The 5 Best Budget and Money Management Apps of 2024

Quick, do you know where your money goes? With these apps and a couple of taps, you'll know for sure right away

If it feels like your money is flying out the door, these apps will help you find just where it's going. Once you get the right app set up, you'll be able to pinpoint the problem and proceed to patch the leak.

01
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Best Budget App: You Need a Budget

Three You Need A Budget screens on iOS
What We Like
  • A robust set of financial rules is the foundation of how this app works.

What We Don't Like
  • The app isn’t a one-stop-shop for finances; its only function is budgeting.

This award-winning app can help you take control of your financial life by creating the one tool anyone with money needs: a budget. After you create your budget, the app uses an easy interface to help you stay focused on your spending and saving goals.

That means no more surprises at the end of each month. Of course, it’s easy to change your budget any time your income or needs shift. You can try YNAB (which syncs across all your devices) for free, then pay a subscription fee if you decide to keep it.

Budgeting isn’t a once-and-done activity. Don’t be afraid to adjust upward or downward if you see you’re consistently spending more or less than you expected in a particular category. 

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02
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Best Easy Investment App: Acorns

Three iOS Acorns app screens
What We Like
  • All transactions are automatic based on how you set up your account.


What We Don't Like
  • Investing only spare change may not be adequate to meet your financial goals.

  • The monthly fee may seem insignificant, but unless you're investing hundreds of dollars a month it can be significantly higher than other robo-advisor investment platforms.


  • Only available to people located in the US.

You know it’s smart to invest some of your money, right? But it’s easier said than done. Rather than trying to find the right investment options and doing lots of transactions, let Acorns help you out.

It uses the spare change you accumulate throughout the day and invests it in a diversified investment portfolio (a combination of stocks and bonds that you own). Or, save specifically for retirement by using an IRA recommended just for you. There is a fee associated with the service.

When investing with Acorns you can be as conservative (low risk / low reward) or aggressive (high risk / high reward) as you like.

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03
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Best Finance Tracker: Quicken

Three iOS Quicken app screens
What We Like
  • Quicken is a well-known and well-respected provider of personal finance software. 


What We Don't Like
  • It’s more expensive than other apps.

  • Works only in the US and Canada.

This robust personal finance software allows you to view all your financial accounts (including banking, credit cards, investments, and retirement) in one place. It also includes features that help you manage your spending, view and manage your bills, and track your investments.

The program is designed for desktop/laptop use, but there is a companion app you can download to help manage your finances on the go. Quicken is more expensive than the competition but there are a few options to pick from, such as this Premier version for managing investments, and it does cover many types of accounts.

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If you are a mobile-only person, Quicken has a separate app called Simplfi for Android and iOS.

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Best Finance App for Couples: Goodbudget

Three iOS GoodBudget screens
What We Like
  • Simple screens help you easily understand what you’ve spent compared to your budget. 


What We Don't Like
  • There’s no way to connect directly with your financial accounts, so you must manually enter information.

Based on the timeless “envelope” budgeting system, in which you set aside a sum from your paycheck for each spending category, Goodbudget helps you create a budget, share it with your partner, and stick to it. Use it to ensure there’s enough cash on hand for day-to-day spending, saving, and giving.

The sharing feature helps you avoid those “uh-oh” moments when one partner spends on something not in the budget, creating problems when that next unexpected expense comes along. Use the app for free, or sign up for the Plus version to get unlimited accounts and envelopes, and upgraded support. 

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05
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Best Work Expense Tracker: Expensify

Three iOS Expensify app screens
What We Like
  • It's easy to use.

What We Don't Like
  • Some users have reported glitches and bugs.

Business travel can be a hassle, and tracking expenses (such as hotels, food, and gas) is one of the worst parts. But you can make it easier with the Expensify app. Just snap a photo of each receipt, and create an expense report to turn in to your employer. Or set up an account to receive immediate reimbursement.

Additional features include automatically importing expenses purchased with a personal or corporate card that you indicate, automatic expense categorization, and custom reports. The app is free for a limited number of scans per month, and then a fee applies after that.

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