Which app do you use to track your finances?

It seems like it’s been a while since this question came up. What app or tool do you use to track your finances? Specifically, I’m curious about tracking net worth, expenses, and investments. Are there any apps that also help track savings rate and progress toward financial independence?

How often do you check your finances? Daily, weekly, or less frequently?

I use Google Sheets and update it about once a month. I mainly track my savings and investment balances now. Back when I tracked every expense, it felt like a lot of work.

Cassidy said:
I use Google Sheets and update it about once a month. I mainly track my savings and investment balances now. Back when I tracked every expense, it felt like a lot of work.

I do something similar but also include my credit card balance, even though I pay it off monthly. It helps me keep a more accurate net worth picture.

@Leland
I update my Excel sheet after paying off credit cards at the end of each month, so the balances are always zero.

@Leland
Same here. I deduct my credit card balance from my liquid total. It’s a simple way to keep track of spending.

I’m a big fan of Empower (formerly Personal Capital). It’s great for tracking net worth because it pulls data from all linked accounts, including investments, loans, and even your home value through Zillow estimates. You can export data as a CSV too.

@pearl
I love Empower, but sometimes it loses track of an account. Re-adding the account fixes it, but you lose the history, which is frustrating.

I use YNAB (You Need A Budget). It’s a bit different from traditional budgeting apps but very effective once you get used to it. There’s also a free trial if you’re curious.

Nevaeh said:
I use YNAB (You Need A Budget). It’s a bit different from traditional budgeting apps but very effective once you get used to it. There’s also a free trial if you’re curious.

YNAB changed my financial life. It’s helped me save and plan better, and I feel more in control.

I use GnuCash. It’s free and highly customizable. Your data stays on your device, which I prefer for privacy.

Sierra said:
I use GnuCash. It’s free and highly customizable. Your data stays on your device, which I prefer for privacy.

I learned double-entry accounting through GnuCash. It’s a great tool, though it takes a bit of setup initially.

I’ve been using Copilot and love it. The transaction categorization is almost perfect, and the interface is fantastic. It also tracks investments pretty well. Only downside: it’s subscription-based.

From a security perspective, I recommend avoiding apps that aggregate your financial data unless they use fine-grained API permissions. Stick with a spreadsheet if you’re concerned about privacy.

I use Mint for tracking spending and manually calculate my savings rate by exporting data to a CSV. While it’s good for budgeting, Mint doesn’t handle investments well. I’ve tried Personal Capital before, and while it’s better for investments, I didn’t like it for spending. I also automate most of my savings and expenses, so I prefer a simple approach.

I don’t use an app. I track my finances in Google Sheets and recently switched to using Fidelity for both cash management and investments. It has some basic tracking features built-in, which is nice.

I use Personal Capital for net worth tracking but rely on Excel for detailed expense tracking. Apps often miss things or miscategorize expenses, so I prefer manual tracking for accuracy.