Best budgeting apps
The right budgeting app is the one you’ll actually open every week. We read each app’s own pricing page on Nov 10, 2026 and compare price, trial length, free options and the budgeting style each one is built around.
Disclosure: links on this page currently go straight to each provider’s own site, and we don’t earn a commission from them. If we join a provider’s affiliate program later, that will never change which products we include or how we order them. How we make money.
How this page was made: it’s built from each provider’s own terms, rate and fee pages and from regulator sources, all listed at the bottom. We haven’t opened these accounts or products to test them, and we don’t give scores. Every rate shows the day we checked it. Our methodology.
Quick answer
Short answer: for hands-on zero-based budgeting, YNAB ($109 a year, 34-day free trial) is built around planning what your money is for before you spend it. For tracking everything with a partner, Monarch ($99.99 a year, 7-day trial) adds net worth and shared views. If you won’t pay, EveryDollar and Goodbudget have free plans with manual entry (Nov 10, 2026).
Last updated Prices checked Nov 10, 2026
Key facts at a glance
| Pick | Product | Best for | Key terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hands-on zero-based budgeting | YNAB (You Need A Budget) | People who want to plan what their money is for before spending it | $109/year (plus tax where applicable) as of Nov 10, 2026 |
| Couples and full financial picture | Monarch | Couples and anyone who wants net worth, investments and budget in one place | $99.99/year as of Nov 10, 2026 |
| Free plan for a manual budget | EveryDollar | A free zero-based budget you enter by hand | Free; Premium $79.99/year (Premium) as of Nov 10, 2026 |
We read each app’s pricing or help page on Nov 10, 2026 and list prices exactly as shown (several apps change prices or run limited-time offers, so check before you subscribe). We haven’t been paid by any of these apps, links go to the apps’ own sites, and we don’t score them. Features below are the ones each app lists on its own pages.
Our picks
How do they compare?
| App | Annual price | Monthly price | Free trial | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YNAB | $109/year (plus tax where applicable) as of Nov 10, 2026 | $14.99/month (plus tax where applicable) as of Nov 10, 2026 | 34 days, no card when signing up directly | No (free 365-day trial for college students) |
| Monarch | $99.99/year as of Nov 10, 2026 | $14.99/month as of Nov 10, 2026 | 7 days | No |
| Copilot Money | $109/year (shown as a limited-time price, “instead of $119”) as of Nov 10, 2026 | Not shown in the default view we read | Not stated on the page we read | No |
| EveryDollar | $79.99/year (Premium) as of Nov 10, 2026 | $17.99/month (Premium, billed monthly) as of Nov 10, 2026 | 14 days for Premium (new users) | Yes |
| Rocket Money | — | Choose-your-price sliding scale (Premium, monthly) as of Nov 10, 2026; $15/month plus tax (Premium+) as of Nov 10, 2026 | 7 days for Premium | Yes |
| Goodbudget | $8/month or $70/year (Plus) as of Nov 10, 2026; $10/month or $80/year (Premium) as of Nov 10, 2026 | See annual column | Not stated; 30-day money-back guarantee | Yes |
| PocketGuard | $74.99/year as of Nov 10, 2026 | $12.99/month as of Nov 10, 2026 | 7 days | No; also $149.99 one-time (lifetime) as of Nov 10, 2026 |
The picks in detail
1. YNAB (You Need A Budget)
Best for: People who want to plan what their money is for before spending itYNAB’s pricing page lists $109/year (plus tax where applicable) as of Nov 10, 2026 or $14.99/month (plus tax where applicable) as of Nov 10, 2026, with a 34-day free trial that needs no credit card when you sign up directly (app stores may ask for one). One subscription can be shared with up to six people. Direct bank import supports select US, Canadian, UK and EU banks, and YNAB offers college students a free 365-day trial.
Key terms: $109/year (plus tax where applicable) as of Nov 10, 2026 YNAB terms
Pros
- Longest free trial here
- Share with up to six people at no extra cost
- Target-setting for savings goals
Cons
- No free plan
- Takes regular hands-on attention
2. Monarch
Best for: Couples and anyone who wants net worth, investments and budget in one placeMonarch lists $99.99/year as of Nov 10, 2026 or $14.99/month as of Nov 10, 2026, a 7-day free trial and a no-questions-asked money-back guarantee. It says you can invite a partner or a professional at no extra cost, connect bank accounts, cards, loans, real estate and investments, and use it on web, iOS and Android, with no ads. A higher Plus tier adds forecasting and deeper investment tools; its price wasn’t shown on the page we read.
Key terms: $99.99/year as of Nov 10, 2026 Monarch terms
Pros
- Partner sharing included
- Web, iOS and Android
- Recurring subscription detection
Cons
- Short 7-day trial
- No free plan
3. Copilot Money
Best for: Apple users who want automated categorizationCopilot shows one plan at $109/year (shown as a limited-time price, “instead of $119”) as of Nov 10, 2026, with “no tiers, no add-ons,” connections to 16,000+ banks, and apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac and the web. It doesn’t list an Android app. Partner invites were marked “coming this fall” on Nov 10, 2026.
