Making money is great — but saving it is even better. Knowing where your money goes each month helps you track your spending and hit your financial goals. In this post, we’ll look at the best budgeting apps of 2025 that actually work. Whether you prefer free tools, paid plans, or DIY options, these budgeting platforms can help you take control of your finances.
Wallet Hub
Wallet Hub tops the list as one of the best budgeting apps this year. Originally a personal finance media company, Wallet Hub now offers a full-featured budgeting platform for both Android and iOS.
You can sync your bank accounts, track income and expenses automatically, and even monitor your credit score — all for free. Wallet Hub offers daily credit updates, personalized money-saving tips, and a “Wallet Score” to gauge your financial health.
A premium plan for $3.99 per month adds transaction alerts, dark web monitoring, ID theft restoration, and account sharing options for couples. It’s a great all-in-one budgeting tool for anyone who wants financial clarity.
You Need a Budget (YNAB)
Next up is You Need a Budget, better known as YNAB. This app is built around the zero-based budgeting system, where every dollar you earn gets assigned a job. It’s perfect if you struggle with overspending or want a highly structured budgeting system.
YNAB syncs with your bank accounts, provides goal tracking, and offers workshops to help you build better money habits. However, it comes with a higher price tag — $14.99 per month or $109 annually, though it includes a 34-day free trial.
If you’re serious about changing your money mindset, YNAB is one of the most effective budgeting tools available.
Empower (Formerly Personal Capital)
Empower is a hybrid budgeting and wealth management app. It’s ideal if you want to track not just spending but also investments and retirement savings.
Empower offers a free net worth tracker, budgeting dashboard, and retirement planner. You can monitor income, expenses, assets, and liabilities all in one place. For advanced users, there’s a paid wealth management service with personalized financial advice — though it requires a $100,000 minimum investment.
Empower also recently introduced a high-yield cash account offering around 3.75% APY, making it a strong choice for long-term financial tracking and saving.
Honeydew
Honeydew is one of the best budgeting apps for couples or roommates who share expenses. It allows multiple users to track bills, manage shared budgets, and set savings goals together.
The app makes collaboration easy — you can set reminders for shared bills like rent or utilities and choose what information to share with your partner. Transparency and teamwork are at the heart of Honeydew’s design, and it’s completely free to use.
If you’ve ever struggled to stay on the same financial page as your partner, Honeydew offers a simple and effective solution.
Copilot Money
Copilot Money is one of the newer entrants in the world of budgeting tools, designed specifically for Apple users. It’s an AI-driven budgeting app with stunning visuals, data insights, and customizable widgets for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
The app provides automatic expense categorization, subscription tracking, and smart spending insights powered by AI. It’s perfect for users who want real-time financial visibility and a clean, modern interface.
However, it’s limited to Apple devices and comes at a higher cost — $13 per month or $95 per year, with a one-month free trial. If you’re an Apple user who values design and automation, Copilot is a great option.
DIY Budgeting Templates
If you prefer total control, a DIY approach might be your best fit. Using budgeting tools like Excel, Notion, or Google Sheets, you can build your own budget template.
While these aren’t apps, they’re flexible and 100% private. You can create your own spending tracker, savings goal dashboard, or monthly expense chart. Free templates are available online, or you can design your own from scratch.
The downside is the lack of automation — you’ll need to enter your income and expenses manually each week. But for those who value simplicity and privacy, DIY budgeting can be surprisingly effective.
Final Thoughts on the Best Budgeting Apps of 2025
Each of these best budgeting apps caters to different needs. Wallet Hub is a great all-around choice, YNAB offers structure, Empower helps with investments, Honeydew supports couples, and Copilot adds smart automation.
The right tool depends on your goals — whether that’s tracking spending, reducing debt, or planning for the future. The key is to start now and stay consistent.
For more financial tools and resources, visit Investopedia’s Personal Finance section.