • Average user saves $600 in first 2 months
- • Excellent educational content
- • Works on all platforms (web, iOS, Android)
- • 34-day free trial
Cons
- • Steep learning curve (1-2 weeks)
- • Expensive compared to free alternatives
- • Requires daily/weekly engagement
- • No credit score tracking
- • Bank sync can be delayed
Best for: People who want to change their relationship with money, not just track spending. If you're tired of living paycheck-to-paycheck, YNAB's methodology (not just the app) is what makes the difference.
2. Copilot - Best for Apple Users
Copilot Money
$95/year
or $10.99/month
Pros
- • Beautiful, Apple-native design
- • Fastest bank syncing (Plaid-powered)
- • AI-powered spending insights
- • Investment tracking included
- • Mac app + iOS + Apple Watch
Cons
- • No Android app (Apple only)
- • No web version
- • Less prescriptive than YNAB
- • Premium price for tracking app
- • Smaller community/resources
Best for: iPhone/Mac users who want beautiful design and don't need envelope budgeting. Copilot is more about awareness than strict budgeting - great if you generally control spending but want visibility.
3. Monarch Money - Best for Financial Planning
Monarch Money
$99/year
or $14.99/month
Pros
- • Budgeting + investments + net worth
- • Excellent multi-account support
- • Collaborative features for couples
- • Flexible budgeting rules
- • Great Mint migration tool
Cons
- • No free tier (7-day trial only)
- • Can feel overwhelming at first
- • Less prescriptive methodology
- • Newer company (founded 2019)
Best for: People who want one app for everything - budgeting, investment tracking, net worth, and financial goals. If you use our Net Worth Calculator, Monarch tracks this automatically.
4. EveryDollar - Best for Simplicity
EveryDollar
Free
Premium: $79/year
Pros
- • Completely free basic tier
- • Simple, clean interface
- • Dave Ramsey methodology
- • Easy to start immediately
- • No learning curve
Cons
- • Bank sync requires premium ($79/yr)
- • Limited reporting/analytics
- • No investment tracking
- • Very basic compared to competitors
- • Heavy Ramsey branding
Best for: Budgeting beginners who want something simple that works. The free tier is truly functional (manual entry only). Good stepping stone before graduating to YNAB.
5. PocketGuard - Best Free with Bank Sync
PocketGuard
Free
Plus: $34.99/year
Pros
- • Free tier includes bank syncing
- • "In My Pocket" shows spendable cash
- • Simple, focused interface
- • Bill negotiation feature
- • Works on iOS and Android
Cons
- • Limited budget categories (free)
- • Ads in free version
- • Less customizable than YNAB
- • No web version
- • Basic reporting
Best for: People who just want to know "how much can I spend today?" The "In My Pocket" feature automatically subtracts bills and savings goals from your balance.
More Budget Apps Worth Considering
6. Goodbudget
Digital envelope budgeting for couples/families
Free / $70/yr
10 free envelopes (upgrade for unlimited). Great for visual budgeters. No bank sync - manual entry only. Shared budgets for couples.
7. Simplifi by Quicken
Modern Quicken for the subscription era
$48/year
Clean interface, spending watchlists, goal tracking. Made by Quicken (trusted brand). Good middle ground between YNAB complexity and EveryDollar simplicity.
8. Honeydue
Built specifically for couples
Free
See our detailed Best Budgeting Apps for Couples guide. Best free option for joint budgeting with in-app chat for money discussions.
9. Fudget
Simple offline budget list
Free
Ultra-simple. No bank sync, no categories - just a running list of income minus expenses. Perfect for privacy-focused users or very basic needs.
10. Empower (Personal Capital)
Investment tracking with basic budgeting
Free
Best for investment tracking, not budgeting. Free tier is generous. The budgeting features are secondary to the excellent retirement/investment tools.
Full Comparison Table
| App | Price | Bank Sync | Platforms | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YNAB | $99/yr | Yes | All | Serious budgeters |
| Copilot | $95/yr | Yes | Apple only | Design lovers |
| Monarch | $99/yr | Yes | All | Financial planning |
| EveryDollar | Free / $79 | Premium only | All | Simplicity |
| PocketGuard | Free / $35 | Yes (free) | iOS, Android | "Spendable" view |
| Goodbudget | Free / $70 | No | All | Envelope method |
| Simplifi | $48/yr | Yes | All | Balanced features |
| Honeydue | Free | Yes | iOS, Android | Couples |
What Happened to Mint?
Mint was discontinued in March 2024. Intuit migrated all users to Credit Karma, which is primarily a credit score app - not a budgeting tool.
Best Mint Alternatives:
- For similar all-in-one tracking: Monarch Money ($99/yr)
- For simpler budgeting: PocketGuard (free) or EveryDollar (free)
- For proactive budgeting: YNAB ($99/yr)
- For Apple users: Copilot ($95/yr)
How to Choose the Right Budget App
Quick Decision Guide
"I want to change my money habits, not just track spending"
→ YNAB (methodology matters more than app features)
"I have an iPhone and want something beautiful"
→ Copilot (best design, Apple-native)
"I want budgeting + investments + net worth in one app"
→ Monarch Money (most comprehensive)
"I just want something simple that works"
→ EveryDollar (free, easy to start)
"I want to know how much I can spend today"
→ PocketGuard (free bank sync, "In My Pocket" feature)
"My partner and I want to budget together"
→ Honeydue (free) or see our couples guide
Pair Your Budget App with Our Calculators
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The Bottom Line
Any budget app is better than no budget app. But for most people in 2026:
- Start with EveryDollar (free) to build the habit
- Upgrade to YNAB ($99/yr) when ready to get serious
- Use Monarch Money if you want complete financial visibility
The best app is the one you'll actually use. Start simple, upgrade when you outgrow it.