💜 Affiliate Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through our link we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This never influences our rankings — we only recommend apps we genuinely believe in.
📌 Quick Picks
- Best overall free app: Empower — budgeting, debt, net worth all in one place
- Best paid option: Monarch Money — beautiful, powerful, great for couples
- Best for debt payoff tracking: Copilot (iPhone) or Monarch Money
- Best for beginners: Simplifi by Quicken — easiest to set up
- Best completely free: Empower or NerdWallet app
Our Top Budgeting App Picks
🏆 Best Overall — Free
Empower Personal Dashboard
Best free all-in-one — budgeting, net worth, debt and investment tracking
FreeCost
AlwaysFree Forever
iOS/AndroidPlatforms
3M+Users
Pros
- Completely free — no subscription
- Tracks budgets, debt, net worth and investments in one place
- Excellent spending analysis and cash flow tools
- Connects to virtually every bank and account
- Beautiful dashboard — best visual design of any free app
Cons
- Will offer paid wealth management services — easy to ignore
- Less focused on zero-based budgeting than paid apps
- Investment tools most useful for those with portfolios
Best for: Anyone who wants a complete financial picture for free — especially people paying off debt while also tracking savings and net worth growth.
Try Empower Free — No Credit Card →
Free forever · Connects to 20,000+ financial institutions
↗
We may earn a commission if you sign up. This doesn't affect our ranking.
Monarch Money
The best Mint replacement — beautiful and powerful
$9.99Per Month
7 daysFree Trial
iOS/AndroidPlatforms
1M+Users
Pros
- Beautiful, intuitive interface
- Excellent net worth tracking
- Couples and family sharing
- Best Mint replacement available
Cons
- Shorter free trial than some competitors
- Less structured zero-based budgeting than dedicated tools
Best for: People who want a clean, modern experience for tracking all their finances in one place.
Try Monarch Money Free →
7-day free trial · No credit card needed
↗
We may earn a commission if you subscribe. This doesn't affect our ranking.
Advertisement
Copilot Money
AI-powered budgeting — iPhone only
$13Per Month
1 monthFree Trial
iOS onlyPlatforms
AI-firstApproach
Pros
- AI automatically categorizes spending
- Stunning iOS design
- Smart insights and alerts
- Generous 1-month free trial
Cons
- iPhone only — no Android
- Less robust debt payoff tools
Best for: iPhone users who want a hands-off, AI-driven experience with minimal manual input.
Try Copilot Free for 1 Month →
iPhone only · Use code DEBTFREE for extended trial
↗
We may earn a commission if you subscribe. This doesn't affect our ranking.
Simplifi by Quicken
Easiest to use — great for budgeting beginners
$3.99Per Month
30 daysFree Trial
iOS/AndroidPlatforms
Budget+Focus
Pros
- Very beginner friendly
- Lowest paid price at $3.99/mo
- Clean spending plan feature
- Good bill tracking
Cons
- Less powerful than premium apps like Monarch
- Limited investment tracking
Best for: Budgeting beginners who want simple, affordable tracking without a steep learning curve.
Try Simplifi Free for 30 Days →
Only $3.99/mo after trial
↗
We may earn a commission if you subscribe. This doesn't affect our ranking.
NerdWallet App
Best completely free budgeting option
FreeCost
AlwaysFree Trial
iOS/AndroidPlatforms
No adsExperience
Pros
- Completely free — always
- Credit score monitoring included
- Net worth tracking
- No upsells or ads
Cons
- Less detailed than paid options
- Limited budgeting customization
Best for: Anyone who wants basic budget tracking and credit monitoring without spending a penny.
Download NerdWallet Free →
Free forever · No credit card required
↗
Quick Comparison
| App | Price/mo | Free Trial | Platforms | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empower | Free | Always free | iOS, Android, Web | Best free overall |
| Monarch Money | $9.99 | 7 days | iOS, Android, Web | Overall tracking |
| Copilot | $13 | 30 days | iOS only | iPhone users |
| Simplifi | $3.99 | 30 days | iOS, Android | Beginners |
| NerdWallet | Free | Always free | iOS, Android | Zero budget |
Advertisement
How to Choose the Right Budgeting App
The best budgeting app is the one you'll actually open every day. Features matter less than habit. That said, a few questions narrow it down quickly:
- Want the best free option? Empower gives you budgeting, debt tracking, and net worth all in one place at zero cost
- Are you on iPhone only? Copilot has the best iOS experience hands down
- Do you budget as a couple? Monarch Money has the best shared budgeting features
- Are you a complete beginner? Simplifi is the gentlest on-ramp at just $3.99/month
- Want completely free with credit monitoring? NerdWallet covers both at no cost
Our honest take: Start with Empower — it's free, connects to everything, and gives you a complete financial picture immediately. If you want more structured zero-based budgeting, Monarch Money at $9.99/month is the best paid upgrade and well worth it for serious debt payoff tracking.