Best Budgeting Apps - in the UK (2025 Guide)
Quick Answer – What’s the Best Budgeting App in the UK?
Emma is our top pick for 2025. It’s easy to use, FCA-registered, and connects securely to UK banks. With smart spending categories, subscription tracking, and goal setting, it’s ideal for anyone looking to manage money confidently without needing a financial background.
How the Best UK Budgeting Apps Compare
| Rank | App | Best For | Free Plan? | Premium Cost | Bank Integration | FCA Regulated? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emma | Overall money management | Yes | £4.99/mo+ | Yes | Yes |
| 2 | Snoop | Spending insights | Yes | £3.99/mo | Yes | Yes |
| 3 | Moneyhub | Goal tracking & analysis | No | £1.49/mo | Yes | Yes |
| 4 | Plum | Budgeting + autosaving | Yes | £2.99/mo+ | Yes | Yes |
| 5 | HyperJar | Prepaid budgeting simplicity | Yes | N/A | No | Yes |
Introduction
With rising living costs, more UK households are turning to budgeting apps to take control of their finances. These tools connect to your bank accounts, track spending, and help you budget smarter—whether you’re trying to save more, cut costs, or simply stay organised.
Emma – Best Overall for Budgeting & Subscription Tracking
Pros & Cons
- User-friendly design
- Excellent for spotting subscriptions
- Strong free tier
- Premium pricing may deter casual users
- Some bank syncing delays reported
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Is It Safe to Use?
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Who Should Use Emma?
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What are the Fees and Costs?
Emma is FCA-registered and uses secure Open Banking APIs to connect to your accounts. All data is encrypted, and the app operates under UK data protection laws. It doesn’t have access to your money—only read-only financial data for budgeting purposes.
Emma is ideal for users who want a smart, visual overview of their spending. It’s perfect for tracking subscriptions, categorising expenses, setting budgets, and spotting waste. Whether you’re a student or working professional, it simplifies personal finance without feeling overwhelming.
Emma has a free version with core features. Premium plans start at £4.99/month, unlocking tools like cashback, advanced analytics, custom categories, and unlimited accounts. It also offers Emma Pro and Ultimate tiers for deeper insights and long-term financial planning.
The information provided about this app is for general guidance only and reflects our editorial opinion based on publicly available data at the time of writing. We do not provide financial advice, and features, pricing, or regulatory status may change. Always verify the app’s terms and FCA authorisation (if applicable) before linking any financial accounts.
Snoop – Best for Spending Insights and Alerts
Pros & Cons
- Great insights and suggestions
- Helpful cost-cutting tips
- Free plan includes key features
- Limited long-term budgeting tools
- No saving or investing features
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Is It Safe to Use?
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Who Should Use Snoop?
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What are the Fees and Costs?
Snoop is regulated by the FCA and connects through secure Open Banking protocols. It never holds your money and uses encryption to keep your personal data safe. The app is read-only, meaning it can view transactions but can’t make changes or transfers.
Snoop is great for people who want to cut everyday costs. It sends personalised suggestions, spending insights, and alerts to help you avoid sneaky subscriptions or overspending. If you’re looking for a money-saving sidekick, this one’s built for you.
Snoop’s core features are free. Premium plans, offering deeper analysis and custom alerts, start at £3.99/month. The free version is generous enough for most users, but power users may prefer the added control in the paid tier.
The information provided about this app is for general guidance only and reflects our editorial opinion based on publicly available data at the time of writing. We do not provide financial advice, and features, pricing, or regulatory status may change. Always verify the app’s terms and FCA authorisation (if applicable) before linking any financial accounts.
Moneyhub – Best for Goal Tracking & Financial Planning
Pros & Cons
- Excellent for long-term financial goals
- Low monthly cost
- Supports pension and investment tracking
- No free version
- Interface slightly less modern than competitors
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Is It Safe to Use?
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Who Should Use Moneyhub?
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What are the Fees and Costs?
Moneyhub is fully FCA-regulated and authorised for Open Banking. It uses strong encryption and read-only data access, keeping your personal and financial information secure. As a paid app, it does not rely on advertising or data sales to fund the platform.
Moneyhub is ideal for users who want more than basic budgeting. It helps with financial goal setting, future planning, and even pension tracking. It’s well-suited to professionals or households looking to take a more strategic approach to managing money.
Moneyhub does not offer a free plan. It charges £1.49 per month (or £14.99 annually) for full access, including budget creation, goal tracking, and account aggregation. It’s one of the more affordable paid-only tools in the market.
The information provided about this app is for general guidance only and reflects our editorial opinion based on publicly available data at the time of writing. We do not provide financial advice, and features, pricing, or regulatory status may change. Always verify the app’s terms and FCA authorisation (if applicable) before linking any financial accounts.
