Which Budgeting Site Is Best for You?
All these tools let you track your accounts and set goals. But there are differences.
BANK OF AMERICA
ASSETS
• Easy to set up, with intuitive spending categories and easy-to-customize transaction descriptions.
• It also tracks reward programs for airlines and hotels.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Be a smarter, better informed investor.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
LIABILITIES
• You have to be a Bank of America customer to use it.
• Powered by Yodlee technology, but it’s not as customizable as Yodlee’s MoneyCenter.
NET WORTH
• A user-friendly tracking tool, but financial-product recommendations are all Bank of America products. Why limit your options?
GEEZEO
ASSETS
• Simple interface gives users a clear view of transactions.
• Calendar tool makes it easy to plan and track payments.
LIABILITIES
• Available only through credit unions and smaller banks.
• Product recommendations are limited to your institution.
NET WORTH
• A solid money tracker without bells and whistles. But not your top choice if you’re looking for money-saving picks.
HELLOWALLET
ASSETS
• Great tools to divvy up your paycheck and track cash transactions.
• Huge database of bank products, which it touts as completely independent.
• Forecasting tools are available.
LIABILITIES
• Beta version is free for 60 days, but after that it costs $5 a month.
• User interface is clunkier than those of other budgeting sites.
NET WORTH
• The tools and huge database of products set this site apart. Try the free version and see how you like it, then decide if it’s worth the monthly fee.
MINT
ASSETS
• Clean and simple design makes it the biggest player on the block, with more than four million users.
• Just added a “Goals” feature to motivate users to plan for big expenses or savings.
LIABILITIES
• Auto-categorization sometimes mislabels expenses.
• Navigation of the site is not always intuitive.
• Lacks a tool to project cash flow.
NET WORTH
• Ease of setup and range of product recommendations make Mint our favorite budgeting site.
MONEYRIGHT
ASSETS
• Estimates your credit score, gives you advice on how to improve your finances and predicts how long you could make ends meet if you lost your job.
LIABILITIES
• Also based on the Yodlee platform, but it doesn’t track as many financial accounts as Yodlee MoneyCenter or easily show you your net worth.
NET WORTH
• A decent alternative to Mint or Yodlee, especially if you are interested in borrowing money and keeping tabs on your credit score.
MONEYSTRANDS
ASSETS
• Customizable, useful tools predict how your spending will look in the future.
• Online community allows you to compare your spending with that of similar users.
LIABILITIES
• Have to manually download accounts from many financial institutions.
NET WORTH
• Easy-to-use, attractive interface, financial tips and online community make this a good site for budgeting beginners.
YODLEE
ASSETS
• Easy to customize and provides more details on financial transactions and a bigger variety of reports than Mint.
• Lets you track reward programs.
• Has tighter security than competitors.
LIABILITIES
• Takes you longer to set up an account than with Mint.
• Doesn’t provide advice or product picks to improve your finances.
NET WORTH
• Excellent way to get a snapshot of all your accounts, but be prepared for data overload.
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.
-
How to Add Your Driver’s License or State ID to Google WalletStore and use your digital ID securely on your Android device for TSA, age verification and more.
-
I Retired at 60 Two Years Ago With $3.1 Million. My 62-Year-Old Wife Still Works Because She Wants to, but She Resents My Free Time. Help!We asked a psychologist and a mediation expert for advice.
-
I'm a Government Employee and Need to Get By Until the Shutdown Ends. What Can I Do?The second-longest shutdown in history is leaving many federal workers with bills due and no paycheck to cover them. Here's what you can do to get by.
-
Amazon Resale: Where Amazon Prime Returns Become Your Online BargainsFeature Amazon Resale products may have some imperfections, but that often leads to wildly discounted prices.
-
What Does Medicare Not Cover? Eight Things You Should KnowMedicare Part A and Part B leave gaps in your healthcare coverage. But Medicare Advantage has problems, too.
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2025Roth IRAs Roth IRAs allow you to fund your retirement with after-tax dollars while you're working, and then withdraw those contributions and earnings tax-free when you retire. Here's a look at 2025 limits and income-based phaseouts.
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnbreal estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
-
Five Ways to a Cheap Last-Minute VacationTravel It is possible to pull off a cheap last-minute vacation. Here are some tips to make it happen.
-
How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?insurance When assessing how much life insurance you need, take a systematic approach instead of relying on rules of thumb.
-
When Does Amazon Prime Day End in October? Everything We Know, Plus the Best Deals on Samsonite, Samsung and MoreAmazon Prime The Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale ends soon. Here are the key details you need to know, plus some of our favorite deals members can shop before it's over.