I’ve been using Mint for tracking my finances but I’d like to explore other options for better features and control. Does anyone have recommendations for apps similar to Mint that work well for budgeting and expense tracking? I’d appreciate any suggestions.
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YNAB (You Need A Budget)
Homepage Link: https://www.youneedabudget.com/
Pros & Cons:
Pros: Highly structured budgeting system, encourages proactive budget planning, strong community support, great tutorials for beginners.
Cons: Expensive with a monthly subscription fee ($14.99/month or $98.99/year), steeper learning curve for first-time users compared to Mint.Features:
- Proactive zero-based budgeting approach where every dollar is assigned a job.
- Goal tracking for savings or upcoming large expenses (e.g., vacations, debt payoff).
- Real-time syncing across devices and family sharing.
User Reviews: Many users report having drastically improved their financial control and savings with YNAB over time. However, some complain about its complexity and only recommend it for people who are ready to commit seriously to budgeting.
Verdict: Perfect for anyone who wants real hands-on control over their finances and doesn’t mind spending extra for advanced features.
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Personal Capital
Homepage Link: https://www.personalcapital.com/
Pros & Cons:
Pros: Best for high-level tracking of both expenses and investments, features free wealth management tools, intuitive interface for growth tracking.
Cons: Less depth in budgeting than Mint, services skewed toward users with substantial wealth.Features:
- Investment tracking and portfolio performance analysis.
- Spot-on retirement planning calculators.
- Free personal finance management tools.
User Reviews: Users who are more focused on investments rave about its ease in tracking net worth and financial goals for the future. Budgeters sometimes critique its lack of detailed categories in non-investment-related finances.
Verdict: Fantastic for those balancing budgeting with tracking significant investment portfolios. Less ideal for everyday budgeting needs.
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Tiller Money
Homepage Link: https://www.tillerhq.com/
Pros & Cons:
Pros: Fully customizable because you use Google Sheets (or Excel), tailored control over your budget spreadsheet, integrates with over 21,000 banks.
Cons: Requires manual effort to understand formatting and setup, costs $79 per year.Features:
- Direct import of financial transactions into Google Sheets/Excel.
- Pre-built templates for easy budget and goal tracking.
- Detailed control over categories and analytics.
User Reviews: Many users highlight how refreshing it is to have total control over their data, as opposed to apps with pre-designed structures. However, it’s not beginner-friendly and may be overwhelming at first.
Verdict: The best tool for spreadsheet enthusiasts who want a hands-on approach to both financial tracking and data organization.
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PocketGuard
Homepage Link: https://www.pocketguard.com/
Pros & Cons:
Pros: Simplifies budgeting by focusing on disposable income, clean and user-friendly interface, helpful for avoiding overspending.
Cons: Very basic compared to tools like Mint or YNAB, paid version includes essential functionality.Features:
- “In My Pocket” feature gives clarity on remaining spendable cash after bills.
- Tracks subscriptions and recurring expenses.
- Pro version allows for custom categories and unlimited goals.
User Reviews: Users love the simplicity of the app but note it lacks power-user features. Pro subscribers would like functionality to justify its price better ($4.99/month or $34.99/year).
Verdict: Ideal for users who don’t want to spend too much time on budgeting but need a simplified approach to prevent overspending.
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Goodbudget
Homepage Link: https://www.goodbudget.com/
Pros & Cons:
Pros: Built on an envelope budgeting system, simple interface perfect for beginners, free version available.
Cons: Expenses and income must be manually entered, lacks automation and integrations.Features:
- Simulates digital envelope budgeting for bills, groceries, etc.
- Sync and share options for family budgeting.
- Progress charts to track spending habits.
User Reviews: Fans appreciate the classic envelope approach and its simplicity but dislike the hassle of manual transaction entries.
Verdict: Great for beginners or anyone seeking simplicity without automation.
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EveryDollar
Homepage Link: https://www.ramseysolutions.com/ever…
Pros & Cons:
Pros: Built around zero-based budgeting, clean design, pays special attention to tracking goals like debt repayment or savings.
Cons: Free version doesn’t include bank syncing; premium version costs $129.99/year.Features:
- Zero-based budgeting method (assign all your income).
- Debt snowball tracking for paying off multiple debts.
- Bank-sync feature with the paid plan.
User Reviews: Strongly embraced by fans of Dave Ramsey’s financial approach, but those outside his methodology feel restricted by its bare-bones feature set in the free tier.
Verdict: Best for Dave Ramsey followers and people who find value in disciplined financial habits.
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Empower
Homepage Link: https://empower.me/
Pros & Cons:
Pros: Combines financial tracking and cash advances, budgeting is straightforward.
Cons: Limited to U.S. users and lacks some of the robust customization of competitors.Features:
- Expense tracking and subscription cancellation tools.
- Financial advice and cash advances up to $250.
- Cashback rewards on spending.
User Reviews: Empower is highly rated for its seamless user experience on mobile platforms, but long-term users express concerns about scaling issues for complex financial tracking.
Verdict: Simple to use, with bonus perks like cash advances, but unsuitable for heavy-duty budgeters.
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Honeydue
Homepage Link: https://www.honeydue.com/
Pros & Cons:
Pros: Focuses on couples managing finances together, alerts for bills, user-friendly interface.
Cons: Limited value outside of joint financial management; lacks export features.Features:
- Categorizes spending and assigns responsibilities.
- Supports joint budgets for goal planning.
- Customizable privacy settings.
User Reviews: Couples find improved communication and transparency in their budgets using Honeydue, but solo users feel overlooked by its prioritization of shared expenses.
Verdict: One of the best options for couples aligning their financial habits; less suitable for individuals.
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Clarity Money
Homepage Link: https://clarity.money/
Pros & Cons:
Pros: AI-powered insights, helps automate savings effectively, tracks subscriptions well.
Cons: Subscription cancellation is hit-or-miss, features feel limited beyond automatic tracking.Features:
- AI-augmented to analyze spending trends.
- Subscription tracking and management.
- Automatic savings option.
User Reviews: Clarity gets praise for its automation tools, but advanced users feel like they outgrow the app quickly.
Verdict: A decent middle ground for tracking without much manual involvement.
- Zeta
Homepage Link: https://www.askzeta.com/
Pros & Cons:
Pros: Built around couples and families, free to use, tools for bill splitting.
Cons: Limited market focus, no integration for financial planning.
Features:
- Focused on joint financial management for couples.
- Bill splitting, shared household budgeting.
- Custom financial goals.
User Reviews: Zeta offers useful functionality for modern couples, but its solo-user audience is practically nonexistent.
Verdict: Niche app perfect for those collaborating on finances with a partner.
These apps address various aspects of financial management, from hardcore zero-based budgeting (YNAB, EveryDollar) to simple oversight tools (PocketGuard, Clarity Money). Each has its own unique approach, so it depends on how hands-on you want to be and what your priorities are!