Create unforgettable spaces with the best interior design software. Whether you’re a professional interior designer or a home design enthusiast, these are the top tools for bringing 2D and 3D spaces to life.
Our expert team of reviewers have tested the best architecture software or the best 3D modeling software, so we know what you want to check out when choosing your next interior design app, and which ones really measure up.
best landscape design software for crafting eye-catching exterior spaces.
The best interior design software of 2024 in full:
Why you can trust TechRadar
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Below you’ll find full write-ups for each of the entries on our best interior design software list. We’ve tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best interior design software overall
(Image credit: Floorplanner)
Best interior design software overall
Specifications
Operating system: Browser
Plan: Free, Subscription
Reasons to buy
+
Free plan available
+
Intuitive and easy to use
+
Broad use from interior designers to real estate
+
Numerous customization options
Reasons to avoid
–
Some limitations with the free account
–
No desktop app
Floorplanner is an online interior design app for individuals and companies, letting you redesign everything from a single room to an entire floor, or even a whole building. You can also plan out how your furniture will fit in your new home.
This is a web-based home interior design tool, so you can achieve dazzling designs through the browser. There’s also online collaboration for editing and presenting projects in the cloud.
In our hands-on review, we felt the best home design software “is an excellent online service, designed to help you create rooms and furnish them with great accuracy. Working with it is fluid and easy, and we didn’t observe any discernible glitches. The fact there’s a free option means many amateur designer will happily use it to configure a room, but there are limitations to that option.”
Working in Floorplanner is fluid and simple – allowing you to create and furnish rooms with real accuracy. Best of all, if your needs are modest, using the program is free.
That makes it ideal for amateur designers or those learning the art of interior design. If you find the free account too limiting, there are several subscription options available to you. Business pricing starts at $59 a month for teams. Individual pricing starts at $5. You’ll also find a credit system. As you earn credits, you can unlock extra features not typically associated with your plan.
It’s all browser-based designing, however, so needs a constant inter connection. There is an Android app available, but this is designed for presenting designs created on the website.
Read our full Floorplanner review.
The best interior design software for architects
(Image credit: Chief Architect)
Best interior design software for architecture
Specifications
Operating system: Windows, macOS
Plan: Subscription, Perpetual license
Reasons to buy
+
Easy to learn
+
Multi-platform
+
Limitless possibilities
Reasons to avoid
–
Can appear daunting at first
–
3D views don’t always respond as expected
Home Designer Suite delivers professional-style interior design software – which makes it powerful but also increases the learning curve. It’s not too steep as to be unnavigable, although it might overwhelm first-timers. Stick with it.
If you’re looking for meticulous planning, precise editing and customizing tools, and everything else, right down to the material required for specific jobs, this is the best interior design software for you.
We praised the home design software in our review for its “highly detailed customisation options while at the same time, automating many processes to ease the creation process. It’s a great balance that help you create detailed environments quickly and easily.”
The interior design program is very full featured. You have full control over pretty much everything, including landscaping your dream garden. Despite its apparent complexity, there are many automatic tools that do a lot of the work for you, enabling you to focus on the details, to turn a design into a house.
Available for both Mac and Windows, you have in your digital hands everything you need to build the home of your dreams.
Read our full Home Designer Suite review.
The best interior design software for indoor/outdoor spaces
(Image credit: NCH Software)
Best interior design software for indoor and outdoor spaces
Specifications
Operating system: Windows, Mac
Plan: Subscription, Perpetual license
Reasons to buy
+
Easy to use
+
Multi-platform
+
Work on multiple levels
+
Can easily import 3D objects
Reasons to avoid
–
Not all objects installed initially
–
Occasionally awkward navigation
DreamPlan is the best home design software if you want powerful tools and simplicity of use.
The interior design program, out for Windows and Mac, helps you create buildings on multiple levels, furnish them with a library of 3D models, and customize homes inside and out. Yes, that even includes landscape design. It’s built to let you easily make modifications and alterations.
But, in our review, what we really liked about one of the best home design software tools is that it’s “designed to make it easy to make modifications, and even goes out of its way to help you understand the app’s inner workings.”
Trace Mode will be especially handy for those with existing floorplans. These can be imported into the home design software and turned into a 3D model.
DreamPlan features commercial and home licensing options – priced at $50 and $40 respectively, but check for regular discounts. So, it has a powerful enough toolset to use on a professional basis. But it’s intuitive enough for beginners.
For those just starting out with the best interior design software, the built-in video tutorials help you understand the inner workings of the app – just look for the subtle blue camera icon.
Read our full DreamPlan review.
The best browser-based interior design software
(Image credit: Dassault Systemes)
The best interior design app when you’re on-the-go
Specifications
Operating system: Browser, Android, iOS
Plan: Free, Subscription
Reasons to buy
+
Simple to use
+
Huge customisation
+
Can design an entire house for free
Reasons to avoid
–
3D pan can make some objects temporarily disappear
–
Long rendering times for low res photorealistic images
HomeByMe is one of the best interior design apps for when the ideas are racing. It’s browser-based – even mobile browsers are supported – and has Android and iOS apps, so you can map out thoughts for your home whenever and wherever inspiration strikes.
Since the interior design tool is cloud-only, you’ll need to stay connected to use it. During our time with the home design software, we were impressed that “HomeByMe offers a very affordable service with a myriad of options. We particularly appreciated the fact that the free plan doesn’t appear to limit your design options, and lets you work on up to three different projects.”
However, we were less impressed with the time it took to render low-res images. Worse, we found the free account pastes a giant watermark all across the image, rendering the effect pointless. HD images are rendered in minutes, and don’t have that watermark.
The platform offers three packages: free, one-time purchase, and monthly subscription. It’s a good way to see which works for you, as the free plan doesn’t appear to limit your design options, and lets you work on up to five projects.
The limit on the number of HD photorealistic images (1920x1080px) is somewhat compensated by offering an unlimited number of lower quality ones (640x360px). You can also place real-world, branded products in your rooms for extra realism.
HomeByMe has a lot to offer. If you’re not too fussed about those images, you can explore and create very complex designs with ease.
Read our full HomeByMe review.
The best interior design software for mobile
(Image credit: MagicPlan)
Best interior design software for Android and iOS
Specifications
Operating system: Browser, Android, iOS
Plan: Subscription
Reasons to buy
+
Easy to use
+
Free mobile app
+
Two free projects
+
Professional Report and Estimate tools
Reasons to avoid
–
AR appears to struggle when furniture is in the way
–
No desktop app
MagicPlan is one of the best interior software kits for busy creatives and contractors.
When we reviewed the home design app, we liked its “easy to use features, an interesting AR option, and an original way of generating estimates for work needed to be done. The monthly subscriptions could pay for themselves if designing if your business, and it also offers you two free projects for casual users to explore as well.”
Like HomeByMe, it lets you build designs from your browser, or within the Android and iOS apps. The free solution lets you design two projects. A monthly subscription is needed to unlock MagicPlan’s full capabilities.
You’ll find three tools in one: Sketch, Report, and Estimate. Essentially, tiered subscription packages that offer additional features.
Sketch lets you create interior designs – and, for home users, that’s likely enough. Professional designers will appreciate the inclusion of reporting and estimating tools. Enterprise licensing is also available.
One of the best interior design software tools here is the AR-enabled ‘Scan with Camera’. This lets you scan and measure the room you’re in – although we suspect this augmented reality feature would function a lot better in an unfurnished space.
Read our full MagicPlan review.
Best interior design software: FAQs
What is interior design software?
best 3D printers.
Time is a considerable factor. Even some of the best interior design software takes a long time to render concepts, especially when using photorealistic images. It’s a natural price to pay for high-resolution 3D designs. For some, speed may trump quality.
Check the system requirements for the software In certain cases, highly professional interior design computer programs require high-performance computers. In this case, you may need a machine comparable to the best laptops for architecture students or the best laptops for engineering students. These are build to smoothly run complex CAD designs.
Check the price (and pricing model), too. Some options, like HomeByMe, offer free, paid-for, and subscription versions of its home design software. Others offer only one pricing model, so choose the one that best suits your creative budget.
How we test the best interior design software
We’ve tested a massive range of creative apps, including the best digital art and drawing software and the best graphic design software. But whether we’re testing out the top tools for 3D design or the best software for interior decorating, we follow the same fair and rigorous review process.
When testing the best interior design software for homes, we’re looking to see how easy the experience is, how powerful the tools are, and how well the software performs. Designing in 3D can often take its toll on computers, after all.
Asset library sizes are a factor — interior design tools should make your creative ideas a reality, not just a loose approximation. We’re also reviewing these design apps based on use. Unlike consumer software, professional-grade tools offer more advanced features, but might also have steeper learning curves and more expensive pricing models. So, we assessed how well the interior design program delivers for its intended market – whether they’re professionals or personal users.
Essentially, when we test the very best interior design software for ourselves, we expect to see it work for its intended audience — whether they’re professional interior designers or creative enthusiasts.
During our tests across the best home design software tools, we first set up an account with the relevant software platform, whether as a download or online service. We then tested each app using a handful of files to see how the software for interior design could be used for creating indoor spaces from scratch, bearing in mind issues such as ease-of-use, professional viability, and performance.
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When shopping for auto insurance in the First State, it makes sense to start by looking into the best car insurance companies in Delaware. But because so many different factors go into choosing an insurance company, it can be hard to know which “best” option is actually right for you.
To make the decision easier, NerdWallet analyzed 18 car insurance companies in Delaware to find the best car insurance for the following categories:
See what you could save on car insurance
Easily compare personalized rates to see how much switching car insurance could save you.
How we found the best car insurance in Delaware
NerdWallet’s editorial team considered pricing, discounts, complaint data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and more to determine the best car insurance companies in Delaware. Our “ease of use” category includes factors such as website transparency and how simple it is to file a claim. As we continue to evaluate more insurance providers and receive fresh market data, our list of best car insurance companies is likely to change over time. In our list of the best insurers in the state, we only include insurance companies that have achieved a 5-star NerdWallet rating.
Why you can trust NerdWallet
Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage so you can choose the insurance company that works best for you. Our ratings are specific to auto insurance; a company’s rating for other products may be different on our site. See our criteria for evaluating auto insurance companies.
