The Best Budgeting Apps Of 2021

Posted on 25th May 2021

As U.S. consumers continue to grapple with the financial uncertainties caused by more than a year of pandemic economic disruptions, budgeting has become top of mind for many. While there is no shame in using a handwritten budget, budgeting apps have become a popular way to track spending and savings habits.

With so many budgeting apps available, and a wide array of features among all of them, it can be daunting to sort through the numerous options. Forbes Advisor has ranked the best budgeting apps for you to help you select an app that’s well suited for you and your needs.

Best Budgeting Apps
We’ve compared 15 budgeting apps to find the some of best mobile apps available for managing budgets, savings and expenses. For the purposes of this list, Forbes Advisor focused on apps that are available to U.S. consumers. The eight apps shown on this list offer a variety of useful features and tools that can meet varied personal finance and money management needs.

App details are accurate as of May 6, 2021

How to Choose a Budgeting App
Choosing a budgeting app can seem like a small decision when compared to other personal finance decisions. But the right budgeting app can make a large difference in your personal financial life.

When selecting a budgeting app, be sure to consider what your needs and goals are first. The right budgeting app can provide you helpful insights and data into your expenses and savings. But before that happens, identifying what your financial goals are first can help you curtail your search for the right budgeting app for you.

Outside of your goals, here are a few features to consider before you commit yourself to a budgeting app:

Fees. Budgeting apps differ in their costs. Many budgeting apps are free—or offer free versions—while some charge a monthly fee. While it may be tempting to choose a free app, don’t overlook the paid apps. If a budgeting app can significantly improve your financial outlook, it may very well be worth the investment.

Customer service. If you run into an issue when using a budgeting app, having a technical team you can reach out to can be helpful. When selecting a budgeting app, be sure to find out what different customer service options are available, both from the app and from the desktop version, if applicable. It also may help to read reviews of others’ experiences with the app you’re considering.

By: Brett Holzhauer