Which are the best budgeting apps for 2023?
In the past, budgeting used to be a tedious task that required lots of calculations and manual tracking of expenses. However, thanks to technology, we now have numerous budgeting apps that make managing our finances a breeze.
With so many options to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide which app to use. In this article, we will look at the top 10 budgeting apps for 2023 based on their features, user-friendliness, and affordability.
What is Budgeting?
Budgeting is the process of creating a plan to manage your money. It involves setting financial goals, identifying your income sources, and tracking your expenses to ensure that you are living within your means.
The goal of budgeting is to allocate your money in a way that helps you achieve your financial goals and live a financially stable life.
Budgeting typically involves creating a spending plan for different categories of expenses, such as housing, transportation, food, entertainment, and savings. You can use various tools to help you budget, such as pen and paper, spreadsheets, or budgeting apps.
By budgeting, you can gain control over your finances and make informed decisions about how you spend your money. It can also help you identify areas where you can cut back on expenses and save more money for your financial goals, such as paying off debt, building an emergency fund, or investing for the future. Overall, budgeting is an essential financial skill that can help you live a more financially stable and fulfilling life.
What Are Budgeting Apps?
Budgeting apps are mobile or desktop applications that help individuals manage their finances by tracking their income and expenses, setting budgets and financial goals, and providing useful insights into their spending habits. Budgeting apps use various tools and features to help users stay on top of their finances, including automatic categorization of expenses, alerts for overspending, and personalized recommendations for saving money.
Budgeting apps can sync with bank accounts, credit cards, and other financial accounts to provide real-time updates on transactions and balances. This makes it easier for users to track their expenses and stay within their budgets. Some budgeting apps also offer investment tracking, credit score monitoring, and other financial tools to help users make informed financial decisions.
Top 10 Budgeting Apps For 2023
1. Mint Budgeting App
Mint is one of the most popular and best budgeting apps available today. It is a free app that allows users to track their expenses, monitor their credit score, and create budgets. The app is user-friendly and offers a comprehensive overview of your finances. Mint syncs with your bank accounts, credit cards, and other financial accounts to provide real-time updates on your transactions.
One of the unique features of Mint is that it categorizes your expenses automatically. This makes it easy to see where you are spending your money and identify areas where you can cut back. Mint also sends you alerts when you exceed your budget, helping you stay on track with your spending.
Pros
- Free budgeting app
- Free TransUnion credit scores
- Investment tracking
Cons
- In-app product advertisements
- Some complaints about technical issues
- Spending categorization could be better
Related: 5 Ways to pay off debts and save for retirement
2. Personal Capital
Personal Capital is a free app that offers a comprehensive view of your finances. It allows you to track your investments, monitor your net worth, and create a budget. Personal Capital syncs with your bank accounts and other financial accounts, giving you a real-time view of your transactions.
One of the standout features of Personal Capital is its investment tracking tool. It is one of the best budgeting apps as it provides a detailed analysis of your portfolio, including asset allocation, fees, and performance. This can be helpful for investors who want to optimize their investments.
3. YNAB App
YNAB (You Need A Budget) is a paid budgeting app that helps users get ahead of their bills and save money. It offers a proactive approach to budgeting, focusing on giving every dollar a job. YNAB encourages users to create a budget based on their priorities, making it easy to save money and reach financial goals.
One of the standout features of YNAB is its ability to sync with bank accounts and credit cards in real-time. This allows users to stay on top of their expenses and adjust their budgets accordingly. YNAB also offers educational resources, such as online classes and tutorials, to help users become more financially literate.
Pros
- Complete budget makeover
- Free 34-day trial
- Strong customer service and comprehensive education
Cons
- $99 per year
- More time-intensive to learn
- Recent sync issues
4. PocketGuard
PocketGuard is also one of the best budgeting apps. It is a free budgeting app that helps users manage their money and save more. It syncs with bank accounts, credit cards, and other financial accounts to provide an overview of your finances. PocketGuard offers a unique feature called “In My Pocket,” which shows users how much money they have left to spend after accounting for bills and expenses.
One of the standout features of PocketGuard is its ability to track subscriptions and recurring bills. This can be helpful for users who want to cut back on unnecessary expenses. PocketGuard also offers personalized saving tips based on your spending habits.
Pros
- Free basic budgeting app
- Cash flow at a glance
- Easy to use
Cons
- PocketGuard Plus has a cost
- No phone support
- Some complaints about technical issues
Related: Top 9 Best Personal Loan Apps in Nigeria
5. Goodbudget
Ono of the best budgeting apps – Goodbudget is a budgeting app that uses the envelope system to help users manage their money. It allows users to create virtual envelopes for different spending categories, such as groceries, entertainment, and transportation. Goodbudget encourages users to stick to their budgets by using cash-based envelopes to control spending.
One of the standout features of Goodbudget is its ability to share budgets with family members or roommates. This can be helpful for households that want to collaborate on their finances. Goodbudget offers a free version, which allows users to create up to 10 virtual envelopes, and a paid version, which offers unlimited envelopes and other features.
Related: Student Finance Apps
6. Zeta
Zeta is a budgeting app designed specifically for couples. It allows couples to create joint budgets, track their spending, and share expenses with ease. The app features a unique “money dates” feature, which encourages couples to regularly discuss their finances and work together towards their financial goals.
Zeta also offers features like bill tracking and reminders, so you never miss a payment, and a built-in chat function, so you can communicate with your partner about your finances within the app.
7. Simplify by Quicken
Simplify by Quicken is a budgeting app that focuses on simplifying the budgeting process. It allows you to link all of your accounts in one place, so you can see your entire financial picture at a glance. The app offers customizable budget categories, so you can tailor your budget to your specific needs, and provides helpful insights into your spending habits.
Simplify by Quicken also offers a unique “smart rules” feature, which allows you to automate certain actions, like categorizing expenses or transferring money between accounts, based on specific criteria you set.
Related: The Do’s and Don’ts of Filing for Bankruptcy
8. Stash
Stash is the 8th on our list of the best budgeting apps that focuses on helping users save and invest. It offers a variety of investment options, including stocks, bonds, and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and allows you to invest with as little as $5. Stash also offers a “Smart-Stash” feature, which automatically invests spare change from your purchases.
In addition to investment options, Stash offers a budgeting feature called “Auto-Stash,” which allows you to set up automatic transfers to your Stash account. The app also offers educational resources to help users learn about investing and personal finance.
Best Budgeting Apps (Summary)
As we enter 2023, it’s time to start thinking about budgeting for the year ahead. Whether you’re saving for a vacation, trying to pay off debt, or simply looking to improve your financial well-being, budgeting apps can be a useful tool in helping you achieve your goals. Here, we’ve explored the top 10 budgeting apps for 2023.
