The Best Budget Apps for Couples to Make Managing Your Finances Less Sucky

I'm the first to admit that finances aren't the most exciting thing to discuss as a couple. But the topic can't be off the table if you want to build a health partnership. Unsure how to begin? Allow technology to help: Below, we've listed the best budget apps for couples to help you confidently embark on your joint financial journey.

Finance apps are the most popular way to stay informed about day-to-day financial planning and investing, used by around 40% of couples, according to The Knot Financial Survey. So if you've yet to take advantage of apps to help you stick to a budget or power up your investments, now's the time to test the waters.

Start managing your money together with the best budget apps for couples below. Plus, learn budgeting tools for couples from finance coach and founder of City Girl Savings Raya Reaves, who shared her expertise.

In this article:

• The Best Budget Apps for Couples
• How to Start Budgeting as a Couple
• The Benefits of Using a Budget App for Couples

The Best Budget Apps for Couples

When it comes to financial planning apps, you're pretty much spoiled for choice. But not all budgeting apps are created equal, especially if you're managing your finances as a couple. To help find the right finance-tracking tools for you, we're sharing the best budget apps for couples that'll make budgeting together a breeze.

Monarch Money

Courtesy of Monarch

The Monarch Money app has plenty of excellent budgeting tools for couples. It's ideal for tracking everyday finances, as well as larger savings goals. Take advantage of easy-to-use controls, valuable insights and a clutter-free dashboard to keep on top of your money.

Top features:

• Both you and your partner can access the same account, but you'll each have your own unique login details.
• All of your finances are clearly laid out on a sophisticated dashboard, including bank accounts, loans, credit cards and more.
• Monarch provides helpful data insights (like a review of the previous month's expenditure) and encouraging goal timelines.
• Monarch allows you to sync with over 11,000 financial institutions for an up-to-date overview of your spending and saving.

Potential drawbacks:

• To make the most of this couple-friendly finance app, the premium subscription is the best option. However, it'll set you back $10 a month (or $90 for the year if you pay annually). The good news is that you can sign up for a seven-day trial before you commit. Alternatively, you and your S.O. can still collaborate with a free account, but there's a limit of two bank connections and some missing features like crypto and investment tracking.

Cost: Free or from $100 a year

Honeydue

Courtesy of Honeydue

Honeydue is another highly-rated money-tracking app for couples. The app can be a helpful tool at any stage of your relationship. Maybe you just moved in together and started sharing expenses for the first time. Maybe you've been together for years and want to build a brighter financial future; or maybe you're somewhere in between. Whatever the case, you can benefit from this (totally free!) app.

Top features:

• Honeydue is designed specifically for couples, so features have been carefully thought out to support partners in managing their money together.
• You and your other half can each add the bank accounts, credit cards, investments and loans that you want to share with the other.
• The app supports over 20,000 financial institutions across five different countries, so chances are you'll be able to add and track all of your accounts.
• Accounts all appear in one convenient place, giving you a snapshot of your joint finances.
• Have separate accounts you want to manage on your own? You can easily toggle between an overview of your individual finances or joint finances, making the shared budget app an all-in-one finance tracker for separate and shared accounts.
• Honeydue also allows you to set reminders to pay bills so you can keep your credit in check and avoid late-payment penalties.

Potential drawbacks:

• Because Honeydue is completely free to use, there are ads on the app, which can take away from having a totally streamlined budget-tracking system.

Cost: Free

YNAB

Courtesy of YNAB

You Need a Budget (or YNAB) is also a good budget app for couples. In fact, it's one of the finance tools recommended by budgeting expert Raya Reaves. The app is particularly effective for tracking everyday expenses. "It takes the manual work out of tracking your spending and tells you how much you spend in each budget category throughout the month," she says.

Top features:

• It's easy to access anytime, anywhere on your iOS or Android device, including Apple Watches and iPads. You can even integrate your YNAB account with Amazon Alexa devices, so checking up on your daily expenses is a breeze.
• You Need a Budget lets couples budget with shared accounts, separate accounts or a combination of both. Whatever you choose, the goal is to help you and your partner manage your money together while maintaining financial independence.
• Your linked accounts will automatically sync for real-time updates (another feature that's super-helpful for daily tracking) and secure data encryption keeps your sensitive information safe.
• Graphs and charts paint a clear picture of your progress so you can make adjustments as necessary.

Potential drawbacks:

• YNAB is a little pricier than other budgeting apps, though you can sign up for a free 34-day trial to get a feel for the platform before making any commitments. After that, it's $15 a month or $99 for the year if you pay in one sum.
• The app's primary focus is budgeting, so it's more suitable for tracking your everyday spending and saving as opposed to general wealth- or credit-building.

