Budgeting Apps

Let your iPhone and iPad help your budget!

Overview

Keeping a budget can be a hard thing for many people. Whether it is impulse, forgetfulness or a myriad of other things, it is easy to get off track with your budget. The iPhone and iPad are here to help. We compare our favorite apps in this AppGuide.

Essential Apps

Free
Mint.com Personal Finance

by Mint.com

Mint is an iPhone app that allows you to keep a budget with minimal effort. The service analyzes your bank accounts to see what you have been spending money on. The service works pretty well. To use it effectively, you will want to set up your budget realistically and check into the app throughout the week to see how you are doing. Mint is the essential budgeting app for the iPhone.
$4.99
PocketMoney - checkbook, budgets, expenses

by Catamount Software

PocketMoney is yet another phenomenal budgeting app for iOS. The app is easy to use and powerful at the same time. There is smart technology in this app to make entering your data very easy. You can do all of the same features as HomeBudget including sync and photo receipts. The big advantage this app has over other apps like HomeBudget is the desktop app component. The app also integrates with other apps like MPG, CheckPlease, BillMinder, and several others that use the iReceipt protocol. PocketMoney has been around for a long time and the refinements and power are evidence of that. However, do be aware that with in-app purchases for some of the functions, it can get expensive.
$4.99
HomeBudget with Sync

by Anishu, Inc.

HomeBudget with Sync is the final essential app. This iPad and iPhone app makes tracking a budget within a family simple and easy. You can set up recurring bills, attach photos of receipts, get bill reminders, categorize your budget, and set up multiple accounts such as cash, credit, savings, and checking. You can sync your budget over 3G or Wi-Fi. This functionality lets you and your family share and utilize the same information. There are tons of other features. This is the final essential app, and a great one for all iOS users.

Notable Apps

$0.99
Ace Budget

by SVT Software

Ace Budget is a great alternative to Mint. This app requires that you input what you are spending money on. There are beautiful charts to show you how you are doing and it is easy to get data in and out of the app. For additional security, the app has a passcode lock option. The interface is pretty good, not everything we would expect, but nice. For $1.99 this is a solid budget app.
$2.99
MoneyBook - finance with flair

by noidentity gmbh

MoneyBook - finance with flair is both beautiful and powerful. There are beautiful animations that show you how you are doing financially. For each transaction you can include a little note about it. Entering your transactions is both fun and easy. The graphics and interface gets you exited about making that newest entry. MoneyBook is a great app that for many people could replace the need of the more powerful $4.99 apps.

Decent Apps

Free
Balance

by Connor Wakamo

Balance is less of a budgeting app and more of a financial balancing app. These are very similar and this is a good example of a free app that gets the job done. The app has the barebones of what you need. Simply enter the different transactions and this app will keep you up to date with how you are doing. A decent app at an unbeatable price.