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The Best Expense Tracker Apps of 2026
August 5, 2026
August 5, 2026
Since Intuit shut down the Mint app in March 2024, many users have been searching for a new way to track spending. If you're one of them, you already know the problem: there are dozens of apps, most look similar, and figuring out which ones are actually free is harder than it should be.
We did the legwork. BestMoney compared the leading consumer expense trackers — testing bank sync, manual-entry speed, pricing, household features, and platform support — so you can find an app that fits your habits and sticks. If you're weighing your wider options, you can also compare personal finance apps and tools in one place.
YNAB — Best for hands-on zero-based budgeting
Quicken Simplifi — Best for planners who want a spending forecast
Monarch Money — Best for couples and households
PocketGuard — Best for curbing overspending
Goodbudget — Best free app for envelope budgeting and beginners
Copilot Money — Best design for iPhone and Mac users
Expensify — Best for freelancers and work expense reports
Everlance — Best for mileage and self-employed drivers
Zoho Expense — Best free option for small teams
QuickBooks Online — Best for small-business owners
We compared each app on the criteria that matter most to everyday users:
Free tier quality: Does the app offer a usable free version, or is it just a demo?
Automatic bank sync vs. manual/AI entry: Does it connect to your accounts, or rely on you entering transactions?
Price and value: What does the paid plan cost, and what do you get for it?
Platform support: Is it available on iPhone, Android, web, or all three?
Privacy: Do you have to link your bank, or can you track expenses without sharing credentials?
Couples and household support: Can you share a budget with a partner or family?
App-store ratings: How do real users rate the experience?
This is an editorial comparison drawing on official app pages, verified pricing, and reputable reviews. Pricing was verified against each app's official site during this refresh.
The Bottom Line: YNAB (You Need a Budget) teaches you to give every dollar a job before you spend it. It's a proactive system that works well for people serious about paying off debt or building savings — and it now supports up to six people on a single plan.
Pros | Cons |
Zero-based budgeting builds real financial awareness | Steeper learning curve than simpler trackers |
Syncs with select banks in the US, Canada, the UK, and the EU | No permanently free tier |
Up to 6 household members on one plan | Monthly cost may feel steep for casual users |
34-day free trial; students get one year free | — |
Pricing: $14.99/month or $109/year (34-day free trial; students free for one year). If you're a student comparing no-cost options, see our roundup of money-saving apps for students.
Key Specs: Bank sync supported. Available on iOS, Android, and web. Household sharing included.
The Bottom Line: Quicken Simplifi shows you what you can spend today without derailing your monthly plan. Its spending-plan feature forecasts cash flow based on your income, bills, and goals — helpful if you want to stop overspending mid-month.
Pros | Cons |
Forward-looking spending plan, not just past transactions | No free tier |
Clean, fast mobile interface | Promo rate jumps at renewal |
Syncs with most US and Canadian banks | Available in the US and Canada only |
30-day refund guarantee | — |
Pricing: $3.99/month promotional (billed annually at $47.88 for year one); $6.99/month standard. No free tier; 30-day refund.
Key Specs: Bank sync required. iOS, Android, and web. Single-user focused.
The Bottom Line: Monarch Money is one of the most-cited Mint replacements for households. It offers a full dashboard, automatic bank sync, and lets you share a single plan with a partner at no extra cost.
Pros | Cons |
Designed for couples and households | No free tier beyond the trial |
Comprehensive dashboard (net worth, goals, transactions) | Higher price than some alternatives |
Household member included on the same plan | 7-day trial is short |
Pricing: $99.99/year (about $8.33/month) for the Core plan, with a monthly option also available; 7-day free trial; add a partner at no extra cost.
Key Specs: Bank sync supported. iOS, Android, and web. Household sharing included.
The Bottom Line: PocketGuard's "In My Pocket" number tells you what's left to spend after bills and goals — a simple answer for people who just want to know if they can afford something right now.
Pros | Cons |
Clear "In My Pocket" leftover-to-spend figure | No permanent free tier (7-day trial only) |
Bank sync automates tracking | Premium subscription required to use the app |
Simple, uncluttered interface | Some users report sync delays |
Pricing: PocketGuard Premium is $12.99/month or $74.99/year ($6.25/month billed annually); 7-day free trial. No permanent free tier.
Key Specs: Bank sync supported. iOS and Android. Single-user.
