Managing your personal finances doesn’t have to be complicated. With all the resources available to us, it’s easier than ever to keep track of your spending, plan a budget, invest, and organize your savings.

Personal finance software today is affordable and accessible. Anyone can download and use these tools to manage their finances.

So, if you’re struggling with your budget or savings, why not take advantage of these cheap (or free) resources? You’ll be surprised by how easy they are!

To help you find the right tool for you, here is the 20 best personal finance software.

Table of Contents

• Best Software for Budgeting
• Best Software for Filing Taxes
• Best Software for Investing
• Best Software for Managing your Bills
• Best Overall Personal Finance Software

Best Software for Budgeting

Have trouble setting and sticking to a budget? The right software can help.

These software are cheap (or free) to download and easy to use — most of them can be run through your phone. Once you find the right budgeting tool for you, there won’t be any need to stuff cash into envelopes or balance your checkbook.

1. You Need A Budget

You Need A Budget, or YNAB, says it all in the name. This is the ultimate simple, straightforward software for someone who needs a budget.

While other apps are designed to take money-management off your hands, YNAB actually teaches you how to build a budget and manage your personal finances. In other words, if you’re using this software right, you won’t need it anymore after a couple of years.

Once you make an account, you can access the software through your laptop, phone, or even smartwatch.

This is the perfect solution for a young Millennial or Gen Z-er just starting out on their own, or for someone who needs to break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle.

• Cost: YNAB costs $84 per year.
• Savings: According to their website, the average user saves around $600 in their first couple months, and $6,000 in their first year.

2. Mint

If you’re interested in personal finance software, you might have heard of Mint already. It’s the budgeting app that brings all your finances and accounts into one place.

Once you sign up, you can just connect all your accounts (banking, credit cards, investment, etc.) and download the mobile app. Then, you’ll be able to check your finances anytime, wherever you are.

This is the perfect app for someone with multiple accounts who wants to get a bird’s-eye-view of their finances.

• Cost: Mint is 100% free to sign up and access
• Savings: Your savings with Mint will depend on how you use it. By tracking all your accounts and stopping any unnecessary payments, you could easily save $100+ per month.
• Mint vs. YNAB: Which is Better?

3. Mvelopes

Ever tried the classic “cash envelope” method of budgeting, where you allocate cash into envelopes for different purposes? That’s the basic idea behind Mvelopes.

Mvelopes makes it easy to sort your budget into different categories, so you never overspend. You can link multiple accounts and keep track of all your spending in one place.

The basic version of this app is strictly for tracking your finances. More sophisticated versions come with personal coaching to help you learn how to budget and invest. All plans are paid, but you can start with a 60-day free trial to see if it’s right for you.

• Cost: The basic version of the software is only $6 per month. The Premier plan, which comes with debt reduction tools and phone support, costs $9.95 per month, and the Plus plan with personalized financial coaching is $19 per month.
• Savings: One of the main goals of the Mvelopes method is to help you get out of debt, so you can focus on your savings and investments to grow your wealth.

4. Buddi

Buddi is an open-source personal finance software designed to help people who struggle to create and track a budget.

You will need Java to run this program, but once you have it downloaded, it’s pretty easy to figure out. There are tons of resources and articles on the website to help you make the most of the software.

This is the perfect tool for setting up your accounts and building a budget. You can run reports and access them at any time to stay on top of your finances.

• Cost: Buddi is 100% free to download.
• Savings: With a well-planned budget created through Buddi, you can reach the goal of saving 20% of your income each month.

5. Albert

Wouldn’t it be nice to have your own personal financial advisor – without paying a crazy fee? That’s what Albert is for.

This app lets you connect your accounts and track your spending and build a budget. On top of that, it offers personalized counseling on savings and investment. And that all comes for free!

The paid version of the app, Albert Genius, comes with one-on-one guidance from a live financial advisor. It might be worth the investment if you want to become a financial expert – especially if you’re considering long-term investments.

• Cost: The basic version of Albert is totally free. With Albert Genius, you choose how much you want to contribute each month, past the minimum investment of $4. The more you invest, the more you’ll get out of it.
• Savings: Albert has a ton of unique features to help you save, including a 0.10% bonus to all of your savings with the basic version of the app, and 0.25% with Albert Genius.

6. Pocketguard

Pocketguard takes the work out of your hands by automating your savings.

If you don’t like the complex, confusing interface of some other finance apps, this is the perfect solution for you. Pocketguard is super simple and easy to understand. You can keep track of all of your accounts in one place, and even lower your monthly bills.

The coolest feature of Pocketguard is the “in my pocket” tab, which shows you exactly how much spending money you have available right now, taking into account your monthly bills and savings goals.

