Every Thursday in 2025, I will answer questions about money and/or budget. If you have a question you would like me to answer in an upcoming post, please submit it here.
We are considering using a budget app to help us stay on track. I heard very great things about every dollar, YNAB and Rockets money. Can you compare posts for each feature? We were a little overwhelmed. -Julie
Great question, Julie! I know a lot of people want to know if using a budget app is worth it and if so, which is the best to use.
EveryDollar, YNAB (you need a budget) and Rocket Money are three popular choices, but each of them has unique features depending on the hands-on approach you want to be with your budget and the support you want.
Let’s break them down (in no particular order) to help you make the best decisions for your family:
1. Every dollar
EveryDollar is a simple clean budgeting application developed by the Dave Ramsey team, which is based on the concept of a zero-based budget that you can give every dollar a job before the month begins. The app is perfect for beginners who want something straight without a steep learning curve.
The free version allows you to manually enter all your income and fees, while the paid version connects to your bank account and automatically tracks transactions.
If you are already familiar with the envelope method or like the idea of planning your spending before a month begins, you may like everyone’s organizedness. However, to unlock useful features like bank sync and custom budget reports, you need to upgrade to the paid version. Still, it’s a great entry point for anyone just starting out.
advantage:
- Simple, clean interface, perfect for beginners
- Based on a zero-based budget (allocates work per dollar)
- The manual version is free
- Sync with your bank account with paid version
shortcoming:
- Limited features in the free version
- Automatic transactions are only used in paid plans
cost:
- Free (manual input)
- $79.99/year, premium version and other features for bank synchronization
Want to try a zero-based budget first? Get my free budget worksheet here!
2. YNAB (You need a budget)
YNAB is a favorite in the budget and they do want to take the hands-on handling their financial situation for good reason. It was incredibly intentional.
The app not only helps you track your spending; it can help you develop new financial habits. YNAB operates under four key rules that encourage you to give every dollar a job, embrace your real expenses, pay your fists, and age your money. In other words, this app teaches you how to stop paying your salary.
YNAB is ideal if you are more than just an application and need a complete budget system. However, you have to be willing to take a little time to expect to learn how it works.
The interface syncs with your bank account in real time, and the support of the community and tutorials are top-notch. If you are someone who loves spreadsheets or tracks a penny, YNAB is probably your new best friend.
That said, it does come out at a higher price and there is some learning curve, so if you look for something super simple right away, this may not be the best option.
advantage:
- Excellent educational tools and tutorials
- Encourage long-term mentality to change money
- Synchronize with your bank account in real time
shortcoming:
- More expensive than other options
- The learning curve will feel steep at first
If you need help with your budget when your income fluctuates, this post is a great place to start.
cost:
- $14.99/month or $99/year
- 34-day free trial
- Free for college students for one year
3. Rocket Money (formerly Truebill)
If you want a more passive way to manage your money, Rocket money might be a good fit. The app is designed to do a lot of heavy lifting for you by tracking your spending, marking subscriptions that may require cancellation, negotiating bills on your behalf, and even helping you set up a subscription that you save automatically. This can be especially helpful if your biggest budget struggle doesn’t know where the money is per month.
Rocket money shines when determining hidden fees, especially monthly subscriptions that tend to be overlooked. The app even offers advanced services including budget insights and credit monitoring.
But Rocket currency isn’t enough to plan hands-on, but rather organizing what’s happening with your money. If you want to be more interested in spending starting early this month, tools like EveryDollar or YNAB may be a better match. Still, Rocket Money has a lot to do with busy families who just want to keep their finances with minimal effort.
advantage:
- Automatically find subscriptions and bills you may need to cancel
- Track spending and help you negotiate bills
- Provide credit score tracking
- Set savings goals directly in the app
shortcoming:
- Less emphasis on detailed budgets and plans
- Certain features are locked behind paid plans
- Negotiation services have obtained some savings
cost:
- Free version available
- Premium: Pay what you want, $3 – $12/month
I hope this helps you provide some insights on which budgeting application and budgeting approach may best suit your needs and goals. Remember, no Perfect Application or system. It all boils down to what works best for you at the stage of your life.
The good news is that many budget apps have free trials, so you can test the features to see if they fit. And, if you aren’t ready to put your application in or prefer a pen on budget paper, don’t forget that you can start with my free printable budget worksheet to develop the habit of intentionally planning your money on paper first!
Have you used a budget application before? If so, which one did you use, would you recommend it?
Want to do this the year you finally stick to your budget?
Tracking your budget doesn’t have to be overwhelming or complicated! Use these Free budget spreadsheet Easy to plan and track your spending every month!
