Did you know?
Nearly 73% of smartphone users rely on financial apps to manage their money[1].
For a small business owner, the right app can be a game-changer.
With your days packed full managing clients and growing your business, personal finances often slip down the priority list. A personal bookkeeping app can make managing your money simple, organized, and even help you save.
Imagine starting tax season with your personal expenses already sorted, or quickly spotting savings without sifting through old receipts. Just as you rely on tools like QuickBooks for business finances, the right personal bookkeeping app brings that same level of clarity to your personal accounts—all from your phone.
In this blog, we’ll review five of the best personal bookkeeping apps for small business owners who want to keep their finances organized, make smarter spending choices, and avoid unnecessary stress.
What to look for in a personal bookkeeping app
As a small business owner, managing your personal finances shouldn’t feel like extra work—it should help you feel in control and confident about your money. Here’s what to consider when choosing a personal bookkeeping app:
- Automation: The best apps handle the busywork for you. They automatically sync with your bank accounts, categorize transactions, and save you from tedious manual entry.
- Financial insights: To manage your money better, you need to understand where it’s going. Look for an app that offers clear insights into your spending patterns, helping you spot areas where you can save or cut back. These insights empower you to make smarter financial decisions and stay on top of your goals.
- Ease of use: We know you’ve already got plenty to manage. You don’t need a complicated tool that adds to your workload. Choose an app with a simple, intuitive interface that makes managing your personal finances straightforward—not another chore. The easier it is to use, the more consistent you’ll be, and the more progress you’ll see.
- Budgeting tools: Setting financial goals and keeping your spending in check is key to staying on track. The right app will help you set realistic goals, track your progress, and keep your personal finances stable—so you’re always in control.
- Customer support: Things don’t always go as planned, and when issues pop up—like trouble syncing accounts—responsive support is crucial. Look for an app with reliable customer service to help you troubleshoot quickly and avoid unnecessary delays.
- Customization: Your requirements to manage your finances are unique, so your app should be flexible. Customizable categories and tailored reports ensure you get insights that are relevant and effective for you, making your bookkeeping experience smoother and more personalized.
The five best personal bookkeeping apps
1. Monarch Money
Apple iOS: 4.9 / Google Play: 4.7
Pricing: Starts at $14.99 per month or $69.99 annually, with a 7-day free trial.
Monarch Money[2] provides a streamlined way to manage personal finances, connecting your bank, credit, and investment accounts in a single, organized dashboard. Its collaborative budgeting feature lets you invite a partner or financial advisor—a big plus for small business owners managing joint finances. With customizable budgets, unlimited savings goals, and data visualizations, Monarch offers a clear path to track your spending and savings.
Monarch’s intuitive design and visual tools, like real-time charts and graphs, make it easy to track finances while keeping personal and business expenses separate.
| Pros | Cons |
| Links multiple accounts for a full financial overview. | Offers only a 7-day free trial; subscription required after that. |
| Share your budget with a partner or advisor. | Pricier than some other finance apps. |
| Set personalized categories and savings goals. | |
| Track spending and savings through charts and graphs. | |
| Bank-level security to protect your data. |
2. YNAB (You Need A Budget)
Apple iOS: 4.8 / Google Play: 4.7
Pricing: Offers a 34-day free trial, with plans starting at $14.99 per month or $9.08 per month when billed annually ($109 per year).
YNAB[3] empowers you to take control of your personal finances by giving every dollar a clear job, ensuring that your income is allocated with purpose before it’s spent. With a strong focus on building healthier financial habits, reducing debt, and growing savings, YNAB is a smart choice for small business owners looking to keep personal and business finances separate. This disciplined approach helps safeguard your personal financial health, so it doesn’t spill over into your business.
| Pros | Cons |
| Assigns every dollar a purpose, boosting budgeting effectiveness. | Takes time to learn the YNAB method. |
| Offers workshops and tutorials to improve personal financial management. | No free version after trial. |
| Provides a supportive community for accountability. | Requires occasional manual transaction updates. |
| Links with your bank account for real-time tracking. | |
| Enables shared budgeting for partners. |
Did you know?
Over 70% of Americans feel that their financial planning could use some improvement[4].
3. Goodbudget
Apple iOS: 4.6 / Google Play: 3.9
Pricing: Goodbudget[5] offers a free plan with basic features, and the paid version costs around $10 per month or $80 annually, providing more envelopes and device connections.