The Bottom Line: Goodbudget brings the classic envelope system to your phone — without requiring a bank link. It's a strong choice if you prefer manual entry for privacy or just want to try budgeting without handing over your credentials.
Pros | Cons |
Free tier includes 20 envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices | Manual entry only — no bank sync |
Privacy-friendly (no bank link required) | Limited free-tier device count |
Works well for couples sharing envelopes | Interface feels dated compared to rivals |
Pricing: Free (20 envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices); Premium at $10/month or $80/year.
Key Specs: No bank sync (manual entry). iOS, Android, and web. Couples can share via the Premium plan.
The Bottom Line: Copilot Money stands out for its polished design and AI-powered auto-categorization. If you use Apple devices and want an app that looks and feels modern, Copilot delivers. It's a good starting point if you're exploring AI-powered budgeting apps more broadly.
Pros | Cons |
Refined, intuitive Apple-native design | iPhone, iPad, Mac, and web only |
AI auto-categorization learns your habits | Higher price than some alternatives |
Bank sync for automatic tracking | 1-month trial, then paid |
Pricing: $13/month or $95/year (1-month free trial).
Key Specs: Bank sync supported. iPhone, iPad, Mac, and web (no Android).
The Bottom Line: Expensify's SmartScan technology turns receipt photos into categorized expense data in seconds. It's built for employees submitting reimbursement reports, but freelancers and self-employed workers also use it to track deductible business expenses.
Pros | Cons |
Fast receipt scanning (SmartScan) | Requires a paid plan for team/workspace features |
Tax-friendly categorization for business expenses | Geared toward reimbursement, not personal budgets |
Integrates with accounting software | Personal budgeting not a focus |
Pricing: Paid plans start at $5 per member per month.
Key Specs: Receipt scanning, bank sync. iOS, Android, and web.
The Bottom Line: Everlance runs GPS tracking in the background to log IRS-compliant mileage automatically. It's built for gig workers, delivery drivers, and salespeople who need to document business miles without manual logs.
Pros | Cons |
Automatic GPS mileage tracking | Mileage focus may not fit everyone |
IRS-compliant trip logs | Premium required for unlimited tracking |
Receipt uploads alongside mileage | Background GPS can drain battery |
Pricing: Free basic plan; paid Premium tiers are also available, with current pricing listed on Everlance's site.
Key Specs: GPS mileage tracking, receipt uploads. iOS and Android.
The Bottom Line: Zoho Expense offers a free tier for up to three users, making it a solid choice for small teams or freelancers who need multi-currency support and receipt scanning without a monthly bill.
Pros | Cons |
Free for up to 3 users | Free tier limited to small teams |
Multi-currency support | Interface can feel enterprise-heavy |
Mobile receipt scanning | Primarily designed for team expense management |
Pricing: Free for up to 3 users; paid plans from $3/user/month.
Key Specs: Receipt scanning, multi-currency. iOS, Android, and web.
The Bottom Line: QuickBooks Online folds expense tracking into full small-business accounting. If you already use QuickBooks for invoicing or taxes, adding expense tracking keeps everything in one place.
Pros | Cons |
Full accounting suite (invoicing, payroll, taxes) | Overkill for personal budgeting |
Automatic bank sync and transaction matching | Monthly cost higher than standalone trackers |
Receipt capture via mobile app | Learning curve for non-accountants |
Pricing: The Simple Start plan starts at $38/month; Intuit frequently runs introductory discounts.
Key Specs: Bank sync, receipt capture, accounting integration. iOS, Android, and web.
Bank-linked apps (YNAB, Monarch, Simplifi, PocketGuard, Copilot) pull transactions automatically — less work, but you share account credentials. Manual-entry apps like Goodbudget keep you in control and suit users who prefer privacy or bank with institutions that don't support automatic connections.
Most expense trackers connect through aggregators like Plaid, which use advanced security features like encryption and 24/7 monitoring. Each account connection starts with you, only happens with your permission, and you can choose to stop sharing at any time. If you'd rather not share credentials at all, a manual-entry app like Goodbudget lets you track expenses without linking.
After Mint's shutdown, truly free expense trackers are harder to find. Goodbudget offers a usable free tier, and Zoho Expense is free for up to three users. Most other leading apps are paid-only after a trial. Paid apps typically offer more reliable bank sync, deeper reporting, and household sharing.
Most apps support both platforms, but Copilot Money is Apple-only (iPhone, iPad, Mac, and web), with no Android app. Check platform support before committing, especially if you and a partner use different devices.
