Tracking your spending is often the first step in getting your finances in order. By understanding what you spend money on and how much you spend, you can see exactly where your cash is going and areas where you can cut back.
It's easy to make this part of your everyday routine thanks to expense tracker apps that help you manage your money on the go. These apps certainly overlap with budgeting apps, but while the latter provides a big-picture view of your finances, expense tracker apps put more of an emphasis on your spending. These apps usually categorize your expenses and help you get a good idea of your purchasing behavior.
Whether you want an expense tracker app that easily captures all your transaction data, one that automates the expense reporting process at your job, or one that holds you accountable by requiring you to manually input each one of your transactions, there's an app out there for you.
To determine which expense tracker apps are the best overall, CNBC Select reviewed and compared over a dozen apps, looking at their pricing and features. The apps we considered for this ranking come with low (or no) cost to sign up, are easy to use and can be accessed on multiple devices. We favored those that have a considerable number of user reviews and high ratings. (See our methodology for more information on how we made this list.)
Best expense tracker apps
Best overall free app
Mint
Cost
Free
Standout features
Shows income, expenses, savings goals, credit score, investments, net worth
Categorizes your expenses
Yes, but users can modify
Links to accounts
Yes, bank and credit cards
Availability
Offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
Security features
Verisign scanning, multi-factor authentication and Touch ID mobile access
See our methodology, terms apply.
Pros
- Free to use
- Syncs to your bank accounts and credit cards
- Users can create savings goals, track investments
- Customized alerts when over budget, for large transactions, ATM fees, etc.
- Bill payment reminders
- Credit monitoring service
- Offers blog and education tools, such as a loan repayment calculator
- Security features include Verisign scanning, multi-factor authentication and Touch ID mobile access
Cons
- Some user reviews complain of ads, glitches in app, expenses assigned to wrong category
Rating in App Store at time of writing: 4.8 out of 5 (over 770,000 ratings)
Rating on Google Play at time of writing: 4.3 out of 5 (over 200,000 ratings)
Mint app review: The best free budgeting app for tracking your money
Best app for beginners
Goodbudget
Cost
Get 20 envelopes for free; for unlimited envelopes, you need to upgrade to Goodbudget Plus, which is $7 per month or $60 per year
Standout features
Allows users to plan their household's spending using the "envelope method," where they allocate a certain amount of their income into categories like groceries, rent and debt payoff. Users are only supposed spend what's in their envelopes and if they go beyond their budget the envelope will show red to indicate that they overspent
Categorizes your expenses
Yes, but users can customize
Links to accounts
No, users manually create "envelopes" and input their transactions
Availability
Has a web-based version, and also offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
Security features
256-bit bank grade encryption in a secure data center
See our methodology, terms apply.
Pros
- Free to use for creating 20 envelopes, one account user on up to two devices, one year of transaction history, debt tracking and community support
- Envelope feature allows user to visualize their spending and prioritize meeting different goals
- Users can customize the envelope categories according to their needs, such as saving for an emergency fund or a vacation
- Requiring manual entry of data helps users to really analyze their spending habits versus it being automated (users can also download their recent activity from their bank’s website and import that into Goodbudget)
- App provides real-time updates of how your transactions impact your budget and personalized reports
- App offers educational resources like a blog, a podcast and online courses people can take
- App plans to launch a pandemic-inspired feature allowing people to prioritize “envelopes” based on their most urgent expenses, such as housing, utility bills, etc.
- Security features include 256-bit bank grade encryption in a secure data center
Cons
- Costs $7 per month or $60 per year for unlimited envelopes with Goodbudget Plus, unlimited account users on up to five devices, seven years of transaction history, debt tracking and email support
- Doesn't sync to your bank accounts or credit cards, which can be a downside for people who want automation
- Requires that users use the “envelope method” to track their spending
- Some user reviews report experiencing technical issues with the app
Rating in App Store at time of writing: 4.7 out of 5 (over 12,500 ratings)
Rating on Google Play at time of writing: 4.3 out of 5 (over 19,000 ratings)
Goodbudget app review: The best app for beginners looking to track their expenses
Best app for serious budgeters
You Need a Budget (YNAB)
Cost
34-day free trial then $84 per year or $11.99 per month (students who provide proof of enrollment get 12 months free)
Standout features
Instead of using traditional budgeting buckets, users allocate every dollar they earn to something (known as the "zero-based budgeting system" where no dollar is unaccounted for). Every dollar is assigned a "job," whether it's to go toward bills, savings, investments, etc.
Categorizes your expenses
No
Links to accounts
Yes, bank and credit cards
Availability
Offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
Security features
Encrypted data, accredited data centers, third-party audits and more
See our methodology, terms apply.
