Managing your money in 2025 has become easier thanks to modern budgeting apps. Whether you’re saving for a goal, paying off debt, or trying to control your spending, there’s an app made for your needs. Some people want full control over their budget, while others prefer automatic tracking. This guide covers the top personal finance apps of the year and explains which might be right for you.
1. You Need a Budget (YNAB)
Best for: People who want to plan every dollar they spend
YNAB is based on a zero-based budgeting method. This means you give every dollar a job. You plan how much to spend, save, and assign money to different categories before you even begin spending.
Features:
- Helps you break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle
- Set specific financial goals
- Syncs with your bank accounts
- Real-time updates on budget changes
Cost: $14.99/month or $109/year. Comes with a 34-day free trial.
2. Monarch Money
Best for: Users who want a full picture of their financial life
Monarch Money is designed for users who want to track spending, savings, investments, and even collaborate with family members or financial advisors. It’s flexible and can fit both beginner and advanced users.
Features:
- Connects to bank accounts, loans, and investments
- Visual budget plans with flexible views
- Shared access for couples or teams
- Tracks goals like retirement or paying off debt
Cost: $14.99/month or $99.99/year. Comes with a 7-day free trial.
3. PocketGuard
Best for: People who want to know how much they can safely spend
PocketGuard gives you a simple view of your finances. It tells you what’s “safe to spend” after taking out bills, savings, and goals.
Features:
- Automatically categorizes spending
- Tracks bills and subscriptions
- Helps reduce overspending
- Custom savings goals
Cost: Free basic version. Plus plan costs $12.99/month or $74.99/year.
4. Honeydue
Best for: Couples who want to manage money together
Honeydue is designed for two people. It makes it easy to view and talk about shared expenses, upcoming bills, and spending habits.
Features:
- Connect multiple bank accounts
- Choose what to share or keep private
- Built-in messaging for financial chats
- Set bill reminders
Cost: Free
5. Empower Personal Dashboard
Best for: Tracking net worth and planning for the future
Empower gives users a full view of their financial health. You can track spending and also get tools to manage retirement and investments.
Features:
- See cash flow and net worth in one place
- Analyze investment performance
- Track retirement progress
- Syncs with most major banks and brokers
Cost: Free
6. Quicken Simplifi
Best for: Beginners who want a smooth budgeting experience
Simplifi is easy to use and great for beginners. It learns your habits and adjusts your budget over time.
Features:
- Custom spending plans
- Track income and expenses in real time
- Forecasts upcoming bills and income
- Clean and simple user interface
Cost: $2.99/month, billed annually
7. Tiller
Best for: People who prefer spreadsheets
Tiller connects to your bank and updates Google Sheets or Excel with your transaction data automatically.
Features:
- Daily updates to your spreadsheet
- Budget templates ready to use
- Customize everything to your style
- Email summaries sent to you regularly
Cost: $79/year with a 30-day free trial
8. Rocket Money
Best for: People who want to cancel unwanted subscriptions
Rocket Money focuses on reducing your expenses. It finds subscriptions, negotiates bills, and gives a basic budget tool.
Features:
- See and cancel subscriptions easily
- Lower your bills through negotiation
- Track spending and set limits
- Alerts for unusual activity
Cost: Free version available. Premium features cost extra.
9. Spendee
Best for: Managing shared wallets and traveling with multiple currencies
Spendee works well for both individuals and families. You can manage group expenses or track your own budget across different currencies.
Features:
- Sync with banks and manually add expenses
- Set up shared wallets with others
- Supports various currencies
- Easy-to-read spending graphs
Cost: Free version available. Premium plans offer extra tools.
10. Goodbudget
Best for: People who like the envelope budgeting system
Goodbudget follows the classic envelope method, where you set limits for each spending category at the beginning of the month.
Features:
- Virtual envelopes for spending categories
- Track and adjust your budget manually
- See how much you’ve spent and what’s left
- Good for couples budgeting together
Cost: Free version available. Plus plan costs $8/month or $70/year.
Conclusion
Finding the right personal finance app in 2025 depends on how involved you want to be in your money management. If you love planning every dollar, apps like YNAB or Goodbudget might suit you. If you prefer automation and investment tracking, try Empower or Monarch Money. Couples may enjoy Honeydue or Spendee for joint planning. And if your main goal is cutting costs, Rocket Money is a strong choice.
No matter your money habits, these apps can help you stay on track, build savings, and make smarter decisions throughout the year.
