Monarch Money offers a powerful mix of flexibility and depth. You can sync all your financial accounts—bank, credit cards, loans, and investments—and choose between two budgeting styles: flex or category-based. The flex view groups your expenses into three buckets, while the category view lets you set specific limits by expense type. Monarch also includes helpful extras like net worth tracking, investment dashboards, and bill reminders. One standout feature is that you can add a household member to your subscription at no extra cost. The app is available on desktop and mobile for convenient access.

YNAB is ideal if you want to get more intentional about where every dollar goes. It uses a zero-based budgeting approach that encourages you to plan how each dollar will be used as soon as it hits your account. The app allows syncing with checking, savings, credit cards, and loans—or you can choose to enter transactions manually. YNAB also includes a loan payoff simulator and allows up to five users to share a single membership. For beginners, the app offers extensive educational resources to help you get started. It works across mobile, desktop, iPad, and Apple Watch.

Goodbudget takes a digital approach to the traditional envelope system, where you divide income into specific categories or "envelopes." The free version doesn't connect to your bank accounts, so you manually add balances and assign money to envelopes. Goodbudget Premium adds more features, like unlimited envelopes, up to five devices, and account syncing. It's great for users who prefer hands-on control over automation. The app is available on both web and mobile and includes useful tutorials and budgeting courses. It's a solid choice for anyone who likes planning ahead rather than just tracking past spending.

Empower is primarily known as an investment tool, but its free app includes useful features for everyday budgeting. You can sync your checking, savings, and credit cards, along with retirement accounts and loans, to track both spending and net worth. The budgeting feature provides a snapshot of your transactions by customizable categories. Empower also tracks your investment portfolio and shows how different accounts contribute to your overall financial picture. It’s ideal for people who want a high-level view of their finances. You can access Empower through desktop, phone, or tablet.

PocketGuard offers an easy way to see what you have left to spend after accounting for bills, goals, and necessities. It connects to your bank, credit, and savings accounts to create a real-time financial overview. The app also features a net worth tracker, savings goal tool, and a debt payoff planner. A helpful bonus is its subscription tracker, which can help you find and cancel services you no longer use. PocketGuard uses a zero-based budgeting model but presents it in a very user-friendly way. It works on web, mobile, and Apple Watch.

Honeydue is designed for couples who want to manage money together while maintaining some financial independence. Each partner can sync their own bank accounts, credit cards, loans, and investments, and control how much they share. The app automatically categorizes expenses and lets you set spending limits on categories like groceries or dining out. It also sends bill reminders and alerts when you're close to your set limits. Honeydue even includes a chat feature for discussing finances within the app. It’s an excellent choice for couples seeking transparency and teamwork.

EveryDollar is built on the zero-based budgeting method and offers both a free and a premium version. The free version requires you to manually enter income and expenses, while the paid version allows you to sync your bank accounts. It’s simple, straightforward, and ideal for users who don’t want too many extra features. You can view your monthly progress, generate reports, and get budget recommendations based on your habits. EveryDollar is developed by Ramsey Solutions, making it popular among those following Dave Ramsey’s financial principles. It’s available on both desktop and mobile.