Pros
- Offers a 34-day free trial, and students get 12 months free
- Designed to help you get out of debt
- YNAB website claims average user saves $600 in their first two months and more than $6,000 in their first year
- Syncs to your bank accounts and credit cards
- Users can set goals, customize spending categories
- Offers educational resources, such as budgeting advice and 100+ free workshops offered every week
- Personal customer support
- Security features include encrypted data, accredited data centers, third-party audits and more
Cons
- Costs $84 per year or $11.99 per month
- Customer reviews note that it takes longer to set up than other apps
Rating in App Store at time of writing: 4.8 out of 5 (over 44,000 ratings)
Rating on Google Play at time of writing: 4.7 out of 5 (over 13,000 ratings)
YNAB app review: The best budgeting app for people serious about getting out of debt
Best app for small business owners
QuickBooks® Online
Cost
30-day free trial then plan options include: Simple Start for $15 per month, Plus for $42.50 per month and Advanced for $100 per month
Standout features
Tracks your business expenses as they happen, as well as your income. Users can use app to do invoicing, accept payments, manage their cash flow, maximize tax deductions, track travel miles, run reports, send estimates, manage bills and 1099 contractors, plus pay employees
Categorizes your expenses
Yes
Links to accounts
Yes, bank and credit cards, plus third-party apps like PayPal and Square
Availability
Accessible from any web browser and also offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
Security features
Verisign scanning, password-protected login, firewall protected servers and the same encryption technology (128 bit SSL) used by the world's top banks. QuickBooks also offers multiple permission levels that you can set for additional users' access
See our methodology, terms apply.
Pros
- Offers a 30-day free trial
- Syncs to your bank accounts, credit cards and third-party apps like PayPal and Square
- Offers real-time dashboards so you can stay updated on all financial transactions related to your business
- The most basic "Simple Start" plan tracks income, sales and expenses, organizes receipts, creates invoices, helps you prepare your taxes, categorizes your business and personal trips, offers a QuickBooks Cash account, runs reports like P&Ls and balance sheets and includes 1 user
- "Essentials" plan, in addition to the above, helps you pay your bills, clock employee time and billable hours and includes up to 3 users
- "Plus" plan, in addition to the above, lets you oversees projects, track inventory and includes up to 5 users
- "Advanced" plan, in addition to the above, provides business analytics and insights, speeds up transactions, gives users access to VIP service QuickBooks Priority Circle that includes a dedicated account team and free online QuickBooks training, includes up to 25 usersQuickBooks offers a fourth "Self-Employed" plan for freelancers
- Security features include Verisign scanning, encryption technology (128 bit SSL) used by the world's top banks and customized access for other users
Cons
- Costs range from $15 per month to $100 per month, depending on the plan
- Some user reviews complain of glitches in app and a not so user-friendly interface
Rating in App Store at time of writing: 4.7 out of 5 (over 155,000 ratings)
Rating on Google Play at time of writing: 3.9 out of 5 (over 49,500 ratings)
QuickBooks Online app review: This is the best accounting app for small business owners' bookkeeping needs
Best app for business expenses
Expensify
Cost
Free for up to 25 SmartScans of receipts per month. For unlimited SmartScans, pricing is as follows: six-week free trial then for employees, individual pricing is $4.99 per month. For companies, group pricing starts at $5 per user, per month
Standout features
Individuals can track receipts and submit expenses to their employer. Users scan their receipts and the app will automatically read the receipt then translate it into a logged expense. Also offers mileage and GPS tracking and automatic credit card importing
Categorizes your expenses
Yes, but users can customize
Links to accounts
Yes, bank and personal/company credit cards
Availability
Offered in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android)
Security features
Two-factor authentication so users input a generated code when logging in; banking data is protected by world-class security standards and compliant with Privacy Shield and GDPR requirements
See our methodology, terms apply.
Pros
- Free to use for up to 25 SmartScans per month
- Offers a six-week free trial for unlimited SmartScans
- Designed to help you get your expenses done quickly while on the go and in real time
- Expensify website claims expense reports with Expensify take 83% less time
- One-click receipt scanning and SmartScan automatically transcribes receipt details with the date, merchant and amount
- Receipts are automatically coded and categorized once user takes photo and assigns to a report or emails their receipts to receipts@expensify.com
- Users can split their expenses by using the ExpensePoint feature to split the cost
- Allows users to track their mileage by manual entry, odometer readings or by using the GPS
- Web dashboard shows spending by different categories and uses time references
- Automatically generates and submits expense reports for automatic next-day reimbursement
- Users can share or print documents/expense reports from the app for review
- Syncs to your bank accounts and credit cards
- Lets users send and receive money via Venmo
- Connects to apps like Uber, Lyft and HotelTonight for automatic receipt import and transcription
- Security features include two-factor authentication, world-class security standards and Privacy Shield / GDPR compliance
- With a group plan, employers can integrate with their accounting software, including QuickBooks, Xero, NetSuite and others
- Two plans offered for individuals: "Track" is $4.99 per month, with unlimited SmartScans, automatic mileage tracking and categorizing expenses; "Submit" is $4.99 per month and, in addition to the above, automatically submits reports for reimbursement, submits receipts
- Two plans offered for groups: "Collect" is $5 per user, per month and, in addition to the above, automates receipt collection and reimbursement, auto-syncs to accounting software and offers free Expensify card with auto-reconciliation; "Control" is $9 per user, per month and, in addition to the above, manages approval workflows
Cons
- Costs $4.99 per month for individuals and starts at $5 per user, per month for groups
- Some user reviews report that the interface isn't intuitive
Rating in App Store at time of writing: 4.7 out of 5 (over 120,000 ratings)
Rating on Google Play at time of writing: 4.5 out of 5 (over 22,500 ratings)
Expensify app review: This high-rated app makes your expense reports easy and quick to do
How to make the most of the money you do spend
Now that you have the right tools at your fingertips to track your everyday spending, your next step is to ensure you're maximizing every dollar that gets counted. Get rewarded for your day-to-day spending by using a credit card that rewards everyday purchases.
