Trying to get on top of your money? These nine apps can help in different ways, from tracking your spending to putting bill money aside. Compare what is free, what costs extra and which one might suit you.
App prices, features and UK customer ratings reviewed: .
Compare budgeting apps
Our top 3 to startThese three apps suit different needs. Compare them below, visit a provider or read our full review. Show all nine if you want more choice.
| App & rating | Best for | Cost | The catch | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snoop | Best free spending trackerTracking spending for free | Free; Plus £5.99/month | The free version needs a supported bank or card connection. | Visit SnoopRead review ↓ |
| HyperJar | Best for family spendingFamily and shared spending | No monthly fee; card fees may apply | Prepaid money, not a current account; physical cards and extra transfers can cost. | Visit HyperJarRead review ↓ |
| Emma | Best for detailed paid budgetsPaid multi-account budgeting | Free Basic; Plus £4.99/month | Enhanced budgeting needs Plus; custom categories need Pro or Ultimate. | Visit EmmaRead review ↓ |
| Starling Bank | Keeping bill money separate | Free personal current account | You need to open a Starling current account. | Visit Starling BankRead review ↓ |
| Monzo | Budgeting within a bank account | Free account; Extra £3/month | You need a Monzo account; some tools are paid. | Visit MonzoRead review ↓ |
| Koody | Entering spending by hand | Free tracking; Standard £2.99/month on UK App Store | Creating and managing full budgets needs a paid plan. | Visit KoodyRead review ↓ |
| YNAB | Hands-on budgeting plans | 34-day trial; then $14.99/month or $109/year | Paid subscription after the trial; takes time to learn. | Visit YNABRead review ↓ |
| Plum | Saving automatically | Free Basic; Plus £3.99/month | Primarily a savings app, not a full household budget. | Visit PlumRead review ↓ |
| PocketSmith | Planning months ahead | Free tier; paid plans: check UK price | Complex for beginners; Sidekick app is less capable than web version. | Visit PocketSmithRead review ↓ |
Tracking spending for free
Free; Plus £5.99/month
The catch: The free version needs a supported bank or card connection.
Family and shared spending
No monthly fee; card fees may apply
The catch: Prepaid money, not a current account; physical cards and extra transfers can cost.
Paid multi-account budgeting
Free Basic; Plus £4.99/month
The catch: Enhanced budgeting needs Plus; custom categories need Pro or Ultimate.
Keeping bill money separate
Free personal current account
The catch: You need to open a Starling current account.
Budgeting within a bank account
Free account; Extra £3/month
The catch: You need a Monzo account; some tools are paid.
Entering spending by hand
Free tracking; Standard £2.99/month on UK App Store
The catch: Creating and managing full budgets needs a paid plan.
Hands-on budgeting plans
34-day trial; then $14.99/month or $109/year
The catch: Paid subscription after the trial; takes time to learn.
Saving automatically
Free Basic; Plus £3.99/month
The catch: Primarily a savings app, not a full household budget.
Planning months ahead
Free tier; paid plans: check UK price
The catch: Complex for beginners; Sidekick app is less capable than web version.
About customer ratings: Ratings are snapshots from the UK Apple App Store, checked in October 2026. They are not Skint Dad scores. Banking app ratings assess the whole banking experience; PocketSmith’s rating is for its Sidekick companion app. Small numbers of ratings are less reliable.
Our budgeting app reviews
Want more detail before choosing? Here are the costs, useful features and main catches for each app.
Snoop
See where your money goes across accounts
Choose Snoop if…
You use one or more bank accounts and want automatic spending breakdowns at no monthly cost.
Consider something else if…
You prefer entering spending manually or want unlimited custom categories for free.
Our view: Our strongest starting point for free spending tracking. The free budgets and weekly reports make it worth considering before paying for more complicated tools.
What you get
- See supported accounts in one place
- Track monthly and category spending budgets
- Get weekly spending reports and bill reminders
What’s free, and when would Plus help?
Snoop’s free plan already lets you connect supported accounts, check spending by category, set monthly and category budgets and see upcoming bills. For example, you could set a groceries budget and see how much you’ve spent without paying for Plus.
