10 Fabulous Free Apps to Keep Your Finances in Check: The Best Budgeting Tools of 2021

Are you tired of constantly worrying about your finances? Do you want to keep more money in your pocket and less stress on your mind? Look no further than these 10 fabulous free apps that will keep your finances in check.

From budgeting tools to investment trackers, these apps have everything you need to manage your money and stay on top of your finances. No matter your financial goals, there is an app on this list for you.

Interested in a user-friendly interface that will make tracking your expenses a breeze? Try the Mint app. Or, perhaps you want an app that will help you maximize your savings? Check out Acorns. Whatever your needs may be, this list has got you covered.

So, don't wait any longer to start taking control of your finances. Download these apps today and watch as your bank account grows and your worries disappear. You won't regret it!

Introduction

Managing your finances is an essential aspect of living a comfortable life. With the rise of technology, numerous budgeting and financial management apps have been introduced to the market. These free finance apps are meant to help you keep track of your expenses, save money and ultimately achieve your budgeting goals. In this article, we will discuss ten free budgeting tools that are worth checking out.

Mint

Mint offers a detailed view of your finances by consolidating all accounts in one place. This app features easy-to-use budgeting tools, bill reminders, and fraud alerts. It also provides credit score monitoring, which helps improve your credit rating. Mint offers financial tips and advice on best practices to manage your finances.

Pros

Connects multiple bank accounts in one app
Automatically categorizes spending
Offers advice and budget tracking tools

Cons

You may receive spam mail from advertisers based on your transactions.
Annoying hard sells for products or subscription-based services

Personal Capital

More than just a budgeting tool, Personal Capital enables investors to track their net worth, check retirement readiness, and easily balance their investments. It also offers personalized investment advice and insights into economic outcomes, facilitating well-informed investment decisions.

Pros

Features Retirement Planning calculators
Portfolio Management service available with >$100k invested
Free access to top-rated financial advisors

Cons

Expensive management fees for human advisors (>0.89%)
No active budgeting features

You Need a Budget (YNAB)

This budgeting app is designed to help you save money, clear debts, and meet your financial goals. YNAB incentivizes better financial decisions by encouraging users to be accountable for their expenses. It also offers courses on how to use the app, with numerous instructional videos and classes.

Pros

Strong educational programs available
Powerful budget-tracking tools to nudge users towards wiser spending habits
Flexible goals and targets can be set

Cons

Expensive monthly subscription fees after initial free trial
Limited compatibility with investment portfolios or mortgage payments

PocketGuard

This mobile finance app reflects your current financial position, accounting for balances, upcoming bills, and spending habits. It keeps track of recurring bills and reminds you about impending payments, regardless of the account you maintain them.

Pros

Easy and logical to use, suitable for beginners
Real-time tracking of expenses and budgets combined ensures effortless spending habits
Personalized financial insights and advice based on your cash flow

Cons

Service cannot monitor or organize investments or other accounts
Ads can become intrusive
Basic plan provides only limited features

Wally

Wally is a finance management tool that simplifies expense tracking and budgeting. The app allows users to log expenses by taking pictures of their receipts or manually inputting them. Wally automatically tracks spending in various categories, making it easier to analyze yet also provides visual diagrams of how the money is spent.

Pros

Easy -to-use interface with a sleek design
Features foreign currency support,
Generates custom email reports every month summarizing expenses and savings

Cons

Lacks investment management features
No automatic syncing with bank accounts

Money Manager Expense & Budget (Android)

Money Manager aims to help users monitor their cash flow using easy-to-read charts and graphs. This app can group expenses in customizable categories, allowing you to track expenses quickly. Money Manager also has features for managing income, adding reminders, and setting financial goals.

Pros

Eases expenses tracking on-the-go with automatic syncing to your smart device's native camera
Customizable widgets provide quick access to transactions
Provides customizable charts and graphs to highlight spending habits

Cons

No debt tracking features
Bank account integration can be unreliable

PocketBook

PocketBook allows you to link all of your bank and credit card accounts to track your expenses automatically. The app provides an overview of your total balances and allows you to monitor them over time. Additionally, it categorizes all transactions from your linked account automatically while maintaining the ability to manually tag and customize your expenses.