Best car insurance in Delaware overall: Travelers
Travelers earned the highest overall NerdWallet star rating out of the 18 car insurance companies we analyzed in Delaware. Its wide range of discounts and coverage options, along with the low record of complaints from its customers to regulators, make it a strong contender for drivers shopping for car insurance in Delaware.
One of the largest insurers in the country, Travelers has an expansive network of agents and a large variety of insurance products to choose from. This insurer stands out for its accident forgiveness plans and above and beyond coverage options including gap insurance and premier new car replacement.
Travelers
Travelers offers a broad range of coverage options and discounts to help you customize your car insurance policy.
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Travelers
Travelers offers a broad range of coverage options and discounts to help you customize your car insurance policy.
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Best Delaware auto insurance for your budget: Travelers
Delaware drivers looking for a top-rated insurer that’s also good for their wallet are in luck. Travelers, NerdWallet’s pick for the overall best auto insurer in Delaware, is also the most affordable among insurers with NerdWallet star ratings of 4.5 and above.
Our June 2024 analysis showed that the average rate for full coverage insurance from Travelers is $1,145 per year or $95 per month for Delaware drivers. However, these are median rates and your rate may be different. Travelers also offers a wide variety of discounts, which may help you cut your premium down even further.
Travelers
Travelers offers a broad range of coverage options and discounts to help you customize your car insurance policy.
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Travelers
Travelers offers a broad range of coverage options and discounts to help you customize your car insurance policy.
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
🤓Nerdy Tip
We don’t have data for every single company that offers coverage in Delaware, so Travelers may not actually be the best Delaware car insurance provider for you. Compare car insurance rates from several companies to find the company cheapest for you.
Best car insurance in Delaware for customer complaints: Travelers
Travelers is also the best car insurance company for Delaware drivers when it comes to customer satisfaction, based on the low number of complaints to state regulators compared to companies of similar size. This is based on a comparison across auto insurers in Delaware with a 4.5 NerdWallet star rating or above. Travelers’ high level of customer satisfaction is part of the reason why it also ranks as the best overall car insurance company in Delaware.
Travelers
Travelers offers a broad range of coverage options and discounts to help you customize your car insurance policy.
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Travelers
Travelers offers a broad range of coverage options and discounts to help you customize your car insurance policy.
Great set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Best Delaware car insurance for ease of use: State Farm
State Farm is the best car insurance company in Delaware for ease of use. State Farm customers can manage their policy and submit claims online, and the mobile app has excellent user ratings for both iOS and Android devices. While offering robust online tools and services, State Farm also pairs all its customers with a dedicated agent for more personalized attention.
State Farm
State Farm offers numerous discounts and extras including travel expense coverage, making it a good choice for most drivers.
Average set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
State Farm
State Farm offers numerous discounts and extras including travel expense coverage, making it a good choice for most drivers.
Average set of discounts
Ease of use
Above average
NAIC complaints
Fewer than expected
Full list of the top auto insurance companies in Delaware
Out of all 18 car insurers NerdWallet analyzed, here is the full list of the companies that provide the best car insurance in Delaware. Only companies with a NerdWallet star rating of 4.5 or higher were considered.
How to get the best car insurance in Delaware
Still not sure which company to go with? Try these tips:
Assess your needs. Evaluate your own needs and preferences before deciding on a car insurance company, since everyone’s needs are different. For example, one person might prioritize a company with strong customer service and a low-mileage discount, while another may prize affordability and a well-polished mobile app.
Do your research. While the companies on this page represent solid choices, you may want to explore other options. Whichever insurer you go with, make sure they’re financially stable, have few customer complaints and offer the coverage you need at a competitive price. You can also check out our full list of auto insurance reviews.
Consider small insurance companies. Small, regional insurers may provide a better price and customer service than the big companies you see advertised on TV. You might have to recruit the help of a local independent car insurance agent to find them.
Shop around once a year. Make a practice of shopping for car insurance quotes about once a year — especially if price is important to you. Insurers adjust car insurance rates regularly, so a company that gave you the best rate last year might no longer be a bargain this year. Be sure to get quotes from at least three insurers, and for the most accurate comparison, use the same or similar coverage options and deductibles while shopping around.
Why you can trust NerdWallet
Our writers and editors follow strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage so you can choose the insurance company that works best for you. Our ratings are specific to auto insurance; a company’s rating for other products may be different on our site. See our criteria for evaluating auto insurance companies.
Inside: In this guide, I reviewed all of the budget apps and compared features and costs to form the best budgeting apps list. Find the best budgeting apps to fit your needs.
The best way to become smart with your money is to actively manage your money.
Make a plan for your money. Some may call it a budget.
At Money Bliss, we like to call it a Cents Plan. This enables you to find financial freedom. Find that place Where Cents Parallel Vision. Today, there are many budgeting apps on the market.
To kick off the new year, I was determined to find the best budgeting app on the market. Guess what?
My list grew each week!! And still growing! There are so many choices.
There are money management apps. Personal finance apps. Budgeting apps. So many apps to choose from! Seriously.
Some are free budgeting apps. Others have a monthly fee. Some have one-time costs.
The key to any budgeting app (free or paid) is to learn to manage your money.
At the very bottom of the post, we will reveal the best budgeting apps available.
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
Enjoy guilt-free spending and effortless saving with a friendly, flexible method for managing your finances.
Start Your Free Trial.
What is a Budgeting App?
A budgeting app is a tool that helps you manage your money and keep track of how much you spend.
There are many different types of apps, and some may be free while others cost money.
However, they all make managing your finances easy by tracking where your money goes each month as well as providing tools for saving cash flow or spending more efficiently on things like groceries or travel expenses.
The end purpose of a budgeting app is to make managing your money easy.
There are many apps out there that can help you with this, including some from big brand names like Mint which just announced it is shutting down, Acorns, and Quicken. This guide will provide a list of the best budgeting apps for 2024 so you can save time and money!
Quick Answer
The preferred budget apps are YNAB, Empower, and Quicken.
What to Look for in Budgeting Apps
In order to find the best budgeting apps, you need to know what features and functions you are looking for.
The best budgeting apps are often the simplest and focus on ways to make saving a breeze.
They can help ease financial uncertainty by providing tools that allow users to save more money over time.
What’s more, how can you tell what to look for in a good budgeting app?
1. Ease of use
The best budgeting apps are easy to use and do not require manual entry. Different ways of creating a budget include handwriting it out, using a spreadsheet, or logging into an app or software program.
You want to find something that is easy for you to use. Even better, if you find the app fun to use!
2. Budgeting Capabilities
There are many types of budgeting apps; thus, each person will have budget apps they prefer over others. At the end of the day, you need something that will work for you over the long term.
Some have basic features that simply allow users to view their own spending, while others provide a number of tools for managing finances and saving money. Users should choose an app based on what they want as well as the capabilities it offers.
Many budget apps let you define your categories to track.
3. Saves Time
When you have an automatic budgeting app, it tracks how money moves in and out of your bank account automatically with ease. In addition to this, the updating process takes place automatically as well which saves more time for individuals who need it most!
Saving time with the least favorite tasks like budgeting is a win-win!
You want your budgeting app that makes managing your money a breeze.
4. Focus on Financial Goals
You need a budget app that helps you work towards your smart financial goals. This is important.
You want your budgeting app to help you with achieving your financial goals.
5. Synchronization
Synchronization is the process of returning data to a master database from one or more secondary databases. You want the budget app to synchronize accounts automatically.
Most offer automatic synchronization but may lack a feature that allows for a reconciliation of accounts such as bank accounts.
Many budgeting apps can synchronize from desktop to mobile. In addition, you can have multiple users on the same platform.
6. Price
Budgeting apps range in price from free to about $150 per year.
The app that has the most features and options is Quicken, especially given its price point.
Spending $5 a month to manage your finances is cheaper than overdraft fees and the lack of saving money.
7. App ratings
Many financial experts and personal finance gurus agree that a budget is necessary to take control of your money.
Look for budgeting apps that have at least 1,000 reviews in both the App Store (for iOS) and on Google Play (for Android), as well as a rating of 4 stars (out of 5) or higher on both platforms.
That will tell you the longevity of the app and user appeal.
8. Security
Specifically, are budgeting apps secure? Are there any security features in place to protect your data? This is a huge feature you need to verify your personal information will be intact.
On my budgeting apps, financial information is safe because they need to go through vigorous testing and pass banking regulations. There are certain vulnerabilities inherent to operating online in the cloud.
9. Additional Features
Most budgeting apps go beyond basic budgeting. Some offer advice on debt and investments, while others identify unnecessary expenses.
Most apps can track your spending and organize your expenses into categories.
The savings apps will automate savings, suggestions to save money, bill alerts, access to credit scores, and investing features.
All of the apps have a different feature set, so it’s important to find what you’re looking for.
Good Budgeting Apps will Help, But First – You Must
Before we dig into the list of good budgeting apps, we must discuss key points first.
In order to be successful, with any type of budget app, you must understand three key areas.
1. Uncover your Money Situation
You can’t hide under the sheets or with your head in the sand and expect changes.
To be successful with money, you must be active with your personal finance situation.
Take time to understand your vision. Figure out where you stand in building a foundation to the Money Bliss Steps to Financial Freedom. Understand where the pits of money are spent every month.
Not sure, where to start? Stick around here at Money Bliss; we have many resources to help you!
Must Read Help:
2. Budgeting Apps Won’t Change Habits
While personal finance or money management apps keep you on track, they are incapable of changing habits.
You have to make changes.
Just because the budget app tracks your usage on the credit card doesn’t mean that you should have spent that money. So, be willing to make changes in your spending habits and those emotional purchases to achieve financial freedom.
You must learn to manage your money.
Related Readings:
3. Still Need Paper & Pen
The first thought is “Wait, I wanted to get away from paper and pen.” Yes, that is the goal for most individuals.
However, it is key to know your net worth over time.
Also, you never know when your favorite budget app will go away. (Ugh!) Personally, I don’t like to be pessimistic, but technology is rapidly changing, and being able to adapt is key.
Keep tracking your personal finance numbers toward financial freedom in a separate place.
Okay without further ado, the full list of budgeting apps on the market.
YNAB
Enjoy guilt-free spending and effortless saving with a friendly, flexible method for managing your finances.
Pros:
Comprehensive approach to budgeting, helping you plan monthly budgets based on your income.
