Whether you’re a veteran budgeter or new to the world of personal finance, there’s an app ready to help you save more. From tracking spending to saving for retirement, budgeting apps are incredibly powerful tools designed to avoid common mistakes and save you time.
You don’t have to shell out hundreds of dollars a month for a professional grade financing program either. The goal is saving money after all. Thankfully, the best budgeting apps on the market today make things easier for everyone. Today, we’re going to take a look at the top five budgeting apps, their features, and how much you can expect to pay for them.
DedMityay/ShutterstockThe Importance of Budgeting
Budgeting is an essential life skill. It’s about gaining control of your money, sure. But budgeting also does a lot to alleviate the stress and anxiety many people feel around their finances. It doesn’t have to be complicated, or even restrictive. A budget could be a matter of monitoring and categorizing your money as it comes in and goes out.1
Over the long term, it can help keep you from spending money you don’t have, or simplify saving for a larger purchase down the road. It’s a matter of financial stability, allowing you to get ready for retirement, plan for emergencies, and buy the things you value most. Budgeting really can change your life. It is that powerful.
On that note, allow us to introduce you to some of the best budgeting tools on the market today.
You Need a Budget
You Need a Budget (YNAB) is a hands-on desktop and mobile app designed to help you plan ahead by spending all of your money. Using the principles of the zero-based budgeting strategy, YNAB asks you to assign every penny of the cash you earn to a specific job.2 It takes a bit of getting used to, but users of the app report fantastic and long term results.
Based on survey numbers, new users can expect to save an average of $600 in their second month, and $6,000 in the first year using their new YNAB-based budget. You can try the app out for free for 34 days, or a year if you’re a student. For everyone else, it’ll cost $99 paid annually or $14.99 per month.3
Mint
It’s easy to think that Mint’s stellar customer reviews and usage numbers are due in large part to the program’s price tag. It may be free, but the budgeting app is popular because it’s very easy to use, and available on both iOS and Android devices, as well as desktop.4
The ad-supported app can track spending automatically by syncing it with your bank account. It’ll alert you to any upcoming bills, and even provide free credit score tracking. It’s far and away the most downloaded personal finance app on the market today. All told, the Mint app is a great, secure, and low-cost way to begin your budgeting journey.
Personal Capital
Though it isn’t exactly a budgeting tool, Personal Capital is a favorite among tech savvy budgeters on the hunt for a platform capable of tracking their spending as well as their investments. Personal Capital can easily sync to your checking, savings, loan, and investment accounts to provide you with a full-scale picture of your finances with the click of a button.5
The Personal Capital app boasts over 3-million users and a staggering $20.5 billion in assets under management. It’s frequently among the best personal finance apps every year. Better yet, it’s completely free to use! Take control of your retirement and try it out today, for absolutely free.
PocketGuard
Budgeting can be incredibly intimidating, which is what makes PocketGuard’s simplicity so satisfying. It’s incredibly easy to set up, and allows you to assign money to different bills, set goals, and customize your financial plan as much or as little as you want.6
Over time, PocketGuard will keep tabs on your spending, and present the information in easy to understand charts and graphs, to help you eliminate unnecessary waste and optimize your savings. It’s free to sign up and use, with PocketGuard Plus available with additional features for $7.99 per month, $34.99 per year, or $79.99 for life.
Start Saving Today!
The tools you need are just waiting to be downloaded. It’s truly never been easier to enjoy the countless benefits of budgeting. And oh, how many benefits there are. From the security knowing that you’re ready to handle any financial emergency, to the comfort in knowing that you can and will retire comfortably. Dedicating the time to getting a grip on your finances is truly time well spent.
It doesn’t have to be a huge time sink either. Thanks to the advent of intuitive budgeting apps, you can get a handle on your finances, and start saving money, in as little as a few hours. But don’t take our word for it. Explore the world of budgeting apps yourself and start saving today.
