🏆 Top 5 Budgeting Apps in India (2025 Edition)
Budgeting has moved from boring spreadsheets to intelligent, automated apps that help you stay in control of your finances. For Indian millennials, students, and working professionals, 2025 is the year to go digital with money management.
In this detailed guide, we review and compare the top 5 budgeting apps available in India for 2025. These apps offer a mix of automation, analytics, expense tracking, credit score monitoring, and even investment insights—all tailored for the Indian user.
✅ Why Use a Budgeting App in 2025?
With UPI payments, credit cards, EMI purchases, and rising living costs, it’s easy to lose track of where your money goes. Budgeting apps bring everything into one dashboard. They help you:
- Track daily, weekly, and monthly expenses
- Set and stick to personal budgets
- Analyze spending habits using smart charts
- Link multiple bank accounts and wallets
- Plan savings and reach financial goals faster
Plus, most apps in 2025 support auto-categorization of expenses, credit score tracking, and even investment insights—making them a must-have for modern Indians.
🏆 Top 5 Budgeting Apps in India – 2025 Edition
1. Walnut by PhonePe
Overview: Walnut is an intuitive expense tracker that doesn’t need bank account login. Instead, it reads transactional SMSes to automatically log your expenses.
Its smart budget planner allows you to categorize expenses (e.g., food, bills, groceries), view graphical spending reports, and even split bills with friends. It also tracks ATM withdrawals and wallet top-ups.
Pros:
- No need to link bank accounts – privacy-friendly
- Very lightweight and user-friendly interface
- Works offline and supports SMS-only tracking
Cons:
- May miss app-based UPI spends like Google Pay or PhonePe
- Not suitable for users who prefer full financial dashboards
Best For: Students, entry-level users, and privacy-focused individuals.
2. Money View – Smart Budget & Expense Tracker
Overview: Money View offers a more robust feature set with SMS tracking, credit score monitoring, and a real-time snapshot of your bank balances. It’s a favorite among freelancers and salaried professionals alike.
Its standout feature is the consolidated view of all your bank accounts, along with smart budget planning and customized financial insights.
Pros:
- Free credit score checking & reminders
- Real-time alerts on income/expenses
- Budget planner adjusts based on past usage
Cons:
- Still relies on SMS—no direct bank sync
- No investment portfolio tracker
Best For: Young professionals who want powerful budgeting + credit insights without full investment tools.
3. ET Money by Times Group
Overview: ET Money is a full-fledged personal finance app combining budgeting, investments, insurance, and tax-saving all in one. It syncs directly with your bank account to give accurate insights into your spending.
It supports SIPs, ELSS, NPS, health insurance, and PPF investments. ET Money also auto-categorizes your spending and lets you set financial goals (e.g., saving ₹5L for a car).
Pros:
- Great for long-term financial planning
- Auto-categorizes UPI, card, wallet, and bank spends
- Integrated investment + insurance dashboard
Cons:
- Not ideal for basic users—can feel overwhelming
- Requires sign-in and permission to access bank data
Best For: Mid- to high-income professionals who want both budgeting and investment tools.
4. YONO SBI – Smart Banking & Budget Insights
Overview: While not a dedicated budgeting app, SBI’s YONO app has gradually integrated budgeting features like monthly analysis, expense categorization, and spending trends.
If you’re an SBI account holder, YONO offers excellent control over transactions, including bills, rewards, loans, and now, budget tracking.
Pros:
- Ultra-secure (official SBI app)
- Great for senior citizens and regular SBI users
- Integrated banking + financial services
Cons:
- Only useful for SBI customers
- Budgeting features are basic and not customizable
Best For: SBI users seeking built-in budgeting without installing another app.
5. Bajaj Finserv Insta Finance App
Overview: Built for loan and EMI users, this app combines EMI tracking, credit score monitoring, and now offers a personal budgeting dashboard to help users manage monthly cash flow.
It connects to your credit cards, loan accounts, and even savings account for smart recommendations.
Pros:
- Built-in EMI planner + payment reminders
- Credit score alerts and financial health reports
- Supports UPI, bill pay, and credit card linking
Cons:
- Interface can feel heavy for pure budgeting users
- Designed more for finance tracking than expense breakdown
Best For: Credit card and EMI users who want expense visibility and payment reminders in one app.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| App | Bank Sync | Investment Features | Credit Tools | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walnut | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Students & beginners |
| Money View | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | Young professionals |
| ET Money | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Full-suite financial planning |
| YONO SBI | ✅ (SBI only) | ❌ | ✅ | SBI users |
| Bajaj Finserv | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | Loan & EMI users |
🔍 How to Choose the Right Budgeting App for You
Here’s how to decide what suits you best:
- Beginner with privacy concerns? Use Walnut (SMS-based, no login).
- Want credit + budget tracking? Try Money View.
- Need full finance tools? ET Money is unmatched.
- Only bank with SBI? YONO covers your basics.
- Have loans/EMIs? Use Bajaj Finserv App.
✅ Final Thoughts
Budgeting is no longer about being restrictive—it’s about clarity and freedom. The right app doesn’t just show you where your money goes—it empowers you to redirect it where you want it to go.
Whether you're a student living on a stipend or a working professional juggling bills, these 5 apps will help you take control of your money in 2025. Choose one, stick to it for a month, and see the magic.
So, which budgeting app are you using in 2025? Tell us in the comments!
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