Did you know that money continues to be the leading cause of stress for Americans?
Whether you’re drowning in debt, trying to get your emergency fund together, or interested in keeping all your finances in one place, this is YOUR year to become a master money manager.
You don’t need money to be your top source of stress!
And, fortunately, you don’t need fancy software or expensive financial advice to become a successful money manager. You just need a smartphone and the right apps.
Let’s get to our top recommendations.
1. Mint
Chances are, you’ve heard of this all-in-one money manager. There’s a reason Mint is one of the most popular websites and app money managers on the market.
First of all, it’s entirely free. Yep, all of it.
Other awesome perks include:
- Organizing all bills and accounts in one place
- Creating personalized budgets
- Getting bill payment and budget alerts
- Receiving alerts for unusual charges
- Encrypted data
People love Mint for its easy-to-use platform and “scannable” access. All you need to do is check the app on a regular basis to scan your budgets and bills- sit back and watch your money grow!
Mint is available for both iOS and Android.
2. Personal Capital
It’s another fan favorite among successful money managers, and for a good reason. Personal Capital, similar to Mint, allows you to track all your accounts and bills in one place.
Personal Capital has a free version available to anyone. They also offer premium financial management if you’re interested in personalized services and investment management.
Personal Capital includes:
- Portfolio analysis and investment checkup
- Full account linking to see net worth
- Retirement planning advice
- Budget planning and tracking
If you manage many different investments, Personal Capital is, hands-down, one of the best money manager services out there.
Personal Capital is available for both iOS and Android.
3. You Need a Budget
Want to be a successful and lucrative money manager? You first need to know where your money goes.
Think of You Need a Budget (fans like to call it YNAB) as your personal money manager.
All you need to do is input your monthly expenses and bills and your income, and it tells you how much you need to save.
It’s simple, especially for those just starting out on their financial journey. Free trials are available. After completing your trial, you will be billed $6.99 per month, billed annually at $83.99.
You Need a Budget is available for both iOS and Android.
4. GoodBudget
GoodBudget is a money manager app for people who are just beginning to follow a budget related to their cash flow.
Ever heard of the envelope cash system? GoodBudget is basically a digital form of this model.
Download the app, and then you will divide your monthly budget into various categories like your rent, student loans, phone bill, and entertainment. You can even set up recurring payments for consistent bills.
GoodBudget is an excellent tool in helping you understand your spending habits- especially if you’re constantly wondering where all your money is going.
It’s also great for freelancers or part-time workers, as the app has an “irregular” option where you can track income that isn’t necessarily routine.
Currently, GoodBudget is available for both iOS and Android. It costs $45 per year for unlimited categories. You can also sync up to five devices and save up to five years of history.
5. Level
This is a different kind of cool money manager app that will ultimately help you save more money.
You start by downloading the app and syncing your checking and savings accounts. The tool will then calculate how much you have left in your account after what you’ve purchased that day.
It then takes that data and uses your average daily spend to estimate how much you can approximately spend in the next week and month.
If there’s not enough money to continue your current spending plan, the app will let you know.
This is a great tool for tracking your money and checking out your spending habits. After all, nothing is more jarring than a financial app telling you that you’re going to run out of cash if you keep buying your daily lunch.
Level is free and available for both iOS and Android.
6. LearnVest
LearnVest is a popular money manager app that gives you a financial plan, access to a financial planner, and the right tools to make appropriate financial decisions.
LearnVest advertises itself for providing professional, financial advice at a fraction of the cost for what you’d pay for such financial services.
There’s a $299 one-time setup fee and $19 monthly fee for on-going support.
After purchasing the plan, you will fill out your Smart Profile. Then, you will meet with your planner to collaborate on your personal money goals. You’ll then receive a customized program providing a total, comprehensive view of your financial picture.
You’ll then simply need to follow the step-by-step instructions for making financial progress. Your planner is always an email away for any questions or concerns.
This is a great app for people looking to seriously improve their financial health or couples and families looking to achieve short-term and long-term goals.
Learnvest is available on both iOs and Android.
7. Wallaby
Want your money manager to help maximize your money? Who doesn’t? Wallaby does that for you, and they do it by simplifying your purchasing process by honing in on credit card rewards.
Chances are, you have more than one credit card in your wallet. And, chances are, you know some of them give you rewards, but it’s too much work to keep track.
This app stays on top of card rewards, changing interest rates, increased fees, and better credit.
Wallaby holds all your cards and spending data in the cloud- they also check for suspicious or potentially fraudulent behavior and unusual increases in spending.
With Wallaby, you can be the best money manager and optimize every purchase. Here’s to more cash back!
Wallaby is available for both iOS and Android.
8. Dollarbird
It’s one of the sleekest money manager apps on the market. Dollarbird is a calendar-based personal finance tool. It allows you add past, present, and future transactions and categorize them with the assistance of artificial intelligence.
With this app, you’ll see exactly where your money goes and be able to watch how your balance evolves. This will ideally help you become smarter and more effective with your spending.
You can also share calendars to collaborate on joint budgets with partners or other family members. It’s also good if you have multiple income streams coming in, as you can track all your various cash.
DollarBird starts with a free version, where you get access to one calendar. Want to share calendars? With the pro version at $39.99 per year, you’ll have access to sharing 20 calendars among three team members.
Dollarbird is available on both iOS and Android.
9. Fudget
The best money manager is the one that’s intuitive and straightforward to use. Fudget is a fast and simple alternative to all the fancy, complicated personal finance apps.
You don’t have to worry about categories or charts. This is just a basic simple tracking tool.
You’ll be able to create lists of expenses and income. You can indicate if you want an income or expense to repeat in future budgets. You can use monthly, weekly, or in whatever format you want.
If budgeting overwhelms you, download this app. You’ll be a pro money manager in no time!
Fudget is available on both iOs and Android.
10. Penny
Penny works as a personal finance coach in the form of a money manager. With Penny, you receive tailored charts telling you exactly where your money is going in real-time.
Penny also identifies spending across all of your accounts and categories your transactions into just four simple categories.
Whenever you open the app, Penny will “chat” with you about your finances: she’ll let you know how you’re doing each month, give you a forecast of where she expects you to be next month, and can even help you cancel your subscriptions!
Penny makes managing your money fun! It’s also incredibly secure, using bank-grade security to protect all your financial information.
Penny is currently free and available for download on both iOS and Android.
Final Thoughts on Selecting Your Money Manager App
Like everything else that comes with personal finance, you’ll need to find the right money app that works for you.
Remember, the best tool is the one that you’re actually going to use. With so many free and affordable option on the market, you owe it to yourself to see where your money is going.
It’s the ultimate way to financial freedom and peace of mind, and who doesn’t want that?!
Which of these apps have you tried? Which one is your favorite? Leave us a comment below!