Offers expert advice, making it suitable for those who require an in-depth, forward-thinking budgeting strategy.
Superior synchronization skills make it the winner in this area.
YNAB has extra features like goal setting for budgeting, shared budgeting tools for partners.
Option to manually add and upload transactions from accounts each month.
YNAB prioritizes user privacy.
Start 34 Day Free Trial
Full List of Budgeting Apps with Free Trial
The budget apps we selected for this section offer a free trial for users to test out before signing up.
Budget apps are typically inexpensive and start with a free trial.
1. YNAB (You Need a Budget) – A proven method that has helped hundreds of thousands of people break the paycheck to paycheck cycle, get out of debt, and live the life they want to live. YNAB is best for serious budgeters.
2. Simplifi – Manage your money less in 5 minutes each week. Reach your money goals with confidence! Introducing Simplifi by Quicken, the personal finance app that gives you something to look forward to.
3. Tiller Money – Your financial life is in a spreadsheet, automatically updated each day. Track all your accounts in one place, always know where your money goes, and confidently plan your financial future.
4. Rocket Money – Rocket Money is your automated financial assistant and budget tracker designed to put you back in control of your money. Truebill lets you easily track bills, cancel unwanted subscriptions, and proactively request refunds on your behalf, putting real money back in your pocket!
5. Qube Money – The cash envelope system made easy. They invented digital cash envelopes. Real-time financial awareness without the hassle of tracking expenses, updating spreadsheets, and carrying cash.
6. HoneyMoney– HoneyMoney increases your awareness about your money habits. Being fully aware of your money naturally changes how you spend it. Great way to use cash flow budgeting. Plus uses “envelopes” to budget.
7. Qapital – Free, easy way to save money. Get $5 for your first Goal if you sign up here.
8.Money Patrol – MoneyPatrol actively monitors and analyzes financial transactions, and then alerts insights about the trends, patterns, and anomalies observed.
9. Wallet– Wallet is designed to help you get your finances under control from day one, giving you ongoing insight into your financial situation, and helping you stay in control for the long term.
10. Every Dollar– EveryDollar follows the zero-based budget approach recommended by Dave Ramsey, a top personal money-management expert. Create daily and monthly budgets and track your expenses to manage and save money.
11. Expensify – Expensify is the perfect tool for anyone who needs to keep track of receipts and automate expense management.
12. Cost Track – Expense Tracker – Cost Track allows you to: use your money wisely, keep track of your personal and family budget, and quickly enter your income and expenses.
13. Easy Spending – It is a simple and convenient finance tracker that provides the most powerful and convenient daily money management for iPhone and iPad, that neatly tracks all your cash flow between different accounts that you can budget.
Making Your Budget Work for You:
Full List of Free Budgeting Apps
The budget apps we selected for this ranking are completely free! Free budget apps are good options for users who don’t want to pay monthly or a yearly fee. Just to note, the list of free apps is dwindling with each update.
Finding the best budgeting app the best ones do simple things well.
Free apps are not always better than paid ones.
Typically, the free versions of budget apps provide basic features. Plus there are many free budget apps available on the market.
1. Empower– Empower is the best app for investors. This is one of my favorite ways to analyze investment accounts. See all of your accounts in one place, which helps to see spending. Free budgeting app to use. Read myEmpower Review.
Empower Personal Wealth, LLC (“EPW”) compensates Money Bliss for new leads. Money Bliss is not an investment client of Personal Capital Advisors Corporation or Empower Advisory Group, LLC.
2. PocketSmith – Manage your budget and forecast your finances. There are paid levels of access but you can still get basic options for the casual budgeter.
3. Zeta – AskZeta is a financial planning platform designed to help couples manage their finances collaboratively. It provides tools and guidance for setting joint financial goals, budgeting, and navigating major life events to build a secure financial future together.
4. Honeydue – A financial app designed for couples, facilitating shared money management. It allows partners to track and manage their finances collaboratively, providing insights into spending, budgeting and shared financial goals.
5. GoodBudget – Envelope budgeting for the modern world.
6.Fudget – The budget planner you can actually use.
7. Wally – Personal Finance – It helps you compare your income to your expenses, understand where your money goes and set and achieve goals.
9. CountAbout – CountAbout is an online personal finance solution that surpasses the security and ease of use of the other popular commercial solutions on the market while offering complete privacy, zero advertising, and no selling of your personal data.
10. Daily Budget Original – Daily Budget calculation, planning & saving for big spending, basic categories for expenses, backup.
11. Spending Tracker – The simple fact is, by tracking your spending you will be able to stick to a budget and therefore SAVE MONEY.
12. Money Monitor – You can track and organize all your transactions, accounts, budgets, bills, cash flow, and payees in Money Monitor by easy operation but with powerful functions.
13. Money Box – Set your money goals and track your personal savings with this app. Take control of your saving goals and spend cash wisely.
14. Dollarbird– Track and forecast your money as easily as adding events to a calendar! Dollarbird helps you make sense of your financial situation, plan ahead and manage your money together with those who matter.
15. NerdWallet – Whether you want to maximize credit card rewards, earn extra cashback, track your credit score or make budgeting easier, it’s all here.
Budgeting Resources:
16. Buddy – Designed for simplicity and efficiency, helping users easily manage their finances. With intuitive features, it enables users to track expenses, set budget goals, and gain insights into their spending habits for better financial management.
17. Banktivity – Banktivity puts you in the driver’s seat of your finances so you can do both.
18. PocketGuard – With all of your financial accounts in one place, PocketGuard helps you stay on top of your finance and make better financial decisions.
19. Budget Saved – Personal Finance – Budget Saved helps you save money by grouping expenses based on need or want. You input an expense, save it as a need or want, and then you can look back to see which purchases were really necessary. With this information, you can see exactly how much you can save.
20. Albert – Money Management – Combining human guidance with cutting-edge technology, Albert is an intuitive app that automates your financial life — so you can be free to enjoy it. Build savings, meet bills, end the overspending cycle and develop your financial IQ, right from the palm of your hand.
21. Expense IQ – Expense IQ (formerly EasyMoney) is your ultimate money manager app that combines an expense tracker, a budget planner, a checkbook register, integrated bills reminder, and more rolled into one powerful personal finance app!
22. Prism– Never miss a bill or pay late fees again! We automatically track your bills & send due date reminders, for free. See your income, account balances, & monthly expenses at a glance.
23. Coin Keeper– Download CoinKeeper — the handiest way to plan and manage your finances, created especially for smartphones and tablets.
24. Mobills– Mobills is a budget planning app that allows you to create a custom monthly budget that will help you take control of your money. You are able to manage your money, track your spending, and achieve your financial goals all in one place.
25. iSpending – iSpending helps you to track your income and spending. You can add transactions under different categories, such as income, food, and entertainment.
26. Receipt Box – The Receipt Box is a quick app that is conducive to developing a good habit of tracking spending. It indeed performs well on this one.
27. BUDGT – BUDGT will help you keep track of your Expenses in a very simple way and tell you how much money you can spend each day, taking in account what you have already spent during the current month.
Full List of Paid Budgeting Apps
A budgeting app is a type of software that helps you track your money to manage your finances. There are several different ways you can use them, including getting paid upfront or by monthly fee.
Some apps offer discounts for people who pay monthly, but this is not always the case. If an app doesn’t have the capabilities you need to better manage your budget, it’s not worth it.
App users want budget capabilities and prefer to handle bill paying on their own schedules.
1. Quicken– Quicken personal finance and money management software allows you to manage spending, create monthly budgets, track investments, retirement and more. Read my Quicken Review.
2. Moneyspire – The budget feature is very user friendly and can rollover amounts. All of the reports you need at your fingertips. Also, you can move your data from many of the top budgeting apps and Quicken.
3. PocketSmith – Manage your budget and forecast your finances.
4. MoneyDance – Moneydance is easy to use personal finance software that is loaded with all the features you need: online banking and bill payment, account management, budgeting and investment tracking.
5. CheckBook Pro – An easy & quick way to manage your daily finances, Checkbook Pro keeps track of your credit card charges, cash expenditures…etc.
6. HomeBudget – HomeBudget is an integrated expense tracker designed to help you track your expenses, income, bills due and account balances. It offers support for budgeting and allows analysis of your expenses and income, including charts and graphs.
7. Pennies – Keep track of your spending and save money with Pennies, the award-winning budgeting app for iPhone, iPad and Watch.
Enjoy guilt-free spending and effortless saving with a friendly, flexible method for managing your finances.
Start Your Free Trial.
Budgeting Apps Off the Cloud:
Due to security concerns, many budgeters prefer to keep their financial information off the cloud.
Here are the best budgeting software that are off the cloud. And if you want, they can be synced.
1. Quicken– Personally, I have used Quicken – pretty much since it was developed. Way before budgeting apps were even a thing and the cloud didn’t exist. Quicken is great for tracking how your money is being spent. Their internal budget feature is not user-friendly and has quirks. However, the cash flow reports are awesome to compare spending. The #1 reason I still recommend Quicken is because of its long history.
Read my Quicken Review.
2. Moneyspire – For those frustrated with Quicken, Moneyspire is your choice. The budget feature is very user-friendly and can rollover amounts. All of the reports you need are at your fingertips. Also, you can move your data from many of the top budgeting apps and Quicken. Start a free trial here.
3. Tiller Money – Tiller is the only tool that automatically updates Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel with your spending, transactions, and balances each day.
4. Banktivity – Get full control of your personal finance situation with Banktivity. Has all the bells and whistles you would come to expect for personal finance budgeting software. There is the ability to connect to the cloud if you prefer. Only for Mac Users.
5. MoneyDance – Moneydance is easy-to-use personal finance software that is loaded with all the features you need: online banking and bill payment, account management, budgeting, and investment tracking.
6. QuickBooks – QuickBooks is most like Quicken. It is the preferred software for most bookkeepers. The features are very helpful, but the price is significantly higher.
Expense-tracking budgeting apps
Expense-tracking budgeting apps are becoming more popular as they allow users to connect to financial accounts. They track transactions and group them into categories, making the best ones based on expense tracking systems.
Some of the top expense tracking budgeting apps include:
Simplifi: Quicken has introduced a new personal finance management solution. It is simple, smart, and intuitive money tracker tool that ensures users can keep track of their income and expenses in real-time.