Plus is mainly worth considering if you want your own unlimited categories, manual accounts, more detailed reports, exports or spending alerts. At £5.99 a month, that’s £71.88 over 12 months if you pay monthly. If you only need to spot overspending, try free first. Explore Snoop.
Costs, limits and further details
Custom categories, manual accounts, customised reports and extra alerts are Plus features. Plus costs £5.99 monthly, or £47.99 when billed annually.
HyperJar
Divide money into jars and share spending
Choose HyperJar if…
You want jars for planned spending, including shared jars or supervised cards for children.
Consider something else if…
You need an ordinary bank account for wages, Direct Debits and full banking services.
Our view: A clear choice for households that want to divide spending money before using it. Check the card and transfer charges before starting.
What you get
- Create different jars for planned spending
- Share jars with others and manage permissions
- Virtual adult card with no monthly subscription
How would you use it in a family budget?
You could create separate jars for food, school costs and days out, then decide how much to put into each. You can share a jar with another HyperJar customer, and adults can control the spending allowed from children’s jars. These are prepaid spending pots, not separate bank accounts.
It’s free to hold the account, but physical cards have a one-off charge and HyperJar limits free money transfers in and out. It also doesn’t support ATM cash withdrawals. It’s most useful alongside a normal bank account, rather than as a complete replacement. See how shared jars work and check the latest fees.
Costs, limits and further details
HyperJar says adult physical cards cost £4.99. Its published rules allow up to 10 free loads and four free bank transfers each calendar month, subject to other limits. HyperJar is a prepaid e-money service; funds are safeguarded, rather than being covered as eligible bank deposits.
Emma
Review spending across your accounts
Choose Emma if…
You want a more detailed view of your money and would use the paid budgeting tools.
Consider something else if…
You want full budget creation and custom categories without subscribing.
Our view: Emma can help you see several accounts together, but its free Basic plan is limited. Decide which paid features you would genuinely use before starting a trial.
What you get
- Link two bank logins on Basic
- Connect four bank logins with Plus
- Use enhanced budgeting on Plus and above
What do you really get for free?
Emma Basic lets you see transactions from up to two bank logins, so it may be enough if you want a simple overview. If you have more accounts or want detailed budgeting tools, Plus raises the bank-login limit to four and adds enhanced budgeting and tracking.
Custom categories are reserved for Pro and Ultimate. That’s an important difference from Snoop, which includes monthly and category budgets for free. Emma’s Plus, Pro and Ultimate plans cost £4.99, £9.99 and £14.99 a month respectively when paid monthly. If a trial is offered, check when it ends and what you’ll be charged afterwards. Compare Emma’s plans.
Costs, limits and further details
Emma Plus costs £4.99/month; Pro £9.99/month; Ultimate £14.99/month. Custom categories are available on Pro and Ultimate. A seven-day trial may renew into a paid subscription unless cancelled.
Starling Bank
Protect bills money in a dedicated Space
Choose Starling Bank if…
You would like Direct Debits and standing orders paid from money reserved in a Space.
Consider something else if…
You just want an app to read spending across your existing non-Starling accounts.
Our view: Bills Manager stands out for setting aside money for essentials. You may not need a separate budgeting subscription if these features suit you.
What you get
- Create Spaces for bills and planned costs
- Pay Direct Debits or standing orders from a Space
- Use spending notifications and an account overview
How can it make bills easier to manage?
With Bills Manager, you can put money for rent, energy, council tax and other Direct Debits into a Regular Space. Starling then takes selected Direct Debits and standing orders from that Space, so your main balance gives you a clearer idea of what is left for everyday spending.
This is different from an app that only shows where money has gone: it helps keep bills money separate before you spend it. You’ll need a Starling account, and the Space must contain enough money when each bill is due. See how Bills Manager works.
Costs, limits and further details
Bills Manager works with eligible Spaces and linked payments. The account must have enough money for bills to be paid. Standard eligibility and bank-account terms apply.
Monzo
Use Pots and spending alerts in your bank
Choose Monzo if…
You would be happy opening a Monzo account for everyday spending, bills and Pots.
