8 Best Budget Apps For Couples

Managing finances can be a challenging aspect of any relationship, especially when it comes to living on a tight budget. Couples may find it difficult to balance their expenses and savings, leading to disagreements and financial stress. Fortunately, with the advent of technology, there are now several budget apps available that can help couples manage their finances effectively. These apps can track expenses, create budgets, and even share financial goals between partners. In this article, we will discuss the best budget apps for couples that are available on the market today. Whether you’re newlyweds or have been together for years, these apps can help you take control of your finances and strengthen your relationship.

MINT

Mint is a budget app that is designed to help couples manage their finances. It is a comprehensive financial management tool that allows users to track their spending, create budgets, and monitor their savings. Here is a review of Mint, including its features, pros and cons, and Google and App Store ratings.

Features

• Mint offers a wide range of features that make it one of the most popular budget apps for couples. These features include:
• Budget tracking: Mint allows couples to create a budget and track their spending against it. The app categorizes expenses automatically and provides detailed reports on where the money is being spent.
• Bill reminders: Mint sends reminders to users when bills are due, helping couples avoid late payment fees and keeping their credit score intact.
• Investment tracking: Mint allows users to track their investments and provides insights into investment performance.
• Credit score monitoring: Mint provides users with their credit score for free and sends alerts when there are changes to their credit report.
• Goal setting: Mint allows couples to set financial goals and provides guidance on how to achieve them.

Pros:

• Mint has several advantages that make it a popular budget app for couples. Some of these pros include:
• User-friendly interface: The app is easy to use, and couples can quickly get started with budgeting and tracking their expenses.
• Comprehensive financial management: Mint offers a range of features that cover almost all aspects of financial management, making it a one-stop-shop for couples.
• Personalized recommendations: Mint provides personalized recommendations based on spending patterns, helping couples make informed financial decisions.
• Security: Mint uses bank-level security to protect user data, and users can access their accounts using a four-digit PIN or Touch ID.

Cons:

• Despite its many advantages, Mint has some drawbacks that couples should be aware of before using the app. Some of these cons include:
• Ads: The app displays ads for financial products, which can be annoying for some users.
• Limited customization: The app does not allow for much customization, which may be a drawback for couples with unique financial needs.
• Syncing issues: Some users have reported issues with syncing their bank accounts with Mint, which can be frustrating.

Google and App Store Ratings:

Mint has a 4.5-star rating on the App Store and a 4.3-star rating on Google Play, indicating that it is a popular and well-regarded budget app for couples. Users praise the app’s ease of use, comprehensive features, and personalized recommendations, while some criticize the app’s ads and syncing issues.

TRIM

Trim is a budget app designed to help couples save money and manage their finances more effectively. It is a comprehensive financial management tool that offers a wide range of features to help users track their spending, create budgets, and save money. Here is a detailed review of Trim, including its features, pros and cons, and Google/App Store ratings.

Features

Trim offers a range of features that make it a useful budget app for couples. These features include:

• Bill negotiation: Trim can negotiate bills on behalf of users, potentially saving them hundreds of dollars per year on services like cable and internet.
• Spending tracking: The app allows couples to track their spending automatically and categorize expenses to identify areas where they can save money.
• Budget creation: Trim allows users to create a budget based on their spending patterns and provides alerts when they are close to reaching their budget limit.
• Savings recommendations: Trim provides personalized recommendations on how to save money, such as switching to a cheaper car insurance provider or canceling unused subscriptions.
• Credit monitoring: Trim offers free credit score monitoring and alerts users when there are changes to their credit report.

Pros

• Trim has several advantages that make it a popular budget app for couples. Some of these pros include:
• Bill negotiation: The app’s bill negotiation feature can potentially save users a significant amount of money on monthly bills.
• User-friendly interface: Trim is easy to use, and couples can quickly get started with budgeting and tracking their expenses.
• Savings recommendations: Trim provides personalized recommendations on how to save money, which can be useful for couples looking to cut back on expenses.
• Security: Trim uses bank-level security to protect user data, and users can access their accounts using a four-digit PIN or Touch ID.

