The short version
Wonderful, which we make, is not free: a free week, then $99 a year for two. For free, Honeydue is the only fully free budgeting app here, and it is made for couples. Goodbudget, EveryDollar and Rocket Money have free plans with limits. Empower, Credit Karma and NerdWallet are free but aren't full budgeting apps.
- 1
Wonderful: Not free: a free week, then $99 a year for two
- 2
Honeydue: Couples: the only fully free budgeting app here
- 3
Goodbudget: Envelopes: a free plan with limits
- 4
EveryDollar: Zero-based budgeting, free if you type in transactions
- 5
Empower Personal Dashboard: A free view of net worth and retirement
- 6
Rocket Money: Seeing your subscriptions and spending, free
- 7
Credit Karma: Free credit scores, with a light look at spending
- 8
NerdWallet: Free net worth and credit tracking
- 9
YNAB (You Need A Budget): A 34-day trial, then paid
- 10
Copilot Money: A 1-month trial, then paid
At a glance
| App | What is free | What the free side leaves out | Works on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wonderful | Nothing after the free week | Everything: there is no free plan after the free week[1] | Web |
| Honeydue | The whole app, with an optional tip | Nothing is held back. It is phone only, with no web app listed[6][9] | iPhone, Android |
| Goodbudget | A free plan | Bank sync, and caps of 10 + 10 envelopes, 1 account and 2 devices[13][14][18] | iPhone, Android, Web |
| EveryDollar | A free version, manual entry | Bank import: you type every transaction[22][23][24] | iPhone, Android, Web |
| Empower Personal Dashboard | The dashboard and its tools | Advisory services, which are paid; budgeting is only daily spending tracking[28] | iPhone, Android, Web |
| Rocket Money | A free plan, mobile only | Cancelling for you, unlimited budgets, net worth, goals and web access[34][35][37] | iPhone, Android (free plan) |
| Credit Karma | The app | No budget builder is described; state tax filing is $15[41][42] | iPhone, Android, Web |
| NerdWallet | The app | No category budgets are described[46][45] | iPhone, Android |
| YNAB (You Need A Budget) | Only the trial | Everything after the trial[49][52] | iPhone, Android, Web |
| Copilot Money | Only the trial | Everything after the trial[59][58] | iPhone, Web |
How we compared
"Free" means four different things in this category, and a page that mixes them up costs you time. So we separated them:
- A free app. Nothing to buy, no end date. Honeydue, Empower, Credit Karma and NerdWallet.
- A free plan with limits. No end date, but the useful parts cost money. Goodbudget, EveryDollar and Rocket Money.
- A free trial. Everything, for a set time, then you pay. YNAB, Copilot and Wonderful.
- A free first year or a refund window. Not free, and we say so where it applies.
For each we asked what the free side includes, what it leaves out, whether your bank connects for free, whether it is a phone app only, and how the app earns money if you don't pay. Every fact comes from the app's own pricing and help pages, its App Store and Google Play listings and their public reviews, read on October 27, 2026, and each is numbered to its source at the end. We haven't used these apps ourselves. Where a page didn't say, we say it didn't. The broader list, paid apps included, is best budgeting apps in 2026.
1. Not free: a free week, then $99 a year for two
Wonderful
$14.99/mo or $99/yr· Web
What it is
A budgeting app for couples who keep their own money, and for one person: each of you connects your own bank, chooses what the other sees, and every paycheck gets a plan.
Why it's on this list
We make Wonderful, and it is not free. There is a free week, plus more days for finishing parts of setup. A card is added to start it, nothing is charged until it ends, and then it is $99 a year or $14.99 a month for the household, one person or two. There is no free plan after the trial.
It is first because this page puts Wonderful first and we would rather say plainly that it isn't free than leave it out. It works for one person and for two: each paycheck gets a plan and your bank charges are sorted by category, as in the picture further down this card. If free is a hard requirement, skip to Honeydue.