With the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, for example, cardholders bonus cash-back for many common spending categories:
- 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%)
- 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations
- 3% cash back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more
- 1% cash back on other purchases
- Terms apply
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Rewards
6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, 3% cash back on transit (including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more) and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Welcome bonus
Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months.
Annual fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
Intro APR
0% for 12 months on purchases from the date of account opening
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.99% variable. Variable APRs will not exceed 29.99%.
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
2.7%
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
See rates and fees, terms apply.
If you'd rather earn travel rewards, consider the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. As you spend on the card, you'll earn:
- 5X points per dollar spent on Lyft rides through March 2025
- 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
- 3X points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out
- 3X points on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs)
- 3X points on select streaming services
- 2X points on all other travel purchases
- 1X point on all other purchases
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Rewards
$50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3X points on dining, 3X points on select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs), 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Annual fee
$95
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
Terms apply.
Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review.
Business owners can maximize their everyday expenses with a credit card, too. One of our top-rated small business credit cards is the Capital One Spark Cash Plus Credit Card for its straightforward offering of unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase. The card also offers business benefits, including free employee cards, account management tools (such as the ability to view recurring transactions and download purchase records to Quicken®, QuickBooks and Excel®), extended warranty and protection, travel benefits and more.
Capital One Spark Cash Plus Credit Card
Rewards
Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase
Welcome bonus
Earn a one-time cash bonus of $1,200 once you spend $30,000 in the first 3 months.
Annual fee
$150
Promo APR
None
Regular APR
No APR; pay off your balance in full every month to avoid a 2.99% late fee
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
$0
Credit needed
Excellent
Terms apply.
FAQs
What is the best way to track your expenses?
There's no perfect expense tracking plan that fits everyone. Each person has their own method — unless of course, you have no method at all.
While some people may find looking at their monthly credit or debit card statements enough to keep their spending in check, others need something more hands-on. You can opt to track your transactions daily in a spreadsheet or to use technology like an expense tracker app. If you're not sure which is the best program for you, try out a few different methods to see what sticks.
What does an expense tracker app do?
Expense tracker apps connect to your bank account and/or credit cards to track and categorize your expenses, giving you a good idea of your purchasing behavior. This can help identify spending areas where you could make cuts.
Should I use an expense tracker app?
Keeping track of your expenses is an important part of managing your overall finances. While you don't need an app to help you record your purchases, it can certainly come in handy.
Some expense tracker apps automatically sync to your bank accounts and credit cards, which can save you time instead of you having to manually gather all your different credit card statements and such. Other apps help you categorize your spending so you can better understand your purchasing habits. Plus, some of the best expense tracker apps offer educational tools like blogs and courses to help you learn more about budgeting and your money.
Are expense tracker apps worth the cost?
Expense tracker apps are often either free, offer a free version or have a free trial for users to test out before signing up. This way, you can decide for yourself if the app is right for you. If you're a serious budgeter or are tracking expenses for a small business, it generally will be worth splurging on a paid app.
Bottom line
Tracking your spending is smart for just about anyone to do since it shows possible areas you can cut back on, and a mobile app makes it easier to do. Consider the expense tracker apps listed here as a good place to get started and see which one works best for managing your money on the go.
Read more
Our methodology
To determine which expense tracker apps offer the best user experience, CNBC Select analyzed over a dozen apps offered by the top companies in this market and looked at their pricing, features, user reviews and ratings.
We narrowed down our ranking by only considering apps that primarily focus on expenses, come with low (or no) cost to sign up, are easy to use and can be accessed on multiple devices so are accessible and compatible for most.
The five apps we selected for this ranking are either free, offer a free version or have a free trial for users to test out before signing up.
All of the apps in our round-up have a sizable number of user reviews and high ratings. The apps on this list have tens of thousands of reviews in the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android) combined, as well as a rating over 4 stars (out of 5) on either platform.
Other factors we looked at included apps' security features, user customization and educational tools offered.
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For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, click here.