The Best Budgeting Apps for Single Parents

Managing money on one income is hard, especially when you are juggling school schedules, groceries, and surprise expenses. The right budgeting app can take a lot of pressure off by organizing bills, tracking spending, and helping you plan ahead. This guide compares the most useful budgeting apps for single parents with clear pros, cons, pricing, and real-life scenarios, so you can pick the tool that fits your time, budget, and brain space.

Important heads up about Mint

Mint officially shut down in March 2024 and users were directed toward Credit Karma, which does not replicate Mint’s full budgeting feature set. If you are still searching for a replacement, focus on the apps below. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

How to choose the right budgeting app

• Time: Do you want a detailed plan you touch daily, or a quick snapshot once a week?
• Method: Zero-based budgeting, envelope categories, simple track-and-trend, or spreadsheets.
• Automation: Do you need automatic bank feeds and bill tracking, or do you prefer manual control?
• Price: Free is great, but a paid tool can still save money if it prevents overdrafts and impulse buys.

New to budgeting or rebuilding your safety net? Pair your app with a small, steady savings plan. See our guide to building an emergency fund on a single parent income for a step-by-step plan.

Quick comparison table

Deep dives and real-world scenarios

YNAB: For parents who want a plan they can trust

YNAB uses a true zero-based method where every dollar is assigned a job. It is ideal if you want full control, goal tracking, and month-to-month rollovers that match real life. Pricing is $14.99 per month or $109 per year, with a 34-day free trial. :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}

Try it if: You want to prevent overdrafts, build sinking funds for school fees, and adjust quickly when incomes or expenses change. NerdWallet praises its method but notes the higher cost and learning curve. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

PocketGuard: For fast answers and fewer surprises

PocketGuard calculates what is safe to spend after bills and savings goals. PocketGuard Plus typically costs $12.99 per month or $74.99 per year and includes subscription tracking, debt payoff plans, and rollover budgets. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

Try it if: You want a quick “leftover” number and alerts that help you avoid mid-month shortfalls.

Goodbudget: For envelope lovers and shared planning

Goodbudget is a digital envelope system that works well for families who prefer manual control. It has a free tier and paid upgrades, supports shared envelopes on multiple devices, and teaches classic envelope discipline. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}

Try it if: You want to split categories with a co-parent without linking bank accounts.

EveryDollar: For simple zero-based budgets

EveryDollar offers a clean layout with a free manual plan, and a paid Premium tier adds bank syncing and automations. Reviewers highlight ease of use, with advanced features behind the paywall. :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}

Try it if: You want a straightforward monthly plan and do not mind manual entry on the free version.

Tiller: For spreadsheet people who want automation

Tiller pipes your transactions into Google Sheets or Excel, then gives you templates for budgets, net worth, and cash flow. Kiplinger lists Tiller at about $79 per year after a 30 day trial. :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}

Try it if: You already track money in spreadsheets and want automatic feeds and customizable reports.

Empower: For a free, big-picture dashboard

Empower (formerly Personal Capital) is free, combines spending with net worth and investment tracking, and is helpful if retirement and debt payoff are on your radar. :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}

Try it if: You want a no-cost overview and do not need category-by-category zero-based planning.

Simplifi by Quicken: For beginners who want visuals

Simplifi emphasizes projected cash flow and simple goals. Kiplinger flags it as beginner friendly and notes low annual pricing promotions. :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}

Try it if: You want graphs that make sense fast and an easy on-ramp to tracking.

Monarch: For a modern, flexible replacement

Monarch offers collaborative budgets, rules, and strong account connections. Kiplinger lists pricing around $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year. :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}

Try it if: You want a clean, modern app that feels like a premium Mint successor.

Honeydue: For co-parents and couples

Honeydue is free and lets partners see shared budgets and bills while keeping certain accounts private. :contentReference[oaicite:19]{index=19}

Try it if: You need transparency without merging finances.

Safety, data, and how to pick a reputable app

Before connecting accounts, review the company’s security page and reputation. Look for two factor authentication, read-only connections, and clear data policies. Independent roundups from Kiplinger and NerdWallet provide current pricing and pros and cons across multiple apps. :contentReference[oaicite:20]{index=20}

For general budgeting education and worksheets, the CFPB and FDIC offer free resources you can use with any app. :contentReference[oaicite:21]{index=21}

Realistic single parent scenarios

“I need to stop mid month shortfalls”

Use PocketGuard or Simplifi to see what is truly safe to spend after bills. Set alerts and create a simple grocery cap that lines up with your meal plan. Pair with our $100 a week grocery guide and 10 Budget Family Meals Under $5 for immediate relief.

“I want to plan for school fees, holidays, and car repairs”

Use YNAB or Goodbudget to create sinking funds. Automate small weekly transfers. Revisit our emergency fund guide to set milestones you can actually reach.

“I do not have time and just need one clear number”

Use PocketGuard or Empower for a quick snapshot. If you have an hour this weekend, build a basic meal plan and shopping list to lock in savings. See our discount store comparison for where to buy each item cheapest.

Trusted resources for deeper learning

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau for free budgeting worksheets and guides.
• FDIC Money Smart for plain language money education tools.
• NerdWallet best budget apps for current pricing and app comparisons. :contentReference[oaicite:22]{index=22}
• Kiplinger best budgeting apps for a 2025 roundup of popular tools. :contentReference[oaicite:23]{index=23}
• Investopedia on Credit Karma vs Mint to understand Mint’s shutdown and alternatives. :contentReference[oaicite:24]{index=24}

FAQ: Budgeting apps for single parents

Which app is cheapest overall?

Empower and Honeydue are free. Goodbudget has a free tier. Paid options like YNAB or PocketGuard can still be worth it if they prevent overdrafts or late fees. :contentReference[oaicite:25]{index=25}

Is YNAB worth the price?

If you want a detailed plan with goals, rollovers, and true zero-based budgeting, YNAB can be a game changer. Pricing is $14.99 monthly or $109 yearly after a 34 day trial. :contentReference[oaicite:26]{index=26}

What if I prefer spreadsheets?

Use Tiller to feed transactions into Google Sheets or Excel and customize from there. Kiplinger lists Tiller at about $79 per year. :contentReference[oaicite:27]{index=27}

What replaced Mint?

Mint shut down in March 2024. Intuit directed users to Credit Karma, which does not fully replace Mint’s budgeting features. Many former Mint users switched to YNAB, Monarch, Simplifi, or Tiller. :contentReference[oaicite:28]{index=28}

Conclusion: The best budgeting apps for single parents

The right app is the one you will actually use. If you want deep control and a plan you update daily, try YNAB or Goodbudget. If your life demands fast clarity, try PocketGuard or Empower. Spreadsheet fans will love Tiller. Whatever you choose, pair your app with small, consistent habits like a weekly money check in and a simple meal plan. For more ongoing support, see our Essential Budgeting Toolkit for Single Parents and our guide to the best discount stores. A steady routine beats a perfect plan, and each small step protects your family’s finances.