A good budgeting app can be the difference between saving money and wondering where it went. After Mint’s shutdown in 2024, the budgeting app landscape has shifted. Here’s how every major option compares.
Best Budgeting Apps at a Glance
| App | Price | Best For | Budgeting Method | Bank Sync |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YNAB | $14.99/mo or $109/yr | Active budgeters, zero-based method | Zero-based (every dollar gets a job) | Yes |
| Monarch Money | $9.99/mo or $99/yr | Couples, comprehensive financial picture | Category-based + net worth | Yes |
| Goodbudget | Free (basic) or $10/mo | Envelope budgeting fans | Envelope | Manual (free) or sync (paid) |
| EveryDollar | Free (basic) or $17.99/mo (Ramsey+) | Dave Ramsey followers | Zero-based | Manual (free) or sync (paid) |
| PocketGuard | Free or $7.99/mo (Plus) | Simple “how much can I spend?” | Automated spending tracking | Yes |
| Copilot Money | $14.99/mo or $119/yr | Apple users, premium design | Category-based | Yes (Apple only) |
| Simplifi by Quicken | $5.99/mo or $47.88/yr | Straightforward tracking | Spending plan | Yes |
| Empower (Personal Capital) | Free | Investors, net worth tracking | Spending tracker (not full budget) | Yes |
Detailed Feature Comparison
| Feature | YNAB | Monarch | Goodbudget | EveryDollar | PocketGuard | Copilot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank syncing | Yes | Yes | Paid only | Paid only | Yes | Yes |
| Manual entry | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Shared/couple access | Yes | Yes | Yes (shared envelopes) | Ramsey+ only | No | Family sharing |
| Investment tracking | No | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
| Net worth tracking | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes (Plus) | Yes |
| Debt payoff tools | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | No |
| Bill tracking | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reports/analytics | Good | Excellent | Basic | Basic | Good | Excellent |
| Goal tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| iOS app | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Web access | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Budget App Pricing Comparison
Annual Cost
| App | Monthly Price | Annual Price | Free Trial |
|---|---|---|---|
| YNAB | $14.99 | $109 | 34 days |
| Copilot Money | $14.99 | $119 | 30 days |
| EveryDollar (Ramsey+) | $17.99 | $131.88 | 14 days |
| Goodbudget Plus | $10 | $80 | N/A |
| Monarch Money | $9.99 | $99 | 7 days |
| PocketGuard Plus | $7.99 | $79.99 | 7 days |
| Simplifi | $5.99 | $47.88 | 30 days |
| Empower | Free | Free | N/A |
Best App by Budgeting Style
Zero-Based Budgeting (Every Dollar Has a Job)
| Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|
| YNAB (best) | Purpose-built for zero-based budgeting; excellent educational resources |
| EveryDollar | Simpler zero-based approach; good for beginners |
Envelope Budgeting
| Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|
| Goodbudget (best) | Digital envelope system; free tier available |
| YNAB | Categories function like envelopes with “rolling with the punches” flexibility |
Automated Tracking (Least Effort)
| Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|
| PocketGuard (best) | Shows “in my pocket” amount—what’s safe to spend |
| Simplifi | Simple spending plan with auto-categorization |
| Empower | Free spending tracker with investment tracking |
Couples and Families
| Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|
| Monarch Money (best) | Built for couples; multiple accounts; excellent shared views |
| YNAB | Shared budget access; strong community for couples |
Net Worth and Investment Tracking
| Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|
| Empower (best, free) | Free net worth + investment tracking with retirement planner |
| Monarch Money | Budget + investments + net worth in one place |
App Deep Dives
YNAB (You Need A Budget)
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Best zero-based budgeting methodology | Higher price ($14.99/mo) |
| Excellent educational resources and community | Learning curve for beginners |
| “Roll with the punches” flexibility | No investment tracking |
| Real-time bank sync | Requires active engagement |
| Goal tracking for savings | |
| Multi-platform (web, iOS, Android) |
Monarch Money
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Best for couples (shared financial overview) | No free tier |
| Investment + budget + net worth in one place | Newer (less community/resources than YNAB) |
| Excellent reports and visualizations | |
| Customizable categories | |
| Multi-platform |
Goodbudget
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free tier available | No bank syncing on free plan |
| True envelope budgeting method | Limited reports |
| Great for cash-focused budgeters | Basic interface |
| Shared envelopes for couples | Free plan limited to 10 envelopes |
How to Choose the Right App
| If You… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Want the best budgeting methodology and don’t mind paying | YNAB |
| Want budgeting + investing in one app | Monarch Money |
| Want free with manual tracking | Goodbudget (free) or EveryDollar (free) |
| Want the simplest possible setup | PocketGuard |
| Are an Apple user who wants premium design | Copilot Money |
| Want free investment + net worth tracking | Empower |
| Follow Dave Ramsey’s plan | EveryDollar |
| Want the cheapest paid option with syncing | Simplifi ($5.99/mo) |
Budgeting App Alternatives
Spreadsheet Budgeting
| Option | Cost | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Google Sheets template | Free | Many free templates available online |
| Microsoft Excel template | Office 365 subscription | Built-in budget templates |
| Tiller Money | $79/year | Automatically feeds bank data into Google Sheets/Excel |
No-App Budgeting Methods
| Method | How It Works | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Cash envelope system | Withdraw cash, divide into envelopes by category | People who overspend with cards |
| Pay yourself first | Auto-transfer savings/investments first, spend what’s left | Simple approach, busy people |
| Anti-budget | Track only savings rate, spend freely on the rest | High earners who save well |
| 50/30/20 rule | 50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings | Budget beginners wanting structure |
Switching From Mint
Best Mint Replacements
| What You Used Mint For | Best Replacement |
|---|---|
| Free spending tracking | Empower (free) or PocketGuard (free tier) |
| Budget categories | Monarch Money or YNAB |
| Bill tracking | Monarch Money or PocketGuard |
| Credit score monitoring | Credit Karma (free) |
| Net worth tracking | Empower (free) or Monarch Money |
| All-in-one financial dashboard | Monarch Money (closest to Mint’s approach) |