Consider something else if…
You prefer keeping your current bank and only adding a separate free tracker.
Our view: For some households, a bank with useful Pots and clear spending notifications does the job without another budgeting app.
What you get
- Instant spending notifications
- Pots for spending and savings goals
- Optional Extra tools for connected banks and custom categories
Which budgeting features are free?
Monzo’s free current account includes spending notifications, Pots and core spending information. It also lets you connect one external bank or credit card. If you already use Monzo for day-to-day spending, these tools may be enough without paying for another app.
Extra costs £3 a month, or £36 over a year, and adds more connected banks, custom categories, virtual cards linked to Pots and other features. Compared with Starling, Monzo may suit people who prefer Pots and card-based spending controls; Starling’s Bills Manager is particularly useful for paying selected Direct Debits from a reserved Space. See Monzo Extra.
Costs, limits and further details
Monzo Extra costs £3/month. Its free current account has core budgeting tools; paid plans add extras such as more connected banks and custom categories. Monzo updated other plan prices in August 2026.
Koody
Record spending without linking your bank
Choose Koody if…
You prefer entering spending yourself and want a simple place to see where money goes.
Consider something else if…
You need unlimited budgets with automatic bank updates on a free plan.
Our view: Koody offers a manual approach, but be clear about what costs extra. Its UK App Store rating is based on only a small number of users.
What you get
- Enter and categorise transactions manually
- Record bills and track spending history
- Use full budget creation on Standard and above
Free expense tracking is not the same as a full budget
With Koody Free, you enter money coming in and going out, sort transactions into categories and review spending. That can help you notice where your money has gone without giving the app permission to read your bank transactions.
If you want to set and manage spending budgets, including budgets matched to payday, Koody puts those tools in Standard. The UK iPhone listing previously showed £2.99 a month, but the provider’s website shows prices in US dollars, so check the price on your device before buying. Also consider whether you’re happy to enter transactions regularly: manual tracking only helps when you keep it up to date. Check Koody’s current plans.
Costs, limits and further details
Koody’s UK App Store lists Standard at £2.99/month. Its own website currently displays subscription amounts in US dollars. Check the price shown at checkout on your device.
YNAB
Give money a purpose before spending it
Choose YNAB if…
You want a clear plan for every pound and are happy to spend time maintaining it.
Consider something else if…
You want a permanently free app that automatically does most of the work.
Our view: YNAB may suit people who want to change their budgeting habits, but check the ongoing cost against what you would save or gain.
What you get
- Give each pound a job in spending categories
- Set targets and adjust plans as life changes
- Import transactions from selected UK banks
What are you paying for?
YNAB asks you to assign the money you actually have to spending categories, including future costs such as car insurance or Christmas. Unlike a simple spending tracker, the idea is to make a plan before the money goes out and adjust it whenever things change.
It’s not permanently free. You can try it for 34 days, then choose $14.99 a month or $109 a year, with tax where applicable and your bank’s exchange rate affecting the cost in pounds. Selected UK banks support direct importing, but you can also enter transactions manually. A single subscription can be shared with up to six people. Best for someone prepared to manage a budget regularly, rather than someone wanting automatic alerts alone. See YNAB’s pricing and trial terms.
Costs, limits and further details
YNAB prices in US dollars: $14.99/month or $109/year, plus tax where applicable. The 34-day trial is free when you join directly; app-store terms may differ. One subscription can be shared with up to six people.
Plum
Put small amounts aside with saving rules
Choose Plum if…
You would like automatic transfers or saving challenges to help you build savings.
Consider something else if…
You need detailed free spending limits and a complete household budgeting system.
Our view: Plum fills a different need from most apps here. It can help build a savings habit, but should not be mistaken for a full budgeting tracker.
What you get
- Automated saving and rules you control
- Free Basic subscription
- Optional paid saving and investment extras
A savings helper rather than a full budgeting replacement
Plum Basic can automatically put aside amounts using supported saving rules, including round-ups and regular transfers. That might suit you if saving keeps being forgotten, but you should check that any automatic transfer still leaves enough in your current account for bills.
