Budget apps for iPhone compared

Budget apps solve different problems. Some help you plan every dollar, others bring your accounts together automatically. Walti keeps the daily part short: note a purchase, check your monthly budget, and get on with your day. Here's how seven apps compare on setup, bank connections and everyday use.

At a glance

If you want to keep it simple

Walti is made for the moment you pay. Only the amount is required, so an entry takes a few seconds, and holding the + button logs something you buy often again. Your income goes in the same way. Set a monthly budget and Overview shows what you've spent and what's left; rent, bills and paydays wait for your confirmation before they count, and widgets on the Home and Lock Screen show the month without opening the app. On iPhones with Apple Intelligence, a photo of a receipt fills in the store, total, date and category.

There's no account, no bank login and no cloud sync. Walti stores your records on the device you use, and the App Store privacy label reads “Data Not Collected”. It doesn't import bank transactions. To move your records, export a backup file and import it on the other device; if you use iCloud Backup, your Walti data is part of that device backup too.

Money Manager by Realbyte is also built for entering transactions by hand. It goes further into bookkeeping, with several accounts you move money between. Data can stay on the device, with backups by email or iCloud, and Realbyte also offers an optional sync service.

If you want everything connected

YNAB is a method as much as an app: you decide what your money is for and assign it to categories before you spend it. It updates across iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Android and the web, and up to six people can share a budget. There's a closer look in YNAB vs Walti.

Monarch and Copilot bring your accounts and transactions into one picture that updates from the bank. Bank connections cover the US and Canada for Monarch and the US for Copilot, and both let you add manual accounts too. Copilot runs on iPhone, iPad, Mac and the web; Monarch also supports Android.

Spendee and BudgetBakers' Wallet both start with a sign-up, keep your data in their cloud so it reaches your other devices, and offer bank connections in many countries as an option. Both organise money into wallets or accounts with budgets on top. See Spendee vs Walti for more.

Which should you choose?

If you want bank transactions imported, choose an app that supports your bank. If you want to assign every dollar before spending it, YNAB is built for that. If you want a quick, private way to keep up with everyday spending, try Walti free: no account, no bank connection and no subscription.

Common questions

Which budget apps are designed for use without a bank connection?

Walti and Money Manager. In both, entering transactions yourself is how the app works, and neither links to a bank. The other apps on this page let you enter transactions by hand as well, with bank linking as an option.

Is there a budget app that doesn't need an account?

Yes. Walti needs no account at all and keeps everything on your iPhone; Money Manager also works without signing up. YNAB, Monarch, Copilot, Spendee and Wallet start with a sign-up.

Can I try Walti for free?

Yes. Logging expenses and income, the monthly budget, history, trends, widgets and backups are free, and there are no ads. Premium is an optional one-time purchase.

Details about the other apps are from their own websites, help pages and App Store listings, checked in November 2026. YNAB, Monarch, Copilot, Spendee, Wallet and Money Manager are trademarks of their owners; Walti isn't affiliated with any of them. Spotted something out of date? Write to hello@walti.app.