• Costs: Pocketguard costs $34.99 annually. You can try out the first week free, to see if it’s a good fit for you.
• Savings: This is a fairly simple savings app, but if it works for you, it will help you get out of debt and meet your goal of saving 20% of your income per month, or even more.

Best Software for Filing Taxes

Tax season can get confusing. Whether you’re traditionally employed, a freelancer, or a business owner, there are a lot of steps to keep track of – especially the first few times you file independently, the process can be pretty nerve-wracking.

That’s where personal tax software can help you out. These apps are designed to guide you through ever step of filing your taxes, so you don’t have to stress so much.

7. TaxSlayer

If you have experience with filing your taxes and just want a little boost to make the whole process easier, try TaxSlayer.

This is an affordable, intuitive tax filing software designed to get you the biggest possible refund. TaxSlayer will make sure you access every tax break available to you, allows you to file from any device, and will get your refund to you faster through e-filing and direct deposit. 

Best of all, it comes in a range of prices, so you don’t have to overpay for features you don’t need.

• Cost: For the basic version, ideal for an employee of a single company, TaxSlayer is free. The classic plan with a few more features is $17, and the Premium plan with live chat support is $37.

Finally, they offer a self-employed option for freelancers and contract employees, at $37. If you’re self-employed, this plan will be a huge help in filing your complicated taxes.

8. H&R Block

H&R Block makes it easy for anyone to file their taxes.

They offer complete support through every step of the process, and even the option to have a tax professional file for you. Their plans range from basic to premium and business, to help people in all financial situations.

If you’re a little unsure about filing your taxes alone, this is a great software to help reduce your stress and get it done faster.

Cost: H&R Block’s software comes in a range of plans and prices:

• Basic: For simple, straightforward taxes: $29.95
• Deluxe + State Tax: Ideal for homeowners and investors: $54.95
• Premium: For self-employed people and people who own rental properties: $74.954
• Premium + Business: For small business owners: $89.95
• Read Our Full Review Here

9. TurboTax

TurboTax is a popular tax software that works for everyone, whether you’re self-employed or work for a company.

This is a great choice for someone who wants to make filing their taxes as easy as possible. All you have to do is input your information, and TurboTax will take care of the rest. It will also remember your details year after year.

Like most tax software, there is a variety of plans based on how complicated your taxes will be. This software is a little pricier than some others, but the service is complete and stress-free. Each plan is free to start – you only pay once you file.

Cost: Here’s a brief overview of TurboTax’s plans:

• Free: The free edition will help you file, but doesn’t come with TurboTax’s complete features and guidance.
• Deluxe: Intuitive software for standard tax filings: $60
• Premier: For investments and rental properties: $90
• Self-employed: For freelancers and small business owners: $120

10. TaxAct

To get your taxes done as quickly as possible, and get a great refund, try TaxAct.

With this software, you can have your taxes filed in less than 10 minutes. They offer plans for basic returns, investors, and self-employed filers.

Best of all, this is one of the most affordable options out there – the deluxe plan is even lower-cost than a basic plan with H&R Block.

• Cost: TaxAct offers a free service that can speed up the process if you don’t need much help filing your taxes. Beyond that, they have a deluxe plan at $55, a premium plan at $80, and as self-employed plan at $110.

Best Software for Investing

Interested in investment? It’s easier today than ever before to get started.

Investment software will help you to establish and monitor your portfolio. You can choose a basic software that will give you some advice, or a more comprehensive program that handles everything for you.

Best of all, you don’t need tons of money to invest with these apps – you can get started with minor investments and grow your portfolio over time.

11. Robinhood

The goal of Robinhood is “investing for everyone.” And that’s exactly what they do!

If you’re interested in investment but have no idea where to start, Robinhood is the perfect app for you.

Robinhood offers research tools, real-time quotes, and a customizable watchlist. The interface is sleek and incredibly easy to use.

Don’t have a ton of money to invest right now? Robinhood also offers fractional shares – you can buy a portion of a share in any company. It’s a great way to get the hang of investing.

• Cost: It’s free to sign up for Robinhood. They also don’t charge commission fees, so you’ll save compared to others.

12. Acorns

Acorns is another popular automated investment app that makes it easy to get into investing.

This app will invest your spare change for you, so you don’t need to worry about having a huge lump sum to start with.

Here’s how it works: when you sign up with Acorns, you’ll get a designated Visa debit card. Each time you pay with your card, the app will automatically invest your spare change.

They also offer guides and advice to help you set up the best investment profile. It’s an easy way to start saving for retirement or just learn the ropes of investing.

