Best budgeting apps of 2025: tested alternatives to Mint

With Mint shut down in March 2024, many users have been searching for a reliable replacement. Engadget tested several top budgeting apps in 2025 to find which ones best aggregate accounts, track spending, monitor credit and support financial goals — and which offer the best value.

The review looked at a shortlist of apps that can import multiple bank accounts (via Plaid), provide budgeting tools, show net worth and include goal‑setting features. Pricing, UX polish and cross‑platform availability (iOS, Android, web) were also key factors in determining recommendations.

Key findings

• Many apps use Plaid to connect bank accounts — Plaid is widely supported but has had privacy concerns in the past, so check permissions when linking accounts.
• Free tiers are increasingly limited: some apps now only offer short trials, with essential features behind subscriptions ranging from monthly fees to annual plans.
• Top contenders balance robust account aggregation, clean UIs and practical features like debt payoff planners, paycheck forecasting and subscription cancellation tools.

Apps tested and notes

• PocketGuard — formerly a strong free option, now limits the free tier to a seven‑day trial and leans on a paid plan for full features; good “after bills” budgeting approach but the UI can feel unpolished.
• NerdWallet, Simplifi, Rocket Money, and others — each app has trade‑offs around price, features and polish; some excel at subscription management, others at goal planning or net worth tracking.

How the testing was done

The reviewer added all accounts, set up budgets and goals, and evaluated UX across mobile and web. Because most apps use Plaid, testing involved repeated two‑factor authentication steps to connect accounts — a one‑time pain for most users, but an important step for securing data access.

Practical advice for former Mint users

• Decide which features matter most: account aggregation, budgeting method (envelope vs. leftover), subscription management, credit monitoring, or goal tracking.
• Try free trials where available to see which UI and approach fit your habits — migration can be time‑consuming due to repeated authentications.
• Compare costs: some subscriptions top $100/year, but there are solid options that are cheaper or offer useful free features.

For the full guide, detailed rankings and the reviewer’s top pick, see the original Engadget article: Engadget — Best Budgeting Apps of 2025.

Discussion: If you used Mint, which budgeting app are you trying now — and what feature do you miss most from Mint?