On this page
- The short verdict
- Free options at a glance
- Goodbudget
- EveryDollar
- Rocket Money
- Empower
- Spreadsheets
- Credit Karma and bank tools
- How free apps make money
- How to choose
- When paying makes sense
- Three simple methods to use with a free tool
- Set up a free budget in an hour
- When a paid plan beats a free one
- A note on keeping it simple
- Final take
After Mint closed in early 2024, many people noticed how hard it is to find a budgeting app that is both free and complete. The honest answer is that free plans exist, but each one leaves something out. Understanding what is missing helps you pick the one whose limit matters least to you.
The short verdict
For envelope-style budgeting at no cost, try Goodbudget. For a free way to find forgotten subscriptions, use Rocket Money’s free plan. For free net worth and investment tracking, choose Empower. For total control and no account linking, build a spreadsheet.
Free options at a glance
Prices on this page are rounded list prices checked in 2026 from published sources. Apps change prices, trial lengths and plan names often, so confirm the current price on the app’s own site before you subscribe.
| Option | What is free | What you give up |
|---|---|---|
| Goodbudget | Envelope budgeting, limited envelopes and devices | Bank syncing and more accounts (check current paid price; published exact price page is dated 2020) |
| EveryDollar | Plan-first budgeting with manual entry | Bank syncing on paid plan (verify current pricing and annual renewal) |
| Rocket Money | Account linking, spending view, subscription list | Premium price is user-selected and varies by platform/offer; check signup price |
| Empower | Net worth and investment dashboard | Detailed category budgeting |
| Spreadsheet | Everything, if you build it | Automatic imports |
Goodbudget
Goodbudget uses the envelope method. You decide how much money goes into each envelope for a month, such as groceries or fuel, and you record spending against it. The free version has limits on the number of accounts, envelopes and devices, and you enter transactions manually. That manual step is also what makes it effective for people who want to be aware of every purchase. Premium adds more capacity for a yearly fee.
EveryDollar
EveryDollar is a plan-first app from Dave Ramsey’s company. You set a budget before the month starts, and the free version needs manual entry. The paid version connects to your bank, and its price is lower than YNAB’s. It suits people who like Ramsey’s approach, which includes paying off debt step by step.
Rocket Money
Rocket Money’s free plan links to your accounts, shows your spending and lists recurring subscriptions. It limits how many cancellations you can request through the app, and Premium adds concierge cancellation and other tools. It is best used as a free audit of your recurring charges. See Rocket Money vs Monarch.
Empower
Empower’s free personal dashboard shows your net worth and investment accounts. It is not designed for detailed budgeting, and many people use it with another tool. It is a strong choice if you mainly want to see how your savings and investments are doing.
Spreadsheets
A free spreadsheet can do everything a basic budgeting app does. Create tabs for income, fixed bills, flexible spending and savings goals, update it weekly from your bank’s transaction list and review it monthly. You control your data and never link accounts. The cost is time, since every transaction is entered by you or pasted from a bank download.
Credit Karma and bank tools
Credit Karma is free and useful for credit monitoring, but it is not a budgeting replacement. Some banks and credit unions also include free spending trackers in their apps, which can be a convenient place to start if you do not want to link accounts to a third party.
How free apps make money
Free apps usually earn money from upgrades, financial product offers or both. That does not make them bad, but it explains why some limits exist. Read what the app asks you to share, decline marketing offers you do not want and check which features become paid after a trial.
How to choose
- You want to be aware of every purchase: Goodbudget or free EveryDollar.
- You want automatic tracking at no cost: Rocket Money’s free plan or Empower.
- You do not want to link accounts: a spreadsheet.
- You may want to upgrade later: any of the above, since each has a paid tier.
When paying makes sense
If you give up on free tools because of manual entry, a low-cost paid app may save you more than it costs. Our Mint alternatives page covers cheaper paid options, and YNAB alternatives shows plan-first choices.
Three simple methods to use with a free tool
The envelope method: set a monthly amount for each category and stop spending when it is used up. The 50/30/20 guide: aim for about half of take-home pay on needs, 30% on wants and 20% on savings and debt, adjusting for your costs. Zero-based planning: give every dollar of income a purpose before the month starts. Any free app or spreadsheet can support these, so pick the method first and the tool second.
Set up a free budget in an hour
- List your monthly take-home income.
- Write down fixed bills such as rent, utilities, insurance and loan payments.
- Estimate flexible spending on groceries, fuel, dining and fun.
- Add a small savings goal, even if it is only a few dollars.
- Enter these into your chosen app or sheet and check that the total matches your income.
- Set a weekly ten-minute time to update and review.
When a paid plan beats a free one
Consider the value of your time. If manual entry takes an hour a month and you give up after two months, the free plan has cost you the habit. A paid app at about $48 to $100 a year works out to a few dollars a month. If it keeps you budgeting, it is cheap. If you are not sure, use a free plan or trial first and upgrade only after you have stuck with it for a month.
A note on keeping it simple
The most common reason people stop budgeting is complexity. With a free tool, keep your categories few and broad, such as housing, food, transport, bills, savings and fun, and refine only when you need to. A simple plan you follow beats a detailed one you drop.
Final take
Free works if you pick the limit you can live with. Manual entry is the common price of a free plan, and it can even help. Start with one app for a month, and move to a paid plan only if the missing feature keeps getting in your way.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free budgeting app?
It depends on what you need. Goodbudget is good for free envelope budgeting, Rocket Money’s free plan is good for subscriptions, and Empower is good for free net worth and investment tracking.
Do free budgeting apps link to my bank?
Some do, such as Rocket Money and Empower. Others, such as the free versions of EveryDollar and Goodbudget, ask you to enter transactions by hand.
Are free budgeting apps safe?
Reputable apps use encryption and read-only bank connections, but you should read the privacy policy and use two-factor authentication. Free apps often earn money from upgrades or offers.
Is a spreadsheet better than a free app?
It can be if you want full control and do not mind manual updates. It costs nothing and does not require linking your accounts.
Official sources and references
Use these first-party pages to verify current plans, prices, features and eligibility. Offers and terms can change by country, billing period and date; confirm the details that apply to you before buying. Links below are provider documentation, not independent endorsements.