Ideal for: One person or a couple who is willing to pay $99 a year for a plan on every paycheck, and wants to try it for a week first.
What it does
- Every paycheck gets a plan for bills, spending and saving before it lands.[3]
- Banks connect through Plaid and every charge is sorted into a category.[2][3]
- Mine, yours and ours: each charge counts for the person or the pair it belongs to.[3]
- Finds recurring charges and subscriptions, lists what's due before your next paycheck, and flags a bill that comes in higher than usual. It doesn't cancel them for you.[3]
- Texts you by iMessage when a bill is charged twice, a price goes up or a refund lands, and you can text it questions.[3]
- Savings goals show the month you'll reach them.[3]
- Net worth for each of you and for both, from the balances your banks send, with its line over time.[3]
- Life events like getting married come step by step, with the deadlines.[3]
Good
2. Couples: the only fully free budgeting app here
What it is
A free phone app for couples that shows both people's linked accounts, bills and budgets, with a choice of how much each person shares.
Why it's on this list
Honeydue is the only app here where the whole thing is free. Its help center says no features are behind a paywall, and it earns from optional tips of $1 to $10 a month. Each partner chooses per account what the other sees. It is a phone app; no web version is listed. Its reviews are the catch: many say accounts stopped syncing and support didn't answer.
Ideal for: Two people who want a free app on their phones and a choice about what the other sees.
What it does
- Shared view of linked bank account balances, loans and investments. The site says it connects "over 20,000 financial institutions across 5 countries."[5][9]
- Choose what your partner sees per account: balances and transactions, balances only, or nothing.[7]
- Monthly household spending limits for each category, with alerts as you and your partner get close.[9]
- Bill reminders that notify you or your partner when a payment is due.[5][9]
- Chat built into the app: send a quick reaction or ask your partner about a specific transaction.[5]
What the free version leaves out
Nothing, by Honeydue's own account. The things it doesn't have are in the cons above: no web app or Mac app is listed, and its Joint Cash account is waitlist only.
Good
Pricing
- Free[6]FreeHoneydue's help center says, "Honeydue is 100% free for everybody, and we don't block any features with a paywall."
- Monthly tip (optional)[6][9]Any amount from $1 to $10 a month through the App Store or Google Play. The help center says tips fund new features. The App Store lists $0.99 to $9.99.
- The whole app is free. The only paid thing is the optional tip, which can be changed or cancelled in the App Store or Google Play.[6]
“My husband and I have used this for years and genuinely love using it.”Read it where it was said ↗
3. Envelopes: a free plan with limits
Goodbudget
Free, or $10/mo or $80/yr· iPhone, Android, Web· App Store 4.6 (13,516)[18]
What it is
An envelope budgeting app for the web, iPhone and Android where you divide income into virtual envelopes and share the budget across devices.
Why it's on this list
Goodbudget's free plan is real and has no ads: 10 regular envelopes, 10 annual or goal envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices and 1 year of history. It is the envelope method on the web, iPhone and Android. A reviewer sums up the trade: free if you have 10 or fewer categories, otherwise you pay.
Ideal for: Someone who likes envelopes, can live inside the free limits and will enter transactions by hand.
What it does
- Envelope budgeting: you divide income into category envelopes, spend from the matching envelope and stop when it is empty, with no physical cash.[20]
- The free plan has 10 regular envelopes and 10 annual or goal envelopes; Premium removes the cap.[13][14]
- Syncs and shares a budget across iPhone, Android and the web, with data backed up to Goodbudget's website.[16][18]
- Automatic bank sync is a Premium feature and works with US banks only. The free plan is manual entry.[13][14]
- Reports in the app: spending by envelope (a pie chart), income versus spending, and debt progress; more reports on the web.[18]
What the free plan leaves out
- Automatic bank sync, which is Premium and US banks only. The free plan is manual entry.[13][14]
- More than 10 regular and 10 annual or goal envelopes, more than 1 account, more than 2 shared mobile devices (Premium allows 5) and more than 1 year of history (Premium keeps 7 years).[13][14]
- Email support. Free is community support.[13][14]
Good
Pricing
- Free[13][14]FreeCalled "Free Forever" on the page. 10 regular envelopes, 10 annual or goal envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices, 1 year of history, debt tracking, community support.
