Personal finance management has become one of the more competitive software categories, which is good news for consumers. Several genuinely useful tools are available at no cost, covering budgeting, expense tracking, credit monitoring, and net worth calculation.

Budgeting: YNAB vs. Mint vs. Going It Alone

YNAB (You Need a Budget) is widely considered the most effective budgeting software available, but it costs $14.99 per month after a free trial. For many people committed to improving their finances, this cost quickly pays for itself in money saved. Mint (now largely replaced by Credit Karma) was a free alternative, though its future is uncertain following Intuit’s changes to the platform. A solid spreadsheet built in Google Sheets or Excel is a completely free and highly customizable alternative that works well for people who prefer a manual approach.

Credit Monitoring: Credit Karma and Experian

Credit Karma provides free access to your TransUnion and Equifax scores with weekly updates and alerts for changes. Experian’s free tier provides your Experian score and FICO score (the version most commonly used by lenders) monthly. Using both gives you coverage across all three major bureaus without paying for a monitoring service.

Net Worth Tracking: Empower (formerly Personal Capital)

Empower’s free tools connect to your financial accounts — bank accounts, investment accounts, credit cards, loans — and calculate your net worth automatically. The dashboard updates daily and provides a clear picture of where you stand financially across all accounts in one place. The free version is comprehensive; the paid advisory service is optional.

Investment Tracking: Brokerage Apps

Most major brokerages now offer $0 commission trades and high-quality free apps. Fidelity, Schwab, and Vanguard all provide solid investment tracking tools as part of their free account management. For investors who use multiple brokerages, Empower or a simple spreadsheet provides consolidated tracking without paying for a third-party service.