Cons

• Despite its many advantages, Trim has some drawbacks that couples should be aware of before using the app. Some of these cons include:
• Limited budgeting features: The app’s budgeting features are not as comprehensive as some other budgeting apps, which may be a drawback for couples with complex financial needs.
• Limited customization: Trim does not allow for much customization, which may be a drawback for couples with unique financial needs.
• Fees: While Trim offers a free version, some of its more advanced features require a monthly subscription fee.

Google/App Store Ratings:

Trim has a 4.4-star rating on the App Store and a 4.2-star rating on Google Play, indicating that it is a well-regarded budget app for couples. Users praise the app’s bill negotiation feature, personalized savings recommendations, and user-friendly interface. However, some criticize the app’s limited budgeting features and subscription fees.

HoneyDue

Honeydue is a budget app designed for couples that helps them manage their finances together. With its user-friendly interface and unique features, Honeydue has gained a reputation as one of the top budget apps for couples.

Features

• Joint account: Honeydue allows couples to create a joint account where they can see each other’s transactions and manage their finances together. This is especially useful for couples who share expenses.
• Bill reminders: Honeydue sends bill reminders to both partners to ensure that bills are paid on time and to avoid late fees.
• Budget tracking: Honeydue allows couples to set budgets and track their spending in real-time. They can also see how much they’ve spent in different categories, such as groceries, entertainment, and transportation.
• Investment tracking: Couples can track their investments and monitor their portfolio performance in Honeydue.
• Chat: Honeydue has a built-in chat feature that allows couples to communicate about their finances in a secure and private way.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface: Honeydue has a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy for couples to manage their finances together.
• Joint account: The joint account feature is a unique selling point for Honeydue, as it allows couples to manage their finances together in a transparent way.
• Bill reminders: The bill reminder feature is useful for couples who have busy schedules and may forget to pay bills on time.
• Budget tracking: The budget tracking feature helps couples to stay on top of their spending and avoid overspending.
• Investment tracking: The investment tracking feature is useful for couples who want to monitor their portfolio performance.

Cons:

• Limited customization: Honeydue has limited customization options, which may be a drawback for couples who want more control over their budgeting and tracking.
• Limited integrations: Honeydue has limited integrations with other financial apps and services, which may be a drawback for couples who use multiple financial tools.
• Limited customer support: Some users have reported that Honeydue’s customer support is slow to respond to inquiries or issues.

Google Play Store Rating: 4.6/5 Apple App Store Rating: 4.8/5

GoodBudget

Goodbudget is a popular budgeting app for couples and individuals, which is available for both iOS and Android devices. The app aims to help users create and maintain a budget in a simple and intuitive way. Here’s a review of Goodbudget’s features, pros and cons, and its Google/App Store rating.

Features:

• Goodbudget uses the envelope budgeting system, which is a traditional method of budgeting. The app allows users to create virtual envelopes for each category of spending, such as groceries, bills, entertainment, etc. Users can add money to each envelope as they get paid, and then spend from those envelopes throughout the month.
• The app provides an easy-to-use interface, which allows users to track their spending, set budgets, and view reports. Users can add transactions manually, or sync the app with their bank account to automatically track their expenses.
• Goodbudget also allows users to share their budget with their partner, which is helpful for couples who want to manage their finances together. Users can sync their data across multiple devices, so they can access their budget from anywhere.

Pros:

• One of the major advantages of Goodbudget is that it is free to use for up to 20 envelopes. This makes it an affordable option for budget-conscious users who are just starting out with budgeting.
• Another advantage of Goodbudget is that it is easy to use and has a user-friendly interface. The app provides helpful tips and tutorials to guide users through the budgeting process.
• Goodbudget also offers excellent customer support, with a responsive team that is available to answer questions and provide assistance.

Cons:

• One of the drawbacks of Goodbudget is that it may not be suitable for users who have more complex financial situations. The free version of the app only allows for up to 20 envelopes, which may not be enough for some users.
• Another potential downside of Goodbudget is that it may require some effort to set up and maintain. Users must manually input their transactions or sync their bank accounts to keep track of their expenses.

