Free Money Tools

Here are free tools and resources we’d happily suggest to a friend starting from zero — picked because they’re genuinely helpful, not because of any sales pitch. We may earn a commission if you sign up through some links — it costs you nothing extra and keeps everything here free. See our affiliate disclosure for details.

1. YNAB (You Need a Budget)

A paid budgeting app built around giving every dollar a job. Best for people who want a strict, hands-on system.

Pros:

• Forces intentional spending — every dollar is assigned before the month starts
• Excellent educational content and live workshops included
• Syncs with most US/UK bank accounts

Cons:

• Paid subscription (around $15/month) — steep if you’re on a tight budget
• Learning curve in the first couple of weeks
• Overkill if you just want a simple spending tracker

2. EveryDollar

Dave Ramsey’s budgeting app. The free tier is a solid zero-based budgeting tool for beginners.

Pros:

• Free plan covers the core zero-based budget workflow
• Very simple interface — easy for complete beginners
• Good if you follow (or like) the baby-steps method

Cons:

• Bank sync requires the paid “Premium” plan
• Fewer reports and insights than YNAB
• US-focused; UK bank connections are limited

3. High-yield savings account

Not an app — a type of account. Parking your emergency fund in a high-yield savings account (e.g. Ally, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, or a competitive UK easy-access saver) earns many times the interest of a regular checking account.

Pros:

• Your emergency fund actually grows while it waits
• Money stays separate from spending cash (less temptation)
• No fees at most online banks; 1–2 day access is ideal

Cons:

• Rates change with the market — shop around yearly
• Some “high-yield” accounts have balance or activity requirements
• Don’t chase rates across five banks; pick one and move on

4. Credit Karma (free credit score)

Free credit scores and reports in the US, with UK equivalents like ClearScore and Credit Karma UK.

Pros:

• Completely free credit scores and monitoring
• Alerts you to hard inquiries and new accounts
• Simple explanations of what moves your score

Cons:

• Shows VantageScore, while many lenders use FICO (numbers can differ)
• Ad-supported — expect offers for cards and loans
• Monitoring is no substitute for actually paying on time

5. Rocket Money (subscription tracker)

Connects to your accounts, finds recurring subscriptions, and helps you cancel or negotiate them.

Pros:

• Finds forgotten subscriptions fast — most people are shocked by the total
• Cancellation assistance saves awkward phone calls
• Spending alerts catch price hikes early

Cons:

• Premium features cost a monthly fee
• Bill-negotiation takes a cut of what it saves you
• You could do the same manually with a spreadsheet for free

6. Notion budget template

A free Notion template for tracking income, expenses, and savings goals — ideal if you like spreadsheets but want something prettier.

Pros:

• Free and endlessly customizable
• Works on phone and desktop, syncs everywhere
• Great for visual goal tracking (savings thermometers, debt payoff boards)

Cons:

• Manual entry — no automatic bank sync
• Easy to abandon if you don’t build the habit
• Template quality varies; pick a simple one

Bottom line: you don’t need all six. Start with a free budgeting method (EveryDollar or a Notion template), park savings in a high-yield account, and check your credit score once a month. Add the paid tools only when the free ones feel limiting.