Best Budgeting Apps of 2024: Take Control of Your Money Today

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Whether you’re new to budgeting or a seasoned saver, these are the top budgeting apps available.

Ready to achieve financial freedom in 2024? Budgeting is key, and there are apps that make it easier than ever. From tracking expenses to setting savings goals, our list of top-rated budgeting apps can help you effectively manage and grow your money.

Don’t put off improving your financial health. Explore these must-have budgeting apps to find one that best suits your needs.

• Best Budgeting App Overall: YNAB
• Best For Personalized Advice: Hiatus
• Best For Passive Saving And Investing: Albert
• Best For Net Worth Tracking: Rocket Money
• Best Mint Alternative: Monarch Money

TOP BUDGETING APPS

1

YNAB (You Need A Budget)

BEST BUDGETING APP OVERALL

BEST BUDGETING APP OVERALL

GET STARTED Key Specifications

• Cost: $14.99/month, $99/year
• Free Trial Period: 34 days
• App Store Ratings: 4.7 (Apple), 4.6 (Google Play)   
• Release Date: 2004

Why We Picked It

YNAB (You Need A Budget) shines as a top-rated app with 4.8 and 4.6 stars in the Apple and Google Play stores and has been featured by U.S. News & World Report, CNN, CNBC, and more. Using the zero-based budgeting method, YNAB ensures every dollar has a job—tackling bills, crushing debt, boosting savings, investments, etc.—making all your money moves purposeful.

Link financial accounts, set spending limits, define savings goals, track your progress, and gain insights with budget reports. If you’re budgeting with a partner or your family, you can share your financial game plan and subscription with up to six people. The app’s effectiveness is evident in user savings–on average, new users save $600 in two months and $6,000 in their first year.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Available on multiple devices 
• 34-day free trial 
• Account is sharable with multiple people 

Cons:

• No bill tracking feature 
• Higher price than most budgeting apps 
• Time intensive to use 

Details

Available for iOS, Android, Amazon Alexa, and web browsers.

2

Hiatus

BEST FOR PERSONALIZED ADVICE

BEST FOR PERSONALIZED ADVICE

GET STARTED Key Specifications

• Cost: Free, $9.99/month, $48/year
• Free Trial Period: N/A 
• App Store Ratings: 4.6 (Apple), 4.1 (Google Play)   
• Release Date: 2015

Why We Picked It

Hiatus offers a dynamic blend of features aimed at cultivating good financial habits and reducing overall spending. Link your accounts, and the app provides a breakdown of your transactions, including trends with improvement tips. Sign up for a premium plan and Hiatus will sniff out and organize recurring expenses, helping you cancel subscriptions you no longer need. Plus, its concierge team will negotiate bill rates on your behalf whenever possible to get you savings.

Enjoy real-time snapshots of your net worth evolution—from assets to debts—paired with personalized advice to make each financial move intentional. As a bonus, Hiatus partners with industry leaders in insurance and lending to help you compare rates for personalized savings opportunities.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Provides advice and actionable tips  
• No percentage fee for bill negotiation 
• Basic budgeting and expense tracking features are free 

Cons:

• Subscription management and bill negotiation require premium plan  
• Not able to negotiate every bill

Details

Available for iOS and Android devices.

3

Albert

BEST FOR PASSIVE SAVING & INVESTING

BEST FOR PASSIVE SAVING & INVESTING

GET STARTED Key Specifications

• Cost: Free, $15/month
• Free Trial Period: N/A
• App Store Ratings: 4.6 (Apple), 4.1 (Google Play)   
• Release Date: 2016

Why We Picked It

Albert stands out as an all-in-one app for budgeting, banking, and investing. In addition to expense categorizing and bill tracking, the app offers real-time alerts for unusual transactions, potential bill hikes, and overdraft fees. It can even spot you up to $250 when you’re in a pinch–no late fees, interest charges, or credit checks–with an Albert Genius subscription.

Albert Genius subscribers also gain access to financial advisors, Albert Cash (early paycheck and cashback rewards), Albert Savings (automated tools with annual bonuses), and Albert Investing (custom portfolios or self-directed investing with a low starting amount). This comprehensive suite of tools makes Albert a standout choice.