YNAB (You Need A Budget): YNAB helps to reverse this pattern by living off last month’s income during current month.
Pocket Expense: This app is easy to use and has a clear interface for users who are not tech savvy. With Pocket Expense, you can input your income and expenses, set a budget, and track your progress.
Spendee – Understand your finances better with Spendee, the FREE budgeting app that tracks your spending, optimizes your budget, and helps you save money. This user-friendly app with good features for recording income and expenses as well as the ability to plan future budgets. It also lets you set goals and track progress.
Quicken: Quicken is a personal finance software application that can be installed on Windows, Mac or Linux computers and allows users to organize financial information in order for them to make financial decisions.
Learn where to load your Cash App card.
Investment/retirement planning budgeting apps
Investment/retirement planning budgeting apps are becoming more popular with consumers as the retirement age is being pushed back.
These types of apps allow users to keep track of their investments and review performance, ensuring that they’re on track to retire at the desired time.
There are numbeous different investment portfolio management tools, but most are designed for average investors looking to make changes or work towards long-term goals. Many double as budgeting apps also enable tracking expenses alongside investments in order to ensure that you’re on track to reach your goal.
Empower – read my Empower Review
Quicken
Betterment
Wealthfront
Stash
Apps to Help Save Extra Money:
Looking for easy ways to save extra money?? These budgeting apps will do just that.
1. Acorns: Invest Spare Change: This app rounds up any purchase made with a credit card to the nearest dollar and invests it in an exchange traded fund. They have four different investment portfolios from conservative, balanced, growth, and aggressive.
2. Tiller: This app automatically transfers money from any account you connect to it (like your checking or savings) into a fund of your choice every time you make a transaction.
3. Trim – Trim negotiates your cable, internet, phone and medical bills, finds and cancels unwanted subscriptions, can help you lower APRs and bank fees and more.
4. BillShark – Billshark is the easiest way to lower your bills, cancel unwanted subscriptions, and lock in the best rates for insurance.
Which Budgeting App is right for You?
Budgeting apps are becoming more popular as consumers try to make better financial planning decisions.
Budgeting apps help people with the ability to track spending, create budgets, and save money for retirement or other goals.
Budgeting apps must be paid for because they can be used across all devices and have a variety of features that can really help users save time and money.
As you can tell in this post, there are plenty of options to find your favorite budget apps.
Each of these apps can improve money management.
However, you must be able to make the changes necessary to stay within your means. That is up to you. Don’t try it and give up after a month. Stick with it. Show perseverance.
In the end, you will be happy you are stuck with using a good budgeting app.
Apps That Have Shut Down or Changed
These are budgeting app that have been on our list previously. But, when we recently updated the post, realized they are no longer offering the same services.
Mint: Personal Finance & Money – Mint is a free money management and financial tracker app that helps you get ahead and stay ahead. – Mint app shut down in 2024.
Firstly (formerly Honeyfi: Couples Finances) – The first app to help couples team up on everyday and long-term finances.
Opurtun (formerly Digit) – Digit analyzes your spending and automatically saves the perfect amount every day, so you don’t have to think about it.
mvelopes (merged with EveryDollar) – Everyone knows that cash will keep you on budget. Here is a digital option for your cash envelopes. Your first month free is to check out the budgeting system.
Olivia– Whether you identify as someone who is living paycheck to paycheck, or you’d just like to get smarter with your money in general, you’ve come to the right place! I am here to help YOU become the MASTER of your money.
Your Money Wallet – YourMoneyWallet lets you see all your accounts in one place, understand your spending, monitor your everyday spending, and see all your money transactions in a beautiful well crafted design.free
Joy – Money App– Joy is the brand new money app that will change the way you spend and save money to help you find more happiness in your life.
Advent – Budgeting Made Simple – Advent makes budgeting and tracking expenses super easy! With a very minimalistic design, you can easily maneuver around quickly.
Rolling Budget– Rolling Budget is a personal finance tracker that keeps track of your day-to-day expenses, travel, and fuel costs. Track where your money goes, plan your expenses, and create a budget that works for you!
Best Budgeting Apps
There are many apps available to help people manage their budgets.
The best app for you will depend on the type of budget you want to create and how often you want to make changes. All of these apps are mobile-friendly and work across multiple devices. They also offer additional features like budgeting tasks, reminders, and spending plans.
You can find all of these for iPhone or Android.
You can save time and money by using a good budgeting app.
This is your personal finance journey.
The ultimate goal with any budget app is to learn to manage your money. Not have your money manage you.
Now, make sure you are doing these habits to be successful with budgeting.
Which are your favorite budgeting apps?
Keep on Budgeting:
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Did the post resonate with you?
More importantly, did I answer the questions you have about this topic? Let me know in the comments if I can help in some other way!
Your comments are not just welcomed; they’re an integral part of our community. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how these ideas align with your journey towards Money Bliss.
Two words can send a chill down any consumer’s spine: identity theft.
In an increasingly digital world, as more and more transactions are processed online, a growing number of people have become victims of identity theft fraud. An even larger number are familiar with the tales of financial loss and the weeks, months, or even years of effort it may take to undo the damage done.
What is identity theft, specifically? It’s when someone (often a cybercriminal) steals personal credentials—like your name, social security number, or credit card information—to commit fraud or other illegal acts.
Incidents of identity theft continue to rise
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said nearly 1.1 million cases of identity theft were reported in 2023. In fact, identity theft is the largest category in the agency’s Consumer Sentinel Network—a secure database containing consumer reports about marketplace problems. Although the total number of identity theft cases reported was down from a 2021 peak—when identity theft cases spiked to over 1.4 million—the volume was almost double the pre-pandemic total: 649,390 cases in 2019.
“I think skyrocketing is probably even too soft of a word,” says Eva Velasquez, president and CEO of the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), an organization in San Diego that provides free resources to individuals dealing with identity fraud. “During the pandemic, we saw the rates increase at such a magnitude. It was already growing. It’s been steadily growing. It’s been the number one fraud type complaint to the FTC for 20 years.”
Identity fraud causes painful financial damage—an estimated $43 billion in losses in 2023, according to financial research firm Javelin. But the emotional toll of identity fraud can be just as serious. “That feeling of isolation is only getting worse as the crime rates rise,” says ITRC chief operating officer James E. Lee, who added that some people they speak with experience symptoms of depression as a result of these crimes.
Velasquez adds: “The playing field where vulnerabilities exist that someone can exploit has grown significantly and keeps growing.”
How banks are helping with online security awareness
It’s critical to know how to protect yourself from identity theft. The good news is that as hackers become more sophisticated, technology follows suit. And with assistance from your financial institutions, you can take steps to protect your financial information online. The most straightforward tips include using unique, complex passwords for different accounts and investigating unsolicited communications from a financial institution, no matter how realistic they appear.
“We always say, ‘Go to the source,’” says Velasquez. “Not the number in the email, not the number left in your voicemail, not the number on the text, but the known number or email address or URL if you’re doing it online. Use the contact information you already know and trust to reach out to that organization.”
Your bank is also a strong ally in the ongoing battle to detect and prevent fraud. Discover®, for example, offers a suite of online security features designed to help protect your identity and financial information.
“Banks play a very important part in protecting consumer data, and I think that role spans the life cycle of identity,” says Mary Ann Miller, fraud and cybercrime executive advisor and vice president of client experience at Prove Identity, a digital identity solutions provider in New York. “Whether it’s preventing identity theft from happening in the first place, detecting it if it’s happened, or helping consumers recover, I think banks can help their customers feel more confident in the system.”
Here are some of the ways your bank may offer additional identity theft protection:
Account alerts
Alerts are easy to set up and provide real-time monitoring of your accounts. For example, they help banks automatically notify you of suspicious activities, such as large withdrawals or changes to your contact information. Alerts can be particularly helpful in spotting potentially fraudulent activity on your debit or credit card.
“I always encourage people to set their alerts to a dollar, just so you see everything coming in and out of your account,” says Velasquez. This granular insight is increasingly important as card-not-present transactions (like online shopping) remain popular.
Tip: If you have a Discover account, you can customize alert preferences in the mobile app or through online banking.
Account freeze features
If your credit or debit card is lost or stolen, or you suspect fraud, you may be able to freeze the card to prevent further purchases or ATM activity. Most other account actions—like previously scheduled and recurring transactions, internal and external transfers, and online bill payments—will continue. You can freeze or unfreeze the card online, via phone, or through your bank’s mobile app.
If you suspect someone stole your identity, you should also freeze your credit by notifying the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Doing this can prevent new credit or loan accounts from being opened with your stolen information. “A credit freeze is the most protective thing you can do if someone has misused your financial resources,” Lee says. You may also want to place a fraud alert on your credit file. This alert notifies creditors to take extra steps to verify your identity before extending credit.
Two-factor authentication
Most bank websites will require two-factor authentication if suspicious activity is detected, such as an unfamiliar device or IP address being used to sign in to your account. In that case, the bank will send you a one-time passcode—either by text or email—that you must use before any further activity is allowed. This feature is becoming increasingly automated and cannot be opted into or out of on secure websites.
“Banks want to validate whether you just got a new phone or whether there’s actually someone trying to log in with a stolen password and User ID,” says Miller.
Biometric security measures
At present, biometrics—like fingerprint and facial recognition—are device-centric measures that prevent unauthorized users from accessing your laptop, phone, or tablet. Biometrics can also be used to access your banking app, but the institution must offer that feature for use.
There are other steps you can take to protect your financial information. For example, you can link your credit or debit card to a digital wallet, such as Apple Pay®, Google Pay®, or Samsung Pay®.1 Digital wallets use tokens, so your card information is never shared with a merchant.
How to help prevent identity theft before it happens: online privacy protection
Despite all your best efforts, your personal identity information remains at risk. “We continue to see new ways that individuals’ identity credentials, foundational identity documents, and identity in general is misused,” Velasquez says. Lee goes even further: “The information’s already been stolen,” he says.
Whether or not you’re aware that your information has been compromised, you should closely monitor the activity on all your accounts regularly. You can also sign up for an online privacy protection service, many of which are offered for no charge. These services periodically scan people-search sites to determine whether any of your information is publicly available. If your information is found, the service also will assist you in submitting opt-out requests to remove your data from the site. For more robust and comprehensive coverage—including daily monitoring of your credit report and thousands of websites—Discover offers Identity Theft Protection for a monthly fee.
