The powerful energy boost that you get as soon as your paycheck clears is indeed one of the most fantastic feelings after a period of hard work. However, soon, the money in your bank account gets wings and flies away, leaving you dull again. With a simple act, you can monitor your spending patterns and save more from the same amount of earnings. Previously, budgeting was a dull and tiring process. You had to manually add all expenses, which may have left you confused at the month’s end.
Today, budgeting apps for personal finances can be your knight in shining armor. With these apps, you can manage all expenses easily from your smartphone. Smartphones are commonplace and have the power to keep us connected with the whole world. Managing your expenses, expected incomes, and savings was never easier. Now, budgeting is not as hard as it sounds. All must do is adopt a modern version of bookkeeping. Records of your spending will show you a pattern of your expenditures. Eventually, you can save more money from your monthly income. Below are what we believe to be 2018’s best budgeting apps.
Mint
Pros
Mint, designed by Intuit, is the most popular budgeting app that provides its customers with a variety of features. Its popular features include:
- Keeps bills and money all in one place
- Sends alerts and reminders for bills
- Creates budgets
- Facilitates meeting your savings goals
- Prepares reports and charts every week
- Monitors your credit score
- Manages your portfolio and finances together
- Offers a secure app with multi-factor authorization
Cons
- Issues in updating have been reported by customers
- Problems with linking to a few financial institutions
- Access to all features only available through the web version
Platform for Mint
IOS
Android
Apple watch
Software Requirements
IOS: 10.0 or later
Android (depending on your handset)
Cost
You Need A Budget (YNAB)
Pros
- Bank Syncing
- Real-time access from your mobile phone
- Freedom for debt paydown
- Makes goals more attainable by tracking them
- Gets proper reports and summaries
- Live support and personal support
- Easy to use
- Reported as the best app for getting out of debt
Cons
- Fewer features compared to other apps
- No reporting for investments
A Platform if You Need A Budget
Android
IOS
Apple watch
Software Requirements
Android: 5.0 and up
IOS: 9.0 or later
Cost
$6.99 per month
Wally
Pros
- Reported as the best app for tracking expenses
- Unprecedented insights
- Location-based speed
- Smart notifications
- No ads
- Recurring income and expenses
- Store photos of receipts
- Exports data in CSV form
Cons
- Less user-friendly
- Limited review section
- Does not sync with bank accounts
Platform for Wally
Android
IOS
Software Requirements
Android: 4.0 and up
IOS: 9.0
Cost
Acorns
Pros
- Maintains portfolio
- Facilitates investing in your budget
- Tracks your progress
- Withdraw anytime
- Best app for painless saving
Cons
- Commissions are deducted from accounts less than $5000
- Low investment opportunities
Platform for Acorns
Android
IOS
Apple watch
Software Requirements
Android: Varies with device
IOS 10.0 or later
Cost
$1 per month for an account managing less than $5,000
Level Money
Pros
- Easy setup
- Syncs with multiple bank accounts
- Syncs with various credit cards
- Money insight summaries and reports
Cons
- Not ideal for variable income
- Does not provide advice
A platform for Level Money
Android
IOS
Cost
Free of cost but not for fluctuating income
Conclusion
The main goal is to make your money work for you. Whatever app you chose to use will help you to keep track and understand your spending habits and eventually get more control over your finances. Once you can gain control of your finances, financial freedom is within your grasp. 
