The best personal finance apps for Mac [Or how I increased my savings by 30%]

Elevate your budgeting experience with the top picks! Check out these powerful apps that simplify money management and keep your finances on track.

As an everyday user who has been tracking my budget for three years, I’ve become knowledgeable about personal finance apps that can transform financial habits. By diligently managing my spending, I achieved a 30% increase in savings. My journey involved testing various budgeting tools, allowing me to evaluate their features and usability. In this article, I’ll share my experiences and the software that empowered me to take control of my finances, providing clarity on every expense — right down to that coffee I bought last Wednesday.

My pics: The 6 best budgeting tools for Mac

I value your time, so I've organized all the solutions from this article into a short list and a table to help you find the best tools quickly and easily.

App	What can you do?	Grab if you need…
Quicken	Link & track all your accounts, manage investments, and retirement plans.	Comprehensive financial management.
MoneyDance	Do budgeting with bill and invoice alerts, track investments, account registers.	A balance between budgeting and investment management.
YNAB	Link your accounts & import transactions automatically, track financial goals, manage money with partners.	Proactive budgeting strategies and real-time collaboration.
MoneyWiz	Track comprehensively, connect to 40,000+ banks in 50+ countries, track investments.	All-in-one solution with advanced analytics.
Receipts	OCR invoices, automatically extract data from bills, issue payments for invoices.	Manage numerous invoices and receipts.
GreenBooks	Simple financial management, intuitive charts, multiple currency support.	A straightforward tool with clear visuals.

The best budget software for Mac comparison

There are countless options for programs to help budget money. It’s easy to get lost diving deep into each budget software review, but here are some of the best available, ranging from beautifully basic to powerfully advanced.

1. Quicken: Streamline your finances with automatic bank statements downloads

You’ve probably heard of Quicken, given that the name has been around since the early 80s. Even then, it was known as one of the best tax software companies around. That says something about the strong product, which carries all of the basic functions you’ll need to manage your budget well.

Right away though, you might notice that the interface has become somewhat dated in comparison to the newer contenders out there. But one of Quicken’s praised features is the ability to download bank statements and have the records automatically categorized, which can drastically reduce the time it takes to input your information, so you can spend more time making sense of it. Sadly, the Mac version is somewhat limited when it comes to advanced features. A Reddit user said: “I’ve been using the Mac version for over 20 years and it still doesn’t have feature parity with the Windows version.” 

Pros:

• Automatic bank statement downloads and categorization

• Comprehensive financial management tools

• Syncs seamlessly with multiple bank accounts

Cons:

• Dated interface compared to newer apps

• Limited advanced features on Mac version

Price: Starting at $2.99/mo.

2. Moneydance: Budgeting with notifications for bills and invoices

MoneyDance is very similar to Quicken in terms of its basic features, including the ability to create a budget with notifications for bills and invoices. It also allows you to make your own charts and graphs to monitor spending habits over time, which can be seen on the homepage for a quick glance at your activity. Out-of-the-box integrations with online banking services also make it easy to send payments.

Unlike Quicken, Moneydance has some more advanced features, including an investment monitor that tracks your investments and their fluctuations — a useful addition that is best for intermediate to advanced users. By the way, I noticed that many Reddit users switched from Quicken to MoneyDance. The app also has a developer API system in place to allow extended functions, mostly good for power users. Importantly, security is not an issue, as Moneydance utilizes end-to-end encryption for your data to give you that extra peace of mind.

Pros:

• Bill notifications and customizable reports

• Integration with online banking for easy payment

• Customizable reports to analyze spending habits

Cons:

• More advanced features may overwhelm beginners

• Interface could be less intuitive for new users

Price: Starting at $9/mo.

3. YNAB: Intuitive budgeting with cloud sync

You Need A Budget, also known as YNAB, is budget tracking software that runs on both Windows and Mac via web — saving automatically to the cloud, which is a bonus for multi-platform users. It also features native apps for iOS and Android, so you can literally tackle your budget from anywhere.

The app itself follows a simple design language, which is perfect for beginners, but if you find yourself needing help you can sign up for a personal instructor. YNAB doesn’t let you slack at all, and if you start to stray from your budget, the app will raise a red flag through it’s built-in Accountability Partner.