- Premium[13][14]$10 a month · $80 a yearAdds automatic bank sync (US banks only), unlimited envelopes and accounts, 5 devices, 7 years of history and email support.
“You have to pay for a subscription to link / auto sync bank accounts. Otherwise you’re manually inputting every transaction.”Read it where it was said ↗
4. Zero-based budgeting, free if you type in transactions
What it is
Ramsey Solutions' zero-based budgeting app: a free version where you type in transactions, and a paid version that imports them from your bank.
Why it's on this list
EveryDollar's free version can be used as long as you want and includes the budget itself: a monthly plan, unlimited categories, sinking funds, split transactions, bill due dates and live-person support. What it doesn't include is a bank connection. If you want one, Premium is $79.99 a year, and reviewers on the App Store say that is steep for an app aimed at people getting out of debt.
Ideal for: Someone who wants a zero-based plan and is willing to type in each transaction.
What it does
- Zero-based budgeting: plan every dollar before the month starts so income minus expenses equals zero.[23]
- Free: monthly budget, unlimited categories and line items, split transactions, due dates for bills, and savings goals for big purchases.[22][24]
- Sinking funds for future expenses, in the free version.[22][23]
- Premium imports transactions automatically from connected accounts. Ramsey says it uses Mastercard Connect and Plaid.[22]
- Premium plans spending around payday and bill due dates.[22][23]
What the free version leaves out
- Bank import. You type every transaction.[22][23]
- Premium also adds payday-based spending planning, custom reports, CSV export, a financial roadmap, net worth tracking and coaching.[22][23][24]
- Its Household option for two people sharing one budget: the plans page doesn't say whether it is free or Premium.[22][23]
Good
Not so good
- No bank import on the free version. You type every transaction.[22]
- Premium is $17.99 billed monthly, which is $215.88 over twelve months, against $79.99 billed yearly.[22]
- Rated 4.3 on Google Play, lower than the App Store's 4.7.[24][25]
- The plans page and the App Store show different Premium plans and prices.[22][24]
Pricing
- Free[22]FreeUsable as long as you want. Manual transaction entry, no bank import.
- Premium, monthly[22][24]$17.99 a monthBank import and the rest of Premium.
- Premium, yearly[22][24]$79.99 a yearShown by Ramsey as about $6.67 a month.
- Ramsey+, yearly[24]$129.99 a yearListed only as an in-app purchase on the App Store, along with Ramsey+ at $59.99 for three months. The plans page does not describe it.
- Premium includes a 14-day free trial, for new users only.[22]
- A free version you can use as long as you want. It has a monthly budget, unlimited categories, manual transactions, sinking funds, split transactions, bill due dates and live-person support. It does not import transactions from a bank.[22][23]
“Seems like a great application. 7 day trial was great. My only concern is $80.00 bucks year. To me, should be free in helping folks get out of debt. Not just 7 days.”Read it where it was said ↗
5. A free view of net worth and retirement
Empower Personal Dashboard
Free· iPhone, Android, Web· App Store 4.8 (421,639)[31]
What it is
A free dashboard and app that links your bank, card, loan and investment accounts to show net worth, spending and retirement scenarios, paid for by Empower's advisory services.
Why it's on this list
Empower's Personal Dashboard is free, and it covers things the others here don't: retirement and investment accounts, a retirement planner and a Fee Analyzer. It is a net worth tool first. The pages describe budgeting only as tracking daily spending, with no envelope, zero-based or per-category plan. It earns from its paid advisory services, so expect offers.
Ideal for: Someone who wants net worth, investments and retirement scenarios across many accounts, for free.