Monarch Money, YNAB, and Goodbudget Premium support shared budgets for couples or families. If you want to track spending together, look for built-in household features rather than workarounds.
App | Best For | Free Tier | Starting Paid Price | Bank Sync | Platforms |
YNAB | Hands-on budgeting | 34-day trial; students free 1 yr | $14.99/mo or $109/yr | Yes | iOS, Android, Web |
Quicken Simplifi | Spending forecasts | No | $3.99/mo promo (yr 1); $6.99/mo standard | Yes | iOS, Android, Web |
Monarch Money | Couples/households | 7-day trial | $99.99/yr ($8.33/mo) | Yes | iOS, Android, Web |
PocketGuard | Curbing overspending | No (7-day trial) | $12.99/mo or $74.99/yr | Yes | iOS, Android |
Goodbudget | Envelope budgeting | Yes (20 envelopes, 2 devices) | $10/mo or $80/yr | No (manual) | iOS, Android, Web |
Copilot Money | iPhone/Mac users | 1-month trial | $13/mo or $95/yr | Yes | iOS, iPad, Mac, Web |
Expensify | Freelancers/expense reports | See site | $5/member/mo | Yes | iOS, Android, Web |
Everlance | Mileage tracking | Yes (limited) | See site | Yes | iOS, Android |
Zoho Expense | Small teams | Yes (up to 3 users) | $3/user/mo | Yes | iOS, Android, Web |
QuickBooks Online | Small-business owners | No | $38/mo (promos vary) | Yes | iOS, Android, Web |
Beginners: You want a simple way to see where your money goes. Start with Goodbudget (free, manual) or PocketGuard (a low-cost, bank-linked option after its 7-day trial).
Couples and families: You want to share a budget with a partner. Monarch Money or YNAB offer household features out of the box — and our guide to budgeting apps built for couples digs deeper into joint-finance picks.
Gig workers and freelancers: You need to track deductible expenses or mileage for taxes. Expensify and Everlance are built for this.
Small-business owners: You want expense tracking tied to invoicing and accounting. QuickBooks Online or Zoho Expense fits.
Privacy-conscious users: You don't want to link your bank. Goodbudget uses manual entry only.
Goodbudget offers a genuinely free plan (20 envelopes, no bank link required), and Zoho Expense is free for up to three users. Most other leading apps, including PocketGuard, are paid-only after a free trial.
No. Goodbudget and similar manual-entry apps let you track spending without sharing bank credentials. Most other apps use automatic bank sync for convenience.
Reputable apps connect through aggregators like Plaid, which use advanced security features like encryption and 24/7 monitoring. You can choose to stop sharing at any time. If you're uncomfortable, manual-entry apps are an alternative.
An expense tracker records and categorizes what you've spent. A budgeting app helps you plan spending in advance and assign money to categories. Many apps, including YNAB, Monarch, and Simplifi, do both.
Monarch Money, PocketGuard, and YNAB are commonly cited alternatives. Monarch in particular has become a popular choice for former Mint users who want a full dashboard with household sharing.
Monarch Money and YNAB both support shared budgets for couples on a single plan, and Goodbudget Premium allows envelope sharing.
This comparison draws on official app pages, verified pricing, and reputable reviews. We checked bank sync, free tiers, and platform availability against each app's current offering, and confirmed pricing against each app's official site during the refresh.
YNAB, official pricing page (ynab.com/pricing) — linked above
Quicken Simplifi, official product page (quicken.com/products/simplifi) — linked above
Monarch Money, official pricing page (monarch.com/pricing) — linked above
PocketGuard, official pricing page (pocketguard.com/pricing) — linked above
Goodbudget, official plans & pricing page (goodbudget.com/plans-pricing) — linked above
Copilot Money, official site (copilot.money) — linked above
Expensify, official pricing page and billing docs (expensify.com/pricing; help.expensify.com) — linked above
Everlance, official pricing page (everlance.com/pricing) — linked above
Zoho Expense, official pricing page (zoho.com/us/expense/pricing) — linked above
QuickBooks Online, official pricing page (quickbooks.intuit.com/pricing) — linked above
Plaid, data-security overview (plaid.com/safety) — linked above
The BestMoney editorial team is composed of writers and experts covering a full range of financial services. Our mission is to simplify the process of selecting the right provider for every need, leveraging our extensive industry knowledge to deliver clear, reliable advice.