Pros & Cons

Pros: 

• Automated savings tools 
• Offers up to $250 in instant overdraft protection 
• Commission-free investing starting with $1  
• Cash account with early paycheck access and debit card rewards 

Cons:

• Available financial accounts require monthly subscription 
• Overdraft protection only available with Genius subscription

Details

Available for iOS and Android devices.

4

Rocket Money

BEST FOR NET WORTH TRACKING

BEST FOR NET WORTH TRACKING

GET STARTED Key Specifications

• Cost: Free, $4-12/month
• Free Trial Period: 7 days
• App Store Ratings: 4.3 (Apple), 4.3 (Google Play)   
• Release Date: 2015

Why We Picked It

Rocket Money (formerly Truebill) has everything you need to help you spend less, save more, and see every aspect of your finances at a glance. Connect your bank account for a detailed spending analysis and automatic categorization of your expenses. Set budgets and receive alerts to keep you on track with your goals.

Upgrade to Rocket Money Premium for advanced perks: Effortlessly cancel unwanted subscriptions, access bill negotiation to slash expenses, and automated savings tools to help grow your money. You can also check your credit score and monitor your net worth by linking various financial accounts.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Free budgeting features 
• See all your accounts in one place 
• Access credit scores and reports 
• Bill negotiation 
• 7-day free trial for premium subscription 

Cons:

• Free plan has limited features 
• Bill negotiation fee is high 

Details

Available for iOS, Android devices, and web browsers.

5

Monarch Money

BEST MINT ALTERNATIVE

BEST MINT ALTERNATIVE

GET STARTED Key Specifications

• Cost: $14.99/month, $99.99/year
• Free Trial Period: 7 days
• App Store Ratings: 4.8 (Apple), 4.8 (Google Play) 
• Release Date: 2021

Why We Picked It

Monarch Money offers a customizable monthly and annual budget that syncs with your bank accounts. Acting like a smart spreadsheet, it eliminates manual data entry, allowing you to effortlessly track your cash flow, forecast future spending, and receive timely notifications for course corrections.

Considering making a big purchase or another major financial move? Test various scenarios to explore their impact on your finances in the long term. Plus, with features like scheduling large annual expenses and a retirement planning tool in the works, you can proactively plan for the future, minimizing unexpected financial surprises.

With the closure of the budgeting app Mint, Mint users can get 50% off their first year with Monarch Money with the code MINT50, along with a complimentary 30-day free trial. Monarch Money has streamlined the transition for Mint users with robust importing tools to transfer their data seamlessly to the platform.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Allows account syncing for 11,000+ banks 
• Supports shared account management 
• Experiment with different financial scenarios for better planning 

Cons:

• Not a great fit for passive budgeters 
• No free plan available 

Details

Available for iOS, Android, and web browsers.

COMPARE THE TOP BUDGETING APPS

App

Cost

Free Trial Period

App Store Ratings

Release Date

YNAB (You Need A Budget)

Best Budgeting App Overall

$14.99/month
$99/year

34 days

4.7 (Apple)
4.6 (Google)

2004

Hiatus

Best for Personalized Advice

Free
$9.99/month
$48/year

7 days

4.2 (Apple)
3.9 (Google)

2015

Albert

Best for Passive Saving & Investing

Free
$15.99/month

N/A

4.6 (Apple)
4.1 (Google)

2016

Rocket Money

Best for Net Worth Tracking

Free
$4-$12/month

7 days

4.3 (Apple)
4.3 (Google)

2015

Monarch Money

Best Mint Alternative

$14.99/month
$99.99/year

7 days
30 days (Mint users)

4.8 (Apple)
4.8 (Google)

2021

BOTTOM LINE

Maintaining good financial health hinges on the fundamental practice of budgeting. A well-structured budget empowers individuals to make informed decisions, save efficiently, and achieve financial goals. Leveraging tools like the apps above can streamline the process, providing insightful analyses, real-time tracking, goal setting, personalized tips and recommendations, and more. The right one can be the helping hand to transform financial aspirations into achievable realities.

#1 PICK GET STARTED

YNAB: Best Budgeting App Overall

• Create a categorized budget with help from AI
• Analyzes linked bank account transactions for spending insights
• Access a suite of automated saving tools
• Receive alerts for upcoming bills and low balances
• Roast and Hype modes offer humor and encouragement to keep you on track
• Interest-free cash advances up to $250

Get Started With YNAB (You Need A Budget)