Manual entry or bank connection
The biggest difference between free budgeting apps is how transactions get in. Many free versions ask you to type them in yourself and keep automatic bank import for the paid plan:
| App | Free version | Bank connection |
|---|---|---|
| EveryDollar | Monthly budget, manual entry | Premium |
| Wallet | Manual tracking | Premium |
| Spendee | 1 cash wallet, 1 budget | Included on Basic |
| Emma | Accounts in one place, budgets | Included; UK banks named |
| Actual Budget | Full app, open source | GoCardless (EU/UK), SimpleFIN (US/Canada) |
Manual entry takes a few minutes a day, and bank import saves that time. Check which banks an app supports in your country before you set it up.
Open source and offline options
If you want your numbers on your own computer, open source money managers are free without a plan limit. Actual Budget calls itself 100% free and open source under the MIT license, with desktop apps or a sync server you host yourself. HomeBank is free software under the GNU GPL, and Money Manager Ex says it is a free download without ads and charges, for desktop and mobile.
Prefer a spreadsheet? Microsoft offers free budget templates for Excel, and our printable budget spreadsheet and expense tracker work on paper or on screen.
Free versions with a catch
- Students only: YNAB offers one free year to college students with proof of enrollment. It is not renewable.
- Fees on some features: Rocket Money's free plan covers subscription tracking, budgeting and bill reminders. Its bill negotiation service charges 35% to 60% of your first year's savings when it lowers a bill.
- Marketing contact: Empower's free dashboard sign-up page says you agree to receive marketing calls and text messages.
- Feature limits: Spendee's free Basic plan has 1 cash wallet and 1 budget, and Monefy keeps unlimited accounts and recurring transactions for its upgrade.
Read the sign-up terms before you connect a bank account.
Free money tools on this site
- Budget planner: split your take-home pay into needs, wants and savings.
- Savings goal calculator: how much to set aside each month for a goal.
- Debt snowball planner: lay out an order for paying off several debts.
- Emergency fund calculator: how big an emergency fund should be and how long it takes to build.
- Subscription cost tracker: list recurring charges with their monthly and yearly cost.
Printables: the bill tracker, savings tracker and debt payoff tracker. This page describes features only and is not financial advice. We opened each official page on 2026-10-21, without signing up, and wrote down only what it says.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a budgeting app that is completely free?
Open source apps have no paid tier to unlock: Actual Budget says it is 100% free and open source, HomeBank is free software under the GPL, and Money Manager Ex is a free download without ads and charges. EveryDollar also has a free version you can use as long as you want, with manual entry.
Which free budgeting apps connect to my bank?
Spendee's free Basic plan includes bank sync, and Emma's free use covers connecting your accounts, with UK banks named on its page. Actual Budget supports bank sync through GoCardless for the EU and UK and SimpleFIN for the US and Canada. EveryDollar and Wallet keep bank connection for Premium.
Is YNAB free?
YNAB offers one free year to college students, including grad students and part-time students, with a document from the school that shows current enrollment. The free year is not renewable. YNAB's college page does not describe a free plan for everyone else.
Can I budget with a spreadsheet instead of an app?
Yes. Microsoft offers free customizable budget templates for Excel, and our printable budget spreadsheet and expense tracker work in any browser or on paper. A spreadsheet needs manual entry but keeps your numbers in a file you control.
Which app should I use to manage my money?
We describe features only and do not give financial advice. Pick the one whose free version fits how you track spending: manual entry, bank import, a desktop app or a spreadsheet. Try it for a month before you move all your accounts.