What it does
- Net worth: total holdings minus total debts, across accounts in one place, with the effect of paying down debt or saving more.[29]
- Retirement planner: compare retirement ages, see what goals such as college or travel need, and set up withdrawals.[30]
- Budgeting and cash flow: tracks daily spending and expenses; transactions are categorized automatically.[28]
- Portfolio analysis: performance, risk level and where your money is invested.[28]
- Fee Analyzer, to find hidden fees in investment accounts.[33]
What the free version leaves out
- Advisory services. Those are paid, with a fee based on the assets managed, and the free tools are offered next to them.[27][31]
- A budget plan. The pages describe tracking daily spending only.[28]
- A partner or joint view: nothing on the pages opened describes one.[27][28][29][30]
Good
- The dashboard and its tools are free.[28]
- Covers retirement and investment accounts, not just bank and card spending.[28][30]
- 4.8 stars on the App Store from 421,639 ratings, for the app that also serves retirement-plan users.[31]
- Includes a Fee Analyzer and a retirement planner that tests different retirement ages.[30][33]
Not so good
- Advisory services are paid for with a fee based on assets under management; the free tools are offered next to them.[27][28]
- The pages describe budgeting only as tracking daily spending; no envelope, zero-based or per-category plan is described.[28]
- Nothing on the pages opened describes a spouse, partner or joint view.[27][28][29][30]
- Its own pages give two different advisory minimums: $100,000 and more than $250,000.[27][28][30]
Pricing
- Personal Dashboard[28]Free"Nothing! The dashboard experience and financial tools are completely free."
- The dashboard and its financial tools are free. The high-yield cash account is described as having "no account fees, no minimums".[28]
“Don’t think the interface is up to modern standard. It is clunky, heavy, difficult to use and find transactions.”Read it where it was said ↗
6. Seeing your subscriptions and spending, free
What it is
An app that finds your subscriptions, can cancel them and negotiate bills for you, and tracks spending and budgets, with a free plan and two paid ones.
Why it's on this list
Rocket Money has a real free plan, mobile only. It links your accounts (not in real time), lists your subscriptions and upcoming bills, shows spending breakdowns and allows two custom category budgets. The paid side is where it makes money, and its price is a range you pick, so read the sign-up screen closely: some reviewers say they chose $7 and were charged $15.
Ideal for: Someone who wants to see where money goes and which subscriptions renew, on a phone, without paying.
What it does
- Finds recurring subscriptions in one place. On Premium, a team cancels them for you; its cost article says this usually takes 2 to 10 days. On Free you cancel them yourself.[34]
- Negotiates cable, phone and insurance bills for a success fee of 35% to 60% of the first year's savings.[34][35][36]
- Tracks upcoming bills, net income and spending, with automatic categories.[34]
- Custom budgets: two custom category budgets on Free, unlimited custom budgets and categories on Premium.[34]
- Premium adds transaction rules, splits, notes, tags, manual transactions and CSV export.[34]
What the free plan leaves out
- Cancelling subscriptions for you. On Free you cancel them yourself.[34][36]
- Unlimited custom budgets, transaction rules, splits, notes, tags, manual transactions and CSV export. The article's own table says Free allows "up to 3" custom category budgets while its text says two.[34]
- Net worth tracking, Financial Goals, real-time syncing and desktop web access.[34]
- Bill negotiation is not free either: Free and Premium members pay 35% to 60% of the first year's savings.[34][35]
Good
- A free plan exists and covers subscription tracking, bills and basic budgets.[34]
- Cancels subscriptions for you on Premium and negotiates bills.[34]
- Large installed base: 403K ratings on the App Store at 4.5 stars and 141K on Google Play at 4.5.[37][38]
- Premium is a sliding scale you pick yourself, with a 7-day trial.[34][35]
Not so good
- The price is not fixed: the learn article says $7 to $14 a month, the help center gives no numbers, and the App Store lists purchases from $2.99 to $9.99.[34][35][37]
- Bill negotiation costs 35% to 60% of the first year's savings for Free and Premium members.[34][35]
- On Free you cancel subscriptions yourself. Hands-off cancelling is Premium.[34][36]
- The free plan allows two custom category budgets, so a full budget needs Premium.[34]
Pricing
- Free[34]FreeMobile only. Tracks subscriptions and upcoming bills, with two custom category budgets.