Some additional saving challenges and other features require paid plans. Plum’s newer UK subscriptions are Plus at £3.99, Boost at £7.99 and Max at £14.99 a month. Existing customers may still see older plans. Compared with Snoop, Plum focuses more on building savings than on controlling everyday category spending. Compare Plum’s current plans.
Costs, limits and further details
Current new UK plans: Basic free, Plus £3.99, Boost £7.99 and Max £14.99 each month. Some existing customers may still have older subscriptions. Investment values can fall.
PocketSmith
See how future bills could affect your balance
Choose PocketSmith if…
You want to look months ahead and use a detailed desktop/web budgeting tool.
Consider something else if…
You want a simple free mobile app for a few daily checks.
Our view: Most compelling as a web-based forecasting tool. Its modest mobile score concerns the Sidekick companion app, not the full product.
What you get
- Plan spending in a calendar
- Forecast future balances and bills
- Start with a limited free account or choose paid feeds
What can you do without paying?
PocketSmith’s free plan currently lists two accounts, up to 12 budgets and six months of forecasting, with bank feeds where available. You can plot bills and see how a future expense could affect your balance. It’s a different approach from simply checking last week’s spending.
Paid plans lift the limits and allow much longer forecasts. PocketSmith’s pricing page showed Foundation at A$14.95 a month when billed monthly in the version we checked, so we’ve left the cost out of the quick comparison until its UK checkout currency is confirmed. The Sidekick mobile app has fewer functions than the main web service; don’t judge the full product by its mobile star rating alone. Check PocketSmith’s latest pricing and free-plan limits.
Costs, limits and further details
The free plan currently lists two accounts, 12 budgets and six months of forecasting. Pricing varies with the currency displayed at checkout. The version of the provider’s pricing page checked for this draft showed Foundation at A$14.95 monthly; we have not confirmed the UK checkout price. Sidekick is a mobile companion to the more extensive web service.
How to choose a budgeting app
Start with the job you need it to do. If you mainly want to know where your wages went, choose a spending tracker. If you keep dipping into bill money, look for a bank account with separate spaces. If you’re sharing spending money with a partner or children, check which kinds of shared access an app really offers. If you’re unsure what to include in your budget, our guide to average household bills in the UK can help you make a checklist. Use your own bills for the figures, though, rather than relying on averages.
Also ask whether you’re willing to connect your bank. Snoop and Emma rely on supported bank connections for their main tracking tools. Koody suits people who prefer entering transactions themselves, although proper budget creation is paid. You don’t need an app at all: the free MoneyHelper budget planner or a spreadsheet may be enough. Our tips for sticking to a household budget can help whichever method you choose.
Which app is best for different situations?
- I want to see where my money goes for free: Start with Snoop.
- I want to protect money for essential bills: Compare Starling and Monzo.
- I need spending pots that family members can share: Look at HyperJar, checking the prepaid-card rules.
- I won’t connect my bank: Consider Koody for manual tracking or the free MoneyHelper planner.
- I want to plan months ahead: Look at PocketSmith or YNAB, depending on whether forecasting or planning each pound matters more.
- I forget to save: Plum has automated saving tools, though it isn’t a replacement for a full spending plan.
Is a paid budgeting app worth the cost?
A £3 subscription costs £36 a year, £5 costs £60 and £10 costs £120. Before paying, check whether your existing bank or a free app already does what you need. A paid plan is most useful when you regularly use something specific, such as custom categories, detailed exports or more advanced planning. Be especially careful with free trials that renew automatically.
Which budgeting app is better for you?
There isn’t one winner for every household. These comparisons show the differences that matter when you’re choosing between similar options.
Snoop vs Emma: which is better for free budgeting?
Snoop is the better starting point if you want to set monthly and category budgets without a subscription. Its free plan also includes spending reports and bill reminders. Emma is worth considering if you want to see several accounts together and would pay for enhanced tracking. Emma Basic is free but has a two-login limit, and custom categories require Pro or Ultimate. Whichever app you pick, it’s worth checking your statements for subscriptions you may have forgotten about.
Our choice: Start with Snoop if keeping costs down is your main concern. Consider Emma’s paid plans if you’ve identified a specific extra feature you’d actually use.
