Best Money Apps of the Year: Budgeting, Saving, and More

Managing your finances has never been easier, thanks to a plethora of money apps designed to help you budget, save, and achieve your financial goals. Whether you’re looking to track expenses, automate savings, or get insights into your spending habits, there’s an app out there for you.

Top Budgeting Apps

YNAB (You Need A Budget)

YNAB is a zero-based budgeting app that encourages users to assign every dollar a job. It focuses on helping you plan for future expenses and adjust your budget as needed. YNAB offers bank syncing, goal tracking, and detailed reports to keep you informed about your financial health.

Rocket Money

Formerly known as Truebill, Rocket Money helps you manage subscriptions, track spending, and negotiate bills. It provides a clear overview of your finances and identifies areas where you can save money.

PocketGuard

PocketGuard simplifies budgeting by showing you how much disposable income you have after accounting for bills, goals, and necessities. It categorizes your spending and helps you identify opportunities to save.

Best Apps for Saving Money

Acorns

Acorns rounds up your purchases to the nearest dollar and invests the spare change. It’s an effortless way to start investing and building wealth over time.

Qapital

Qapital allows you to set savings goals and automates the process using customizable rules. For example, you can set it to save a certain amount every time you buy coffee or reach a fitness goal.

Chime

Chime offers automatic savings features, such as rounding up transactions and transferring the difference to a savings account. It also provides early direct deposit and fee-free overdrafts.

Apps for Managing Expenses and Bills

Splitwise

Splitwise is perfect for managing shared expenses with friends, family, or roommates. It keeps track of who owes what and simplifies the process of settling up.

BillTrim

BillTrim negotiates your bills on your behalf, aiming to lower your monthly expenses. By analyzing your bills and contacting service providers, it works to get you better rates.

Apps for Finding Deals and Discounts

Rakuten

Rakuten offers cashback on purchases made through its platform at various retailers. It’s a simple way to earn money back on your everyday shopping.

Honey

Honey is a browser extension that automatically finds and applies coupon codes at checkout, helping you save money on online purchases.

Comparison Table

App NameBest ForKey FeaturesCost
YNABZero-based budgetingExpense tracking, goal setting$14.99/month
Rocket MoneySubscription managementBill negotiation, spending insightsFree/$3-$12
PocketGuardSimplified budgetingDisposable income trackingFree/$7.99
AcornsMicro-investingRound-up investments, portfolio management$3-$12/month
QapitalAutomated savingsCustom savings rules, goal tracking$3-$12/month
ChimeBanking & savingsAutomatic savings, early direct depositFree
SplitwiseShared expensesExpense splitting, debt trackingFree
BillTrimBill negotiationService provider negotiationsOne-time fee
RakutenCashback shoppingOnline cashback offersFree
HoneyOnline shopping discountsAutomatic coupon applicationFree

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right money app depends on your personal financial goals and habits. Whether you’re aiming to stick to a budget, save more effectively, or get the best deals while shopping, there’s an app tailored to your needs. Start by identifying your primary financial objectives and select an app that aligns with those goals to take control of your financial future.