- Premium[34][35][37]Pay what you think is fair, "typically $7 to $14 per month, subject to change," per the learn article. The help center says the price varies by platform and gives no numbers. The App Store lists Premium purchases from $2.99 to $9.99 without billing periods.
- Premium+[34][35][37]$15 a monthA fixed $15 a month plus tax. Adds Rowan, an AI assistant that works through text messages, and no fee on bill negotiation.
- The help center says new Premium members get a 7-day free trial, then the subscription continues at the price chosen at sign-up. The learn article states no trial.[34][35]
- A free plan exists. It links accounts (not in real time), tracks subscriptions but you cancel them yourself, tracks upcoming bills, and shows spending breakdowns.[34]
“I selected 7 dollars per month and it still charged me for 15”Read it where it was said ↗
7. Free credit scores, with a light look at spending
What it is
A free app for credit scores and reports that also tracks spending and net worth from your linked accounts.
Why it's on this list
Credit Karma is free and is a credit score app first. It does track spending and categorize transactions from linked accounts, and it has Cash Flow and net worth views. It is not a budget builder: its home page names none. Reviewers in October 2026 complain about ads and credit card offers, and about categories they set reverting.
Ideal for: Someone who mainly wants free credit scores and a light look at spending, not a budget.
What it does
- Free credit score, credit report and credit monitoring.[41]
- "Get insights into where your money goes by connecting your accounts."[41]
- Tracks monthly spending and automatically categorizes transactions.[42]
- Has Cash Flow and net worth views; the home page does not describe them.[41]
What the free app leaves out
- A budgeting tool: the home page names only Cash Flow and a net worth view.[41]
- State tax filing is $15; federal filing is $0 with Free Credit Karma Tax.[41][42]
- A paid tier, Credit Karma Plus, is described as gradually rolling out with no price given. Whether a partner can join isn't stated.[42]
Good
Not so good
- No budgeting tool is named on the home page; it lists only Cash Flow and a net worth view.[41]
- The home page does not say whether spending insights are free.[41]
- App Store reviewers in October 2026 complain about ads, notifications and credit card offers.[43]
- App Store reviewers in October 2026 say categories they set revert to others, some nightly.[43]
Pricing
- App[42]FreeListed as Free on the App Store.
“The ads and notifications are getting ridiculous.”Read it where it was said ↗
8. Free net worth and credit tracking
What it is
A free app from NerdWallet that tracks net worth and cash flow, sorts spending, and offers a cash account and automated investing.
Why it's on this list
NerdWallet's app is free to download, tracks net worth and sorts spending into needs, wants and savings, per the App Store listing. The NerdWallet page for the app describes it as a way to track wealth and invest and doesn't mention budgeting features. No category budgets or limits are described anywhere we read.
Ideal for: Someone who wants free net worth tracking, credit monitoring and a light split of spending.
What it does
- A net worth tracker that shows your finances in one view.[45]
- On the App Store: automatically sorts spending into needs, wants and savings.[46]
- Credit monitoring with alerts and an explanation of what affects your score.[46]
- Links accounts to show spending and transactions.[46]
What the free app leaves out
- Category budgets and limits: none are described on the pages opened.[45][46]
- A partner or shared view: the pages opened don't say whether one can join.
