Best Budgeting Apps of 2025: Life After Mint

The budgeting app landscape is shifting as we head into 2025. With Intuit's shutdown of Mint in March 2024, many users, including myself, were left scrambling for a reliable alternative. Credit Karma, Intuit's proposed replacement, just didn't cut it for detailed financial tracking. So, I dove deep into the app stores to find the best options for managing your money in the new year.

The Post-Mint Era: What to Look For

Finding a budgeting app that ticks all the boxes isn't easy. The ideal app needs to seamlessly import your financial data, provide robust budgeting tools, and accurately track your spending, net worth, and credit score. These apps act as a central hub for all things finance, offering a comprehensive overview of your financial health. As someone who's spent countless hours wrestling with bank connections and two-factor authentication, trust me, the right app is worth its weight in digital gold.

All the services that I tested needed to do several things: import all of your account data into one place; offer budgeting tools; and track your spending, net worth and credit score. Except where noted, all of these apps are available for iOS, Android and on the web.

PocketGuard: A Former Favorite Loses Its Luster

PocketGuard was once a strong contender in the free budgeting space, but recent changes have significantly diminished its appeal. The free version is now limited to a mere seven-day trial, after which users are forced to choose between a $13 monthly plan or a hefty $75 annual subscription. While the user interface is relatively straightforward, it lacks the polish and refinement found in other apps. I found the "accounts" tab to be cluttered, and the app occasionally prompted me to update when no updates were available.

PocketGuard promotes an “after bills” approach, where you enter all of your recurring bills, and then PocketGuard shows you what’s left, and that’s what you’re supposed to be budgeting: your disposable income.

Ultimately, the removal of the free tier makes it difficult to recommend PocketGuard when there are more compelling options available. You can find other apps that provide a similar level of functionality without the hefty price tag.

The Plaid Factor: Understanding Data Connectivity

It's also important to understand how these apps connect to your bank accounts. Almost every budgeting app relies on Plaid, a fintech company that acts as an intermediary between your bank and the app. Plaid handles the secure transfer of your financial data, including account balances, transaction history, and account details. While Plaid uses encryption and claims to have a strict policy against selling user data, it's worth noting that the company paid $58 million in 2022 to settle a class action lawsuit over data collection practices.

"The crux of the non-financial terms in the settlement are focused on us accelerating workstreams already underway related to giving people more transparency into Plaid’s role in connecting their accounts, and ensuring that our workstreams around data minimization remain on track,” a Plaid spokesperson told Engadget.

Despite the settlement, Plaid remains the industry standard for connecting financial accounts to third-party apps. Just be mindful of the potential risks associated with sharing your financial data and take the time to research the security measures implemented by both Plaid and the budgeting app you choose.

Choosing the right budgeting app is a personal decision that depends on your individual needs and preferences. As we move into 2025, I expect to see even more innovation in this space, with new features and integrations designed to make managing your finances easier than ever. The key is to find an app that you'll actually use consistently, one that empowers you to take control of your money and achieve your financial goals. Whether you are a seasoned user or a first-timer, now is the time to explore your options and embrace the future of budgeting.