Recovering from identity theft
If you become a victim of identity theft, all is not lost. Federal law generally limits losses from use to $50 for credit and debit cards, provided the bank is notified within two business days. Separately, most card networks, including Discover, offer a policy of “$0 liability for unauthorized debit card purchases” as a safety measure for their customers. In addition, the FTC’s IdentityTheft.gov website provides step-by-step advice on how to limit the damage from identity theft and repair your credit.
Recovering from identity theft can be a long and challenging process, so you should take every precaution possible to avoid it from happening in the first place. Your bank and its technology and resources will be an important partner in this process.
From account alerts to paperless statements, Discover is committed to equipping you with tools to stay safe from identity theft and other fraudulent attempts. Learn more at our Online Banking Security Center.
Articles may contain information from third parties. The inclusion of such information does not imply an affiliation with the bank or bank sponsorship, endorsement, or verification regarding the third party or information.
1 Apple Pay® is a trademark of Apple Inc. Samsung Pay is a registered trademark of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Google, Google Pay, and Android are trademarks of Google LLC.
It’s hard to believe Amazon.com started back in July 1995 as an online retailer that sold books only. Almost 30 years later, it’s likely the first place you look when you get the idea to buy anything.
Retailers like Walmart, Best Buy and Target can be quite competitive with Amazon. Still, with the number of Amazon Prime members in the U.S. at 180 million, according to an estimate by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners in March, dependence on Amazon runs deep. If you shop there, lead with needs over wants to save money where it counts. Here’s a short list of the best things to buy (and a couple to skip) on Amazon.
Before you build a budget
NerdWallet breaks down your spending and shows you ways to save.
Buy: Personal care items you can put on autopilot
Product purchases new parents can knock out at Amazon include baby wipes and diapers. Items like these are competitively priced on Amazon, especially when using “Subscribe & Save,” said Kallie Branciforte, a blogger and YouTuber in Connecticut, in an email.
“I am always surprised by how many people don’t take advantage of ‘Subscribe & Save,’” she said. “It’s the easiest way to save on the stuff you use all the time.”
When you subscribe to a product, you can set a schedule that aligns with when you’ll run out. Branciforte, who reaches millions of viewers with her “That Practical Mom” YouTube channel, lets Amazon replenish vitamins, diaper cream, her kids’ body wash and more to make life easier, and often cheaper.
Try subscribing to unique essentials, like nasal strips that let you breathe freely at night, or electric toothbrush heads to make healthy living habitual. Buying items like these on Amazon is more about selection and convenience than price.
As an incentive, Amazon offers up to 15% off when you receive five or more eligible products in one automatic delivery to the same address. “It’s such a simple way to save on things you’re already buying, completely on autopilot,” said Branciforte.
Buy: Pet food and litter
Putting pet food on auto-order is another convenience play for Prime members. Nobody likes scanning 25 tiny cans of Fancy Feast at the grocery store self-checkout lane. You can save the hassle and try to beat the per-can price by ordering the 30-pack on Amazon.
You can save your back by getting big bags of dog food or a 38-pound box of cat litter delivered.
Skip: Clothes you want to fit well and feel comfortable
Clothing can be hard to get right on Amazon, says Trae Bodge, the shopping expert at truetrae.com.
Bodge bought a dress on Amazon last year and loves the look, but says it’s scratchy inside. She prefers a store like Target for affordable pieces she can feel first.
When it comes to jeans and sneakers, you might be able to do better by buying from the source. Joining the Levi’s rewards program, for example, gets you free shipping and returns on Levi.com. “What you’ll find is that the style selection is broader, the size selection is broader,” says Bodge.
Nike is another brand that incentivizes customers to shop on its site. Members get free shipping on orders $50 or more, and shoes and apparel at Nike.com regularly go on sale.
Buy: Batteries, cables and phone cases
Back to the essentials, the Amazon Basics brand of batteries is an exceptional deal. At $12.52 for an 8-pack of 9-volt batteries (at the time of writing), you can add it and a pack of AA and AAAs to your cart the next time you checkout. Compare that with the 8-pack of Duracell 9-volt batteries we spotted at the Home Depot for $29.05.
Make Amazon your first stop after you buy a new or used iPhone or Android too. Apple’s $49 silicone case is highway robbery when you compare it with cases on Amazon that look, feel and protect the same for under $15. Amazon is also the place for power adapters, cables and wireless charging pads at prices that are cheaper than at Apple.
Buy: Amazon bestsellers
A helpful hack Branciforte shares in one of her YouTube videos is to use Amazon’s “Best Sellers” lists to narrow down searches.
It’s a little out of the way, but you get there by navigating to the top left of the desktop site and clicking the three bars to open the menu. Select “Best Sellers,” and from there, you can dive down by department to find popular buys in specific product categories.
Let’s say, for example, you’re looking for a shower head with better water pressure than the one you have. Rather than roll the dice on something from Home Depot or Lowe’s, you can look up bestsellers in the bath section on Amazon. Scroll down to the first or second one, likely the AquaCare HighPressure 8-mode handheld shower head for around $25, then buy it. This paragraph isn’t sponsored, but this Nerdy writer can attest to the power of this particular model.
Skip: Large furniture pieces that can be painful to return
Bodge avoids buying larger items at Amazon that you have to assemble. The perceived burden of sending it back could compel you to keep something you don’t want. And even if you do like it, the cardboard and other packing material that comes with a coffee table can be a royal pain in the trash.
Now that it’s normal to frequent stores again, it can save you time and strife to pick something out and buy it in person. You can also save by buying used. Thrift stores, antique shops and Facebook Marketplace are great places to score cheap furniture pieces from yesteryear that are still in style (and probably better made).
Advice: Read reviews and check price history before buying
Whatever you buy from Amazon, it’s important to read the reviews and it’s better when there are plenty of them, said Branciforte. She tends to be leery of items with few ratings unless the category is very niche.
“I’d rather buy something with 4.3 stars and 1,000+ reviews than 4.8 stars and 15 reviews because I know the first has been on the site longer, making it more trustworthy and valid,” she said.
Given that other retailers are working hard to outprice Amazon, Bodge says it pays to check the price history and look around before buying. Shopping browser extensions like PayPal Honey and the Camelizer make light work of making sure you aren’t overpaying. And it’s easy to do a quick Google search for any product.
With Prime Day in July, better deals could be on the horizon. “I think it can be worthwhile to wait,” said Branciforte.
You can still shop, though. Just put it in your cart and select “save for later.”
Get more financial clarity with NerdWallet
Monitor your credit, track your spending and see all of your finances together in a single place.
Inside: Get a financial budget binder to help stay on track with spending and saving goals. Learn how to use it as a guide to help you reach your financial goals! Stay motivated.
I know that when my family and I set a goal for saving money in our budget binder, we’re more likely to do so because we have visual reminders throughout the year of how much has been saved and what still needs to be done.
When it comes to financial goals, we want them all.
For example, you are trying to save more money or pay off debt, but you cannot track the progress you are making or find ways to make it happen.
You need to create a cute budget binder so you know the overall picture of finances and how it lines up with other events in your life.
It can be time-consuming to create a financial plan because most people lack what needs to be included. Save yourself some time and energy by using a personalized budget binder.
This in-depth guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to set up your budget binder along with downloadable worksheets to help get you started.
Learn how to create your budget binder and what tasks you can break up into sections for each week of the year.
Also, find out why it is important to be specific with your goals and how goal-setting can help us reach our financial goals faster!
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
What is a Budget Binder?
Budget binders are designed to keep track of expenses and income.
A budget binder is a tool that helps you organize your finances and plan for the future.
They can be used for various purposes, such as budgeting, tracking your spending habits, maintaining a financial diary, or even identifying the best times to save money.
Why a Budget Binder Matters?
It’s important to start this as early as possible because it will help keep you on track with your money goals and make sure you’re saving enough money for them.
A budget binder is a place where you can keep your personal finance worksheets. Each budget sheet found in the budget binder is tailored specifically to each person, so if there are certain aspects of managing your finances that aren’t working well for you, then it would be best to bring those sheets up with someone who can help fix them.
You can use it to create your own budgets from scratch or use a paid template.
If you’re creating your own personal budget sheets, don’t worry too much about making them Pinterest perfect! If they work for you, that’s what matters.
The Benefits Of a Budget Binder
It is important to have a budget binder. This is especially true for those who are looking to pay off debt or manage their finances in the future.
The benefits of using this budget binder as a tool include:
Helping you organize your finances and stay on track with your financial goals.
Providing insight into how much money you spend, where it goes, and what can be done about that.
Showing you exactly what steps will help you fix your current situation.
Ultimately, budget binders can help people with their personal finances by helping them stay out of the red and save for a rainy day.
It also helps in managing expenses and debt, which is important for saving up to live off of while still having some convenience. Plus anyone has access to the binder if they need it and can pick it up without skipping a beat.
With financial freedom comes an easier life where you don’t have to worry about money management and enjoy time freedom from your busy schedule because it all becomes automated!
Plus… This budget binder is also a great tool to use with children because it teaches them about saving up for their goals. This will teach kids that they can’t have everything right now and need to save.
How To Make a Budget Binder
A “Budget Binder” is a binder that contains the various budget printables for different places on the internet. These include sheets to help you get started, and use whatever sheets apply to your needs.
If you are tired of losing track of your finances and overspending money more than you would like. You don’t want to stress about what you spend or how much money is left over for retirement.
Let’s keep things simple with a custom budget binder!
This space-saving product will help you organize all of your receipts and bills so that nothing falls through the cracks, while still being stylish at the same time!
To help you get started, check out the Money Bliss Budget Binder.
What supplies do I need to put together a Budget Binder?
This post may contain affiliate links, which helps us to continue providing relevant content and we receive a small commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the full disclosure here.
The budget binder can be as simple or fancy as you like and that’s the beauty of it – you’re creating something that you actually stick with!
At the end of the day, you need something to stay organized and keep you motivated.
Here are the supplies you need for your binder:
Binder: A 3-ring binder will do just fine. I use a 1″ inch binder and that suits my needs just perfectly. Here are some binders to choose from.
Dividers: Your budget binder will be divided into sections. So you need 5 or 8 tab dividers. Here are the ones with binder pockets (that I prefer) or ones without pockets.
