The Best Personal Finance Apps of 2022

10 Apps to Simplify Your Personal Finances

Whether we like it or not, money rules the world. Earning and spending money is a focal part of everyday life. So, it's crucial to manage your money wisely and make smart financial decisions, but those things are easier said than done. Fortunately, living in the modern world means we have access to innovative technology, some of which can make dealing with money a whole lot simpler. Here, we've put together a list of the ten best personal finance apps of the year so you can manage your finances with ease.

1. Venmo

Venmo was founded in 2009 as a service for friends and families to split the costs of bills, event tickets, and rent. In 2012, Paypal purchased the app, and ever since, Venmo has become one of the world's most popular mobile payment services. Venmo allows you to send and receive money instantly to and from other users worldwide.

You can directly link your bank account, debit card, or credit card to your Venmo account, allowing you to feed or cash out your balance whenever you need to. In some cases, you can even use your Venmo account to pay for purchases in stores or online. With Venmo, carrying cash will become a thing of the past.

Unlike other peer-to-peer money transfer platforms, Venmo also features a social aspect. You can share your in-app activity with your friends and even like or comment on each other's payments. Give this app a try today and revolutionize the way you pay.

2. TurboTax: File Your Tax Return

Most people don't enjoy dealing with taxes, but it's a necessity of life. Unfortunately, though, many of us don't know the first thing about how to approach tax season or maximize our returns. That's where the TurboTax: File Your Tax Return app comes in handy.

Regardless of your specific employment situation, TurboTax will guide you through your filing process from start to finish. Whatever your circumstances may be, the app will ensure that you get the best possible tax refund, and we could all use a little extra spending money, right? You can use the basic version of TurboTax for free. Alternatively, you can upgrade the app for more complex tax returns and other additional resources.

There's no need to spend hundreds of dollars to have your taxes filed professionally. Instead, you can file all of your tax documents, handle your write-offs, and maximize your refund with the TurboTax app.

3. Seeking Alpha: News & Analysis

The stock market is constantly changing and evolving. If you're an active or aspiring investor, you must regularly keep up with the latest news and analysis of the financial world. The Seeking Alpha: News & Analysis app is the perfect way to do so.

With the Seeking Alpha app, you can access all the latest stock market developments. The app features analysis from industry experts, price quotes and charts for thousands of stocks, an active community of traders, investors, business leaders, and much more. If you want to maximize your potential and become a skilled trader or investor, the Seeking Alpha: News & Analysis app is an invaluable resource.

4. Google Pay

The Google Pay app offers a straightforward way to send, receive, and manage your money. Whether you're reimbursing a friend, dividing up the tab at a restaurant, or receiving your fantasy football winnings, Google Pay is all you need. Payments with the app are instant and free, and only those involved in the transaction will see it.

You can also use Google Pay to create payment groups, purchase fuel, order food delivery, or make purchases anywhere that contactless payments are accepted. The app is also fantastic for tracking your purchases, monitoring your spending, and staying on top of upcoming bills. Essentially, Google Pay is a comprehensive resource for handling your money, and it's entirely free to use. What's not to like?

5. Credit Karma

The world of credit cards, loans, interest rates, and credit scores can be overwhelming. With the Credit Karma app, you can manage all of these things in one place and in a digestible format.

To put it simply, Credit Karma compiles all of your credit-related info and offers into a user-friendly interface. With the app, you can freely check your credit score and see a breakdown of what's impacting it. You can also compare personalized offers for credit cards, personal loans, auto loans, and home loans. If you find an offer that suits your needs, you can apply for it right within the Credit Karma app. If you're currently paying off a loan, the app may even present you with opportunities to lower the interest rate and reduce your monthly payments.

There's no better resource than Credit Karma when managing, monitoring, and understanding your credit situation.

6. QuickBooks Self-Employed

Whether you're self-employed, an independent contractor, or a freelance worker, tax season can be a stressful time. Instead of simply filing one tax document and merrily collecting your return, you need to worry about extra factors like writing off business expenses, tracking mileage, etc. Fortunately, the QuickBooks Self-Employed app takes a lot of the hassle out of the process.

QuickBooks Self-Employed makes it a breeze to get the most out of your tax deductions. To simplify the filing process, the app will:

Automatically track your travel miles through GPS.
Organize your receipts to track business spending.
Keep your work-related expenses organized.

When you work for yourself or independently, you're entitled to certain benefits, and this app will help ensure that you receive them.

7. PayPal - Send, Shop, Manage

Originally founded back in 1998, PayPal was the OG platform for online payment. Fast-forward to the present day, and PayPal is still going strong as one of the world's most popular peer-to-peer money transfer services. With the PayPal - Send, Shop, Manage app, you can send and receive money with ease. As a bonus, PayPal allows you to buy, sell, and hold cryptocurrency.

With the app, you can instantly send or request money for free, and once you've got a balance in your account, you can either send it straight to your bank account or access it with your PayPal Cash Card. With the PayPal Cash Card, you can withdraw money from ATMs or make purchases wherever Mastercard® is accepted.

PayPal has managed to retain its popularity with users for over two decades, and that longevity is a testament to its quality.

8. Mileage Tracker by MileIQ

If your work requires regular travel, you need the Mileage Tracker by MileIQ app. Whether you have a long commute, work in delivery or rideshare, or need to drive to different locations for your job, you're entitled to reimbursements for your mileage.

The MileIQ's Mileage Tracker app provides everything you need to be compensated when tax season arrives. The app automatically tracks your miles, and all you need to do is swipe right or left to classify each trip as business or personal. Whenever you need to submit your mileage total to your accountant, employer, or the IRS, the app will even use your data to generate a comprehensive mileage report.

9. Cash App

Cash App, developed by Square, Inc., is the easiest way to send, spend, and invest your hard-earned money. Cash App offers everything you could ask for in a personal finance app. You can send and receive money from friends, family, and business associates instantly and at no cost. You can access your Cash App funds with a free, custom physical debit card. You can transfer money from your balance to an external bank account in minutes. You can even use your Cash App account to receive paycheck deposits up to two days earlier than most banks.

It doesn't stop there, though. You can also use Cash App to file your taxes or buy and sell stocks with no commission fee. This app does it all, and you can download it for free right now. What are you waiting for?

10. Zelle

The Zelle app, developed by Early Warning Services, LLC, isn't quite your typical mobile payment platform. Unlike most money transfer apps, Zelle partners with major banks and credit unions across the United States. Instead of sending and receiving money using your balance in an external app, Zelle allows you to send and receive money directly from one bank account to another.

One of the most convenient things about Zelle is that when you use it to transfer funds, the other involved party doesn't even need to have the app downloaded. As long as both of your financial institutions have access to Zelle, you'll be good to go. To initiate a transfer, you input the recipient's email address or mobile number, and they'll receive the money or request instantly. The Zelle app is 100% free, and the money transfers are 100% secure.

Finances Don't Have To Be Difficult

With so many excellent personal finance apps available, money management doesn't need to be a headache. So, the next time you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed about your credit, taxes, investments, or any other financial issues, consider trying any of these personal finance apps.