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Best Budgeting Apps for Couples

Compare budgeting apps designed for two that could help couples stay on the same financial page.

Have a 2025 goal of saving more money as a couple? Need to keep track of spending? Merging your finances for the first time as newlyweds? A budget app could help with all of that and more. Financial literacy, mental budgeting and self-control exert a favorable influence on an individual’s financial well-being, as found in a 2023 study by the National Library of Medicine.(1)

Compare the best budgeting apps allowing two or more people to help organize your shared finances and keep track of a family budget.

7 best budget apps for couples

Best overall

YNAB

Offers a free 34-day trial
Go to site Read review
Fee$99. per year
Minimum deposit to open$0

Best for all-in-one financial planning

Origin

Try free for 7 days
Go to site
APY4.50%
Fee$12.99. per month

Best for shared savings goals

Monarch

Get 50% off your first year with code LOVE50. Offer valid until February 28, 2025.
Go to site
Fee$14.99. per month

Best for couples with kids

FamZoo

7.2 Great

One month free trial. After your one-month trial, plans start at just $5.99/month for the whole family. First 4 prepaid cards free.
Go to site Read review
Maintenance Fees$5.99 monthly
Age requirementsAny age

Best for budgeting investments

Empower Personal Cash

8.8 Great

Go to site Read review
APY3.75%
Fee$0 per month
Minimum deposit to open$0

Best free app

Honeydue Joint Banking

9 Excellent

Read review
Fee$0 per month
Card fee$0
ATM withdrawal$0

Best for envelope budgeting

Goodbudget

Fee$0. per month
Minimum deposit to open$0

Methodology: How we choose the best budgeting apps for couples

Finder’s banking experts compare over 70 budget apps to find the best apps for couples. The apps must be affordable and accessible across mobile devices and must allow for shared access. We also compare features, app store ratings and monthly fees, and we favor apps with the ability to craft custom budgets and account-linking features. We consider these criteria:

  • Monthly fee under $15
  • Can be shared by at least two people
  • Must offer some budget or tracking tools
  • Mobile app store ratings above 3.5 stars

How to choose a couples budgeting app

When choosing a budgeting app for two people, make sure you agree on these factors:

  • Fees. Many budget apps have monthly fees, like the popular YNAB. If paying for a budget app throws a wrench in your budget, consider free options like Zeta or Honeydue.
  • Budgeting method. Two of the most popular budget tactics these apps use are the envelope and zero-dollar methods. The envelope system sorts your expenses in digital envelopes to see where all your money is going, while the zero-dollar method gives every dollar a purpose.
  • App reviews. You’ll see more ratings than written reviews, but the people who take the time to leave a written review are usually very happy or very upset. Take some time to read through reviews on both the App Store and Google Play Store to see what users are saying.
  • Account syncing. Some apps, like YNAB, automatically import transactions from your bank accounts, while others, like Goodbudget, require you to enter all transactions manually.
  • Account compatibility. Most budget apps use Plaid to sync bank accounts to the app. If your primary bank account isn’t compatible with Plaid, consider Simplifi by Quicken.

Can couples just use a joint bank account?

Joint bank accounts are extremely popular for couples. If you and your partner aren’t fans of budgeting apps or prefer a simpler way to manage finances together, a joint bank account could be a good solution.

Joint bank accounts function much like regular bank accounts, but they’re shared between two or more people. With a joint checking account, each person gets their own debit card and equal access to the funds. However, both account holders are equally responsible for any fees, such as overdraft charges.

Some accounts and banks that allow for joint owners include SoFi Checking and Savings, Chase Bank and Ally Bank.

How to budget as a couple

Creating a shared budget can be tricky. Consider these five tips to craft a shared budget:

Communication

Open communication is extremely important in creating a shared budget. Be honest about your spending habits, talk openly about savings goals and disclose any debts that need to be paid.

Who’s paying for what?

Splitting bills 50/50 sounds fair at a glance, but that would only make sense if you and your partner make the exact same wage. Consider splitting shared expenses in a way that matches your salaries: If you make 60% of all the income, pay 60% of the bills. And make sure you’re on the same page about personal expenses, such as student loans or gym memberships.

Check credit scores

Credit scores don’t merge once you enter a relationship — they don’t even merge once you’re married. Be sure to check your credit reports and scores to locate negative marks and mistakes, and be strategic with who takes out loans for the best APRs.

Merge subscriptions

Once you merge your finances, see if there are any bills or subscriptions that you can share, like Netflix, Spotify or Duolingo. Don’t pay double for services that only require one subscription.

Savings and retirement

If you’re in it for the long haul, talk about retirement plans and long-term savings goals. Do either of you have a Roth IRA or 401(k)? Do you have an emergency fund that can pay for both of your expenses for at least three months?

Bottom line

At the end of the day, a budget app is meant to help you save money, track your spending or just keep track of your expenses. If the app is more of a burden on your budget, opting for a joint bank account and a classic spreadsheet might be the way to go.

For tips on creating a budget, check our comprehensive budget guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can the Mint app be used by couples?

To the dismay of many, Mint is no longer available as of March 2024. Mint transitioned to Credit Karma, allowing Credit Karma users to import their Mint history and transactions there. But Credit Karma isn’t a good option for couples as it doesn’t allow joint accounts. If you’re looking for an alternative, check out more Mint alternatives.

Is a joint bank account a good idea for budgeting?

A joint bank account can help streamline the budgeting process if you both already have access to all your funds. And with the right joint account, you may not even need a separate budgeting app. Some accounts have built-in budgeting features, like Ally Bank with its envelope budgeting “buckets” and SoFi® with its savings Vault feature. Also SoFi and Ally don’t charge monthly maintenance fees.

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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.
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Written by

Editor, Banking

Bethany Hickey is the banking editor and personal finance expert at Finder, specializing in banking, lending, insurance, and crypto. Bethany’s expertise in personal finance has garnered recognition from esteemed media outlets, such as Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GOBankingRates, SuperMoney, AOL and Newsweek. Her articles offer practical financial strategies to Americans, empowering them to make decisions that meet their financial goals. Her past work includes articles on generational spending and saving habits, lending, budgeting and managing debt. Before joining Finder, she was a content manager where she wrote hundreds of articles and news pieces on auto financing and credit repair for CarsDirect, Auto Credit Express and The Car Connection, among others. Bethany holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan-Flint, and was poetry editor for the university’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine. See full bio

Bethany's expertise
Bethany has written 462 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Personal finance
  • Banking
  • Auto loans
  • Insurance
  • Cryptocurrency and NFTs

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