Google/App Store rating: Goodbudget has a 4.4 rating on the Google Play Store and a 4.7 rating on the App Store. Users generally praise the app for its ease of use, helpful features, and affordable pricing. Some users have criticized the app for its limited functionality and lack of support for certain financial institutions.

You Need A Budget

You Need A Budget (YNAB) is a popular budgeting app designed to help couples and individuals manage their finances effectively. Here’s a review of its features, pros and cons, as well as its ratings on Google Play and the App Store.

Features

YNAB provides a range of features to help couples manage their finances, including

• Budgeting: The app helps users create a budget and tracks their spending, allowing them to see where their money is going and adjust their spending accordingly.
• Goals: YNAB allows users to set financial goals and track their progress towards them, such as saving for a down payment on a house or paying off credit card debt.
• Automatic syncing: YNAB can connect to users’ bank accounts and credit cards, automatically importing transactions and helping users stay on top of their spending.
• Reports: The app provides a range of reports and visualizations to help users understand their spending habits, track their progress towards financial goals, and identify areas where they can save money.
• Educational resources: YNAB offers a range of educational resources, including articles, webinars, and videos, to help users improve their financial literacy and make better financial decisions.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface: The app is easy to navigate, and its user-friendly interface makes it simple to create a budget and track spending.
• Real-time syncing: YNAB’s automatic syncing feature ensures that users always have up-to-date information about their finances.
• Goal setting: The app’s goal-setting feature helps users stay motivated and focused on their financial goals.
• Educational resources: YNAB provides a wealth of educational resources to help users improve their financial literacy and make better financial decisions.

Cons:

• Cost: YNAB requires a subscription, which may be a barrier for some users.
• Learning curve: While the app’s interface is user-friendly, there is still a learning curve involved in using it effectively.
• Limited customization: Some users may find that the app’s budgeting categories are too broad and that they cannot customize them to suit their needs.

Google/App Store rating: YNAB has an impressive rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars on the App Store, based on over 32,000 ratings, and 4.5 out of 5 stars on Google Play, based on over 14,000 ratings. Users generally praise the app for its ease of use, helpful features, and effectiveness in managing finances. Some users note that the cost of the app may be a downside, but many feel that the subscription is worth the investment for the benefits the app provides.

Personal Capital

Personal Capital is a popular budget app for couples that offers a range of features to help users manage their finances. The app is available for both iOS and Android devices, and it has received generally positive reviews from users.

Features

• Personal Capital offers a variety of features to help couples track their expenses, monitor investments, and plan for their financial future. Some of the key features of the app include:
• Budgeting tools: Personal Capital allows couples to track their spending and create budgets for different categories, such as groceries, entertainment, and transportation.
• Investment tracking: Users can link their investment accounts to the app and monitor their performance in real-time. The app also offers personalized investment advice based on the user’s financial goals.
• Retirement planning: Personal Capital provides a retirement planner tool that can help users estimate how much they need to save to achieve their retirement goals.
• Net worth tracking: The app allows users to monitor their overall net worth by linking all their financial accounts in one place.

Pros

• Comprehensive financial management: Personal Capital offers a wide range of tools for managing finances, including budgeting, investment tracking, and retirement planning.
• Free to use: The app is free to download and use, although some features may require a paid subscription.
• User-friendly interface: The app is easy to navigate and offers a clean, intuitive design.
• Great customer service: Personal Capital offers excellent customer support, with a team of financial advisors available to answer any questions users may have.

Cons

• Limited budgeting capabilities: While the app offers basic budgeting tools, some users may find the options limited compared to other budgeting apps.
• High account minimums: To access some of the app’s investment and wealth management services, users may need to have a high minimum account balance.
• Security concerns: Like any financial app, there are security concerns with linking your financial accounts to a third-party app.