• Cost: Acorns isn’t free, but it is incredibly cheap – just $1 or $3 per month, depending on the plan you choose.
• Read Our Full Review Here

13. Stash

Stash does more than just investment – this is your all-in-one app for budgeting, banking, investing, and saving.

This is an excellent teaching tool if you’re just getting started with your personal finances. You can use their budgeting tools to track your spending, invest in fractional shares, and even access a Roth IRA account for retirement.

Someone with a little more experience in investment won’t get as much use out of Stash. But if you have limited funds to work with and want to learn more about growing your wealth, this is an awesome place to start.

Cost: Stash offers three affordable plans:

• Stash Beginner: Budgeting, investment, and saving basics: $1/month.
• Stash Growth: For long-term saving and investment: $3/month.
• Stash+: For families and serious investors: $9/month.
• Read Our Full Review here

14. TradeStation

If you have a handle on the basics of investment, and want to upgrade to a more sophisticated software, check out TradeStation.

This is a great option for intermediate to advanced traders. The software includes professional technology for automated trading, building an investment strategy, and more.

Several  of their investment options are commission-free, making it more affordable than other sophisticated software options.

• Cost: If you opt for TradeStation Go, their basic plan, you can start with any investment amount. For TradeStation Select, which offers more features, you’ll need a $2,000 minimum investment.

15. E*Trade

If you’re interested in investming, you’ve probably heard of E*Trade already. This is one of the most popular investment platforms out there, for beginners and advanced traders alike.

For a more experienced investor, you’ll have access to commission-free stocks, ETFs, and more. If you’re just getting started, you’ll find plenty of tools and learning resources to build your profile.

They also offer automated trading, if you don’t want to manually monitor your investments.

• Cost: It’s free to make your account with E*Trade. They charge minor commission fees on options contracts, futures contracts, and bonds. Minimum investments can vary, depending on the plan you sign up for.

Best Software for Managing your Bills

If all you need is a little help managing your bills and monthly payments, you don’t need an expensive personal finance software with tons of features.

That’s where these apps and tools come in. Bill management software will automate your payments and keep track of all your bills in one place, so that you never miss a payment again.

16. Prism

Prism is an awesome free app that brings all your bills together in one place.

Once you upload the details of your payments, you can schedule a payment, monitor due dates, and get an overview of every major payment you have coming up.

This app won’t lower your monthly bills for you, but it will make it so much easier to make sure you don’t miss any payments.

• Cost: Prism is absolutely free to sign up and use.

17. Trim

Have you ever signed up for a free trial of a subscription, only to forget to cancel it? It happens all the time (that’s why so many companies offer those free trials) – but now there’s an app to help with that.

Trim is an automated budgeting software that will access your bank account to find and cancel any unnecessary subscriptions. It will also negotiate lower bills for you – like your cable and internet.

Once you download the app and give it access to your accounts (don’t worry, it’s safe) Trim will send you texts about subscriptions that could be cancelled. Just reply that you want to get rid of that payment, and Trim will take care of the rest for you.

• Cost: The basic version of Trim is free to sign up and download. They also offer a premium version at $99 per year, which comes with bill negotiation and other budgeting features.
• Savings: According to Trim’s website, the average user can save as much as $645 per year. You’ll also earn a 4% bonus on your savings, up to the first $2,000.

18. Truebill

Similar to Trim, Truebill makes it easy to find and cancel your unwanted subscriptions.

This app will also negotiate lower bills for you. Just input your bill payment information, and Truebill will handle the rest. You’ll get notifications to tell you how much you saved.

The cool thing about this app is that you don’t have to pay anything upfront. Truebill takes a portion of your savings as a commission, so you won’t lose any money if they can’t negotiate any lower bills for you.

• Cost: Truebill will take 40% of your savings. That might seem steep, but you won’t pay anything unless you’re actually saving.

Best Overall Personal Finance Software

Last but not least, here are a couple apps that will help you manage your personal finances on all fronts.

Instead of downloading an investment app, tax app, and budgeting app, why not do it all in one place?

19. Quicken

If you’re looking for a well-rounded app that will help you with every aspect of your personal finances, look no further than Quicken.

This is a great tool to manage your investments, taxes, and bills. With Quicken, you can calculate your net worth, pay your bills, track your investments, and get an overview of all your spending. You can even manage your small business spending or rental property finances.

Once you sign up, the app will be accessible from any device. It’s the easiest way to stay on top of your finances all the time.

Cost: Quicken isn’t free, but you’ll easily pay it off as you save. Looking for an alternative? Check out this list. Here are the plans Quicken offers:

• Basic: For simple, individual budgeting: $35.99/year.
• Deluxe: For complete budgeting and savings tools: $44.99/year.
• Premium: For investments and complex budgets: $67.49/year.
• Home and Business: Complete finance package for your household and business: $89.99/year.

