Women Share The Budgeting Apps That Changed Their Finances
Looking at my bank balance used to be one of my greatest fears. I was scared of knowing how much I’d overspent and how much I’d have to control my budget the next month. I was a lousy saver and a serious spender. I’d give in to craving, retail therapy (how’s one night cream going to make things worse?), and mini vacations.
Overspending has been one of the top financial regrets people have, whether it’s on travel, entertainment, or an event. And over half of Americans are reckless with money.
Here’s where budgeting comes in. It can lower physical stress and make you feel in control of your finances. But just setting a budget isn’t enough to transform your financial behaviors. 84% of Americans exceed their monthly budget.
You need an app, an accountability partner that mirrors your financial goals, and we’ve got you first-hand recommendations!
When it’s budgeting, we have to talk about You Need A Budget (YNAB). It’s a Reddit favorite because it’s comprehensive, mindful, and helps you reach long-term financial goals like debt relief.
April Taylor, an entrepreneur and founder of Junior Moguls was introduced to the app by a fellow entrepreneur.
“YNAB was a part of their financial-care routine, and it has been a game changer for me, too,” she said. “It helps you track what you spent and plan for what’s coming; every dollar has an assignment or purpose.”
She said she believes that the app can push women to change their mindset about money.
“YNAB has helped me to be more intentional and more consistent with my savings,” she said. “Having your financial blueprint at your fingertips allows women to feel more comfortable and secure when it comes to their money.”
Monarch Money was named the best budgeting app by the Wall Street Journal in 2025.
Monarch Money aims to offer you clarity about your finances. The interface, the intuitive nature, and the stunning visualization of your goals make it a crowd favorite.
Prisca Benson, the owner of Our Green Life, chose it for how well it represents her financial health.
“It syncs well with all my financial institutions, including my car loan and my work retirement plan,” she said. “This can get a picture of how my entire financial picture looks.”
Even if the app is paid, people choose it over free resources because it fits their needs and simplifies budgeting.
“The app accommodates both people who like to categorize every category spent and those who just use general buckets to manage their day-to-day expenses,” Prisca said. “I am able to create goals (like paying off my car), see my net worth, and manage my money with a hands-off approach (without manually assigning it to a category).”
Rachel Cruze, a leading finance influencer, recommends this zero-based budgeting app. EveryDollar was created by Dave Ramsey, her father and finance guru. And before you think her recommendation is biased, know that EveryDollar has its fans, too.
The app has a free version and a paid version (automatically reflects transactions), which has workshops to learn about personal finance.
YouTuber Wendy Valencia said she also uses it to create joint budgets with her and her partner’s income. Like her, many have recommended EveryDollar for its simplicity and ease.
Brittany Flammer, a content creator and budgeting app explorer, has added it to her “Best Budgeting Apps” video for it’s customizable and seamless budgeting options.
This, again, was on Brittany Flammer’s Best Budgeting Apps list, and it’s a strong alternative to Mint, a beloved app that shut down. But (plot twist), it’s not a budgeting app, per se.
It’s a holistic financial management app. It tracks your wealth, cash flow, investments, and even breaks down your net worth. It also helps you plan for retirement and other long-term goals.
While it doesn’t help you categorize your budgets (subscriptions, groceries, etc), it can help you understand how you’re budgeting (income vs budget).
Brittany also shares that it’s easy to use and it can help you know where you stand in terms of goals, such as mortgages and loans.
Okay, this isn’t an app, but many Reddit users recommend it as a simple, no-fluff budgeting tool.
If you’re a DIY budget maker, this will help you build tables and charts that fit your visualization needs.
If you have limited budget categories and want to track monthly, short-term spending, Google Sheets will not disappoint. In fact, people have also created their budget spreadsheets and shared it with others.
