Looking for the best budgeting app to manage your money in 2025? With Mint shutting down, millions of users are searching for alternatives. We've tested dozens of money management apps to bring you this comprehensive comparison.
Whether you want a free budgeting app or are willing to pay for premium features, this guide will help you find the perfect budget app for your needs.
Quick Comparison: Best Budgeting Apps 2025
| App | Best For | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| YNAB | Serious budgeters | $14.99/mo | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Copilot | Apple users | $10.99/mo | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Monarch Money | Mint replacement | $9.99/mo | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ |
| EveryDollar | Free option | Free / $17.99/mo | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| PocketGuard | Overspenders | Free / $7.99/mo | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Goodbudget | Couples | Free / $8/mo | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
1. YNAB (You Need A Budget) — Best Overall
Price: $14.99/month or $99/year (34-day free trial)
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
YNAB remains the gold standard of budgeting apps. Its "give every dollar a job" philosophy has helped users save an average of $600 in the first month and more than $6,000 in the first year.
Key Features:
- Zero-based budgeting methodology
- Real-time bank syncing
- Goal tracking with visual progress
- Excellent educational resources
- Age of money metric
- Debt paydown tools
Pros: Powerful budgeting system, great for debt payoff, extensive tutorials
Cons: Learning curve, higher price point
Best For: People serious about changing their financial habits and willing to invest time in learning the system.
2. Copilot — Best for Apple Users
Price: $10.99/month or $69.99/year (free trial)
Platforms: iOS, Mac only
Copilot is the most beautifully designed money management app available. If you're deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem, this is your best choice.
Key Features:
- Stunning, native Apple design
- AI-powered insights and categorization
- Investment tracking included
- Widgets for iOS and Mac
- Recurring transaction detection
- Excellent data privacy
Pros: Beautiful UI, fast performance, privacy-focused
Cons: Apple-only, no Android version
Best For: iPhone/Mac users who want a premium, native experience.
3. Monarch Money — Best Mint Replacement
Price: $9.99/month or $99.99/year (7-day free trial)
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
After Mint's shutdown, Monarch Money emerged as the top Mint alternative. It combines budgeting, investment tracking, and net worth monitoring in one app.
Key Features:
- Collaborative features for couples/families
- Investment performance tracking
- Cash flow forecasting
- Customizable categories
- Net worth tracking
- Bill tracking and reminders
Pros: Full financial picture, great for couples, Mint data import
Cons: No free tier
Best For: Former Mint users wanting a comprehensive upgrade.
4. EveryDollar — Best Free Basic Budgeting
Price: Free / Premium $17.99/month
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
Created by Dave Ramsey's team, EveryDollar uses the zero-based budgeting method. The free version is surprisingly capable.
Key Features:
- Simple drag-and-drop budgeting
- Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps integration
- Transaction tracking
- Premium: Bank syncing, custom reports
Pros: Free tier available, very simple to use
Cons: Manual entry in free version, premium is pricey
Best For: Beginners following Dave Ramsey's debt-free method.
5. PocketGuard — Best for Overspenders
Price: Free / Plus $7.99/month or $34.99/year
Platforms: iOS, Android
PocketGuard's "In My Pocket" feature shows you exactly how much you can safely spend after bills and savings. Perfect for preventing overspending.
Key Features:
- "In My Pocket" safe-to-spend amount
- Bill negotiation service
- Subscription tracking
- Automatic categorization
- Spending insights
Pros: Simple interface, bill negotiation, free tier
Cons: Less control over budget categories
Best For: People who struggle with overspending and want clear spending limits.
6. Goodbudget — Best for Couples
Price: Free / Plus $8/month or $70/year
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
Based on the envelope budgeting method, Goodbudget lets couples sync and share budgets across devices.
Key Features:
- Digital envelope system
- Multi-device sync
- Debt payoff tracking
- Scheduled transactions
- CSV export for analysis
Pros: Great for couples, envelope method, free tier
Cons: No bank syncing, manual entry required
Best For: Couples budgeting together using the envelope method.
7. Empower (formerly Personal Capital) — Best for Investors
Price: Free
Platforms: iOS, Android, Web
Empower focuses more on investments and net worth than day-to-day budgeting, but its expense tracking is solid and completely free.
Key Features:
- Investment portfolio analysis
- Retirement planner
- Net worth tracking
- Fee analyzer for investments
- Spending categorization
Best For: Investors who want to track spending alongside their portfolio.
8-12. Honorable Mentions
8. Simplifi by Quicken ($3.99/mo)
Streamlined budgeting from Quicken. Great for tracking recurring expenses and building savings plans.
9. Honeydue (Free)
Designed specifically for couples with shared and individual accounts plus in-app chat.
10. Rocket Money ($3-12/mo)
Formerly Truebill. Excellent for finding and canceling subscriptions, plus bill negotiation.
11. Tiller Money ($79/year)
For spreadsheet lovers. Syncs bank data to Google Sheets or Excel for ultimate customization.
12. Fudget (Free)
Ultra-simple, no bank connection needed. Perfect privacy-focused option.
How to Choose the Right Budgeting App
Consider these factors when selecting a budget app:
- Your budgeting style: Do you prefer zero-based (YNAB, EveryDollar) or envelope method (Goodbudget)?
- Bank syncing: Do you want automatic imports or prefer manual entry for more awareness?
- Price: Are you willing to pay for premium features?
- Platform: Do you need Android support, or are you Apple-only?
- Couples: Do you need to share budgets with a partner?
- Investments: Do you want to track investments alongside budgets?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free budgeting app?
EveryDollar (free tier), PocketGuard (free tier), and Goodbudget (free tier) are the best free options. For investment tracking, Empower is completely free.
What replaced Mint?
Monarch Money is the most direct Mint replacement with similar features plus investment tracking. Credit Karma absorbed some Mint features, but most users prefer Monarch or Copilot.
Is YNAB worth the price?
For people serious about budgeting, yes. Users save an average of $6,000+ in the first year—far more than the $99 annual cost. The 34-day free trial is enough to see if it works for you.
What's the best budgeting app for couples?
Goodbudget (envelope method), Monarch Money (full financial picture), and Honeydue (designed for couples) are the top choices.
Start Budgeting Today
The best budgeting app is the one you'll actually use. Most offer free trials, so try a few before committing. Even a simple expense tracker app is better than nothing.
Our top pick for 2025: YNAB for serious budgeters, Monarch Money for a Mint alternative, or Copilot for Apple users.
Read More Money Tips