Pros

Data encryption for optimum security
Suitable for both personal and business finance management
No ads or in-app marketing

Cons

The app requires access to and control over all of your bank accounts,
Outdated interface designs

Mvelopes

Mvelopes is an online budgeting tool that utilizes a simple system of electronic envelopes. These envelopes represent different spending categories, such as groceries, utilities, and entertainment. Users can fund each envelope with their monthly budgets, ensuring the right amount is spent in each category

Pros

Enforcement of targeted spending habits by facilitating money management through physical categories
Manual mobile upload to ease expense tracking
Real-time transaction syncing and debt payoff planning

Cons

User interface design issues The initial setup may be time-consuming
No investment management features.

Acorns

Acorns app invests your spare change from purchases made using connected debit/credit cards. This bit of change is invested into an appropriate bond or ETF portfolio based on your risk tolerance. It allows you to invest small amounts through automated investing, which might be best suited for beginners who don't have a lot of wealth but seek gradual investment growth.

Pros

Facilitates automatic roundup investments
Mobile notification alert for investors
No account minimum balance requirement

Cons

The app charges relatively high management fees compared to other apps
Might not be suitable for those seeking direct investment control

Zeta

Zeta aims to make financial management easier for couples. It enables partners to share budgets, track expenses, and monitor their joint account balances easily. Users can view various budgets simultaneously or independently and categorize all transactions, thus allowing couples to plan goals together.

Pros

Customizable label and group privileges
Joint expense tracking feature
Secure communication in Clio Chat

Cons

Does not have an encryption feature
Limited functionality for individual accounts with regards to investment

Conclusions

In conclusion, financial apps save time and money by providing a simplified and systematic way of monitoring your financial accounts on-the-go. However, it is crucial to choose the right app that fits your unique needs before deciding. According to our analysis, Mint, Personal Capital, and You Need A Budget (YNAB) are powerful budgeting tools that enable detailed tracking of your expenses and grow your savings. For those looking to get started with investing, choose between either Acorns or Personal Capital. Finally, if you're looking to manage your finances as a couple, Zeta is currently the best free finance app available.

Thank you for taking the time to read about our top 10 budgeting tools of 2021. We hope this article was helpful and informative in providing insights into the latest apps available for managing personal finances.

From tracking expenses to creating budgets, these free apps offer a range of features to help individuals keep their finances in check. Whether you are new to budgeting or an experienced investor, there is something for everyone on this list.

Remember, managing your finances can be simplified with the right tools. By using budgeting apps, you can gain insights into your spending habits, stay on top of bills, and achieve your financial goals. So, what are you waiting for? Download one of these fabulous free apps today and take control of your finances!

Here are some of the most common questions people ask about the 10 Fabulous Free Apps to Keep Your Finances in Check: The Best Budgeting Tools of 2021:

What are the best free budgeting apps?

There are many great free budgeting apps available, including Mint, PocketGuard, and Personal Capital.

Are these budgeting apps safe to use?

Yes, these apps are all safe to use. They use bank-level security measures to protect your financial information.

Do I need to connect my bank accounts to these apps?

Connecting your bank accounts to these apps is optional, but it can help you get a more complete picture of your finances.

Can I use these apps to create a budget?

Yes, all of these apps have budgeting features that allow you to create and track a budget.

Do these apps offer investment tracking?

Some of these apps, such as Personal Capital and Mint, offer investment tracking features.

Can I use these apps to track my credit score?

Yes, some of these apps, such as Credit Karma and Credit Sesame, offer credit score tracking.

Do these apps have mobile versions?

Yes, all of these apps have mobile versions for both iOS and Android.

Are there any fees associated with these apps?

No, all of these apps are completely free to use.

Can I use these apps to pay bills?

Some of these apps, such as Mint and PocketGuard, offer bill payment features.

Do these apps offer customer support?

Yes, all of these apps offer customer support via email or chat.