Clear Sleeves: These are great to keep your vision board front and center as well as any other current financial goals you are working on.
Fun Colorful Pens: You need pens that will motivate you to actually use the binder. When I first started using my budget, it was hard because not many people know about this system. So what I did is I bought a pack of pens in my favorite color and I put them right on the inside cover. These are the pens I love!
Highlighter Set: This is a necessity. I have found color coding to be helpful and it makes the process of bill paying more fun. Especially, when you are coloring in your debt payoff chart or saving money chart. These are the marker set I use!
Sticky Notes: Let’s face it… we all love to use sticky notes.
Cash Envelopes: This is extremely helpful if you use the cash envelope system. You always know where your envelopes are located. Find cash envelopes that fit into your binder.
Printer: You have one of two options. You can print all of your budget binder printables from home or you can take them to get printed. The choice is totally yours. Personally, I have found laser printers to have the best value for printing at home.
Hole Punch: I would recommend a heavy-duty hole punch. This is something that will get heavy use and is easy to slide into a desk drawer.
Paper: Lastly, let’s talk about the paper. For the budget printables you use the most, you may want to upgrade from the basic 20# copy paper. You will see the difference by using at least 24#.
Budget Binder Categories
In your budget binder, you will need various sections to help you reach your money goals and improve your money management skills.
Specifically, this is what should be in a budget binder:
How many accounts do you have
How many credit cards are open
Any outstanding debt unpaid
How you want to live your life with money
When your bills are due
How to handle that stack of paperwork and mail
A budget
Your net worth
Your credit score
Investment summary
Your first money goal
Your vision board
You can also use these printable binders for keeping track of bills, debts, savings, expenses, and more!
Whatever your goal is for the financial aspect of your life, you can create a binder that will help motivate and inspire you to work towards it.
Budget Binder Printables
A budget is the most important tool to get your finances under control.
The Budget Binder Printables are a great way for you to create and stick with your own personal budget that has goals, targets, and an overall financial plan. It allows you to stay on track of what’s going into each account so that it can be tracked regularly throughout the year (and even before then).
A budget binder is a living and constantly used document that contains all of your financial and personal information, such as income and expenses.
These are the types of budget binder printables you need:
Establishing a budget.
Listing monthly goals as well as long term vision.
Organizing personal information into categories.
Tracking income and expenses.
Bill Payment tracker
Saving tracker
Debt payment tracker
The Budget Binder Printables is a great way to stay motivated with your financial goals.
It will give you the motivation and tools that you need in order to achieve what it takes.
It’s important to keep track of your income and expenses so you can stay on track with your goals.
Budget Binder Ideas
Many people have their own budget binders in order to help them practice spending only the amount that they earn and to motivate them to earn more income.
By creating your own budget binder, you are able to utilize whatever inspiration you want which is why one can use their binder as whatever motivates them. If you are looking to save money, then the budget binder can be full of pictures and graphics about saving up or getting out of debt.
Typically, I recommend making your own budget binder because it gives you the flexibility to add to it.
Many people rave about their budget binder with envelopes as well.
However, looking at other budget binders will give you the best budget binder ideas. Here are some great examples:
Budget Binder from Walmart
Here are the Budget Binders you can find at Walmart. As always, we look for those with higher reviews!
Walmart is known when you need somewhere cheap to buy all their necessities, that is the place to go!
Pen+Gear 5.5″ x 7.5″ Budget Planner, 80 Pages
Track your spending and set your financial goals with our Pen+Gear Budget Planner.
This colorful 80-page planner is designed to help you keep your budget on track while staying organized when it comes to your spending. With guided prompts for tracking spending and financial goals, this handy-dandy planner is a must-have item for any parent, student, traveler, busy body, or young professional.
Use the labeled sections to keep track of things like housing costs, entertainment spending, your emergency savings account, and even charitable donations. Plus, its compact size makes it easy to plan your budget from anywhere you are, wherever you go.
Buy Now on Walmart
12-Month Budget Planner Bill Tracker Organizer with Calendar and Pockets
Whether you’re managing your household finances, just venturing out on your own or running a small business, the Budget Binder is your comprehensive guidebook to help you stay on track to your dreams (and thrive within your means!).
Knowing your financial status each day/week/month is powerful intel that you can use to make good decisions about your money. Good decisions add up to a financial future you dream of! The first step of this journey is yours.
Buy Now on Walmart
Budget Binder on Etsy
Handmade items are becoming more popular, and Etsy is a great place to find them. If you are interested in purchasing an item that has been personalized, the seller might still be able to do so for you.
An Etsy budget binder is a unique way of keeping your financial goals in one easy-to-access location. It can be made from any material you choose – paper, cloth, or even wood! You can use it as a planner or just have it sit on your desk as a decoration.
This PAYCHECK BUDGET planner is perfect for those who want to track their planned paycheck income, savings, and expenses against the actual amounts. Use this either to track your income and expenses during each paycheck period, or for the month.
Flexible to use for either traditional budgeting or for zero-based budgeting. With zero-based budgeting, all of your income is accounted for specific expenses and savings.
This Budget Planner’ is based on the zero-based budget method, which is a great way to keep your finances in order and gives every dollar you earn a job to do.
By using this budget planner, you can understand exactly where your money is going and help you get on track with your finances.
You will be able to notice patterns in your spending behavior, whether good or bad, and gain control over your spending habits to reach your financial goals.
Buy Now on Etsy
Digital Budget Planner
If you’re ready to take control of your money, this is the tool for you. This digital budget planner was created to help you think critically about your spending habits and make better decisions with your money.
A hyperlinked PDF that can be used with your Apple iPad or Android device, stylus and favorite annotation app.
It includes a monthly and paycheck budget, along with a debt, expense & bill tracker, just to name a few. It’s the perfect tool for anyone looking to get their finances in order.
Buy Now on Etsy
Printable Finance Planner Print at Home Budget Plan Budget
This print at home page is one of our many, printable planner pages. It is perfect to assist you in planning your life, and keeping on top of your day-to-day life.
You will receive (instant download) .pdf files, which are ready to be printed at home or sent to a printing company for more professional printing.
Buy Now on Etsy
Budget Binder at Amazon
The best part of shopping for Budget Binders at Amazon is two-day shipping. Also, the prices tend to be more competitive than you would find elsewhere.
Even if you cannot decide which one you like put it in your cart for later or create a wish list of the budget binders you are considering.
Clever Fox Budget Planner & Monthly Bill Organizer with Pockets
Are you looking for the best monthly budget planner to keep your finances organized?
Clever Fox Budget Book will help you keep your money organized, spend well, start saving, set and achieve financial goals.
It can help you to manage all your personal finances, savings, budgets, debt, payments, bills due, cash flow and expense tracking in 1 place.
Buy Now on Amazon
02/19/2024 11:52 am GMT
Smart Planner Budget Book
63,28 €
Take control of your personal finances with our 12-month budget planner.
Containing a wide variety of trackers, calendars and budget planning sheets. This financial planner is ideal for tracking your income, expenses, budget, savings and money goals.
Buy Now on Amazon
02/19/2024 11:57 am GMT
Gogirl Budget Planner and Monthly Bill Organizer
Are you looking for the best compact monthly budget planner to keep your finances organized?
GoGirl Finance Planner will help you keep your money organized, spend well, start saving, and set and achieve your financial goals. It can help you to manage all your personal finances, savings, budgets, debt, payments, bills due, cash flow and expense tracking in one place.
Buy Now on Amazon
02/19/2024 11:53 am GMT
Lamare Budget Planner
A budget planner should help you gain control over your finances – but too many people LACK THE TOOLS to truly make a change.
The Lamare Budget Planner and money saver features highly effective money planner tools, including a Daily Spending & Budget Tracker, bill tracker, Money Saving Organizer, Debt Tracker, goal setter, and Monthly & Yearly budget overviews.
A 12 month plan to get you on your way to financial freedom.
Buy Now on Amazon
02/19/2024 11:57 am GMT
Budget Binder at Target
Most women like to shop at Target. they want clothes that are affordable without sacrificing style. Consumers flock to the chain for its wide selection of trendy items, reasonable prices, and convenient location.
Plus with curbside service, you can order online and pick-up same day!
Budget Binder Cover Ideas
Every personal goal, small and large, starts with a dream.
Without knowing it intuitively, we can think of something we want or want to do and you can make it a reality.
With your cute budget binder, create a cover page that you will love and inspire you.
This is something you will identify once you make your smart financial goals.
Are you ready to Make Your Budget Binder DIY
A budget binder is a DIY money tool for beginners and everyone along their money journey.
It contains a worksheet with the different parts of your budget and an open-ended spreadsheet to track how much you spend on each area.
If you want to live life with intention, creating a budget binder will help your progress faster.
Since the budget binder is a physical binder in which you keep all of your monthly bills, receipts, and other expenses. It is best to create a Budget Binder DIY.
It is easier for you to live life on your terms when you live below your means. The budget binder, whether in paper or digital format, can help you organize your tasks for productivity and success.
Once you finish yours, please share pictures with us!
This is one tool that will help you find long term financial success.
Whether you track your spending or use an app like Simplifi, having this tool at hand can help with staying on track financially even though there are always going to be unexpected expenses such as a broken appliance.
Now, learn how to budget on a low income.
Know someone else that needs this, too? Then, please share!!
Did the post resonate with you?
More importantly, did I answer the questions you have about this topic? Let me know in the comments if I can help in some other way!
Your comments are not just welcomed; they’re an integral part of our community. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how these ideas align with your journey towards Money Bliss.
Do you want to learn how to get free money on Cash App? Yes, you may be able to make or get free money on Cash App, and this can be an easy way to make extra money. Cash App is a free app you can use on your phone to send, receive, and use…
Do you want to learn how to get free money on Cash App?
Yes, you may be able to make or get free money on Cash App, and this can be an easy way to make extra money.
Cash App is a free app you can use on your phone to send, receive, and use money. It was started by Square, Inc. and works in the United States and the United Kingdom, and you can use it on both Android and iPhone devices. To use Cash App, you just link your debit card or bank account, and then, you can send money to friends or family by entering their Cash App username ($cashtag), phone number, or email. Think of it as an app similar to Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal.
Getting money in your Cash App account is great because it is just like cash – you can use it to buy and pay for things, and even just transfer money into your regular bank account.
