Best Budgeting Apps in 2025: Top Picks for Every Money Style

Best overall picks

  • YNAB: Zero‑based method that assigns every rupee/dollar to a job; great for proactive planners who want discipline and cash‑flow clarity.
  • Monarch Money: Customizable dashboards, multi‑user support, clean net‑worth and cash‑flow views; a popular Mint replacement with strong reviews in 2025 roundups.
  • Simplifi by Quicken: Easy setup, strong bill/income projection and category rules; editor’s choice in tech reviews as a Mint successor.
  • Rocket Money: Automated spend tracking plus subscription and bill‑negotiation tools; strong “best overall” nods for saving on recurring bills.
  • Copilot: Polished iOS‑first experience with powerful categorization and progress tracking, favored by users who want automation plus manual control.

Great Mint replacements

  • Empower (formerly Personal Capital): Free budgeting with superior investment and net‑worth tracking; useful for households with multiple brokerage accounts.
  • Tiller: Spreadsheet‑based automation for Google Sheets/Excel; ideal for power users who want full control and auditability over categories and rules.
  • PocketGuard: Simple “In My Pocket” spend guardrails; a common free alternative with import tools for ex‑Mint users.

Best for couples and envelopes

  • Goodbudget: Digital envelopes that encourage intentional spending; lightweight and ad‑free approach praised in many lists.
  • Honeydue: Joint budget and bill tracking for couples with shared views and alerts.

India-focused options

  • Walnut: SMS‑based expense capture, bill reminders, and splits; strong for UPI‑era tracking without heavy setup.
  • ET Money and INDmoney: Combine spending insights with investments, insurance, and credit score tools for an all‑in‑one Indian personal finance stack.

How to choose quickly

  • Want the most control? Pick YNAB or Tiller for rule‑based or spreadsheet‑based zero‑based budgeting.
  • Want automation and savings on bills? Choose Rocket Money or Simplifi for subscription cleanup and proactive cash‑flow projections.
  • Want a Mint-like all‑rounder? Choose Monarch or Empower for strong net‑worth and investment views with clean interfaces.
  • Budgeting with a partner? Try Goodbudget or Honeydue for shared envelopes and coordination.
  • In India with UPI/SMS tracking? Start with Walnut or ET Money for frictionless spend capture and local integrations.

FAQs

  • Are there good free apps post‑Mint? Empower and PocketGuard offer solid free tiers; Rocket Money has a free plan with optional paid features.
  • What’s the best Mint replacement? Tech reviewers often recommend Simplifi or Monarch for ease and depth; Empower suits those prioritizing investments.
  • Which works offline or with spreadsheets? Tiller automates Sheets/Excel; Money Manager and Walnut (India) allow manual/offline workflows.
  • Which is best for strict budgeting? YNAB’s zero‑based method is consistently top‑rated for creating and sticking to a plan.

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