We’ve tested a lot of budgeting tools and apps over the years. Some are a win and some that honestly should’ve not been made. If you’re ready to finally get control of your money and pay off more debt this year, you’re in the right place. Stick with Jen and Jill as they showcase the five best budgeting apps for beginners!
Allow yourself to find the thing that clicks with you not just aesthetically but in its approach as well.
Five Best Budgeting Apps for Beginners
Monarch. This puts every account and investment in one place, making your financial life feel organized instead of overwhelming. You get clear tracking for net worth, cash flow, and spending categories, plus the ability to search transactions whenever you need. Plus, you and your partner can track each other’s progress.
Copilot. This app has a modern interface with smart machine-learning categorization. It works well with envelope-style budgeting, giving you a dashboard to track expenses, monitor cash flow, and see everything in one place. This also has a feature where unused budgets can even roll over to the next month.
YNAB (You Need a Budget). Best for zero-based budgeting, YNAB has a devoted following. It budgets only the money you actually have, giving every dollar a “job.” The hands-on approach keeps you assigning, tracking, and adjusting, supported by workshops, blogs, and a strong community.
Crew. Perfect alternative for Cube. This new banking app offers a high-yield checking account with 3.2–3.7% APY. It features “Pockets” so you can allocate funds by category like bills, savings, giving, and more. It has no monthly maintenance fees and no minimum balance required to earn interest.
FreeBudget. This FREE and user-friendly provides clear financial insights with visual tracking for income, expenses, and net worth. In addition, you can securely sync accounts via Plaid and automatically categorize transactions. Plus, it has a spreadsheet-style budgeting with handy shortcuts that makes planning easier. Lastly, you can add unlimited accounts, set goals, and track trends on desktop or mobile.
What’s your budget like right now?
Jill’s is a little chaotic, spicy, and unhinged. And looking at it, Jen’s is doing a low-spend December and a no-spend January so she’s reducing a bit and keeping it all in check!
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Bill of The Week
Thank you Amy for sharing your bill about changing home insurance – updating them on changes to your home – saved $60/mo by switching!
Thanks so Much for Listening!
Thanks so much for listening. We love love love reading your kind reviews and we especially loved this one from:
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I’ve enjoyed listening to Jen and Jill’s podcast for years but was unsure if I would learn anything new from the book.
I was completely wrong! These two have such a talent for leading the reader to ask relevant questions to get at the heart of spending and saving. Instead of assuming a generalized money goal (i.e. becoming a millionaire, quitting your job, etc.) they leave space for the reader to decide for themselves and how they want to approach it. After reading this book, I feel more in tune with the psychology behind my money habits, how they relate to my overall goals and how I want to attack them in the next year.
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