Top 9 Best (And Free) Online Budgeting Tools

In the face of economic uncertainty, effective financial planning becomes a guiding light. Learn about 9 top free online tools designed to simplify budgeting, track investments, and help you get on the path to financial stability.

During difficult economic times, many people realize the importance of financial planning. You want to make sure your resources are getting the best out of them, and that means creating a spending plan that suits your situation and helps you prepare for the future.

Good budgeting software can help you take control of your finances. Happily, there are plenty of free online budgeting tools out there. You can get help with almost any budgeting need.

9 resources for creating a spending plan that works for you:

1. Mint
2. Empower
3. BudgetPulse
4. Buxfer
5. MoneyStrands
6. Moneytrackin’
7. My Spending Plan
8. BudgetSimple
9. SavvyMoney

Mint

This is the online budgeting tool that started a revolution. You can link your financial accounts (savings, checking, credit cards) to Mint.

Your information will automatically update as it appears in your account. In many cases, categories are automatically assigned to your spending.

You can also track progress toward your retirement goals and create a debt repayment plan using Mint. Visual tools, including charts and reports, can clearly illustrate your situation and help you chart a course.

Empower

Empower is an option for those who want to keep track of every aspect of their budget. Your financial dashboard lets you see everything going on in your financial life. You can see the big picture and track your progress toward your goals.

Best of all, you can track your portfolio and even get objective investment advice. If you need help actually managing your investments, you can get personalized ideas for as little as 1%.

BudgetPulse

If you’re wary of allowing online applications to access your account, you might consider BudgetPulse.

You won’t reveal your account username and password, and you can track your spending and set goals. Visualize your money with charts and graphs. Best of all, you can set financial goals and share them with your friends and family.

The social aspect can hold you accountable and provide opportunities for your loved ones to contribute to your goals through PayPal or Amazon Payments.

Buxfer

Monitor your spending and keep track of upcoming bills with the help of Buxfer. This online budgeting tool is aimed at 20-somethings who are interested in taking control of their finances and starting living right.

You can predict future income and interest on savings and use this information to plan your finances. You can break down your goals, set short-term and long-term goals, and work toward them.

Additionally, Buxfer can help you manage group expenses. You can split different bills to figure out who owes what, and you can even pay online to handle IOUs with ease.

MoneyStrands

The threads of your financial life come together with the help of MoneyStrands. This software can obtain important financial information from banking institutions and credit issuers. Create a 12-month spending plan, then use this software to keep you on track.

Schedule upcoming bills and see future projections of your money status. You can also use MoneyStrands in different languages, and it lets you manage your finances in multiple currencies – which is handy for frequent travelers or if part of your income comes from abroad.

Moneytrackin’

Once you know where your money is going, it’s easier to spot money leaks and change behavior. Moneytrackin’ helps you see where everything is going. It also provides help with tracking and allocating shared expenses and creating shared budgets. Moneytrackin also includes useful tools for small business accounting. If you have a home business, this software can help you track related income and expenses. This is a great tool that can help you manage every aspect of your finances.

My Spending Plan

You can create a budget to help you better live within your means. Quickly create a plan to help you achieve your long-term goals as well as short-term goals, including special events and more. The software utilizes an envelope system to help you plan your budget.

My Spending Plan also sends you emails and reminders about bills you need to pay. Best of all, you can personalize your settings to see the big picture for yourself. My Spending Plan also includes coupons and promotions to help you save money and live within your means. 

BudgetSimple

If you’re looking for something simple and straightforward, BudgetSimple may be able to help. The main purpose of this budgeting tool is to help you get out of debt. You track your spending, manage your bills, and learn how to live within your means. BudgetSimple has no frills, but it’s one of the easiest ways to create a budget. Plus, you can see your progress with the help of charts and other visuals.

SavvyMoney

For those looking to proactively pay off debt and accelerate savings, SavvyMoney can help. The idea is that you first need to understand your current situation. After understanding your current situation, you can create a debt repayment plan based on what works best for you. SavvyMoney helps you stay on track and keep up with your progress. You can even get tips on accelerating your repayments.