Managing personal finances is key to achieving both big dreams and everyday peace of mind. Luckily, in 2025, there are countless apps designed to help you track your spending, save smarter, and budget with clarity. But with so many tools available, how do you choose the best one?
This article highlights the top apps for managing your finances, catering to unique needs like budgeting, saving, and even investment tracking. Whether you’re a seasoned budgeter or a beginner, there’s an app for you. Here's a closer look at some of the best financial apps available today and tips to find the right one for your goals.
Why Use an App for Spending and Saving?
With countless transactions happening daily, it can be easy to lose track of your expenses. Financial apps make everything from budgeting to saving, and even goal-setting, completely seamless by:
- Consolidating your accounts in one place
- Offering real-time notifications
- Categorizing expenses automatically
- Helping you set realistic financial goals
- Tracking your progress toward savings or investment targets
Whether you have trouble sticking to a budget, want to save faster, or track investments, these apps ensure you actively control your finances.
Top Apps for Tracking Your Spending and Saving in 2025
1. Mint
Best for: Beginners who want an all-in-one solution
Price: Free (ad-supported)
Mint remains one of the most popular budgeting apps, and for good reason. It syncs seamlessly with your bank accounts, credit cards, and even bills to offer a comprehensive view of your financial life. Mint categorizes your transactions automatically, flags overspending, and helps you stay within your budget. You can also set savings goals and track your progress in real-time.
Features:
- Automatic expense categorization
- Customizable spending alerts
- Free credit score tracking
- Goal-setting tools
Pros:
- Completely free to use
- Easy setup and beginner-friendly
- Offers insights into spending trends
Cons:
- Ad-supported interface may feel cluttered
- Lack of advanced saving strategies
Who It’s For: If you’re new to personal finance apps and need an easy introduction, Mint is your go-to solution.
2. YNAB (You Need A Budget)
Best for: Serious budgeters looking for more control
Price: $14.99/month or $99/year (14-day free trial)
YNAB is designed to help you plan ahead by giving every dollar a job. Instead of waiting until the end of the month to see how much you spent, YNAB encourages proactive budgeting so you decide where your money will go before it’s spent. With tutorials and workshops, YNAB also provides educational tools to improve your money mindset.
Features:
- Syncs accounts or allows manual entry
- Focuses on proactive budgeting
- Debt payoff and savings tracking
- Insightful reports on spending behaviors
Pros:
- Promotes mindful spending
- Highly customizable categories
- Excellent for building financial discipline
Cons:
- Steeper learning curve
- Requires an upfront time commitment
Who It’s For: If you’re motivated to approach your finances with a strategy and want deeper control over every dollar, YNAB is worth the investment.
3. PocketGuard
Best for: Controlling overspending
Price: Free; Premium version is $7.99/month or $34.99/year
PocketGuard simplifies life by showing you exactly how much “spendable” money you have after factoring in fixed costs like bills, savings goals, and essential expenses. Great for those prone to overspending, PocketGuard ensures you don’t dip into money reserved for priorities.
Features:
- Connects all accounts effortlessly
- Provides a “What’s Left” amount for discretionary spending
- Tracks recurring subscriptions
- Customized spending categories
Pros:
- Quick insights into your available cash
- Helps avoid overspending
- Easy setup
Cons:
- Free version is limited compared to premium features
- Lacks detailed goal-setting options
Who It’s For: If staying within your day-to-day spending limits is your primary challenge, PocketGuard is the perfect solution.
4. Empower (Formerly Personal Capital)
Best for: Investment tracking and net worth monitoring
Price: Free for basic features; Wealth management has fees
Empower is ideal for those who want to go beyond budgeting and track their overall financial health. It helps you monitor investments, calculate your net worth, and plan for long-term goals like retirement. Empower’s budgeting tools are an added bonus for keeping your daily spending in check.
Features:
- Tracks investments and savings accounts
- Offers a net worth calculator
- Retirement planning tools
- Budget and cash flow insights
Pros:
- Perfect for users with investments
- Provides a big-picture view of your finances
- Free for core features
Cons:
- Wealth management services come with fees
- Not as customizable for detailed budgeting
Who It’s For: If you’re focused on building wealth and monitoring investments, Empower keeps everything in one place while helping you plan for the future.
5. Goodbudget
Best for: Fans of the envelope budgeting method
Price: Free (basic plan); $8/month or $70/year for premium
Goodbudget digitizes the envelope budgeting concept, breaking your income into different spending categories or "envelopes." Once a virtual envelope is empty, you’ll need to shift funds or wait until your budget resets to avoid overspending.
Features:
- Manual or automatic budget tracking
- Shareable with partners or family
- Debt payoff tools
- Envelope-specific snapshots
Pros:
- Excellent for envelope-based financial planning
- Keeps spending highly disciplined
- Encourages accountability
Cons:
- Requires manual updates for full functionality
- Lacks automatic syncing with all accounts
Who It’s For: If you prefer a visual approach to budgeting and value hands-on involvement, Goodbudget keeps things simple yet effective.
6. Honeydue
Best for: Couples managing shared finances
Price: Free
Honeydue helps couples track their spending together, ensuring better communication around shared banking accounts, bills, and goals. With real-time notifications, it’s easy to stay aligned with your partner’s financial habits.
Features:
- Split expenses and bills
- Sync accounts and set shared goals
- Expense alerts for both partners
- Custom privacy settings
Pros:
- Encourages teamwork and transparency
- Free to use
- Covers shared and individual finances
Cons:
- No advanced saving or investment tools
- Simplistic compared to other apps
Who It’s For: Ideal for couples who want to manage money together more effectively without confusion or surprises.
How to Choose the Best App for You
When deciding on the right app for tracking your spending and saving, consider your financial priorities. Here’s a quick guide to match your needs with the apps above:
- Are you new to budgeting? Start simple with Mint or the free version of PocketGuard.
- Want to get serious about budgets? YNAB offers a disciplined, in-depth approach.
- Need to control spending immediately? Use features like PocketGuard’s “What’s Left” tool.
- Interested in investments? Go for Empower for tracking your portfolio and long-term goals.
- Budgeting with a partner? Try Honeydue for transparency in shared expenses.
- Visual learner? Goodbudget makes envelope-style tracking easy and hands-on.
