PocketGuard review

PocketGuard is the cheapest paid app here and the only one on this list that sells a lifetime license. Its core idea is leftover money: after bills, goals and budgets, the app shows what is free to spend, and you can switch to a custom strategy if you prefer to set every category yourself. Budgets roll over, category budgets and bank accounts are unlimited, and you can add cash accounts and cash transactions for spending that never hits a card. Bills tools cover recurring and upcoming payments, subscription cancellation and lowering bills, and there is a debt payoff plan. For a spreadsheet user, the import and export of transactions plus transaction rules matter: you can keep a backup sheet while the app does the categorizing. It runs on web, iPhone, Apple Watch and Android. The price is $74.99 a year, $12.99 monthly or $149.99 once, after a 7-day trial. Bank connections are listed for the US and Canada only.

Who it is for

budgeters who want the lowest paid price or a one-time purchase

Price

$74.99 per year (about $6.25 a month), $12.99 monthly or $149.99 lifetime; 7-day free trial.

$6.25 /month Save $81/year Billed $74.99 yearly All prices in US Dollars
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 13, 2026.

Key features

• Leftover or custom budgeting strategy with rollover budgets
• Unlimited category budgets and unlimited bank accounts
• Debt payoff plan, recurring bills and subscription cancellation tools
• Import and export transactions, transaction rules and cash accounts
• Apps for web, iPhone, Apple Watch and Android

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Lowest yearly price on this list at $74.99
• Strength: $149.99 lifetime plan avoids a recurring subscription
• Strength: Transaction export makes it easy to keep a spreadsheet backup
• Weakness: Bank connectivity is listed for the US and Canada only
• Weakness: Monthly plan at $12.99 costs more than double the yearly rate
• Weakness: Trial lasts 7 days

Key facts

• Yearly price: $74.99
• Lifetime price: $149.99
• Free trial: 7 days
• Platforms: Web, iPhone, Apple Watch, Android

Where it ranks

PocketGuard is No. 5 in our Best Budgeting Apps verdict.