And, yes, this is doable. I have made extra income over the years and have had plenty of opportunities to put it into my Cash App account. I also just recently paid someone via Cash App, so this is an app that I have personally used to both pay someone (for their side hustle!) and to make extra money with.
Best Ways To Get Free Money on Cash App
Below, you will see the different ways to get free cash on Cash App.
Here are my quick picks to get started with:
Cash App referral program
Sell stuff online and get paid through Cash App
Survey Junkie
PrizeRebel
Utilize ATM fee waivers
Cash Card Boosts
Find Cash App giveaways
1. Cash App referral program
If you want to know how to get free money on Cash App, try joining the Cash App Referral Program. This is one of the most popular ways to get free money on Cash App.
When you invite friends to join Cash App using your referral code, you can make money and they can get a sign-up bonus.
The referral amount can vary, but usually it is around $5. You will want to verify what the amount is (as well as the stipulations) as they can vary depending on the time of year. They don’t always have a referral bonus, but they do a lot of the time!
Here’s how it works:
Invite your friends – Use Cash App’s invite link to send to your friends to download the app.
Enter your referral code – Make sure your friends enter your referral code when they sign up for Cash App.
Link a new debit card or bank account – Your friends need to link a new debit card or bank account to their Cash App account.
Send $5 – Your friends need to send at least $5 within 14 days of entering your referral code to an account that is not linked to them.
Cash App makes it simple to share its benefits with others, and the referral program lets you earn free money easily. If it’s already an app that you like to use, then this can be a way to share the app you use with the people you know and make some extra money.
Cash App has this referral program to get new people to join and use their app. Plus, by requiring a person to send money in order to qualify for the sign-up bonus, new users are getting used to how the app actually works – which will possibly help turn them into long-term app users.
2. Sell stuff online and get paid through Cash App
Selling items online and in person is a smart way to declutter and earn extra money. Plus, Cash App is a convenient way to get paid for the items you sell.
I have sold a lot of things over the years, and getting paid in cash is, of course, very nice. Cash App makes this possible!
Here’s how to sell your stuff using Cash App:
Find things to sell – Look around your home for items you no longer need, like books, clothes, games, or electronics (like an old cell phone that you no longer use).
Think about where you will sell your items – Popular selling apps and sites like Craigslist, Facebook, or OfferUp make it easy to list your items.
List your items – Take clear photos and write a simple, honest description for each item. Set a fair price by checking similar items’ costs.
Mention Cash App – When talking with buyers, let them know you accept payments through Cash App. You can mention that it’s fast and convenient for both parties.
Stay safe – Be cautious when sharing your Cash App tag and only share it with trustworthy buyers. Of course, like when selling anything online, there can be a lot of scammers trying to waste your time.
3. Survey Junkie
Survey Junkie is a well-known website where you can make money by sharing your opinions through surveys.
If you complete three surveys each day on Survey Junkie, you can earn approximately $40 per month, which can be transferred to your Cash App account.
Please click here to sign up for Survey Junkie.
4. PrizeRebel
PrizeRebel is a website where you can earn reward points by answering surveys and watching short videos. Once you make enough points, you can exchange them for cash.
I personally just redeemed around $150 in points about two weeks ago, so I know this is a real way to get free cash!
PrizeRebel does not have an option for Cash App, but they do have an option to redeem your points for Venmo (among other options as well, such as ACH bank transfer, PayPal cash, and free gift cards), which is pretty close. You can transfer your money easily to Cash App from any of those options.
You can get a free $5 on Venmo for 500 points. This is similar to free Cash App money.
You can join PrizeRebel here.
5. Use their ATM fee waivers
Cash App has free ATM withdrawals as a great perk, so you can access your money without extra fees and keep more of your hard-earned cash.
If you receive paychecks of $300 or more directly into your Cash App each month, you qualify for waived ATM transaction fees. This means you won’t have to pay the usual $2.50 fee when using an in-network ATM, just for setting up your direct deposits.
If you use the ATM a lot, this can be an easy way to save money, and this is like free Cash App money.
6. Cash Card Boosts
Having a Cash App Card comes with a great benefit called Cash Card Boosts. Boosts work like instant coupons and instant discounts that give you discounts when you shop, helping you save money effortlessly.
Boosts can be for places like coffee shops and restaurants.
Here’s how to find and use Boosts on your Cash App card:
Open Cash App – Tap the Card icon on your home screen.
Add offers – Select an offer you like and add it to your card by tapping “Add Offer.”
Shop and save – Use your card at the selected places, and you’ll see the discounts applied automatically!
To use Boosts, make sure you have the Cash Card, a free debit card provided by Cash App. This card allows you to spend the money in your Cash App at stores that accept Visa.
7. Find Cash App giveaways
If you want to get free money on Cash App, entering sweepstakes and giveaways can be a fun way to try to win cash prizes.
To earn free cash on Cash App through giveaways:
Follow brands on social media – Many companies host giveaways on platforms like Instagram. Follow your favorite brands and keep an eye out for their posts or stories announcing cash giveaways.
Search hashtags – Use hashtags like #freecashapp, #cashappfriday, #giveaway, #giveawayalert, #contest, and #freebie on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to find free Cash App giveaways.
Use sweepstakes websites – Subscribe to online sweepstakes websites that list current giveaways.
Entering these giveaways can be a way to try to get free money on Cash App, even though winning isn’t guaranteed.
I have entered a lot of giveaways over the years, and I have won cash a few times. So, yes, this is real!
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to common questions about how to get free money on Cash App.
What are the ways to earn money quickly on Cash App?
You can earn money on Cash App by referring friends, getting sign-up bonuses, answering surveys, watching short videos, selling stuff you no longer need, or using Cash Card Boosts.
Can I really get cash instantly by playing games on Cash App?
No, Cash App does not pay money for playing games. So, you should be careful of claims that promise instant cash for playing games, as they could be scams. There may be game apps that pay via Cash App, though. You can read about this at 23 Best Game Apps To Win Real Money.
Are there any legal ways to receive free money into my Cash App account?
Yes, legal ways to get free money on Cash App include using the referral program, selling items that you no longer need, answering surveys online, or taking advantage of cash back for your purchases through the Cash Card’s Boosts.
How to unlock Borrow on Cash App? Why won’t Cash App let me borrow?
To access the Borrow feature on Cash App, make sure you regularly receive deposits into your account and maintain a good account history. If you’re unable to borrow, it might be because you haven’t been receiving consistent income through the app or you don’t meet other eligibility requirements. Keeping your account active and in good standing can help increase your chances of qualifying for borrowing options later on.
How to make money on Cash App in minutes?
If you want to make money on Cash App in just minutes, then you may want to try inviting friends through your referral link to the platform. You may also want to find items from around your home that you no longer need and try selling them online for cash.
What are some common Cash App scams to look out for?
You should watch out for common scams like fake customer service numbers, phishing emails, and requests to pay a fee to receive money on Cash App. I also recommend always verifying information and never sending money to anyone promising to give you more in return. It’s important to stay cautious and protect yourself from potential scams online. If something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is!
Is the Cash App free money code without verification real?
The Cash App free money code is a scam and not real. The Cash App money generator is also a scam. Do not give your personal information or credit card number to anything that you think may be a scam. If something sounds too good to be true, then it probably is!
How To Get Free Money on Cash App
I hope you enjoyed this article on how to get free money on Cash App.
Cash App is a smartphone app that makes sending and receiving money easy. It’s also useful for people like you and me, as well as small businesses, to accept payments. People like Cash App because it has a simple design, transactions are fast, and it has different financial tools. This makes it popular for sending money between people.
Cash App is available for iOS users on the App Store and for Android users on the Google Play Store. You can easily download and install Cash App on your device from these app stores.
There are many ways to make money that can then be transferred into your Cash App account. I have earned extra money over the years that could be transferred through Cash App quite easily, and it’s something that you can do as well.
Do you like to earn free money on Cash App? Do you use Cash App?
Affordabilty is one of the biggest considerations home buyers face today. Understanding what they can afford is critical to help buyers focus their search, shop within their means and make informed decisions during this emotional and consequential process.
That’s why Zillow Home Loans created BuyAbility. First and only offered on Zillow, BuyAbility gives buyers a personalized, real-time estimate of the home price and monthly payment that fits within their budget, all powered by real-time mortgage rates from Zillow Home Loans.
BuyAbility is the most accurate way for a buyer to understand what they can afford. The interplay between mortgage rates and credit score play a crucial role in determining affordability, but most online calculators don’t factor these in. Buyers just need to add a few simple inputs unique to their financial situation, such as income, credit score and the monthly amount they’re comfortable spending, into BuyAbility. Within seconds, a personalized, real-time estimate of the home price and monthly payment that fits within their budget pops up, along with insight into their likelihood of getting approved for a mortgage at this price point.
Buyers can get started on the Home Loans tab on Zillow’s app (available on IOS only, with Android launching later this year). A shopper’s BuyAbility calculation will update regularly with changes to mortgage rates and their credit score.
“What many people don’t realize is that your mortgage rate is highly dependent on your credit score,” says Orphe Divounguy, senior economist at Zillow Home Loans. “The better your credit score, the lower the rate you’ll qualify for, potentially saving you hundreds of dollars a month. BuyAbility is personalized to a buyer’s credit score, income and down payment, and updated regularly to reflect current mortgage rates, giving home shoppers a true understanding of their buying power. BuyAbility is a great starting point for buyers who may be hesitant to look under the hood of their finances, or share personal details with a loan officer.”
If mortgage rates change, it impacts the home price a buyer can afford and their likelihood of getting approved for a mortgage, and BuyAbility will adjust for this in real-time. For example, a median-income household would be able to afford a $380,000 home with rates at 7%; if rates went down to 6%, that same household could afford a $420,000 home. Checking their BuyAbility regularly gives shoppers a clear and current understanding of their financial picture at any given moment.
BuyAbility will change the way people shop for homes. Later this year, Zillow Home Loans will make it possible for buyers to shop for homes on Zillow using their BuyAbility — rather than a price range — allowing them to quickly identify homes that truly fit their budget. And since most people think about their finances in terms of monthly budgets, buyers will soon be able to see how much each home they look at on Zillow would cost them on a monthly basis, based on their BuyAbility.