Monzo vs Starling: which helps more with household bills?
Both offer free UK current accounts with budgeting features. Starling lets you pay selected Direct Debits and standing orders directly from a Regular Space through Bills Manager. Monzo offers Pots, notifications and extra budgeting controls on its paid Extra plan, such as custom categories and virtual cards linked to Pots.
Our choice: Look at Starling if separating and paying bills from reserved money is your priority. Consider Monzo if its Pots and everyday spending features fit the way you already bank. You don’t need to switch banks just to start tracking spending.
HyperJar vs a normal banking app: what about families?
HyperJar is useful when family members need shared spending jars and supervised children’s cards. But it is a prepaid money service, not a joint current account, and fees can apply. If the priority is simply keeping household bills separate, a bank with Pots or Spaces may be simpler.
Our choice: Use HyperJar for shared spending money, not as an automatic replacement for your family’s bank account. Check that everyone who needs access can get the right type of card and account.
Are budgeting apps safe?
There are different kinds of apps in this guide, so the safeguards are different too. Apps such as Snoop and Emma use Open Banking to access permitted information from supported bank accounts. You choose what access to allow, and you should be able to withdraw that permission. Check the permissions carefully rather than assuming every bank connection works in the same way.
Opening a bank account with Monzo or Starling is different from using a tracker. Eligible money held with a UK bank is normally covered by Financial Services Compensation Scheme protection within its limits. HyperJar is a prepaid e-money service: customer funds are safeguarded under different rules and are not protected as eligible bank deposits. Plum’s protections depend on the savings or investment product involved.
Before signing up: Check the firm’s regulatory details, the permissions it requests, subscription renewal dates, charges for moving money and how to cancel or disconnect. Don’t approve a payment or share security details simply because an app asks. For more information, read MoneyHelper’s Open Banking explanation.
Common questions
Which budgeting apps are genuinely free?
Snoop includes free spending analysis and category budgets. Starling and Monzo offer useful budgeting features within free current accounts, although they require you to open a bank account. Koody has free manual tracking but not full budget creation on its free plan. PocketSmith has a limited free forecasting plan. Check whether the feature you want is free, not just whether the app is free to download.
Can I budget without linking my bank account?
Yes. You can manually enter spending with Koody or YNAB, and use manual tools or imports with PocketSmith. You can also use a spreadsheet, notebook or the MoneyHelper budget planner. Manual budgeting can work well, but you’ll need to keep the information up to date.
Which app is best for couples or families?
HyperJar lets eligible users share spending jars and manage children’s spending cards. YNAB allows up to six people to share one subscription for budgeting, but it isn’t a joint bank account. For an actual joint current account, compare the specific account terms at a bank such as Monzo or Starling. The best choice depends on whether you want shared spending controls, joint banking or simply a household plan.
Can a budgeting app help me pay bills on time?
Some apps remind you when bills are due, but a reminder isn’t the same as setting money aside to pay them. Snoop tracks upcoming bills, while Starling’s Bills Manager can take selected Direct Debits and standing orders from money in a Regular Space. Check that the money is available when the payment is due.
Is a paid budgeting app worth it?
Only if it solves a problem that a free tool or your existing banking app doesn’t. Compare the annual subscription cost, which features are included, whether the app supports your bank, and how to cancel. Try a free tier first if possible.
Can I use more than one budgeting app?
Yes, although two apps doing the same job can become confusing. You might use a spending tracker alongside a separate saving tool, for example. Start with one main system and add another only when there’s a clear benefit.
How we chose these apps
We compared the providers’ published UK features, free-plan limits, subscription prices and public customer app ratings. We focused on what matters to a household budget: everyday spending, money reserved for bills, family sharing, manual tracking, saving and planning ahead.
We also compared similar services directly, including Snoop against Emma and Monzo against Starling. These are Skint Dad editorial judgements based on published information, not claims that we’ve tested every service ourselves. Customer app ratings provide useful context, but they don’t measure budgeting quality on their own.
Prices, product terms and ratings can change. The details in this guide were researched in October 2026; check the provider’s current information before signing up, particularly for trials or paid upgrades. Our recommendations aren’t ranked by commission.