Google/App Store ratings: On the Google Play Store, Personal Capital has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars, with users praising the app’s investment tracking and retirement planning features. On the App Store, the app has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars, with users praising its user-friendly interface and comprehensive financial management tools.

Tiller

Tiller is a budgeting app for couples that offers a variety of features to help users manage their finances. The app is available for use on Google Sheets, and it has received generally positive reviews from users.

Features

• Tiller offers a range of features to help couples manage their finances, including:
• Automated budgeting: Users can create and track their budget automatically using the app’s budgeting templates.
• Expense tracking: Tiller allows users to track their expenses by syncing with their bank accounts and credit cards.
• Customizable categories: Users can customize their budget categories to fit their specific needs and preferences.
• Shared budgeting: Couples can share their budgeting spreadsheets with each other to collaborate and keep track of their spending.

Pros

• User-friendly: The app is easy to use and navigate, with an intuitive interface.
• Customizable: The app allows users to customize their budget categories to fit their specific needs and preferences.
• Automated budgeting: Tiller’s budgeting templates make it easy for users to track their spending and stay on budget.
• Shared budgeting: The app’s shared budgeting feature makes it easy for couples to collaborate and manage their finances together.

Cons

• Limited mobile app: Tiller is primarily designed for use on desktop computers, and its mobile app has limited functionality.
• Requires a Google account: Users need a Google account to use Tiller, which may be a barrier for some users.
• Limited support: Tiller’s customer support is limited to email support, which may not be sufficient for some users.

Google/App Store ratings: Tiller does not have a standalone app on the Google Play Store or App Store. Instead, it operates as an add-on for Google Sheets. However, users have rated the app highly on review sites such as Trustpilot, where it has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. Users praise the app’s ease of use, customizability, and shared budgeting features.

Monarch

Monarch is a budgeting app designed specifically for couples who want to manage their finances together. It offers a variety of features that help couples track their expenses, set goals, and save money. In this review, I will discuss the app’s features, pros and cons, and its Google Play and App Store ratings.

Features

• Shared Budgets: Monarch allows couples to create a shared budget that both partners can access and edit. This makes it easy to keep track of expenses and make sure both partners are on the same page.
• Expense Tracking: Monarch makes it easy to track expenses by category, so couples can see where their money is going. The app also supports multiple accounts and credit cards, so it’s easy to keep track of all transactions in one place.
• Goal Setting: Monarch allows couples to set financial goals, such as saving for a vacation or paying off debt. The app helps couples track their progress toward these goals and provides helpful tips and advice along the way.
• Notifications: Monarch sends notifications to remind couples of upcoming bills, due dates, and other important financial tasks.

Pros

• Easy to Use: Monarch is user-friendly and easy to navigate, making it a great choice for couples who are new to budgeting.
• Customizable Categories: Monarch allows users to create custom categories for expenses, so couples can track their spending in a way that makes sense for them.
• Goal Tracking: Monarch’s goal-setting feature is a great way for couples to work together toward their financial goals.
• Budget Reports: Monarch provides detailed reports on spending, so couples can see where their money is going and make adjustments as needed.

Cons

• Limited Features: Monarch doesn’t offer as many features as some other budgeting apps, so it may not be the best choice for couples with complex financial situations.
• Syncing Issues: Some users have reported issues with syncing between devices, which can be frustrating.
• Paid Subscription: While Monarch offers a free version, some of the app’s more advanced features require a paid subscription.

Google Play/App Store Ratings

Monarch has a 4.6-star rating on the Google Play Store and a 4.7-star rating on the App Store. Users praise the app’s ease of use, helpful features, and great customer support. Some users have reported issues with syncing, but overall, the app has received positive reviews.

Best Budget Apps For Couples

Sharing finances is an important aspect of a healthy relationship that requires honesty and communication. However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to managing joint finances with your partner.

Couples may split bills in different ways, including dividing them equally or based on their income levels. It is essential to choose a financial app that aligns with your shared financial goals and preferred system.

A budgeting app can help couples plan their finances and stay on track. Investing time in financial planning as a team can ensure a stable financial future for both partners.