Let’s face it. Sometimes, you just need to go shopping. Sometimes, you gotta treat yo self. And then sometimes, you need a little extra help keeping track of your spending. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of the best apps for personal expense tracking—so you can keep an eye on your budget and get the most out of your money by managing it effectively!
Whether you’re looking for an app that will allow you to check your credit score, manage your investments or savings account, or make sure you’re not spending too much on those Postmates deliveries (we’ve all been there), there’s something out there that will help you take charge of your finances and get right with your budget.
Table of Contents
Best Apps For Personal Expense Tracking
Tracking your spending is often the first step in getting your finances in order. By understanding what you spend money on and how much you spend, you can see exactly where your cash is going and areas where you can cut back.
It’s easy to make this part of your everyday routine thanks to expense tracker apps that help you manage your money on the go. These apps certainly overlap with budgeting apps, but while the latter provide a big-picture view of your finances, expense tracker apps put more of an emphasis on your spending. These apps usually categorize your expenses and help you get a good idea of your purchasing behavior.
Whether you want an expense tracker app that easily captures all your transaction data, one that automates the expense reporting process at your job or one that holds you accountable by requiring you to manually input each one of your transactions, there’s an app out there for you.
To determine which expense tracker apps are the best overall, Select reviewed and compared over a dozen apps, looking at their pricing and features. To rank the top five, we only considered apps that focus on expenses, come with low (or no) cost to sign up, are easy to use and can be accessed on multiple devices. We favored those that have a considerable number of user reviews and high ratings.
The five apps we selected for this ranking are either free, offer a free version or have a free trial for users to test out before signing up. They have tens of thousands of reviews in the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android) combined, as well as a rating of 4 stars (out of 5) or higher on both platforms.
Below, Select reviews the top five expense tracker apps. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best expense tracker apps.)
Best expense tracker apps
Best overall free app: Mint
Best app for beginners: Goodbudget
Best app for serious budgeters: You Need a Budget (YNAB)
Best app for small business owners: QuickBooks Online
Best app for business expenses: Expensify
Expense tracker app FAQs
What is the best way to track your expenses?
Should I use an expense tracker app?
Best overall free app
Mint
Mint
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Information about Mint has been collected independently by CNBC and has not been reviewed or provided by Mint prior to publication.
Cost
Free
Standout features
Shows income, expenses, savings goals, credit score, investments, net worth
Categorizes your expenses
Yes, but users can modify
Links to accounts
Yes, bank and credit cards
Availability
Offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
Security features
Verisign scanning, multi-factor authentication and Touch ID mobile access
See our methodology, terms apply.
Pros
Free to use
Syncs to your bank accounts and credit cards
Users can create savings goals, track investments
Customized alerts when over budget, for large transactions, ATM fees, etc.
Bill payment reminders
Credit monitoring service
Offers blog and education tools, such as a loan repayment calculator
Security features include Verisign scanning, multi-factor authentication and Touch ID mobile access
Cons
Some user reviews complain of ads, glitches in app, expenses assigned to wrong category
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Best app for beginners
Goodbudget
Goodbudget
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Information about Goodbudget has been collected independently by CNBC and has not been reviewed or provided by Goodbudget prior to publication.
Cost
Get 20 envelopes for free; for unlimited envelopes, you need to upgrade to Goodbudget Plus, which is $7 per month or $60 per year
Standout features
Allows users to plan their household’s spending using the “envelope method,” where they allocate a certain amount of their income into categories like groceries, rent and debt payoff. Users are only supposed spend what’s in their envelopes and if they go beyond their budget the envelope will show red to indicate that they overspent
Categorizes your expenses
Yes, but users can customize
Links to accounts
No, users manually create “envelopes” and input their transactions
Availability
Has a web-based version, and also offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
Security features
256-bit bank grade encryption in a secure data center
See our methodology, terms apply.
Pros
Free to use for creating 20 envelopes, one account user on up to two devices, one year of transaction history, debt tracking and community support
Envelope feature allows user to visualize their spending and prioritize meeting different goals
Users can customize the envelope categories according to their needs, such as saving for an emergency fund or a vacation
Requiring manual entry of data helps users to really analyze their spending habits versus it being automated (users can also download their recent activity from their bank’s website and import that into Goodbudget)
App provides real-time updates of how your transactions impact your budget and personalized reports
App offers educational resources like a blog, a podcast and online courses people can take
App plans to launch a pandemic-inspired feature allowing people to prioritize “envelopes” based on their most urgent expenses, such as housing, utility bills, etc.
