10 Best Budgeting Apps for 2025 (Free & Paid)

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If you want to get your finances under control in 2025, you need the best budgeting apps. A solid budgeting app can help you manage your money smarter, faster, and with less stress.

Whether you’re living paycheck-to-paycheck or looking to optimize your savings goals, there’s a budgeting tool that fits your needs. This list features the 10 best budgeting apps available in 2025, with accurate pricing, features, and pros for both free and paid options.

Why Best Budgeting Apps Are a Game-Changer in 2025

Budgeting in 2025 is more than just tracking expenses, and with inflation, remote work, and digital banking reshaping personal finance, today’s best budgeting apps do more than just categorize spending. They help you to sync across devices and bank accounts – Set financial goals and automate savings – Get reminders and alerts for bills – Visualize cash flow and net worth – Manage joint finances or side income streams

Let’s dive into the top 10 best budgeting apps that can help you take control of your money this year.

1. YNAB (You Need A Budget)

  • Best For: Zero-based budgeting & debt payoff
  • Price: $14.99/month or $99/year (34-day free trial)
  • Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
  • Bank Syncing: Yes

YNAB teaches you to give every dollar a job. With real-time syncing, goal tracking, and powerful reports, it helps users break the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck. It’s ideal for serious budgeters and those tackling debt.

2. Credit Karma Money (Mint Replacement)

  • Best For: Mint users looking for a new home
  • Price: Free
  • Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
  • Bank Syncing: Yes

Mint shut down in 2024, and users were migrated to Credit Karma Money. While it focuses more on credit and spending insights than full budgeting features but it still offers categorized tracking and basic account linking.

3. EveryDollar

  • Best For: Simple, goal-based budgeting
  • Price: Free basic version; $12.99/month Pro with bank sync
  • Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
  • Bank Syncing: Only in Pro

Backed by Ramsey Solutions, EveryDollar uses a zero-based approach that’s easy for beginners. The free version requires manual input, while the Pro plan adds automation, bank sync, and advanced reporting.

4. Goodbudget

  • Best For: Envelope-style budgeting fans
  • Price: Free plan available; Plus at $8/month or $70/year
  • Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
  • Bank Syncing: No

Goodbudget offers a digital version of the cash envelope system. It’s best for users who prefer hands-on control. The lack of automatic syncing keeps you intentional, but it may not suit users who want full automation.

5. PocketGuard

  • Best For: Knowing what you can safely spend
  • Price: Free basic; Plus plan $7.99/month or $34.99/year
  • Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
  • Bank Syncing: Yes

PocketGuard analyzes your income, bills, and goals to show how much is “safe to spend”. It’s intuitive and great for beginners who often overspend or lose track. The Plus version offers custom categories and cash tracking.

6. Monarch Money

  • Best For: Long-term planning & couples budgeting
  • Price: $14.99/month or $99/year (7-day free trial)
  • Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
  • Bank Syncing: Yes

Built by former Mint developers, Monarch is designed for visual planners and families. Features include custom goals, investment tracking, and collaborative budgets. It’s especially popular among couples and households.

7. Spendee

  • Best For: International users & currency flexibility
  • Price: Free basic; Premium starts at $2.99/month
  • Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
  • Bank Syncing: Yes (Premium)

Spendee is visually rich and ideal for tracking in multiple currencies. Great for digital nomads or EU-based users, it supports shared wallets, goal tracking, and real-time insights. Best used in Premium mode for full features.

8. Money Manager (Realbyte)

  • Best For: Offline use & privacy-first users
  • Price: Free version; Paid ~$4.99 (one-time)
  • Platforms: Android, iOS
  • Bank Syncing: No

This app is fully offline, making it ideal for users who prioritize privacy or want simple charts and cash management without internet dependency. It’s popular among students and minimalist users.

9. Zeta Money Manager

  • Best For: Couples & roommates
  • Price: Free
  • Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
  • Bank Syncing: Yes

Zeta is tailor-made for managing shared and personal expenses within the same app. Couples can view joint and individual budgets in one place. While not as detailed as YNAB, it’s perfect for basic co-budgeting.

10. Simplifi by Quicken

  • Best For: Visual net worth tracking & auto-categorization
  • Price: $2.99/month (promo pricing)
  • Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
  • Bank Syncing: Yes

Simplifi delivers a modern budgeting experience with real-time dashboards, net worth tracking, and goal planning. It’s clean, easy to use, and ideal for users who want a balance of automation and simplicity.

Comparison Table for the best budgeting apps in 2025

AppFree VersionPaid CostBank SyncBest For
YNABNo$14.99/moYesZero-based budgeting
Credit Karma MoneyYesFreeYesMint users, credit insights
EveryDollarYes$12.99/moYes (Pro)Beginners, goal-based planning
GoodbudgetYes$8/moNoEnvelope-style budgeting
PocketGuardYes$7.99/moYesSafe spending tracking
Monarch MoneyNo$14.99/moYesCouples, long-term planning
SpendeeYes$2.99/moYes (Pro)Global and multi-currency users
Money ManagerYes~$4.99 one-timeNoOffline budgeting, privacy
ZetaYesFreeYesCouples & roommates
Simplifi by QuickenNo$2.99/moYesNet worth & goal tracking

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the best budgeting apps

What is the best free budgeting app for beginners in 2025? > Zeta and PocketGuard offer the best free features with easy learning curves. Goodbudget is also excellent for envelope-style budgeting.

Is YNAB worth the cost? > If you want total control and don’t mind learning a system, yes. It’s best for people committed to long-term budgeting and debt payoff.

What replaced Mint in 2025? > Credit Karma Money absorbed Mint’s users, but many migrated to YNAB, Monarch, or Simplifi for more complete budgeting tools.

Are there any good offline budgeting apps? > Yes. Money Manager by Realbyte is the best offline option and works without any internet access.

Which app is best for couples? > Monarch and Zeta both offer shared budgeting tools and are ideal for managing joint expenses.

Final Thoughts on the Best Budgeting Apps

Choosing the right budgeting app isn’t about picking the most feature-rich option. It’s about selecting the one you’ll use. Start with a free version, test the interface, and upgrade if needed.

Budgeting doesn’t need to be complicated. With the right app, you can stay on top of your finances, avoid overspending, and make smarter money moves in 2025 and beyond.


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