20. Personal Capital

Last up on our list of the best personal finance software is Personal Capital, the free tool that makes it easy to budget and invest.

On the budgeting front, you can connect all of your accounts to get a comprehensive overview of your spending and payments. The interface is clear and easy to understand, taking the stress out of your money management.

For investments, Personal Capital offers all kinds of resources. You can make a plan for retirement or growing your wealth, track your investments, and see how close you are to reaching your goals.

If you have a large investment portfolio (over $100,000) Personal Capital also offers personalized consultation with a financial advisor.

• Cost: Personal Capital’s software is completely free to download and use. If you’re looking for investment advice from financial experts, there is a small fee.

Is it worth it to use personal finance software?

Now that you’ve had a look at the 20 top personal finance software available right now, let’s talk about how you can make use of them.

The question is: are these tools really worth your time (and money)?

Of course, everybody’s individual financial situation looks a little different. There is no single personal finance software that will work for everyone, every time. But in general, these tools will help you save money and grow your wealth – you just have to find what works for you!

To help you figure out which tools you should invest in, here are a few important considerations for each type of personal finance software reviewed on this list.

Budgeting Software

Budgeting software, including all the apps reviewed on this list, isn’t necessarily for everyone. It can be extremely helpful, but it could also be a waste of time and money if you don’t need help planning your budget.

So, before you sign up for a program or download an app, ask yourself these questions:

How complex is your budget? Do you have multiple banking, credit cards, and savings accounts? How about bills and loan payments?

The more complicated your budget is, the more likely you are to let something slip through the cracks. A simple app that gives you an overview of all your accounts will help you make sure you never miss any payments, and never overspend in any category.

How much are you willing to spend? Some budgeting software comes with a monthly or annual fee. You should never sign up for a paid program unless you really need help with your budget. In other words, make sure you’re confident that the app will save you enough money to pay itself off.

Tax Software

Paying your taxes can feel like a big, complicated job. But some tax software might be more money than it’s worth for you.

If you’re interested in subscribing to a plan that will help you file your taxes this year, consider these questions:

How much help do you need? If you’ve never filed your taxes on your own before, I would recommend signing up for a basic tax software. The right program will walk you through each stage and simplify the whole process – it might be worth the $20 – $30 investment for one year, so you’re more prepared next time.

Can you get a high refund? One of the biggest benefits of using tax software is that you can get the highest possible refund. So, if you think you’re eligible for a high return on your taxes this year, a subscription to an app like TurboTax might pay itself off.

Are you self-employed? Being self-employed is awesome, until it’s time to file your taxes. Software will simplify the process and make sure you don’t end up overpaying.

Investment Software

No matter how you plan on investing, you’ll have to do it on some kind of platform. The apps reviewed on this list will make it a little easier, especially if you don’t have much experience.

Here are a few questions to help you make your decision:

How much investment experience do you have? If you’re brand new to investing, a robo-investor like Acorns or Robinhood can be a great place to start. You’ll have automated options, as well as resources to learn more.

How much do you have to invest right now? If your investment budget is slim, you should consider an investment software that allows you to buy fractional shares. That way, you can learn the ropes and start growing your portfolio, without investing a huge lump sum.

What are you investing for? Are you trying to save for retirement, or grow your wealth? Do you want steady growth or a little more risk? Be sure to shop around – each investment plan will come with different options.

Bill Management Software

Bill management tools like Prism and Truebill are designed to help you make all your bill payments and make sure you aren’t overpaying.

Not everyone will find these tools useful. Before you make an account, ask yourself:

Do you have a lot of monthly bills? It’s easy to pay a bill or two each month, especially with automation. But if you have multiple payments to make (loans, car payments, utilities, rent, etc.), it might help to install an app that will help you keep track of all of them.

Do you have any unnecessary subscriptions? If you’re great at cancelling subscriptions you don’t use anymore, you probably don’t need an app that will help you with them. On the other hand, if you struggle to stay on top of free trials and other accounts, an app like Trim will be a huge help.

The bottom line: Software makes it easier

All the apps on this list are designed to make your life easier. Whether it’s building a budget, paying your bills on time, or tracking your investments – modern technology will simplify it for you.

If you’re just starting out on your own or have a complicated budget, I highly recommend taking advantage of the resources available to you. Most of these apps offer a free trial to test them out – it’s worth it to see how they can save you money!

Find what software works for you and stick with it. With the right tools, managing your finances doesn’t have to be a headache.