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What's "Appening": Budgeting Apps to Improve Your Finances from Your Phone

Let’s face it, “budgeting” is no fun. Nobody wants to spend their time crunching numbers and setting limits for their spending. On the other hand, being debt-free with a padded savings account and minimal financial stress sounds like a blast, doesn’t it?

So, how can you get the perks of a working budget without all the work? The answer may literally be right at your fingertips — on your phone! There’s no shortage of budgeting apps out there, but we found five that really shine. Find one that works for you and you’ll be on your way to financial freedom.

Empower Personal Dashboard™

iOS and Android

Free
Additional fees based on percentage of assets managed. Check their FAQ for more information.

Empower Personal Dashboard combines the ease of a budgeting app with the personal experience of talking to an advisor. The app covers the basics of setting and maintaining a monthly budget while specializing in investment monitoring and retirement goal-tracking. It also provides access to a human consultant.

Features:

  • Creates a financial snapshot by tracking your bank accounts, 401(k), IRA, investments, stocks and debt, all in one place.
  • Provides you with a hybrid advisor system: half AI advisors, half human advisors.
  • Allows you to track your net worth so you can make smarter decisions about how to manage your money.
  • Includes an education tracker so you can save for future education costs.
  • Analyzes your asset classes and investment fees automatically to ensure a smooth user experience.

Oportun

iOS and Android

Free the first six months
After the free trial: $5 per month

Achieve your short and long-term financial goals with this app that uses machine learning to report on your spending habits and balance. It then withdraws money you can safely save and deposits it in the Oportun account you specify — like a savings or retirement account. Funds from your Oportun accounts can be moved back to your linked account at any time.

Features:

  • Oportun provides users with a fully encrypted app. When your information is transmitted between Oportun and your financial institution, it will be encrypted as well.
  • Oportun is free for the first six months. Once that trial period ends, the app helps you bank, budget, save and invest for a fee of $5 per month.
  • The Oportun app matches users with a diversified portfolio of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) based on the user’s risk tolerance and investing goals.

PocketGuard

iOS and Android

Free
Optional in-app purchases:

  • PocketGuard Plus – $12.99/month or $159.99/year

PocketGuard syncs with your bank accounts, credit cards, loans, savings and investments to figure out what you have left to spend. At its most basic level, it keeps you from overspending. But it can also do so much more.

Features:

  • Creates a financial snapshot by pulling bank accounts, credit cards, bills and investments into one place.
  • Tells you how much you have left to spend after your bills are paid and savings are safely tucked away.
  • Automatically builds a budget based on your income and spending patterns.
  • Tracks your bills.
  • Helps you set savings goals and spending limits.
  • Gives suggestions on how to lower your recurring bills with better available deals.
  • Automatically categorizes your spending.
  • Compares your current month’s spending to your average.
  • Alerts you to upcoming payment due dates.

You Need a Budget (YNAB)

iOS and Android

34-day free trial
After the trial: $8.25/month or $99/year

Your Need a Budget is for the seriously committed budgeter. While the app provides tools to work your budget, it’s also dedicated to your education. YNAB wants you to stop living paycheck to paycheck, get out of debt and save more money. They believe you can achieve these goals by giving every dollar a job, planning for expected and unexpected expenses, being flexible and rolling with the punches, and spending last month’s money instead of having your paycheck spent before you even get it.

Features:

  • Syncs to your bank accounts.
  • Provides online classes to help you get started and personal support, seven days a week.
  • Offers tools and education to help you get rid of debt for good.
  • Lets you set and track goals.
  • Measures your progress with detailed reports.

Goodbudget Budget Planner

iOS and Android

Free
Optional in-app purchases: Plus Plan – $8/month or $70/year

GoodBudget helps you to not only track your expenses, but plan for them. It’s great for couples working a budget together, because you can share and sync budgets across devices. GoodBudget helps you keep track of your income and expenses so you know exactly how much money is left over after you pay your bills.

Features:

  • Uses the envelope system to help you plan how much money you have to spend on different things, like dining, groceries and gas.
  • Syncs transactions so they’re accessible from multiple devices.
  • Generates reports to give you a sense of your budgeting and spending habits.

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