Although YNAB doesn’t support the ability to download and automatically categorize records from bank statements, it could be argued that entering them manually helps the user pay more attention to where their spending is going. Still, it’s a more time-consuming process that might be problematic for users processing hundreds or more records each month.

Pros:

• Multi-platform access with cloud sync ensures your budget is always up-to-date

• Supportive features like personal instructors that help users stay on track

• Strong community support and resources for users seeking to learn more

Cons:

• No automation for importing bank transactions

• Limited reporting features compared to competitors

Price: Starting at $9.08/mo.

4. MoneyWiz 2025: Financial hub with 400+ features for tracking and reporting + AI capabilities

MoneyWiz 2025 stays true to its name — a comprehensive budget software and investment tracker that’s packed full of over 400 useful features. View your financial situation quickly by browsing accounts, groups, or searching for individual records. Speaking of records, you can enter them manually or have them automatically sync with leading banks, cryptocurrency exchanges, and financial services for an accurate real-time understanding of your accounts.

With all of this data in hand, MoneyWiz can prepare and export over 50 reports to help you gain deeper insights into your finances. Your data could be accessed from its cloud-based app or straight from the native software for Mac. On top of that, the app is praised by users for its automatic categorization with AI and learning. Approximately 75% of MoneyWiz users on Setapp say the app's AI categorization features have made tracking expenses simpler and more efficient. All in all, MoneyWiz is extremely powerful: accessible to beginners and interesting to the most advanced users.

Pros:

• Comprehensive features, including AI-driven categorization 

• Ability to generate over 50 customizable reports for in-depth analysis

• Supports multiple currencies, making it ideal for international users

Cons:

• Can be overwhelming for users looking for basic functionality

• The budgeting tools work well, but they could use some cool visuals like graphs or interactive planners
  

Price: Starting at $9.99/mo on Setapp. You can also get dozens of other top apps for almost any task on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad with a single subscription plan.

5. Receipts: Streamline invoicing with OCR technology on your Mac

Receipts is yet another money management software for Mac, and is specifically well-known for its clever handling of invoicing. Using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology, Receipts automatically reads and translates important information about your bills, such as amount, date, currency, and more (even if the text is in another language). 

Besides, Receipts can issue payments for invoices directly using third-party providers, such as iFinance and BankX. The OCR technology alone makes it a strong contender against other more simpler online budgeting tools. Not least, Mac users will be glad to see how this application was designed to look and feel like a macOS product. Using a familiar user interface could make life a little easier, after all.

Receipts boasts an impressive 97% positive rating among Setapp users, who praise it as an excellent app that perfectly meets their small business needs. Users love its simple yet powerful functionality, saying, “I use it every day and no longer have to deal with paper receipts!”

Pros:

• Highly efficient OCR technology for quick and accurate invoicing

• Direct payment options through third-party services

• User-friendly interface designed specifically for macOS

• Excellent customer ratings reflecting strong performance and reliability

Cons:

• Lack of robust reporting features for in-depth financial analysis

• Lacks certain advanced features, like a wider range of financial platforms

Price: Starting at $9.99/mo on Setapp. You can also get dozens of other top apps for almost any task on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad with a single subscription plan.

6. GreenBooks: Streamlined finance management with a touch of simplicity

GreenBooks simplifies money management. Unlike complex finance apps, GreenBooks offers essential tools without the clutter. It's designed for easy task management, allowing you to quickly log transactions and stay on top of your accounts. Its user-friendly interface makes daily updates effortless and enjoyable. With GreenBooks, you can also categorize tasks with tags, turning the daunting into manageable. Plus, its reminders ensure you're always prepared for the day's financial tasks. Dive into detailed expense insights with a click, and set budgets that reflect all your spending categories for clear savings goals. Whether it's a broad overview or a granular analysis of your spending habits, GreenBooks provides clarity on your financial health.

I personally use this app regularly and managed to save 30% more after 90 days of use. I think the secret is in its ease of use. When I started using complex apps, I ditched them almost immediately.

Pros:

• Simple and intuitive interface 

• Effective categorization and tagging system for managing tasks

• Reminders that help keep users on track with financial responsibilities

Cons:

• May not meet the needs of users looking for extensive reporting capabilities

• The app primarily supports Canadian and U.S. banks

Price: Starting at $9.99/mo on Setapp. You can also get dozens of other top apps for almost any task on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad with a single subscription plan.

