Imagine transforming your financial management with just one app in 2024. In this article, a founder and a developer share their top recommendations for budgeting and expense tracking. Discover how GoodBudget can help master your finances and learn the benefits of MoneyWise for controlling your finances. Dive into insights from 9 experts who reveal the best tools to optimise your spending.
- Master Your Finances with GoodBudget
- Optimise Spending with Expensify
- Save More with YNAB
- Secure Finances with PocketGuard
- Manage Multiple Businesses with Rocket Money
- Track Expenses with Mint
- Customise Goals with Monarch Money
- Manage Cash Flow with Simplifi
- Control Finances with MoneyWise
Master Your Finances with GoodBudget
The best budgeting and expense-tracking app to optimise your spending in 2024 is GoodBudget. This app takes a modern spin on the traditional envelope budgeting system, allowing users to allocate funds to different categories or “envelopes” digitally.
I started using GoodBudget after realising that my spending was getting out of hand, particularly with impulse purchases. The app’s interface is user-friendly, and setting it up was a breeze; I simply created envelopes for categories like groceries, dining out, and savings goals.
One of my favorite features is the ability to share my budget with a partner or family member, which fosters transparency and teamwork in managing finances.
During a recent vacation, I used GoodBudget to allocate a specific envelope for travel expenses, helping me stay on track without overspending on activities or dining. The app also sends reminders and notifications, which have helped me stay disciplined, especially when tempted by spontaneous spending.
Overall, GoodBudget has not only streamlined my budgeting process but has also made me more mindful of my financial decisions, ensuring I can enjoy my spending while still saving for future goals.
Aseem Jha, Founder, Legal Consulting Pro
Optimise Spending with Expensify
In 2024, Expensify stands out as one of the best budgeting and expense-tracking apps for optimising spending. Expensify simplifies tracking expenses, making it easy to capture receipts, categorise expenses, and manage budgets in real time. We’ve found it especially helpful for managing team expenses—its automatic receipt scanning and integration with accounting software save hours of manual entry.
Expensify’s reporting tools allow us to analyze spending patterns and set custom budgets, which has led to more informed financial decisions. The app also offers multi-currency support, making it a practical choice for businesses operating internationally. With features like approval workflows and reimbursement automation, Expensify streamlines expense management from end to end, keeping our finances transparent and under control.
Ronan Ye, Founder, 3ERP
Save More with YNAB
I discovered YNAB (You Need A Budget) to be the most powerful budgeting tool for serious investors in 2024, especially after it helped me save an extra $500 monthly for my portfolio. The app’s zero-based budgeting approach forces you to assign every dollar a job, which perfectly aligns with how I manage both personal finances and investment capital. While the $99 annual fee might seem steep, the app’s real-time investment tracking, customisable categories, and detailed reports have honestly transformed how I balance daily expenses with investment goals.
Adam Garcia, Founder, The Stock Dork
Secure Finances with PocketGuard
I’ve tested dozens of finance apps, and PocketGuard consistently impresses me with its clean interface and robust security features—something I’m particularly picky about as a developer. The app’s automatic spending categorisation has saved me hours of manual entry, and I love how it uses AI to find bills I can potentially lower. What really sold me was its bank-level encryption and the way it automatically identifies recurring subscriptions, which helped me discover and cancel $65 worth of forgotten monthly services.
Tyler Hall, Developer, TROYPOINT
Manage Multiple Businesses with Rocket Money
As someone managing multiple businesses, I’ve tried dozens of budgeting apps but keep coming back to Rocket Money because it automatically categorises expenses across my social media agency and Kindspire brand while flagging duplicate subscriptions. The real-time alerts have saved me from several sneaky subscription renewals, and their negotiation service even helped reduce our software costs by $230 last month.
Macy Troyer, Owner, ItsGoAldy
Track Expenses with Mint
In 2024, Mint continues to be one of the best apps for budgeting and expense tracking. Mint offers a comprehensive view of all your financial accounts in one place, automatically categorising expenses and helping you spot trends in your spending. One feature I find particularly helpful is its customisable budgeting tool, which allows users to set limits for different spending categories, making it easier to track and reduce unnecessary expenses.
Mint also provides timely alerts for upcoming bills and unusual spending, which adds a layer of financial control. Its detailed financial reports and credit score monitoring further empower users to make data-driven financial decisions. For anyone looking to optimise their spending, Mint’s simplicity and robust features make it an excellent choice.
Daniel Reynolds, Director, DYNAMO LED DISPLAYS
Customise Goals with Monarch Money
From my experience coaching business professionals, I’ve found Monarch Money to be exceptionally helpful for my clients who are juggling multiple income streams and complex financial goals. The app’s customisable dashboard lets you create specific savings buckets for different objectives, which I’ve used to separate my consulting income, workshop revenues, and personal expenses. What really sets it apart is its robust reporting features that help me show my coaching clients how to visualise their progress and adjust their financial behaviors accordingly.
Barbara McMahan, CEO, Atticus Consulting LLC
Manage Cash Flow with Simplifi
Running an eCommerce agency, I’ve found Simplifi by Quicken absolutely essential for managing cash flow and separating business from personal expenses for my Shopify clients. The app’s spending watchlists have helped me spot patterns in our agency expenses, and its custom categories make it super easy to track ROI on different marketing channels like Facebook Ads and Google Ads.
Joshua Uebergang, Founder, Digital Darts
Control Finances with MoneyWise
MoneyWise wins the race when it comes to budgeting and expense tracking apps. This powerhouse application seamlessly combines cutting-edge technology with user-friendly features, empowering you to take control of your finances like never before.
MoneyWise’s intuitive interface allows you to effortlessly categorise your expenses, set realistic budgets, and track your spending in real-time. With its advanced analytics and customisable reports, you can gain valuable insights into your spending patterns, enabling you to make informed decisions and optimise your financial well-being.
What truly sets MoneyWise apart is its intelligent budgeting assistant, which leverages machine learning algorithms to analyze your income, expenses, and spending habits. This innovative feature provides personalised recommendations and actionable tips to help you achieve your financial goals, whether it’s saving for a dream vacation or building a robust retirement fund.
Unique Tip: Leverage MoneyWise’s powerful integration capabilities to streamline your financial management. By connecting your bank accounts, credit cards, and investment portfolios, you can enjoy a comprehensive view of your entire financial landscape within the app. This centralised approach eliminates the need for manual data entry, saving you time and ensuring accurate tracking of your expenses and income sources.
Mahee Chouhan, Content and Digital Marketing Manager, Mitt Arv