- The money side is optional and not free of strings: the Cash Account has a promotional boosted rate for new deposits and a standard 3.25% APY afterward, and NerdWallet discloses it gets referral fees from the broker-dealer.[46]
Good
Not so good
- nerdwallet.com/app describes the app as a way to track wealth and invest, and does not mention budgeting features for it.[45]
- No category budgets or limits are described on the pages opened.[45][46]
- The listing says privacy practices include tracking identifiers across other companies' apps and websites.[46]
- App Store reviewers in 2026 report lost data after accounts unlink, and a removed net worth graph.[47]
Pricing
- The App Store lists the app as Free with no in-app purchases shown.[46]
“...now that I can't see a net worth graph it's not as useful.”Read it where it was said ↗
9. A 34-day trial, then paid
What it is
A paid budgeting app built on a method: give every dollar a job before you spend it.
Why it's on this list
YNAB has no free plan. It is on this list for its trial: 34 days, with no card needed if you sign up on its site, though the App Store says 30 days. College students get a free 365-day trial with proof of enrollment. After that it is $14.99 a month or $109 a year.
Ideal for: Someone who wants a method and will use a 34-day trial to decide, or is a college student.
What it does
- The method: for every dollar, ask "What's it for?" Plan for now (before the next paycheck), for later (non-monthly bills like car repairs), and for ease (get a month ahead).[51]
- Bank import links accounts and brings in transactions automatically. Apple Card import is also listed.[50]
- Targets: set spending and savings goals per category and track progress at a glance.[50]
Good
- A written method, not just a tracker: the app is built around planning before spending.[51]
- One subscription covers up to six people at no extra cost.[49]
- A 34-day trial with no card when you sign up on the site, and a free 365-day trial for college students.[49]
- Rated 4.8 on the App Store (62K ratings) and 4.6 on Google Play (25.4K).[52][53]
Not so good
- No free plan after the trial.[49]
- Paid monthly it is $14.99, which is $179.88 over twelve months, against $109 billed annually.[49]
- The website says a 34-day trial and the App Store says 30 days.[49][52]
- The method asks you to plan each dollar before you spend it, which the company's method page presents as the whole point of the app.[51]
Pricing
“I really like YNAB but I think it’s too expensive.”Read it where it was said ↗
10. A 1-month trial, then paid
Copilot Money
$13/mo or $95/yr· iPhone, Web, Mac· App Store 4.8 (31K)[60]
What it is
A paid budgeting and net worth app for Apple devices and the web, with an AI money assistant and one plan that does everything.
Why it's on this list
Copilot has no free plan either; its FAQ says there is no permanent free tier. The App Store and the FAQ say new users get one month free, and the pricing page doesn't state a trial. Its website and the App Store show different prices, so check which one you are shown before the month ends.
Ideal for: Someone on Apple devices who wants to try a polished app for a month before paying.
What it does
- Money Assistant: an AI you can ask about your money. The page says it "always asks before acting." It can fix transactions, run instructions in the background and flag spending trends with budget suggestions. The App Store says it is available only on iPhone.[57][60]
- Connects to 16,000+ US institutions through read-only integrations, with direct links for Venmo, Apple Card and Coinbase.[59][60]
- Sorts transactions automatically, and the assistant can change a category or match a refund to its purchase. You can set your own categories with colors and emojis.[57][60]
Good
Not so good
- No Android app. The pages list iPhone, iPad, Mac and web only.[57][58][59]
- Sharing with a partner is not live. Households are marked "Coming soon."[57][58][59]
- No free plan after the trial.[59]
- The website and the App Store show different prices: $18 a month or $109 a year (shown as $9 a month) on the site, $13.00 and $95.00 on the App Store.[58][60]
Pricing
- Website, monthly[58]$18 a monthBilled monthly. The pricing page calls it "One simple plan" (checked in a browser 10/27).
- Website, yearly[58]$109 a yearShown as $9 a month, billed yearly, "instead of $119", and labeled a limited time offer.
- App Store, monthly[60]$13 a monthListed as $13.00 on the App Store, which is not what the pricing page shows.
- App Store, yearly[60]$95 a yearListed as $95.00 on the App Store.
“Mostly good, but slow to implement basic features. It feels like they did a sprint to launch and stopped improving it. Disappointed given the premium price point.”Read it where it was said ↗
Free trials of paid apps
Most of these apps have no free plan, so "free" here means a trial. If one appeals, set a reminder for the day before charging starts.
