Here’s a detailed continuation of your article, providing a list of the best apps for tracking expenses and saving money, along with how each can help different types of users:

---

Best Apps for Tracking Expenses and Saving Money

By Lily Mae

Whether you’re trying to spend less, save more, or just understand your finances better, these top apps make it easier:

---

1. Mint (Free)

Best for Beginners and All-in-One Budgeting

• Tracks spending, bank accounts, credit cards, and bills in one place

• Sends alerts for due dates and spending limits

• Offers simple budgeting and goal-setting tools

Why it works: Mint is easy to use and gives a complete view of your finances. It’s ideal if you want to start tracking right away without too much setup.

---

2. YNAB (You Need A Budget) ($14.99/month or $99/year after trial)

Best for Building a Money Plan From Scratch

• Based on the envelope method — every dollar is assigned a job

• Great for proactive budgeting and breaking paycheck-to-paycheck habits

• Offers educational content and workshops

Why it works: YNAB is ideal for users ready to take control of their finances and change their money mindset.

---

3. PocketGuard (Free or $7.99/month for Plus version)

Best for Simplicity and “What’s Safe to Spend” Tools

• Connects to accounts and tracks spending

• Shows how much you have “left to spend” after bills and goals

• Identifies recurring charges and suggests savings

Why it works: Perfect if you often wonder, “Can I afford this right now?”

---

4. Goodbudget (Free or $8/month)

Best for Envelope-Style Budgeting

• Uses a digital envelope system for different spending categories

• Ideal for couples or shared budgeting

• Syncs across multiple devices

Why it works: Great if you like old-school budgeting with modern tracking.

---

5. EveryDollar (Free or $79.99/year for Premium)

Best for Zero-Based Budgeting Fans

• Created by Ramsey Solutions

• Build a plan for every dollar you earn

• Premium version links to bank accounts

Why it works: Simple and effective for people who want a debt-free, focused approach.

---

6. Empower (formerly Personal Capital) (Free)

Best for Net Worth and Investment Tracking

• Combines expense tracking with investment analysis

• Helps track long-term goals like retirement

• Offers free tools for planning and budgeting

Why it works: Ideal for users focused on growing wealth and tracking assets.

---

7. Spendee (Free or $2.99/month)

Best for Visual Learners and Budget-Sharing

• Clean, colorful design with visual graphs

• Supports multiple wallets (cash, card, shared)

• Good for travelers and families

Why it works: If visuals help you grasp your money habits, Spendee delivers.

---

Tips to Choose the Right App:

• For simplicity: Start with Mint or PocketGuard

• For deep budgeting: Try YNAB or EveryDollar

• For couples: Consider Goodbudget or Spendee

• For investments + spending: Use Empower

---

Final Thoughts

Tracking expenses and saving money doesn’t have to feel like a chore. The right app gives you visibility, control, and peace of mind. Try one that fits your lifestyle. Most offer free versions or trials — explore, test, and pick what clicks.

Start now. Download one app today and take the first step toward smarter money habits.

---

Would you like a side-by-side comparison chart or printable checklist to help choose the right budgeting app?

Key Features to Look for in Apps

Here’s the continuation of your breakdown — highlighting more top apps for tracking expenses and saving money, along with their key features and what makes each one stand out:

---

2. YNAB (You Need A Budget)

YNAB is ideal if you want full control of every dollar. You manually give each dollar a job. This helps you plan ahead and avoid impulse buys. It’s based on zero-based budgeting — where every dollar is accounted for.

While not free, it’s known for changing how people think about money. It also has strong educational tools to help build lasting habits.

Key Features of YNAB

• Manual and real-time bank sync

• Zero-based budgeting system

• Goal tracking and debt payoff planning

• Reports to show trends and habits

• Workshops and tutorials included

• Strong community support

Best for: People serious about budgeting and willing to change habits

---

3. PocketGuard

PocketGuard is designed to simplify things. It shows how much you have “left to spend” after bills, savings, and goals. This helps stop accidental overspending. It also spots subscriptions you forgot.

Key Features of PocketGuard

• Syncs to all bank accounts

• “In My Pocket” number shows what’s safe to spend

• Categorizes transactions and tracks subscriptions

• Budgeting and goal tools

• Smart suggestions to save more

Best for: Beginners or busy people who want clarity fast

---

4. Goodbudget

If you like hands-on control, Goodbudget uses the envelope method. You divide your income into spending “envelopes” for each category. It’s not automatic, so it’s great if you prefer to track manually.

It also allows sharing budgets — great for couples or roommates.

Key Features of Goodbudget

• Envelope-style manual budgeting

• Syncs across multiple devices

• Track savings and debt payoff

• Clear bar graphs and spending reports

Best for: Couples or people who like traditional envelope budgeting

---

5. Empower (formerly Personal Capital)

Empower is best for combining budgeting and long-term financial planning. It tracks your spending but also shows your net worth and investment performance.

Key Features of Empower

• Real-time sync with accounts and investments

• Tracks spending and cash flow

• Retirement planner and net worth tracker

• Helps optimize portfolio fees

Best for: Users interested in wealth building, not just daily budgeting

---

6. EveryDollar

Created by Dave Ramsey’s team, EveryDollar supports zero-based budgeting. You assign every dollar a job — even if it’s just to savings. The free version requires manual tracking, while the paid version offers automatic syncing.

Key Features of EveryDollar

• Zero-based budget creation

• Syncs with accounts (premium only)

• Drag-and-drop budget planner

• Track monthly spending

Best for: Fans of Ramsey’s methods or anyone who wants a debt-focused plan

---

Bonus Tips for Using Any App Effectively

✅ Set a weekly “money check-in” to review trends
✅ Customize your categories for better insights
✅ Don’t skip tracking small expenses — they add up
✅ Revisit your goals monthly and update as needed

---

Would you like a side-by-side comparison chart of these apps, including pricing, sync features, and best use case?