Creating a budget and keeping track of your dollars can be a hassle. It might not seem like a big deal right now, but spending according to a budget daily can make a huge difference in your long-term goals. As it is said “a droplet of water contributes to creating an ocean”, the same applies to your finances.
The creation and maintenance of the budget contribute to your long-term wealth. There are a lot of diverse applications that can ease your budgeting process. This article will look at some of the top apps and their methods so you make only the best choices in your financial journey.
The primary criteria for selecting apps in this list would be budgeting strategies, tracking spending, above-average Google Play Store, and Apple App Store ratings.
Let’s move ahead to our best budget apps for 2023
1. Zeta
Zeta is a modern budgeting app that targets couples and families. This app aims to make you complete your financial goals with your family. Creating an account on Zeta is easier than ever with the help of their envelope system. The system provides a platform where you and your loved ones can manage finances in one place. You can opt for a personal or a joint account and pay your bills via debit cards, checks, and Automated Clearance House Network Transfers (ACH).
The app has an overall rating of 4.4 on the Apple Store and Play Store. Their in-app messaging feature is a game changer when it comes to staying in sync with your team and focusing on your financial goals together.
2. Mint
This app claims to be one of the most-rated budgeting apps on the Play Store and App Store. The reason for its popularity is the convenience that it provides to its users. You can sort and view all of your accounts, credit cards, loans, bills, and investments all in one place without downloading any additional apps. You can keep track of your cash flow using Mint and personalize them into never-ending categories with ease.
It notifies you about your subscriptions, bills, and pending dues so that you never miss a due date. You can create custom budgets and get personalized insights known as Mintsights that save you more money while paying down your debt. Now, Mint is a free-to-download app and comes with an average rating of 4.5 Play Store and App Store.
This app is ideal for people who want to track their expenses and plan accordingly. If you are looking for an application that gives more control in the user’s hand then this app might not be a suitable option.
3. YNAB (You Need A Budget)
YNAB is an app that gives a hands-on budgeting experience rather than just tracking expenses. It focuses on creating a plan for every dollar you earn according to your priorities. Creating and following a plan is the best way to make sound financial decisions. The YNAB app follows the following rules:
Rule 1: Give every dollar a job
Rule 2: Embrace/Recognize your actual expenses.
Rule 3: Being Flexible
Rule 4: Aging the Money
These rules are the pillars of the success of this app. It creates different categories like expenses, savings, and goals so that you divide your income accordingly and perform active decision-making. The app boasts an above-average rating of 4.6 on the Play Store and App Store. For using YNAB, you can pay a subscription fee of $14.99 for a month and $99 for a year. If you are a college student, you get to use the app for free for a year.
4. EveryDollar
EveryDollar comes with an easy-to-use, user-friendly interface and works on a zero-based budgeting system that is easier to manage. The app claims to save up to $332 and reduce monthly expenses by 9% in the first month of its use. You can track your monthly income and expenses while categorizing them. Reminders in the app ensure that you never miss a due bill payment.
There are two versions of the app. The first one is free to use and the other one requires a subscription of $12.99 a month. The app provides custom recommendations based on your spending habits.
5. Goodbudget
Goodbudget is all about tracking and planning your expenditure. It follows an envelope system that separates a portion of your monthly income and divides it into different categories. This system ensures that you also have money for any contingency that may arise in the near future. Goodbudget allows you to allocate your custom amount to these envelopes according to your income and expenditure. The app has an average rating of 4.4 on Play Store and App Store and comes in free and paid versions.
6. PocketGuard
The PocketGuard app has a simple yet feature-rich interface. The app lets you connect your savings accounts, due loans, and more while tracking your expenses. The goal is to increase the user’s financial literacy and create spending habits accordingly. You can add your balance manually if you do not wish to link your account with the app. The basic version of the app is free. However, you can also pay for a Plus account with additional features for $7.99 monthly and $34.99 yearly.
The app has an above-average rating of 4.5 on the App Store and the Play Store.
7. Fudget
Fudget is another simple yet effective budgeting app that features a straightforward interface that can be used by anyone. You can create up to five budgets and 250 entries in the free version of the app and upgrade to the pro version if you want to create unlimited budgets. You can manage your balances and keep track of the inflow and outflow of money on Fudget.
The app is one of the highest-rated apps with a rating of 4.7 on the Google Play Store and 4.8 on the Apple App Store.
Conclusion
Creating a budget is a very crucial part to achieve financial freedom. You need to keep track of your income and expenditure at all points so you know where to spend your money and where not to. These applications help you to create a budget and a plan for every dollar that you earn.