- YNAB (You Need A Budget): The pricing page says a 34-day free trial, no card needed when you sign up directly with YNAB. An app store sign-up may ask for card details. The App Store listing says a 30-day trial, not 34.[49][52]
- Copilot Money: The App Store and the FAQ say one month free for new users. The pricing page does not state a trial or whether a card is needed.[58][59][60]
- Monarch Money: The pricing page says "Your first week is on us." The App Store says the app is free to try for 7 days before a monthly or annual membership is billed. Neither says whether a card is needed.[62][63]
- EveryDollar: Premium includes a 14-day free trial, for new users only.[22]
- Rocket Money: The help center says new Premium members get a 7-day free trial, then the subscription continues at the price chosen at sign-up. The learn article states no trial.[34][35]
- PocketGuard: A 7-day free trial on each plan, "Try it free for 7 days".[73][74]
- Quicken Simplifi: "While we do not offer a free trial" there is a 30-day money-back guarantee from the original purchase date, for purchases made directly on Quicken.com.[84]
- Origin: Origin's blog says it offers no free trial, only the first-year price: "Try Origin for $1 for your first year." Whether a card is needed was not stated on the pages opened.[89]
- Wonderful: A free week, plus more days for finishing parts of setup. A card is added to start it and nothing is charged until it ends.[1]
EveryDollar and Rocket Money are on both lists: a free version, and a trial of Premium.
What's the catch
A free app has to earn money somewhere. Knowing where tells you what to expect.
- Honeydue: optional tips. The whole app is free. The only paid thing is the optional tip, which can be changed or cancelled in the App Store or Google Play.[6]
- Empower: Advisory services are paid: "Advisory fees are calculated based upon the amount of assets being managed." The percentage is in Empower Advisory Group's Form ADV, which was not opened.[27][31]
- NerdWallet: The Cash Account has a promotional boosted APY for new deposits, with a standard 3.25% APY afterward. NerdWallet discloses it gets referral fees from the broker-dealer, Atomic Brokerage.[46]
- Rocket Money: Bill negotiation: Free and Premium members pay 35% to 60% of the first year's savings, within a range they choose, and nothing if nothing is saved. After the first year they keep 100% of the savings. Premium+ members pay no fee.[34][35]
- Credit Karma: its pages read don't say how it earns. Its App Store reviews describe ads and credit card offers inside the app.[43]
- Goodbudget and EveryDollar: the paid plan, which is where bank sync lives. Goodbudget Premium is $10 a month or $80 a year, and EveryDollar Premium is $79.99 a year or $17.99 a month.[13][14][22][24]
Free ways to budget without an app
You don't need software to budget. A paper page, a notes file or a spreadsheet works, and none needs a bank login. Our free printable monthly budget template is one you can fill in tonight: income at the top, then fixed costs, then the rest. For ideas on what to put in each row, see budget categories. The trade is the same as with the manual apps above: you do the typing, and in return nothing is connected.
How to choose
Decide whether you will type in transactions. If you will, EveryDollar and Goodbudget are free for as long as you stay inside their limits. If you won't, the free options that connect to a bank are Honeydue, Rocket Money, Empower, Credit Karma and NerdWallet, and each gives up something else.