Key terms: $109/year (shown as a limited-time price, “instead of $119”) as of Nov 10, 2026 Copilot terms
Pros
- Single plan with everything included
- iPhone, iPad, Mac and web
Cons
- No Android app listed
- Partner sharing not yet available
4. EveryDollar
Best for: A free zero-based budget you enter by handEveryDollar’s free version lets you create a monthly budget with unlimited categories, track transactions manually, set up sinking funds, split transactions and set bill due dates. Premium ($79.99/year (Premium) as of Nov 10, 2026 or $17.99/month (Premium, billed monthly) as of Nov 10, 2026, after a 14-day free trial for new users) adds bank connections, paycheck planning, custom reports, CSV export and a financial roadmap.
Key terms: Free; Premium $79.99/year (Premium) as of Nov 10, 2026 EveryDollar terms
Pros
- Useful free version
- Live human support listed even on free
Cons
- Bank connection requires Premium
- Premium is pricier monthly than YNAB or Monarch
5. Rocket Money
Best for: Finding and canceling subscriptionsRocket Money’s free plan covers subscription tracking, spend reviews, bill reminders and account linking. Premium uses a Choose-your-price sliding scale (Premium, monthly) as of Nov 10, 2026 after a 7-day trial and adds custom budget categories, goals, credit score tracking, real-time syncing and a subscription-cancellation service. Premium+ is $15/month plus tax (Premium+) as of Nov 10, 2026; since Nov 2, 2026, bill negotiation is available only on Premium+.
Key terms: Free; Premium sliding scale Rocket Money terms
Pros
- Free plan
- Subscription cancellation help on Premium
Cons
- Premium price isn’t a fixed published number
- Custom budgets need Premium
6. Goodbudget
Best for: Envelope budgeting, shared across devicesGoodbudget’s free plan includes 10 regular envelopes plus 10 more, 1 account, 2 devices and 1 year of history. Paid plans are Plus ($8/month or $70/year (Plus) as of Nov 10, 2026) and Premium ($10/month or $80/year (Premium) as of Nov 10, 2026); Goodbudget lists automatic bank sync (US banks only), unlimited envelopes and accounts, 5 devices, 7 years of history and a 30-day money-back guarantee among its subscription features.
Key terms: Free; $10/month or $80/year (Premium) as of Nov 10, 2026 Goodbudget terms
Pros
- Free forever plan
- Envelope method built in
Cons
- Free plan limited to one account and two devices
- Page doesn’t spell out which paid plan includes each feature
7. PocketGuard
Best for: A one-time payment instead of a subscriptionPocketGuard Premium is $74.99/year as of Nov 10, 2026 or $12.99/month as of Nov 10, 2026, or $149.99 one-time (lifetime) as of Nov 10, 2026, each with a 7-day free trial and no ads.
Key terms: $74.99/year as of Nov 10, 2026 PocketGuard terms
Pros
- Lifetime option
Cons
- No free plan shown on the pricing page
How to choose
- Do you want to plan ahead or track after the fact? YNAB, EveryDollar and Goodbudget are built around planning money before you spend it. Monarch, Copilot and Rocket Money lean toward automatic tracking.
- Do you share money with someone? YNAB (up to six people) and Monarch include sharing at no extra cost.
- Which devices? Copilot lists only Apple devices and the web.
- Use the trial on a real month. Set a reminder before it ends; some trials renew automatically into a paid plan.
Who should skip this
- A spreadsheet is already working for you. An app only helps if it makes you look at your money more often.
- You don’t want to link bank accounts. Choose a manual-entry free plan (EveryDollar or Goodbudget) instead of an auto-sync app.
- You won’t pay for software. See best free budgeting apps.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest paid budgeting app?
Which budgeting app has the longest free trial?
Is YNAB or Monarch better?
Are budgeting apps safe?
Do you earn money from these apps?
Sources
Every source below was opened and read for this page (rates last checked Nov 10, 2026). Providers’ own pages are labeled with the provider’s name; regulator pages are labeled with the agency. Rates and terms change often, so confirm on the provider’s site before you apply.
- YNAB: Pricing (ynab.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- YNAB: Home page (ynab.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Monarch: Pricing (monarch.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Monarch: Home page (features) (monarch.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Copilot Money: Home page (pricing) (copilot.money, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- EveryDollar: Home page and FAQ (pricing) (everydollar.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Rocket Money Help Center: How much does Rocket Money cost? (help.rocketmoney.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Rocket Money: Home page (free vs. Premium features) (rocketmoney.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- Goodbudget: Subscribe for more (plans) (goodbudget.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
- PocketGuard: Pricing (pocketguard.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
Related
Monarch vs. Copilot Money
Both cost about $100 a year and track spending, budgets and net worth. The deciding questions are whether anyone in your household uses Android and how you want to share with a partner.
best ofBest free budgeting apps
Several budgeting apps have a plan you can use indefinitely without paying. The catch is usually a limit: manual entry, fewer accounts, or budgeting tools held back for the paid tier. We read each app’s own pages on Nov 10, 2026.
comparisonYNAB vs. Monarch
Both are paid, ad-free budgeting apps that let you share with a partner at no extra cost. YNAB is built around planning your money before you spend it; Monarch around seeing all your accounts, including investments and net worth, in one place.