Best Free Budgeting Apps 2026

Managing your money shouldn't cost you money. In 2026, there are more free budgeting tools than ever, each with different strengths. Here's a breakdown of the best free budgeting apps available right now.

1. Mint (Credit Karma Budget)

After Intuit sunset the original Mint, Credit Karma absorbed its budgeting features. The new version automatically categorizes transactions, tracks spending against budgets, and monitors your credit score — all for free.

• Best for: people who want automatic tracking with minimal effort
• Pros: auto-categorization, credit score monitoring, bill reminders
• Cons: ads for financial products, occasional miscategorization

2. EveryDollar (Free Version)

Created by Ramsey Solutions, EveryDollar follows zero-based budgeting principles. The free version requires manual transaction entry, which proponents argue makes you more aware of spending.

• Best for: zero-based budgeting fans who want simplicity
• Pros: clean interface, drag-and-drop budget creation, goal tracking
• Cons: no bank syncing on free tier, limited reporting

3. PocketGuard

PocketGuard answers the question "How much can I spend today?" It connects to your accounts, factors in bills and savings goals, and shows your "In My Pocket" amount — the money truly available for discretionary spending.

• Best for: people who overspend and need a simple daily spending limit
• Pros: "In My Pocket" feature, automatic bill detection, subscription tracking
• Cons: some features locked behind Plus subscription

4. Goodbudget

Goodbudget is a digital envelope budgeting app. You create virtual envelopes for each category and allocate income into them. When an envelope is empty, you stop spending in that category.

• Best for: couples who want to share a budget and envelope budgeting fans
• Pros: syncs across devices, envelope system, shareable with a partner
• Cons: free tier limited to 10 envelopes, manual entry required

5. Fudget

Fudget is the simplest app on this list — essentially a financial notepad. You add income and expenses line by line and it shows your running balance. No bank connections, no categories.

• Best for: people who find most budgeting apps overwhelming
• Pros: dead simple, no account creation needed, works offline
• Cons: no automation, no reports, very basic

6. Google Sheets / Excel Templates

Don't overlook the power of a good spreadsheet. Free budget templates from Tiller, Vertex42, and Google's template gallery give you complete control at zero cost.

• Best for: people who want total customization and data ownership
• Pros: completely free, infinitely customizable, no data sharing
• Cons: requires manual entry, steeper learning curve

How to Choose the Right App

• Want automatic tracking? Credit Karma Budget or PocketGuard
• Prefer manual control? EveryDollar or Fudget
• Budgeting with a partner? Goodbudget
• Want maximum customization? Spreadsheets

Tips for Success With Any App

The best budgeting app is the one you'll actually use. Check your budget at least weekly, adjust categories when they're consistently wrong, and give any new app at least two full months before deciding if it works for you.