Which Budgeting App Should I Use?
Because you deserve an app that judges your spending gently
Look, I didn’t mean to spend $300 at Target one day when I went just to get detergent. Financial responsibility is hard, especially when capitalism keeps dangling shiny new super soft bath towels and “limited edition” lip oils in your face like you’re some kind of credit-card-holding raccoon.
But here’s the good news: you don’t have to not be that raccoon. You just have to budget around your raccoon tendencies. Enter: budgeting apps. They’re like therapists, but instead of gently asking how your mother made you feel, they just scream “You’ve exceeded your dining out budget for the month!” every time you try to get sushi.
I’ve tested a bunch of budgeting apps so you don’t have to (because honestly, the emotional labor of admitting to an app that you spent $19 on organic hand soap is enough). Here’s my breakdown of the best ones depending on what kind of broke-but-trying person you are.
So here’s my round-up of the best budgeting apps, written specifically with film industry chaos in mind:
1. YNAB (You Need A Budget) – For the Type A Assistant Turned Showrunner
Best for: People who like control, detail, and the fantasy that they’ll never be ghosted by a paycheck again. (SPOILER: this one is my favorite!)
This app is aggressive. In a good way. YNAB operates on the principle that every dollar has a job, which is adorable, because most of my dollars are unemployed. But if you’re someone who thrives on labeling envelopes and planning pilot seasons two years out, this is your app.
Pros:
Hyper-detailed
Great for planning in feast/famine cycles
Encourages actual behavior change
Cons:
Steep learning curve
Costs $99/year (but you can expense it if you're unhinged enough)
2. Copilot: For the Tech-Savvy Apple-Obsessed Girlie Who Wants to Be Gently Bullied Into Financial Awareness
Best for: Apple users who love a good interface and don’t mind paying a little to feel in control.
Copilot is slick, intuitive, and feels like it was designed by someone who also impulse-bought a Peloton. It automatically categorizes your spending, gives you snarky little graphs, and syncs with your Apple Watch if you're into that kind of thing.
Pros:
Sleek AF
Easy to use
“Set it and semi-forget it” style
Cons:
$96/year (but there’s a free trial, and let’s be real, you’ve spent more on two nights at Soho House)
3. Monarch: For the Producer Who Secretly Loves Spreadsheets
Best for: Couples, writing duos, or people with a money kink.
Monarch is built by ex-Mint employees and is what happens when a spreadsheet and a mindfulness app have a baby. You can collaborate with a partner, forecast scenarios (like “what if I get staffed vs. what if I have to go back to dog walking”), and track net worth over time.
Pros:
Amazing for long-term planning
Great UX
Collaborative budgeting (!)
Cons:
Not free ($99/year)
Can feel a little intense for creative types who are just trying to survive pilot season
4. Notion (DIY Style): For the Screenwriter Who Thinks They Can Hack It
Best for: People who think templates are sexy.
This one’s a bit of a wild card. It’s not a traditional budgeting app, but if you love customizing your life into aesthetic blocks and toggles, you can absolutely build your own financial tracker in Notion. Just search "budgeting template" and spiral from there.
Pros:
Highly customizable
Free version available
You get to feel like a productivity god
Cons:
Requires time and emotional stamina
There’s a 50% chance you’ll abandon it after week two
THE VERDICT:
All these apps work great. But for me,YNAB is my favorite.
I wish someone had told me earlier that budgeting isn’t about depriving yourself, it’s about clarity. The same way you don’t start a film without a shot list, you shouldn’t go into a freelance career without knowing what the hell is going on with your money.
No app will magically fix your finances. (I checked. I begged. I whispered “please” into a La Mer sample in the Sephora checkout line.) But the right one can make you more aware. I still blow my budget sometimes. I still make “treat yourself” decisions at deeply inconvenient times. But now, I do it with awareness. Which is growth. Or at least the first step toward it.
XO
Eden