Goodbudget[6] offers a simple, envelope-style approach to personal budgeting, ideal for small business owners looking for an easy way to manage finances. With virtual “envelopes” dedicated to specific spending categories, it helps you allocate income purposefully, keeping spending in check and moving toward savings goals. The app also allows multi-device syncing, so shared budgets with partners or family are a breeze.
Designed for clarity, Goodbudget’s system makes budgeting accessible without the need for complex reports or investment tracking. Its straightforward design is a perfect fit for anyone wanting a clear picture of their monthly finances.
| Pros | Cons |
| Syncs with multiple devices, allowing budget sharing with family or partners. | Lacks advanced features for investment tracking and wealth management. |
| Offers a simple, affordable structure with free and low-cost plans. | Requires manual transaction entry; no automatic bank syncing. |
| Allocates funds to specific categories, helping control spending. | Provides only basic reporting, limiting detailed financial insights. |
| Uses manual entry to encourage mindfulness in spending. |
4. Simplifi by Quicken
Apple iOS: 4.2 / Google Play: 4.1
Pricing:
- Monthly Plan: $3.99 per month (billed annually).
- Annual Plan: $47.88 per year (33% off the regular price of $5.99 per month).
Simplifi by Quicken[7] provides a complete financial overview with real-time spending tracking, customizable budgets, and savings goals tailored to your needs. Designed for small business owners who want a clear view of their personal finances, Simplifi’s instant insights and alerts make it easy to stay informed without added complexity. With tools that adapt to your goals, you’ll manage your money confidently, knowing you’re always in control.
| Pros | Cons |
| Connects all your bank, credit card, and investment accounts for a comprehensive financial overview. | Requires a monthly subscription fee, not ideal for those seeking a free option. |
| Features a clean, user-friendly interface, perfect for busy small business owners. | Lacks in-depth tax-related features, limiting support during tax season. |
| Provides real-time alerts on bills and account balances to help avoid missed payments. | Offers only basic investment tracking, which may not meet advanced investment needs. |
| Ad-free experience focuses solely on money management, free from distractions. | Doesn’t include a bill pay feature, which may be inconvenient for users seeking an all-in-one solution. |
| Delivers real-time spending insights to help make informed financial choices. | |
| Allows for customizable budgeting to align with personal financial goals and track progress. | |
| Offers cash flow insights, helping identify saving opportunities. |
5. PocketGuard
Apple iOS: 4.6 / Google Play: 3.6
Pricing: PocketGuard offers a free version with limited features, a monthly plan at $12.99, and an annual plan at $6.25 per month (billed annually at $74.99).
PocketGuard[8] is a straightforward personal bookkeeping app that keeps you informed on exactly how much you have left to spend after bills, savings, and other expenses. It provides a clear view of your disposable income, helping you stay within budget and make smarter financial choices without the hassle of complicated budgeting tools. Its simplicity lets you stay on track effortlessly, showing you what’s safe to spend so you can manage your finances with confidence.
| Pros | Cons |
| Easy to use with a simple interface, perfect for those new to personal bookkeeping. | Lacks advanced financial tools for more detailed planning. |
| Analyzes bills and spending habits to highlight areas for potential savings. | Free version is limited to just two bank connections and two budget categories. |
| “In my pocket” feature shows disposable income, helping control impulse spending. | Reporting features are basic, limiting deeper financial analysis. |
| Offers debt payoff strategies like avalanche and snowball methods to plan debt repayment. | |
| Enables specific savings goals, supporting solid saving habits for the future. | |
| Bill negotiation feature works with BillShark to help reduce expenses with minimal effort. |
The bottom line
Personal bookkeeping apps are great for managing everyday expenses and keeping savings goals in sight—without mixing personal and business accounts. But as a business owner, juggling both personal and business finances can quickly become overwhelming. All it takes is one small oversight—like missing a deduction or misclassifying an expense—and suddenly, tax headaches or cash flow issues start creeping in, slowing down the growth you’re working so hard to build.
That’s where CoCountant steps in to make a real difference. Our comprehensive bookkeeping services are designed to keep your business records accurate, compliant, and clear, so you never have to worry about commingling your personal and business finances or compliance worries.
