Quick picks
- Best free zero-based budgetEveryDollar
- Best free envelope budgetGoodbudget
- Best free app for couplesHoneydue
- Best free spending trackerRocket Money
- Best free investment trackerEmpower
- Best free option with no appOaktally budget templates
What each free plan includes
| Feature | EveryDollar | Goodbudget | Honeydue | Rocket Money | Empower |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free for good | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Monthly budget on free | Yes | Yes | Spending limits | No | Spending target |
| Bank sync on free | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Share on free | Household feature | 2 devices | Yes | No | Not listed |
| Paid plan | $17.99 a month | $10 a month | None | $7 to $14 a month | None |
How we chose
- The free plan has to keep working with no time limit.
- We list what free includes and what needs a paid plan, from each company's own pages.
- Bank sync, sharing and platforms on the free plan.
1EveryDollar: best free zero-based budget
Free for as long as you want. Premium is $17.99 a month or $79.99 a year.
Good at
- Plans every dollar before you spend it
- A household feature for couples
Falls short
- Free means typing each transaction
- Bank sync needs Premium
Source: EveryDollar
2Goodbudget: best free envelope budget
Free with 10 regular and 10 more envelopes. Premium is $10 a month or $80 a year.
Good at
- Envelope budgeting on the web, iPhone and Android
- Share by syncing 2 devices free
Falls short
- Free keeps 1 account and 1 year of history
- Bank sync is Premium only
Source: Goodbudget
3Honeydue: best free app for couples
Free. Optional tips.
Good at
- You choose how much each partner sees
- Syncs with most US banks, free
Falls short
- More of a tracker than a monthly plan
- No web app
Source: Honeydue on the App Store
4Rocket Money: best free spending tracker
Free. Premium is $7 to $14 a month.
Good at
- Free spending by category and net income
- Finds subscriptions you forgot
Falls short
- Category budgets need Premium
- Sharing with a partner needs Premium
Source: Rocket Money
5Empower: best free investment tracker
Free.
Good at
- Free retirement planner
- All your accounts in one place
Falls short
- Budgeting is a monthly spending target only
Source: Empower on the App Store
6Oaktally budget templates: best free option with no app
Free. No signup.
Good at
- A free household or couples budget you fill in online
- Download it as Excel or CSV
Falls short
- A sheet, not an app: nothing tracks itself
Source: Oaktally
What free leaves out
Most free plans drop bank sync, cap how many budgets or accounts you keep, or show only spending, not a plan. Check the limit you will hit first.
Free with a partner
Honeydue is free for couples and lets you choose what to share. EveryDollar has a household feature, and Goodbudget shares by syncing two devices.
When paying is worth it
If you split bills with a partner and want your own spending kept private, Oaktally is built for that: $5.99 or $12.99 a month, for two adults, with a 7-day free trial. It has no free plan and does not sync with banks.
How we compared
Oaktally publishes this page, so we are not neutral. Prices and features checked on each company's own site on October 29, 2026. We did not test the other apps hands-on.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free budgeting app?
EveryDollar for a zero-based budget, Goodbudget for envelopes, and Honeydue for couples. All three keep working free.
Is there a free budgeting app that connects to my bank?
Yes. Honeydue, Rocket Money and Empower sync free. EveryDollar and Goodbudget need Premium for bank sync.
Is EveryDollar really free?
Yes. The free plan lasts as long as you want; you type in each transaction. Premium adds bank sync.
How many envelopes does Goodbudget free include?
10 regular envelopes and 10 more for yearly costs and goals, on 1 account and 2 devices.
Is there a free budgeting app for couples?
Honeydue is free and made for couples. EveryDollar's household feature and Goodbudget's device sync also let two people share.
Can I budget for free without an app?
Yes. Our free household budget template works in your browser and downloads as Excel or CSV.
Further reading
EveryDollar ↗Goodbudget: plans ↗Honeydue on the App Store ↗Rocket Money: How much does it cost? ↗Empower on the App Store ↗Educational examples, not individual financial advice.