Online and mobile banking are now woven into many people’s daily lives. With just a few clicks or taps, you can check your balances, pay bills, and make other financial transactions from virtually anywhere, at any time.
Banks are not only convenient, they also implement numerous security measures to help safeguard your accounts. With hackers finding increasingly sophisticated ways to try to access your information, however, it’s also important to be aware of steps you can take on your own to keep your financial and personal details out of the hands of cyber thieves and hackers. Here’s what you need to know.
Tips on Securing Your Bank Account from Hackers
These days cyber thieves are getting increasingly savvy, even setting up fake bank websites and banking apps designed to steal your personal information — and, in turn, the contents of your checking or savings account.
There are a few simple things you can do, however, to help secure your accounts. What follows are six easy strategies that can help you stay ahead of scammers and hackers and protect your hard-earned cash. 💡 Quick Tip: Are you paying pointless bank fees? Open a checking account with no account fees and avoid monthly charges (and likely earn a higher rate, too).
Choose Trustworthy Financial Apps
Whether it’s your bank’s mobile app or any other type of financial app (like a budgeting app), be sure to only download verified apps from a trusted platform, like the App Store for iPhone or iOS users or the Google Play Store for Android users. Fraudulent activity can often occur through fake apps or those downloaded from unofficial sources.
Before downloading a third-party money management app, it’s also a good idea to look up online reviews of the providers from reliable sources, research the app’s security policies, and look for any past data breaches.
Recommended: 50/30/20 Budget Rule: What It Is and Tips On Using It
Choose Strong and Unique Passwords
It’s wise to choose a unique password for every bank account, and avoid repeating any ones you use for other online accounts, even non-financial ones. That way, if a fraudster is able to uncover your Facebook password, they won’t be able to access your savings account.
To create a secure password, try to combine uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. You generally want to avoid using easily guessable information such as birthdates, kids’ names, or sequential numbers. To keep the login information for all of your accounts organized, you might want to use a physical or online password manager.
Use Multi-Factor ID
Whenever possible, it’s a good idea to enable two- or multi-factor authentication. This adds another layer of security by requiring one or more forms of verification in addition to a password, such as a pin sent to your mobile device via email or SMS. If hackers are able to access your bank account login credentials, it would be difficult for them to log in without your second verification.
You may also want to take advantage of biometric authentication methods, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, if offered by your bank. Biometrics protect your account by using unique physical characteristics to verify your identity, making it harder for hackers to gain unauthorized access.
Recommended: Avoiding Mobile Deposit Scams, Fakes, and Hacks
Set Up Account Alerts
You can typically set up banking alerts via email, text, or your bank’s app to monitor unusual activity, such as large withdrawals, a profile/password update, new linked external account, or an unusual login attempt. This allows you to identify suspicious activity quickly and report any unusual or unauthorized transactions to your bank right away. You can then work with the bank to swiftly resolve the issue. 💡 Quick Tip: Help your money earn more money! Opening a bank account online often gets you higher-than-average rates.
Watch Out for Phishing Attempts
Phishing scams are ever more prevalent and sophisticated. These scams trick you into providing your personal and banking information that can then be used for fraudulent activity.
For example, you could receive an email, supposedly from your bank, saying there’s been a problem with your account and sharing a link where you are asked to login and update your information. The website you are led to could look just like your bank’s website. If you input your details, hackers will have access to your login information. A few ways to avoid online bank scams:
• If you get a communication that says it’s from your bank and asks you to click a link, don’t. Log into your banking website or app, and check messages there to see what’s going on. Or call your bank to ask if the message is legitimate.
• Hover over the email sender’s address. You may be surprised to see the message is coming from a different identity than the one it’s pretending to be. If that’s the case, don’t click on anything; mark the email as spam.
• Never download attachments from unknown sources, as they may contain malware designed to steal your login credentials.
Recommended: Are Online Savings Accounts Safe?
Be Wary When Using Public Wifi
The public wifi at your favorite coffee shop or local library can help you stay connected when you’re out and about, but you can’t count on it to be entirely secure. While it’s generally fine to use public wifi for browsing the web, it’s best to avoid using it for any activities that require login information, such as signing in to your bank account. The open connection could potentially give cyber thieves a chance to grab your username and password as they move between you and your bank’s website.
To make public wifi more secure, consider putting a virtual private network (VPN) app on your device. A VPN encrypts your data as it passes to and from your device and acts as a protective pathway so that your data is not visible as it passes through a network.
Recommended: What Do You Need to Open a Bank Account?
The Takeaway
Online banking is generally safe and convenient, but it’s also important to take precautions to minimize the risk of getting hacked or scammed. Luckily, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of your bank account being compromised. These include using strong passwords and multi-factor authentication, only downloading apps from reputable platforms, never clicking on links in communications that are (supposedly) from your bank, and never logging into your bank account using public wifi.
Interested in opening an online bank account? When you sign up for a SoFi Checking and Savings account with direct deposit, you’ll get a competitive annual percentage yield (APY), pay zero account fees, and enjoy an array of rewards, such as access to the Allpoint Network of 55,000+ fee-free ATMs globally. Qualifying accounts can even access their paycheck up to two days early.
Better banking is here with SoFi, NerdWallet’s 2024 winner for Best Checking Account Overall. Enjoy up to 4.60% APY on SoFi Checking and Savings.
FAQ
Can hackers steal money from a bank account?
Hackers may be able to steal money from a bank account if they gain access to your account credentials. They might be able to do this by using deceptive emails and websites to trick you into revealing your bank details or exploiting vulnerabilities in a bank’s security systems to access sensitive data.
Fortunately, banks implement numerous security measures to safeguard your accounts. You can also help keep your accounts safe by using strong passwords, enabling multi-factor identification, and being wise to phishing scams.
Who pays if your bank account is hacked?
If your bank account is hacked and unauthorized transactions occur, the bank will likely reimburse the stolen funds, provided you report the incident quickly.
As soon as you see something suspicious, you’ll want to call the number on the back of your bank card and go through the fraud department’s recovery process.
Am I protected if my bank account is hacked?
Yes, you are usually protected if your bank account is hacked, as long as you let the bank know about the fraudulent transaction in a timely manner.
Generally, if you report an unauthorized bank transaction within 48 hours, your liability will be limited to no more than $50. However, if you wait months to report an incident, you might have difficulty recovering any of your lost funds.
Can someone hack your bank account with a routing number and an account number?
Having access to your routing number and account number can potentially lead to some negative outcomes, such as fraudulent payments, the creation of checks for your account, and possibly online shopping with retailers that only require bank account information.
However, a routing number and account number is typically not sufficient on its own for hackers to gain direct access to your bank account. Most banks employ multiple layers of security measures, including authentication protocols and monitoring systems, to prevent unauthorized access to customer accounts.
Photo credit: iStock/insjoy
SoFi members with direct deposit activity can earn 4.60% annual percentage yield (APY) on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Direct Deposit means a deposit to an account holder’s SoFi Checking or Savings account, including payroll, pension, or government payments (e.g., Social Security), made by the account holder’s employer, payroll or benefits provider or government agency (“Direct Deposit”) via the Automated Clearing House (“ACH”) Network during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Deposits that are not from an employer or government agency, including but not limited to check deposits, peer-to-peer transfers (e.g., transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc.), merchant transactions (e.g., transactions from PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.), and bank ACH funds transfers and wire transfers from external accounts, do not constitute Direct Deposit activity. There is no minimum Direct Deposit amount required to qualify for the stated interest rate.
SoFi members with Qualifying Deposits can earn 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances. Qualifying Deposits means one or more deposits that, in the aggregate, are equal to or greater than $5,000 to an account holder’s SoFi Checking and Savings account (“Qualifying Deposits”) during a 30-day Evaluation Period (as defined below). Qualifying Deposits only include those deposits from the following eligible sources: (i) ACH transfers, (ii) inbound wire transfers, (iii) peer-to-peer transfers (i.e., external transfers from PayPal, Venmo, etc. and internal peer-to-peer transfers from a SoFi account belonging to another account holder), (iv) check deposits, (v) instant funding to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, (vi) push payments to your SoFi Bank Debit Card, and (vii) cash deposits. Qualifying Deposits do not include: (i) transfers between an account holder’s Checking account, Savings account, and/or Vaults; (ii) interest payments; (iii) bonuses issued by SoFi Bank or its affiliates; or (iv) credits, reversals, and refunds from SoFi Bank, N.A. (“SoFi Bank”) or from a merchant.
SoFi Bank shall, in its sole discretion, assess each account holder’s Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits throughout each 30-Day Evaluation Period to determine the applicability of rates and may request additional documentation for verification of eligibility. The 30-Day Evaluation Period refers to the “Start Date” and “End Date” set forth on the APY Details page of your account, which comprises a period of 30 calendar days (the “30-Day Evaluation Period”). You can access the APY Details page at any time by logging into your SoFi account on the SoFi mobile app or SoFi website and selecting either (i) Banking > Savings > Current APY or (ii) Banking > Checking > Current APY. Upon receiving a Direct Deposit or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits to your account, you will begin earning 4.60% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% on checking balances on or before the following calendar day. You will continue to earn these APYs for (i) the remainder of the current 30-Day Evaluation Period and through the end of the subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period and (ii) any following 30-day Evaluation Periods during which SoFi Bank determines you to have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits without interruption.
SoFi Bank reserves the right to grant a grace period to account holders following a change in Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits activity before adjusting rates. If SoFi Bank grants you a grace period, the dates for such grace period will be reflected on the APY Details page of your account. If SoFi Bank determines that you did not have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits during the current 30-day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, then you will begin earning the rates earned by account holders without either Direct Deposit or Qualifying Deposits until you have Direct Deposit activity or $5,000 in Qualifying Deposits in a subsequent 30-Day Evaluation Period. For the avoidance of doubt, an account holder with both Direct Deposit activity and Qualifying Deposits will earn the rates earned by account holders with Direct Deposit.
Members without either Direct Deposit activity or Qualifying Deposits, as determined by SoFi Bank, during a 30-Day Evaluation Period and, if applicable, the grace period, will earn 1.20% APY on savings balances (including Vaults) and 0.50% APY on checking balances.
Interest rates are variable and subject to change at any time. These rates are current as of 10/24/2023. There is no minimum balance requirement. Additional information can be found at https://www.sofi.com/legal/banking-rate-sheet.
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