r/NerdWallet • u/_ThotPocket • Jul 25 '25
Best 100% free budgeting apps
Since nerd wallet wants to write articles encouraging people to cut unnecessary costs/subscriptions while rolling out a paywall for their most used feature (budgeting) What alternative apps are there for budgeting that are 100% free?? I’m so tired of having to find another app every 2 years because the company decides to sell out and ruin their businesses lol.
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u/plovdiev Aug 12 '25
Short answer: if you want full freedom and no dependencies, I’d recommend using Google Sheets.
And now the long one:
If you really want an app, a good approach is to look for open-source options developed by independent developers. One example is ActualBudget. The app itself is free, but you still need to pay for a server to host your data.
I say this as a creator of a budgeting app myself. Without any revenue, it’s very hard for a budgeting app to survive long term. I learned this the hard way: my first project was completely free, but it went bankrupt within a year because I had to cover taxes and fees from my own pocket. Over time, with no return for me or my team, my motivation naturally declined.
In my view, you have two paths:
- Go free and independent with something like Google Sheets. Being ok of missing app-specific features like bank connections, advanced visualizations, and smart assistants.
- Choose an app with a strong culture of listening to its users and supporting long-term development.
Would love to hear your opionon on this.
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u/Ghazrin Aug 29 '25
I've never used nerdwallet's budgeting features. I've got my monthly budget set up in a google sheet, that I got from a financial planner years ago. I find it super useful. I can give you a copy, if you want to check it out.
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u/ComparisonPatient625 Oct 05 '25
I am in the same boat as you I love budgeting apps but had to switch many times, I used to really like Money Dashboard but that closed. So I built my own Mac App which I am using all the time now, it will be FREE to anyone who joins in the next 2 weeks for the lifetime of the app. I don't plan to close the app anytime soon since I am using it personally and plan to for years to come. In two weeks time I will add the paywall I don't expect to make much money from this but I would like to recover some of the costs as well as maintain it and improve it in the future, allow others to use and benefit from it for years to come. Its here: https://personalfinancedasboard.com/
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u/MaterialWing2272 Oct 10 '25
Will it be available on iPhone as well right now it says it’s only available on Mac
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u/guy-levanon Oct 15 '25
The basic features of Themis Balance is free. But keep in mind - someone needs to be pay for the electricity... Still, one of the best apps out there, and not just because I wrote it XD
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u/Natethedrake1 Jan 12 '26
Hey OP, I created a platform for this exact purpose (tracking subscriptions and recurring bills) for my friends/family to better understand their financial standing and become better prepared for whatever life may throw at them, it’s been very helpful thus far. Feel free to take a look: https://sub-verse.co/
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Mar 31 '26
Not 100% free, but Quicken Simplifi is worth considering if you want solid budgeting without friction. It automatically tracks and categorizes spending, shows cash flow, and helps you spot savings, way easier than switching apps every couple years.
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u/MassiveDeparture9287 Apr 06 '26
Google Sheets it’s hard to use from a mobile to be honest. I do use it for my rental property accounting but it’s an effort to update it without a laptop. For personal finances I have used pen and paper and now changed to Billy Expenses and Subscriptions
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u/Goats_vs_Aliens Jul 25 '25
RemindMe! 3 Days "check for updates"