The best budgeting and finance tools for home and business

October 15, 2024

By Kim Komando

The Mint budgeting app has been folded into Credit Karma, owned by Intuit. It’s been around since 2006, so it’s a shame to see it go. Worry not! There are other options out there.

What to look for in a budgeting app

Don’t just blindly choose the first app that pops up when you search for budgeting apps. There are several factors to consider when selecting the one that fits your needs best.

Security

Most budgeting apps have you connect your credit cards and bank accounts and enter personal information, including your most delicate passwords. That’s a lot of faith given to one app.

With hackers being a constant concern, security should be your number one priority when choosing the right budgeting app. Do they have a history of being hacked? Does the application offer two-factor authentication? Be sure to check the security settings of an app before making a final choice.

Cost

Budgeting apps typically have a free option, but many require upgrading if you want premium options. This doesn’t mean you should avoid the paid apps, but you’ll want to ensure the purchase is worth it for your budgeting needs.

Features

Not every app is created equal. Some will let you track all your financial accounts, and some are more limited. Investigate a few apps before choosing so you can see which features are the most valuable to you and if they are worth paying for. Now onto the apps.

You Need A Budget (YNAB)

When you look up the best budgeting apps online, you’ll probably find YNAB. That’s because it has a ton of robust features you can use to take charge of your personal finance goals.

You get reports on net worth, spending and income vs. expense, and YNAB can set budgets for a few months in advance. Downside: You have to pay after the free trial period ends. Costs are $14.99/month or almost $100 for a year.

But it may be worth it if you want a budgeting app that lets you get your hands in the dirt. You can be proactive, which may help you save more money than other options. It’s easy to use and doesn’t have ads or offers cluttering your screen.

EveryDollar

Everyone knows that Dave Ramsey has solid advice about what to do with money, so it comes as no surprise that he has an app to help square your budget away. Key free features include:

• Personalize your budget for even the most inane items.
• Create a custom savings goal.
• Keep track of all your due dates in one place.

Now to connect your accounts and see where your money is going, you’ll have to spring for the premium option. It will give you custom budget insights, an overview of your debt, and even let you print your transaction history directly from the app. Learn more here.

Best for: Those who want a simple budgeting option without connecting all their accounts.

Cost: Free or $79.99 annually after a 14-day free trial for the premium version.

Honeydue

If you do your finances with someone else, like your spouse, Honeydue is likely the perfect app for you. It has a debit card product to make budgeting your cash even simpler. Choose what financial information you want to share and budget together. Key features include:

• Track loans, bank accounts, and information from over 20,000 financial institutions.
• Coordinate bills with your partner.
• Bank together using the Honeydue joint account feature.

You don’t have to be married to find Honeydue convenient. Anyone with joint bills, even couples who have just moved in together, can find the features convenient. Worried about a bill being paid? Nudge your partner directly on the app. Learn more about HoneyDue here.

Best for: Couples and those with joint finances.

Cost: Free

PocketGuard

What makes PocketGuard stand out is its algorithm that helps you cut unnecessary spending and redirect your cash flow into the right places. It even breaks down how much you can spend daily, making curbing your spending easy as pie.

Key features include:

• Connect your checking, savings, and credit cards directly to the app.
• Smart bill reminders can help you negotiate lower monthly payments.
• Educational opportunities on its website.

If you are looking for many free services, PocketGuard isn’t the right choice as its free version doesn’t quite stand up to other apps. But its paid version outpaces other apps on the market with premium features.

Best for: Those looking for various features and willing to pay a high subscription fee.

Cost: Limited free version or $7.99 a month for the premium app.

Qube Money

Remember the old cash envelope system? People would create envelopes and write “Vacation budget” or “College budget.” Over time, they’d slide cash into each envelope until they reached their goal.

Now that everything is digitized, few people use that system anymore. But if you’re longing for a return to those old budgeting styles, you’re in luck. Qube Money is like the old envelope system — but in app form. It uses a digital card system you can use to set different budgets.

First, you transfer money into your Qube Cloud. Then, you can create different qubes, or envelopes, to reflect your budgeting goals. If you want, the app can automatically split your money equally into different accounts.

Qube Money has customized features to give you maximum control over your budgets. For instance, you can choose which envelope you’re spending from before making a big purchase. You can even set it up to automatically limit spending habits. Even better, it has a robust security system due to its Default Zero features.

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