Security features include 256-bit bank grade encryption in a secure data center
Cons
Costs $7 per month or $60 per year for unlimited envelopes with Goodbudget Plus, unlimited account users on up to five devices, seven years of transaction history, debt tracking and email support
Doesn’t sync to your bank accounts or credit cards, which can be a downside for people who want automation
Requires that users use the “envelope method” to track their spending
Some user reviews report experiencing technical issues with the app
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Best app for serious budgeters
You Need a Budget (YNAB)
You Need a Budget (YNAB)
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Information about You Need a Budget (YNAB) has been collected independently by CNBC and has not been reviewed or provided by YNAB prior to publication.
Cost
34-day free trial then $84 per year or $11.99 per month (students who provide proof of enrollment get 12 months free)
Standout features
Instead of using traditional budgeting buckets, users allocate every dollar they earn to something (known as the “zero-based budgeting system” where no dollar is unaccounted for). Every dollar is assigned a “job,” whether it’s to go toward bills, savings, investments, etc.
Categorizes your expenses
No
Links to accounts
Yes, bank and credit cards
Availability
Offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
Security features
Encrypted data, accredited data centers, third-party audits and more
See our methodology, terms apply.
Pros
Offers a 34-day free trial, and students get 12 months free
Designed to help you get out of debt
YNAB website claims average user saves $600 in their first two months and more than $6,000 in their first year
Syncs to your bank accounts and credit cards
Users can set goals, customize spending categories
Offers educational resources, such as budgeting advice and 100+ free workshops offered every week
Personal customer support
Security features include encrypted data, accredited data centers, third-party audits and more
Cons
Costs $84 per year or $11.99 per month
Customer reviews note that it takes longer to set up than other apps
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Best app for small business owners
QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Online
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On Intuit’s secure site
Cost
30-day free trial then plan options include: Simple Start for $12.50 per month, Essentials for $20 per month, Plus for $35 per month and Advanced for $75 per month
Standout features
Tracks your business expenses as they happen, as well as your income. Users can use app to do invoicing, accept payments, manage their cash flow, maximize tax deductions, track travel miles, run reports, send estimates, manage bills and 1099 contractors, plus pay employees
Categorizes your expenses
Yes
Links to accounts
Yes, bank and credit cards, plus third-party apps like PayPal and Square
Availability
Accessible from any web browser and also offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
Security features
Verisign scanning, password-protected login, firewall protected servers and the same encryption technology (128 bit SSL) used by the world’s top banks. QuickBooks also offers multiple permission levels that you can set for additional users’ access
See our methodology, terms apply.
Pros
Offers a 30-day free trial
Syncs to your bank accounts, credit cards and third-party apps like PayPal and Square
Offers real-time dashboards so you can stay updated on all financial transactions related to your business
The most basic “Simple Start” plan tracks income, sales and expenses, organizes receipts, creates invoices, helps you prepare your taxes, categorizes your business and personal trips, offers a QuickBooks Cash account, runs reports like P&Ls and balance sheets and includes 1 user
“Essentials” plan, in addition to the above, helps you pay your bills, clock employee time and billable hours and includes up to 3 users
“Plus” plan, in addition to the above, lets you oversees projects, track inventory and includes up to 5 users
“Advanced” plan, in addition to the above, provides business analytics and insights, speeds up transactions, gives users access to VIP service QuickBooks Priority Circle that includes a dedicated account team and free online QuickBooks training, includes up to 25 users
QuickBooks offers a fourth “Self-Employed” plan for freelancers at a low $7.50 per month
All QuickBooks users get fast, customized setup of their QuickBooks with a certified bookkeeper for an additional $50 one-time live virtual session
Full-service payroll plans start at $22.50 per month
Security features include Verisign scanning, encryption technology (128 bit SSL) used by the world’s top banks and customized access for other users
Cons
Costs range from $12.50 per month to $75 per month, depending on the plan
Some user reviews complain of glitches in app and a not so user-friendly interface
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Best app for business expenses
Expensify
Expensify
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On Expensify’s secure site
Cost
Free for up to 25 SmartScans of receipts per month. For unlimited SmartScans, pricing is as follows: six-week free trial then for employees, individual pricing is $4.99 per month. For companies, group pricing starts at $5 per user, per month
Standout features
Individuals can track receipts and submit expenses to their employer. Users scan their receipts and the app will automatically read the receipt then translate it into a logged expense. Also offers mileage and GPS tracking and automatic credit card importing
Categorizes your expenses
Yes, but users can customize
Links to accounts
Yes, bank and personal/company credit cards
Availability
Offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
Security features
Two-factor authentication so users input a generated code when logging in; banking data is protected by world-class security standards and compliant with Privacy Shield and GDPR requirements
See our methodology, terms apply.