Why should I use budget tracking software?

If you haven’t made a budget before, you should start now. You never know when you might need a particular sum of money to solve an issue, meet a goal, or take advantage of a sudden opportunity.

Budget programs help you reduce the stress and uncertainty that comes with not knowing where you stand financially. If you don’t have home budget software, you might be tracking toward a situation where you run out of money without even knowing it. If you do have a budget, then you’ll have a documented plan of action to improve your situation. 

Importantly, you don’t need any qualifications to do a budget, nor do you need to be good with numbers. Take advantage of the best budget software for Mac to help you take control of your finances without the hassle. Budgeting tools come in many shapes and sizes, so selecting the right one for you depends on personal preference and previous experience with managing money.

Handy tips for budgeting tools

If you’re ready to start your budget, it’s best to consider a strategic approach to ensure maximum utility. Too often, budgets sit collecting dust after being created, and sometimes, the act of creating a budget could feel like enough to satisfy financial concerns — it’s not. Here are some tips for making the most out of your budget.

Tip 1: Take advantage of dedicated software 

First of all, definitely use an app to help you manage a budget. App developers invest a lot of time and money into figuring out how their software can make your life easier and better, so rather than trying to understand all the nuances for yourself, let a dedicated app do it for you. There’s even some free budget software around, so you have very few excuses not to try!

Tip 2: Find the right tool for tax preparation

If you run a business (or freelance on the side), a little bit of work each week means end-of-year taxes are a breeze. It’s not about doing a marathon of work in a few days, but making a habit of consistently doing a little bit here and there. Try aiming for 10 minutes every few days. The best tax preparation software will also have reminders and notifications to help you achieve this goal.

Tip 3: Focus on the categorization of your transactions 

It might sound contradictory, but budgeting isn’t always about getting the numbers 100% accurate. When it comes to tax preparation software — sure. But budgeting is mostly about understanding where your money is being spent and then using that information to make more informed decisions going forward. Therefore, make sure you categorize your transactions so that it’s easier to spot those minutiae differences and trends. The best finance apps should do this for you automatically.

In summary, you want to ensure you take advantage of the online budgeting tools available to you, aim to update your records frequently and focus on categorization over accuracy.

Features of good personal budget software

The best personal budget software for Mac is easier to pin down when you know exactly what you’re looking for. Not all apps are the same — they vary by function and pricing. Generally speaking, there are a few key features you want to see in your budget software for Mac:

• It should be simple and easy to add new records or transactions 
• Importing bank and credit card statements should be possible
• Automatically synchronizing statements will take the edge off your manual inputting
• Useful dashboards or visuals will help you understand your situation at a glance
• You should be able to categorize your transactions into groups

Out of those five key points, the ability to import is often the most essential. Importing saves you the hassle of adding each transaction into the money management software line-by-line, which adds up to a lot of time. It’s hard enough already to schedule frequent updates to your budget, so if you can remove the largest friction point of manual entry, then you’re in a good place. 

Trends and innovations in personal finance apps

Trends in personal finance apps are getting really exciting, especially with AI features. Right now, 75% of users are using AI tools to help them analyze their spending and get personalized budgeting advice.

Apps like MoneyWiz 2025 are great examples of this trend; they use AI to automatically categorize your transactions, making it super easy to see where your money is going.

Beyond categorization, AI can also track your financial habits over time and provide tailored recommendations for saving. For instance, it might suggest cutting back on certain expenses based on your spending patterns. Some apps even have predictive capabilities that forecast future spending, helping users plan ahead.

Best personal finance apps [Final words]

Between the six options above, you have a strong starting point for your budgeting tools, depending on your experience. Remember that importing is one of the key features to look for in budget programs. Still, in order to find the best fit you might need to try a couple of different options.

Thankfully, MoneyWiz,  Receipts, and GreenBooks have a free seven-day trial that you can take advantage of by heading over to Setapp, an app subscription service for Mac that gives you access to over 250 Mac, iOS, and web apps, including all the necessary budget tools. Get MoneyWiz 2025, Receipts, and GreenBooks. You won’t be disappointed.