Managing finances and budgeting is difficult for many people.
Research shows that two-thirds of Americans would have a hard time even coming up with a mere $1,000 in an emergency. And most emergencies cost much more than that.
Fortunately, technology has made it easier for people to manage their finances with just a few clicks or taps.
Keep reading for six of the best personal finance and budgeting apps that you should start using today.
1. PocketGuard
PocketGuard is a free personal finance app that helps prevent you from spending more than you should.
The app looks at your bank account information and deducts the amount you’ll need to pay off and weekly or monthly bills and tells you what you have left to spend afterward.
Users that want more from the app can see where and what they are spending a lot of money on.
2. Mint
Mint is another popular free app that instantly categorizes your spending for you. This way you can see how much money goes to areas like food, entertainment or bills.
Many users enjoy the feature to create personalized spending categories.
Mint is one of the best personal finance managers out there because it also allows users to set limits on their spending in certain categories.
3. Clarity Money
Are you worried about your credit score?
Clarity Money monitors your spending similarly to the other apps on this list, but this personal finance manager also helps you to manage your credit score.
It also helps you stay aware of money going to subscriptions so you remember to cancel those you’re no longer using.
4. You Need a Budget
You Need a Budget, also called YNAB, is perfect for perfectionists who are prepared to micromanage and get the most out of their finances.
This financial application allows users to assign every dollar they make to a purpose – whether that be groceries, leisure, or any other category.
The hands-on nature of this app makes it great for individuals looking to save and pay fo debt.
This is important as over the last decade, the elderly population still trying to pay off student debt has quadrupled.
That’s only one type of the many debts the population increasingly obtains. For individuals struggling with many types of debt, you can use debt consolidation services alongside this app to reduce the number of payments you make and make saving easier. Here’s more info about a company that can help your consolidate your debt.
5. GoodBudget
This app allows you to view your spending by category just like the others, but also allows you to sync and share your budgets with other app users.
This means it’s a great choice for couples or people managing a budget together.
6. Acorns
Acorns is one of the few financial applications that make investing part of its game plan.
For individuals who don’t know much about investing but want to reap the benefits, Acorns takes the spare change from your purchases and invests it into a variety of portfolios for you.
For those who know a little more, the app has options for users to take a more hands-on approach to their investing.
Pick the Best Personal Finance App for You
Between bills, debts, savings, investments, and hidden expenditures, managing your personal finances can be difficult.
That’s why there are financial applications that can make it much easier. PocketGuard, Mint, Clarity Money, YNAB, Good Budget, and Acorns are six of the best personal finance apps out there.
Now that you know each one’s features, be sure to pick the one that’s best for you.
If you found this article helpful, keep reading our blog for more apps that can make your life easier.