Pros
Free to use for up to 25 SmartScans per month
Offers a six-week free trial for unlimited SmartScans
Designed to help you get your expenses done quickly while on the go and in real time
Expensify website claims expense reports with Expensify take 83% less time
One-click receipt scanning and SmartScan automatically transcribes receipt details with the date, merchant and amount
Receipts are automatically coded and categorized once user takes photo and assigns to a report or emails their receipts to receipts@expensify.com
Users can split their expenses by using the ExpensePoint feature to split the cost
Allows users to track their mileage by manual entry, odometer readings or by using the GPS
Web dashboard shows spending by different categories and uses time references
Automatically generates and submits expense reports for automatic next-day reimbursement
Users can share or print documents/expense reports from the app for review
Syncs to your bank accounts and credit cards
Lets users send and receive money via Venmo
Connects to apps like Uber, Lyft and HotelTonight for automatic receipt import and transcription
Security features include two-factor authentication, world-class security standards and Privacy Shield / GDPR compliance
With a group plan, employers can integrate with their accounting software, including QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite and others
Two plans offered for individuals: “Track” is $4.99 per month, with unlimited SmartScans, automatic mileage tracking and categorizing expenses; “Submit” is $4.99 per month and, in addition to the above, automatically submits reports for reimbursement, submits receipts
Two plans offered for groups: “Collect” is $5 per user, per month and, in addition to the above, automates receipt collection and reimbursement, auto-syncs to accounting software and offers free Expensify card with auto-reconciliation; “Control” is $9 per user, per month and, in addition to the above, manages approval workflows
Cons
Costs $4.99 per month for individuals and starts at $5 per user, per month for groups
Some user reviews report that the interface isn’t intuitive
View More
Expense tracker app FAQs
What is the best way to track your expenses?
There’s no perfect expense tracking plan that fits everyone. Each person has their own method — unless of course you have no method at all.
While some people may find looking at their monthly credit or debit card statements enough to keep their spending in check, others need something more hands-on. You can opt to track your transactions daily in a spreadsheet or to use technology like an expense tracker app. If you’re not sure which is the best program for you, try out a few different methods to see what sticks.
Should I use an expense tracker app?
Keeping track of your expenses is an important part of managing your overall finances. While you don’t need an app to help you record your purchases, it can certainly come in handy.
Some expense tracker apps automatically sync to your bank accounts and credit cards, which can save you time instead of you having to manually gather all your different credit card statements and such. Other apps help you categorize your spending so you can better understand your purchasing habits. Plus, some of the best expense tracker apps offer educational tools like blogs and courses to help you learn more about budgeting and your money.
Our methodology
To determine which expense tracker apps offer the best user experience, Select analyzed over a dozen apps offered by the top companies in this market and looked at their pricing, features, user reviews and ratings.
We narrowed down our ranking by only considering apps that primarily focus on expenses, come with low (or no) cost to sign up, are easy to use and can be accessed on multiple devices so are accessible and compatible for most.
The five apps we selected for this ranking are either free, offer a free version or have a free trial for users to test out before signing up.
All of the apps in our round-up have a sizable number of user reviews and high ratings. The apps on this list have tens of thousands of reviews in the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android) combined, as well as a rating over 4 stars (out of 5) on either platform.
Other factors we looked at included apps’ security features, user customization and educational tools offered.
personal expense tracker app
If you’ve ever decided to get a handle on your cash flow, you know that the first step is knowing how you’re spending your money. That’s something really low on the fun-to-do meter.
Expense tracker apps help you collect and classify your purchases so that you can identify areas that might be trimmed. Or, in the case of building net worth, places where you can allocate more money, such as savings. You might track expenses for a while just to get an idea of where your money’s going, or it might be a stepping stone toward making and following a budget.
Here are the top 11 apps based on user ratings in the App Store and Google Play.
Our methodology to find the best personal expense tracker apps
Ranking the best apps by reviews and popularity is a constantly moving target. And the iOS and Android app universes are vastly different. The number of reviews on Google Play for a search of “expense trackers” is much greater than a similar search on the Apple App Store, except for the leading iOS expense tracker app.
For an iOS app to make our list, it had to have 35,000 or more reviews and a rating of 4.5 or better. On Google Play, an Android app needed 100,000 or more reviews with a rating of 4.5 or greater.
Some results that appeared in our “expense tracker” searches were not explicitly designed for personal expense tracking and were disqualified, such as apps that focused mostly on tracking business expenses.
How do expense trackers work?
The goal here is to move from a spreadsheet at best — or, at worst, no tracking at all — to some form of collection and categorization of money spent. Apps can do that. However, the experience varies widely.
