Infolynk

We Tested 7 Budgeting Apps So You Don’t Have To Waste Money

Finding a budgeting app that your whole family will actually use is harder than sticking to the budget itself.

After our Family Budget Reset, we spent 30 days testing the most popular apps with our real family budget. Here’s what actually works when you’re living on a budget.

Quick Comparison: Best Budgeting Apps for Families
Goodbudget – Best Free for Envelope Budgeting – Free / $10 mo
Monarch Money – Best for Families (Our #1 Pick) – $99/year
YNAB – Best for Getting Out of Debt – $14.99/mo
EveryDollar – Best for Beginners – Free / $79 yr
PocketGuard – Best to Stop Overspending – Free / $12.99 mo
Copilot Money – Best Design – $14.99/mo
Google Sheets Template – Best for Total Control – Free

1. Goodbudget – Best Free App for Envelope Budgeting
This is the digital version of the cash envelope system we used during our 30-Day No-Spend Challenge.

Pros: Truly free, simple for couples to share
Cons: Manual entry, looks outdated
Best for: Families who need to stop overspending on groceries

2. Monarch Money – Best for Families (Our #1 Pick)
This is what replaced Mint. My spouse and I both see the same budget in real-time.

Pros: Built for joint finances, goals for debt payoff, no ads
Cons: No free plan, $99/year upfront
Best for: Married couples who want one view

3. YNAB – Best for Getting Out of Debt
This app changed our mindset more than any other.

Pros: Teaches you to give every dollar a job, amazing for debt snowball
Cons: Steep learning curve, most expensive
Best for: Families with debt

4. EveryDollar – Best for Beginners
Created by Dave Ramsey’s team. Simple.

Pros: Free version works, 10-minute setup
Cons: Free version needs manual transactions
Best for: First-time budgeters

5. PocketGuard – Best to Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck
It shows you “In My Pocket” – what’s safe to spend today.

Pros: Prevents overdrafts
Cons: Limited family sharing
Best for: People who overspend before payday

6. Copilot Money – Best Design for Visual Learners
If you hate ugly spreadsheets, this one is beautiful.

Pros: AI categorizes spending, beautiful charts
Cons: iOS/Mac only
Best for: Visual learners

7. Our Free Google Sheets Budget Template – Best for Total Control
After testing all these, we still use a simple sheet 50% of the time. Find it in our Budgeting Templates & Tools category – it’s 100% free with no subscription.

Pros: 100% free, customizable
Cons: Manual update
Best for: Families on a tight budget

Which One Should You Pick?
On a tight budget + need free? Start with Goodbudget
Married + share finances? Get Monarch Money
In debt? Get YNAB

Pick ONE app. Use it for 14 days. The best app is the one you actually use.