Best Budgeting Apps for Couples 2025: Complete Comparison Guide
Managing money as a couple is one of the biggest relationship challenges. The right budgeting app can turn financial stress into financial success. Here are the 7 best options for couples in 2025.
Quick Comparison: Best Budgeting Apps for Couples
| App | Best For | Price | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honeydue | Couples wanting a free, simple solution | Free | 4.8/5 |
| YNAB | Couples serious about debt payoff or saving goals | $14.99/mo | 4.9/5 |
| Goodbudget | Couples who like envelope budgeting without bank sync | Free / $8/mo | 4.5/5 |
| Copilot | Apple users wanting premium experience | $10.99/mo | 4.7/5 |
| Monarch Money | Couples replacing Mint who want full features | $14.99/mo | 4.6/5 |
| EveryDollar | Dave Ramsey followers and debt-free journey couples | Free / $17.99/mo | 4.3/5 |
| Splitwise | Couples who primarily split shared expenses | Free / $4.99/mo | 4.4/5 |
Why Couples Need a Dedicated Budgeting App
Money is the #1 cause of stress in relationships, according to a 2024 American Psychological Association survey. But couples who budget together are 40% more likely to report financial satisfaction than those who don't.
A couples-focused budgeting app solves several unique challenges:
- Visibility: Both partners see the full financial picture without awkward conversations
- Accountability: Shared categories prevent "surprise" spending
- Goal alignment: Track progress toward shared dreams (house down payment, vacation, emergency fund)
- Reduced conflict: Agreed-upon budgets eliminate the "you spent how much?" fights
Pro Tip: Before choosing an app, have a conversation about your budgeting style. Are you a "set it and forget it" couple, or do you want to manually categorize every transaction? This determines whether you need automatic bank sync or prefer manual entry.
Detailed App Reviews
1. Honeydue - Best Free Option for Couples
Built specifically for couples managing money together
Honeydue is the only major budgeting app designed exclusively for couples. Unlike other apps where you share one login, Honeydue gives each partner their own account while syncing your financial data.
What We Love
- + Each partner has their own app/login
- + In-app chat for money conversations
- + Bill reminders for shared expenses
- + Choose what accounts to share (or keep private)
- + Completely free core features
What Could Be Better
- - No advanced goal tracking
- - Limited reporting/analytics
- - Bank sync can be slow (24-48 hours)
- - No desktop/web app
Best for: Couples who want a simple, free way to see shared spending and stay on the same page. Not ideal if you want detailed reports or complex goal tracking.
2. YNAB (You Need A Budget) - Best for Serious Budgeters
The gold standard for intentional, zero-based budgeting
YNAB has a cult following for good reason: it actually changes your financial behavior. The philosophy of "give every dollar a job" forces couples to make decisions about money before spending it, not after.
What We Love
- + Shared budget access from any device
- + Goal tracking with visual progress
- + "Age of Money" metric shows cash flow health
- + Excellent mobile app + web app
- + Active community and free workshops
- + 34-day free trial (no credit card)
What Could Be Better
- - Steep learning curve (2-3 months to master)
- - Price increased to $14.99/mo in 2024
- - Requires active participation from both partners
- - Only one login per account (shared)
Best for: Couples who are serious about changing their financial habits. Especially effective for debt payoff (pair with our Debt Payoff Calculator) or saving for a big goal.
YNAB Success Stat: On average, new YNAB users save $600 in their first two months and more than $6,000 in their first year.
3. Goodbudget - Best for Manual Envelope Budgeting
Digital version of the classic cash envelope system
Goodbudget brings the time-tested envelope budgeting method to your phone. Instead of automatically categorizing transactions, you manually allocate money to "envelopes" and track spending as you go.
What We Love
- + Free version includes 2 devices (perfect for couples)
- + No bank connection required (privacy)
- + Visual envelope progress bars
- + Syncs across iOS, Android, and web
- + Simple, distraction-free interface
What Could Be Better
- - Manual entry only (no bank sync)
- - Free version limited to 20 envelopes
- - Less automation than competitors
- - No investment tracking
Best for: Couples who don't trust (or don't want) automatic bank connections. The manual entry forces intentional spending and works well for cash-heavy households.
4. Copilot - Best for Apple Users
Premium, beautifully designed finance app for iOS/Mac
Copilot is what happens when Apple design meets personal finance. It's visually stunning, incredibly fast, and syncs seamlessly across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The catch? No Android or Windows support.
What We Love
- + Gorgeous, intuitive interface
- + Real-time bank sync (fastest in class)
- + Investment tracking included
- + Excellent transaction categorization AI
- + Supports multiple budgets and goals
What Could Be Better
- - Apple devices only (no Android)
- - No true "couples mode" (shared login only)
- - More expensive than alternatives
- - Limited reporting customization
Best for: All-Apple households who want a premium experience. If one partner uses Android, look elsewhere.
5. Monarch Money - Best Mint Replacement
Full-featured budgeting with collaborative tools
After Mint shut down in March 2024, Monarch Money emerged as the top choice for former Mint users. It offers everything Mint did (and more), with a clean interface and excellent collaboration features for couples.