These are the most popular apps on the iOS and Android platforms, but you’ll likely need to test-drive a few before you find one you’re comfortable with. While our list focuses on free apps, for the most part, you’ll probably have to upgrade at a small cost to get all the features you want.
The list of features you may want might include:
Easy transaction download.
Automatic logging of recurring transactions.
A forecast of your ending balances at some point in time (cash flow).
Auto-categorization of transactions, especially taxable items.
And one real luxury on the wish list: the ability to scan receipts.
Best iOS personal expense tracker apps
Mint
This is, by far, the most popular expense tracker app in the App Store. With hundreds of thousands of reviews, it towers far above the others, most of which have far less than 100,000. Satisfaction is high, though some users complain about a high number of unwanted notifications.
Download: iOS
EveryDollar
This app helps you deploy a zero-based budget plan by “giving every dollar a job.” Users are enthusiastic about the spending and saving approach of EveryDollar, but some have experienced recent connectivity issues with their financial providers.
Download: iOS
YNAB
You Need a Budget touts no in-app ads or product pitches. Thing is, that’s because it’s only free for a 30-day trial. Reviews gush that YNAB is “life-changing,” “exactly what I needed” and “excellent.” However, a few are pushing back on a monthly fee increase.
Download: iOS
LendingTree
The website best known for being a loan referrer has expense-tracking functionality integrated into its app, allowing you to aggregate account balances, track spending and monitor your net worth. While it garners high marks for its functionality, some users are surprised by the number of calls they receive after providing a phone number.
Download: iOS
Expensify
Combining personal and business expense tracking capabilities lures many users to this app — as does the convenience of scanning receipts. But categories are limited in the free version, and some reviewers are turned off by the email marketing.
Download: iOS
Truebill
This app has an interesting wrinkle: It not only helps you track your expenses, but promises to find and cancel unused subscriptions that are tied to your financial accounts. Truebill also says it can lower some charges on recurring bills. The app is free, yet some features, including the bill negotiation services, require a fee.
Download: iOS
Best Android personal expense tracker apps
Money Manager
Money Manager tops our list of Android expense tracker apps for its high rating, clean display and personalization options. App developers seem quick to respond to user questions and suggestions. Many reviews are very favorable, and note that the number of ads shown (the price you pay for a free app) is not overly irritating.
Download: Android
AndroMoney
AndroMoney has been described as a versatile app that can be “as complicated or simple as you want.” Yet, another reviewer wishes it had more cash flow projection capabilities to see estimated future account balances. Still, AndroMoney earns a high user rating, though developer responses to suggestions and complaints seem lacking.
Download: Android
1Money
1Money touts the ability to “add a new transaction with a single tap.” All you’ll need to do is enter the amount of the item. Most users are enthusiastic, praising its easy navigation and simplicity. Support responds quickly to inquiries. One feature that seems missing: the ability to snap receipts from a smartphone.
Download: Android
Wallet
Wallet says it will automatically update bank accounts and categorize downloaded transactions, but judging by user comments, that seems to be a premium option available only by subscription. And some reviews note glitches in the sync feature.
Download: Android
Mint
As mentioned in the iOS section, Mint is the biggest brand on the market when it comes to financial apps. It’s a trusted name owned by longtime developer Intuit, the maker of QuickBooks and TurboTax. The app does just about everything: It not only tracks transactions but monitors cash flow, helps you manage a budget and calculates your net worth. With such wide adoption comes high expectations, and some reviews say the app is slow, tedious and cluttered.
Download: Android
It’s likely you won’t find every feature you want or need in one of these apps, especially if it’s free. But this doesn’t have to be your forever solution. Just starting the process of tracking your expenses is more than half the battle.
When you’ve been at it a while, you’ll know more about what you want in a financial app.
If you own a business, take a look at the five best business expense tracker apps.
If you’re ready to start a budget
Once you get a handle on where your money is going, you may want to take even more control of your efforts to build your net worth. That is likely to lead to exploring the budgeting process. NerdWallet has compiled the best budget apps for your consideration.
NerdWallet also offers a free app that lets you track your cash, see your net worth and debt, and track your credit score. We chose not to include ourselves in the list above in order to present an unbiased view.
Before you build a budget
NerdWallet breaks down your spending and shows you ways to save.
We also provide non-app options:
Use a free budget worksheet to record your expenses.
Explore online budget templates for a quick check of your finances.
Estimate how to allocate your monthly income using the 50/30/20 rule.
Read a budgeting book.
About the author: Hal Bundrick is a personal finance writer and a NerdWallet authority in money matters. He is a certified financial planner and former financial advisor. Read more
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