Choose Honeydue if you:
- Are two people and want it free
- Want to choose what your partner sees
- Are fine with a phone app and some sync problems
Choose Goodbudget if you:
- Like envelopes
- Can stay within 10 + 10 envelopes and 1 account
- Don't mind entering transactions
Choose EveryDollar if you:
- Want a zero-based plan
- Will type in transactions
- Might pay $79.99 a year later for bank import
Choose Empower Personal Dashboard if you:
- Want net worth and retirement scenarios
- Are fine with offers from an advisory firm
- Don't need a budget plan
Choose Rocket Money if you:
- Want to see your subscriptions for free
- Will cancel them yourself
- Use your phone, not a computer
Choose Wonderful if you:
- Are willing to pay $99 a year
- Want every paycheck planned
- Want it to work for one person or two
Where Wonderful fits, and where it doesn't
If free is a requirement, Wonderful is the wrong answer: it has a free week and no free plan, and Honeydue or the free plans above will serve you better. If you are willing to pay $99 a year for the household, Wonderful plans each paycheck, connects your bank through Plaid, and works for one person or two. It runs in the browser only, with no iPhone or Android app yet, and it gives no investment advice. See the full list of budgeting apps, Wonderful vs Honeydue and budgeting apps for couples.
Questions people ask
What is the best free budgeting app?
For two people, Honeydue: it is free, with no features behind a paywall and an optional tip. For one person who will type in transactions, EveryDollar's free version or Goodbudget's free plan. If you want a free bank connection, Rocket Money's free plan links accounts. None of these is a full bank-connected budget at no cost.
Is there a free budgeting app with no catch?
Honeydue is the closest. Its help center says it is 100% free with no feature behind a paywall, and it asks for an optional monthly tip of $1 to $10. The catch is that it is a phone app only, and many App Store reviewers say accounts stopped syncing. Every other free plan here has limits.
Is there a free budgeting app that connects to my bank?
Yes. Honeydue, Rocket Money's free plan, Empower's dashboard, Credit Karma and NerdWallet link your accounts for free. Rocket Money's free plan doesn't sync in real time. EveryDollar and Goodbudget keep bank sync for their paid plans, so their free versions mean typing in every transaction.
Is Rocket Money free?
It has a free plan and two paid ones. The free plan links accounts, tracks subscriptions and bills, shows spending breakdowns and allows two custom category budgets, on mobile only. Premium is typically $7 to $14 a month, which you choose, and Premium+ is $15 a month.
Is EveryDollar free?
Yes, the free version has no end date. It has a monthly budget, unlimited categories, sinking funds and split transactions, but no bank import. Premium is $79.99 billed yearly or $17.99 a month, with a 14-day trial for new users.
Is Goodbudget free?
Yes. The free plan has 10 regular envelopes, 10 annual or goal envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices and 1 year of history, and you enter transactions by hand. Premium is $10 a month or $80 a year, and adds bank sync for US banks.
What is the best free budgeting app for couples?
Honeydue is free and made for two, with a choice per account of what your partner sees. Goodbudget's free plan shares a budget across 2 mobile devices. EveryDollar has a Household option, but its page doesn't say whether it is free. Our couples roundup compares the paid ones too.
What is the difference between a free plan and a free trial?
A free plan has no end date and has limits. A trial gives you the whole app for a set time, then asks for payment. YNAB's trial is 34 days, Copilot's is 1 month, and Wonderful's is a free week. Check whether a card is needed and the date charging starts.
Which free budgeting apps work on iPhone and Android?
Honeydue, Goodbudget, EveryDollar, Empower, Rocket Money's free plan and Credit Karma have iPhone and Android apps. NerdWallet's listing covers both stores too. Honeydue is phone only, and Rocket Money's free plan is mobile only.
How do free budgeting apps make money?
Honeydue asks for optional tips. Empower earns from paid advisory services based on assets managed. NerdWallet's Cash Account discloses referral fees. Rocket Money charges for Premium and takes 35% to 60% of the first year's savings from Free and Premium members when it negotiates a bill. Credit Karma's pages read don't say.
Can I budget for free without an app?
Yes. A paper page or a spreadsheet works, and neither needs a bank login. Our free printable monthly budget template walks through one: income at the top, then fixed costs, then the rest.
Sources
93 sources · read October 27, 2026
Every number on this page comes from wonderful.money, honeydue.com, support.honeydue.com and 21 more. If a source has changed since, the source is right.
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App names are trademarks of their owners; Wonderful isn't connected with them. Wonderful gives general information. It isn't a financial or tax advisor.