What We Love
- + Collaborate with a partner (separate logins)
- + Investment tracking and net worth
- + Recurring transaction detection
- + Flexible budgeting (not just envelope-style)
- + Works on iOS, Android, and web
What Could Be Better
- - No free tier (7-day trial only)
- - Collaboration costs extra ($19.99/mo for 2)
- - Less prescriptive than YNAB
- - Newer app (less community content)
Best for: Former Mint users who want a similar experience with better features. Especially good for couples who want net worth tracking alongside budgeting (use our Net Worth Calculator to start).
6. EveryDollar - Best for Dave Ramsey Fans
Zero-based budgeting from Ramsey Solutions
EveryDollar is the official budgeting app from Dave Ramsey's team. If you're following the Baby Steps or using the debt snowball method, this app integrates seamlessly with that philosophy.
What We Love
- + Free version is fully functional
- + Simple, focused interface
- + Integrates with Financial Peace University
- + Baby Steps tracker (premium)
- + Shared budget access for couples
What Could Be Better
- - Bank sync requires premium ($17.99/mo)
- - Less flexible than YNAB
- - No investment tracking
- - Prescriptive approach (not for everyone)
Best for: Couples following Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps or debt payoff plan. If you're not in the Ramsey ecosystem, YNAB offers similar zero-based budgeting with more flexibility.
7. Splitwise - Best for Expense Splitting
The go-to app for splitting bills with a partner
Splitwise isn't a traditional budgeting app, but it's essential for couples who split expenses. Whether you split 50/50 or proportionally by income, Splitwise keeps a running tally so no one gets resentful.
What We Love
- + Free version is very capable
- + Split by percentage or exact amounts
- + Settles debts with Venmo/PayPal integration
- + Great for roommate situations too
- + Receipt scanning (premium)
What Could Be Better
- - Not a full budgeting solution
- - No bank sync or spending categories
- - Free version has ads
- - Requires manual expense entry
Best for: Couples who keep separate finances but share certain expenses (rent, utilities, groceries). Pair with Honeydue or YNAB for a complete solution.
How to Choose the Right App for Your Relationship
The "best" app depends on your specific situation. Here's a decision framework:
Choose Based on Your Priority:
- Free & Simple: Honeydue (or Goodbudget free tier)
- Debt Payoff: YNAB or EveryDollar + our Debt Payoff Calculator
- Saving for Big Goals: YNAB or Monarch Money + our Savings Goal Calculator
- Net Worth Tracking: Monarch Money or Copilot + our Net Worth Calculator
- Apple Ecosystem: Copilot (if both partners use Apple devices)
- Expense Splitting Only: Splitwise
Our Recommendation: Most couples should start with Honeydue (free, purpose-built for couples) or YNAB (if you're serious about behavior change). Use our Emergency Fund Calculator alongside your app to set your first savings target.
5 Tips for Budgeting Success as a Couple
-
1
Schedule Regular "Money Dates"
Set a weekly or bi-weekly time to review your budget together. Make it pleasant - pair it with coffee or wine. This prevents the app from feeling like a chore.
-
2
Agree on a "Fun Money" Category
Each partner should have a discretionary spending category they control completely. This prevents resentment and respects individual autonomy.
-
3
Set One Shared Goal First
Before tackling everything, agree on ONE financial goal to pursue together (emergency fund, vacation, debt payoff). Shared wins build momentum.
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4
Don't Judge Past Spending
When you start tracking, you'll see historical spending. Resist the urge to criticize. Focus on going forward, not backward.
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5
Give It 3 Months
The first month is always messy. The second month gets better. By month three, you'll have a system that works. Don't give up early.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free budgeting app for couples?
Honeydue is the best free budgeting app designed specifically for couples. It allows both partners to connect their bank accounts, track spending, set bill reminders, and communicate about money through in-app chat. The basic version is completely free with no premium features required for most couples.
Can couples use YNAB together?
Yes, YNAB is excellent for couples. You share a single account and both partners log in from separate devices. Many couples find the envelope budgeting method helps them agree on spending priorities. YNAB costs $14.99/month or $99/year, with a 34-day free trial.
Should couples combine finances completely?
There's no one-size-fits-all answer. Many couples use a hybrid approach: a joint account for shared expenses (rent, utilities, groceries) while maintaining separate personal accounts for discretionary spending. Apps like Honeydue and Goodbudget support this hybrid model.
What's the best app for couples with different spending habits?
YNAB or Goodbudget work best for couples with different spending styles. Both use envelope budgeting, which assigns every dollar a job. This prevents overspending in any category and helps both partners agree on limits before spending occurs.
Is Mint good for couples?
Mint was discontinued by Intuit in March 2024 and users were migrated to Credit Karma. For couples, we recommend Honeydue (free, designed for couples), YNAB (paid, powerful budgeting), or Monarch Money (Mint's spiritual successor) as alternatives.
The Bottom Line
The best budgeting app is the one you'll actually use together. Start with a free option like Honeydue to build the habit, then upgrade to YNAB or Monarch Money if you want more control.
Remember: the app is just a tool. The real work is having honest conversations about money and aligning on shared goals. The couples who succeed aren't the ones with the fanciest app - they're the ones who commit to working on finances together.
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