Plum – Best for Budgeting with Autosaving Tools
Pros & Cons
- Combines budgeting with automated savings
- Great for building financial habits
- Offers investing and cashback
- Full features require a subscription
- Some users find settings complex at first
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Is It Safe to Use?
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Who Should Use Plum?
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What are the Fees and Costs?
Plum is authorised and regulated by the FCA, using Open Banking technology and bank-grade encryption. Your funds are held in secure e-wallets or investment accounts depending on usage. Security features like biometric login and fraud detection are also built in.
Plum is great for users who want help saving money automatically while managing a budget. It’s especially useful for people who struggle to save manually. Plum combines budgeting, smart saving rules, and even investing in one simple app.
Plum offers a free version with basic budgeting and autosaving. Premium tiers start at £2.99/month and unlock features like cashback, investment tools, and custom saving rules. Plum Ultra and Premium offer additional advanced tools and perks.
The information provided about this app is for general guidance only and reflects our editorial opinion based on publicly available data at the time of writing. We do not provide financial advice, and features, pricing, or regulatory status may change. Always verify the app’s terms and FCA authorisation (if applicable) before linking any financial accounts.
HyperJar – Best for Simple Budgeting with Prepaid Spending Control
Pros & Cons
- No monthly fees
- Visual jar system makes budgeting easy
- Great parental controls and shared jars
- No full Open Banking integration
- Lacks advanced analytics and investment features
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Is It Safe to Use?
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Who Should Use HyperJar?
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What are the Fees and Costs?
HyperJar is FCA-authorised and operates under e-money regulations. It uses secure encryption and card-level protections. Funds are held in segregated accounts, and the prepaid model helps users avoid overspending by limiting access to only pre-loaded balances.
Great for those who want an ultra-simple budgeting system using spending jars. HyperJar is ideal for families, students, or anyone who prefers to budget with prepaid cards and visual money pots — without linking full bank access.
HyperJar is free to use, with no monthly fees or charges for setting up jars or using the prepaid card in the UK. There may be minor fees for overseas use or replacement cards, but daily budgeting tools are fully free.
The information provided about this app is for general guidance only and reflects our editorial opinion based on publicly available data at the time of writing. We do not provide financial advice, and features, pricing, or regulatory status may change. Always verify the app’s terms and FCA authorisation (if applicable) before linking any financial accounts.
What Should You Look for in a UK Budgeting App?
Does It Use Secure Open Banking Access?
The best budgeting apps connect through FCA-regulated Open Banking. This ensures your data is read-only and encrypted. Never link your bank account to an app that isn’t authorised — it’s the foundation for security and protects against fraud or misuse.
Are Premium Features Worth Paying For?
Many apps offer free plans, but features like personalised alerts, advanced analytics, or subscription tracking are often behind a paywall. If you’re serious about improving your finances, paying a few pounds a month can unlock tools that genuinely help you stay in control.
Is It Easy to Understand and Use?
A budgeting app should make managing money feel simple — not stressful. Choose one with a clean layout, clear categories, and simple graphs. If it’s too complex to use daily, you’ll quickly stop using it — defeating the point of having it.
Does It Help With Real Savings?
A good app shouldn’t just track spending — it should help you act on it. Look for features like autosaving, spending insights, or cost-cutting suggestions. If it helps you save without even trying, it’s doing its job well.
Final Thoughts – Which Budgeting App Should You Choose?
The best budgeting app is the one that fits your financial habits. Whether it’s Emma for all-in-one tracking or Plum for autosaving, choose a secure, FCA-compliant tool that’s easy to use and genuinely helps you stay on top of your money.
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FAQs
Are budgeting apps safe in the UK?
Most leading budgeting apps in the UK use FCA-regulated Open Banking and bank-level encryption. As long as you use a trusted provider, your financial data is secure and read-only — meaning the app can’t move or access your money directly.
Do these apps connect to my bank account?
Yes, budgeting apps connect to your UK bank account via secure Open Banking APIs. This lets the app access transaction data and balances in real time, allowing accurate spending analysis without storing login credentials or gaining control over your funds.
Can budgeting apps help improve savings?
Absolutely. Many apps offer tools like spending alerts, savings goals, and automatic round-ups. By analysing your habits and highlighting areas to cut costs, budgeting apps can help you make smarter decisions and build better saving habits over time.
What’s the best free budgeting app?
Emma and Snoop both offer excellent free plans with bank integration, spending categorisation, and budgeting tools. Money Dashboard is also entirely free with no upsells, making it a solid choice for users who want simplicity with no subscription costs.
Are all budgeting apps FCA-regulated?
No — not all apps are directly FCA-regulated. However, trustworthy apps use Open Banking providers that are authorised by the FCA. Always check for FCA registration or authorised partners before connecting your bank account to ensure your data is protected.