Cost: From $99 a year

Quicken Simplifi

Courtesy of Quicken Simplifi

Another one of the best financial planning apps for couples? Quicken Simplifi. This budgeting app says it all in the name: It's a simple way to save money, keep track of expenses and plan for the future. While the Quicken Simplifi app can be used to manage day-to-day expenses, we particularly love how this app supports long-term financial goals. As one of the best personal finance apps for couples, Simplifi makes saving for big purchases a whole lot easier.

Top features:

• Start by entering your goal and the app will guide you through the process from there. It calculates exactly how much you need to save each month (which you can adjust at any time and the app will update your timeline accordingly).
• You have the option to include bigger goals in your monthly budget too, so consistently building your savings pot is effortless.
• Engaging visuals make progress easy to measure.
• Setting up your financial plan on Simplifi is similar to other budgeting apps. Add your bank accounts, loans, credit cards and investments for seamless integration of all your finances. The app is connected to over 14,000 financial institutions.

Potential drawbacks:

• Quicken Simplifi has great tools for tracking your finances, but it isn't the most user-friendly budget-tracking app for couples because you have to share a login. If you usually sit down and run through your budget together, this shouldn't be a problem. It could get tricky if you want to manage your finances on the go or if you each have individual accounts you want to manage separately.

Cost: From $2.99 a month

The Knot

Courtesy of The Knot

The Knot's all-in-one wedding planning app includes a helpful budget tool that makes exploring vendor price estimates in your area quick and easy. You can even get a breakdown to see what real couples typically spend in your region.

Top features:

• Our budget tool for couples allows you to choose vendors you would like to prioritize to see the impact on your estimated wedding budget.
• Use real pricing data and learn about the factors that can influence wedding costs.
• Get pricing estimates for wedding pros and request a personalized quote.

Potential drawbacks:

• The Knot's wedding planning app is the best tool for couples looking to learn more about wedding costs and explore vendor pricing in their area. With that in mind, it's designed to research average wedding costs and won't work for your everyday budgeting needs. You can use The Knot to come up with estimated vendor costs and discover wedding-related expenses in one dedicated spot.

Cost: Free

How to Start Budgeting as a Couple

If you want to start budgeting together, taking time to discuss finances with your partner is an excellent (if not essential) starting point. Reaves recommends creating a safe space where you can have these conversations openly and honestly. "No one should be made to feel like they're wrong for their financial actions or less than," she says. Remember that you're both on the same side working toward a shared goal.

Once you've set the stage for a productive and non-judgmental conversation, Reaves suggests identifying exactly what's important to you both as a couple. There may be something specific you need to work on to achieve a big future goal. "For example, if a joint goal would be to own a home someday, credit could play a major role," says the finance coach.

Some high-priority talking points should include the following:

• Building credit
• Paying down debt
• Financial goals as a couple
• Financial goals as individuals

Once you have a clear view of your financial goals—both as couples and individuals—you can start to think about budgeting: "Before creating the budget, get clear on how things will be split," says Reaves. Will you both pay an equal share of household bills and everyday expenses? Or will one of you cover rent while the other manages utility costs? "Make sure both parties are on the same page about goals, responsibilities and expectations, then move to create the budget around those things," she advises.

The Benefits of Using a Budget App for Couples

Okay, so now with that conversation out of the way, budgeting apps for couples are here to make the journey towards your financial goals easier than ever. Here are just a few of the pros they tout.

1. They're Convenient

Technology can make managing your day-to-day finances an easier habit to stick to. "Apps can take your spending activity and categorize it for you, so you don't have to manually track each expense," says Reaves. It makes the process more efficient so budgeting is easier to fit into your routine. But there is one thing you shouldn't skip doing yourself. "To make the most of budgeting apps, be prepared to double-check the app's accuracy," says Reaves. Sometimes spending is categorized incorrectly or expenses are counted twice, the finance coach explains.

2. They Can Increase Your Financial Literacy

You can also increase your own financial knowledge through budgeting apps, thus promoting greater financial equality in your relationship. As The Knot Financial Survey shows, most couples decide who should be responsible for managing day-to-day finances based on who is more knowledgeable (43%).

"Budgeting apps can definitely help couples feel like they have equal control of their money," says Reaves. Better yet, they can help make conversations about finances more constructive. "Because the budgeting app does a lot of the tracking, couples can feel like the information is unbiased and not one-sided," she says.

3. They Help Divvy Up Financial and Control

Just because both partners are involved in managing expenses doesn't automatically mean they have equal control. In our financial survey, only 54% of non-LGBTQIA+ couples and 38% of LGBTQIA+ couples strongly agree that both partners have an equal say in overall financial decision-making. By using a shared budgeting tool, you can work toward more equal control of finances in your relationship.

Note: The Knot and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, financial or tax advice and should not be used as such. You should always consult with your financial and tax advisors about your specific circumstances.

Contributions by Naoimh O'Hare