Free Expense Tracker Apps to Help You Manage Your Expenses

Keeping track of your expenses has never been more important. In Singapore, where the cost of living continues to climb, budgeting is no longer just good practice. It's a key part of staying financially secure. From dining out and transportation to mobile plans and subscriptions, daily spending can add up quickly without you noticing.

Managing your money digitally makes this process more efficient. With the rise of user-friendly apps, tracking your personal finances no longer requires spreadsheets or manual logs. These tools help you understand your spending patterns, set savings goals, and make better financial decisions.

In recent years, digital expense tracker apps have become increasingly popular. Many of them are free and offer features like category tagging, visual reports, and syncing with bank accounts.

In this guide, we cover seven free budgeting tools available in Singapore:

• Monny – A fun, gamified app designed for new budgeters

• Money Manager – Simple to use, with strong categorization features

• Dollarbird – A calendar-style tracker for daily expenses

• Household Account Book – Visual stickers and family-friendly design

• MoneyNote – A clean, minimalist app with quick tagging

Best Free Expense Tracker Apps in Singapore

1. Monny – Gamified interface, fun UI, good for beginners

Monny is a playful and beginner-friendly budgeting app that turns expense tracking into a game. The app uses a fun, quest-style interface where users complete tasks, earn badges, and unlock achievements while logging their daily spending. It’s designed to make money management feel less like a chore and more like a daily habit.

Key Features:

Gamified system that rewards users for consistent tracking

Simple, colorful visuals and interactive feedback

Built-in budget planner and spending breakdown

Set saving goals and review monthly reports

Password-protected mode for privacy

Who It’s For:

Monny is best for beginners, students, or anyone who wants a light-hearted way to build a budgeting habit. It's especially helpful for users who have never tracked spending before and want a less serious, more motivational tool.

Pros & Cons:

Pros:

Engaging and motivational design

Easy to use, even for first-timers

Encourages daily tracking through challenges

Cons:

Not ideal for complex budgeting needs

Limited features in the free version

Availability:

Available for iOS and Android, free with optional in-app purchases

2. Money Manager – Simple UX, strong categorization

Money Manager is a straightforward, no-frills budgeting app focused on usability and clarity. Its clean design and logical layout make it easy for users to input expenses, organize them into categories, and monitor their financial health. The app also supports both daily tracking and long-term budget planning, which makes it versatile for a variety of financial habits.

Key Features:

Simple interface with intuitive navigation

Detailed categorization of expenses and income

Calendar view for tracking daily and monthly spending

Built-in asset management tool

Visual charts and summary reports for budgeting insights

Who It’s For:

Ideal for freelancers, professionals, and families who want a reliable tool to manage personal or household budgets without extra distractions. It’s a solid option for users who prefer function over flair.

Pros & Cons:

Pros:

Easy to set up and start using

Strong tracking and classification tools

Visual reporting supports better financial decision-making

Cons:

No gamification or community features

Some functions (like syncing) are only available with a paid upgrade

Availability:

Available on iOS and Android, free with optional in-app purchases

3. Dollarbird – Calendar view of spending

Dollarbird takes a unique approach to budgeting by focusing on a calendar-style interface. Instead of listing expenses in a ledger or table, users log their income and spending directly on calendar dates. This helps visualize cash flow over time and spot spending trends across weeks or months. It’s especially useful for users who want to understand not just how much they’re spending, but when.

Key Features:

Calendar-based interface for daily income and expense tracking

Predictive balance forecasting based on recurring transactions

Multiple color-coded categories for clear insights

Shared calendar option for family or team budgeting

Offline mode and cloud sync available

Who It’s For:

Great for freelancers, families, and users with variable incomes. It’s particularly helpful for those who want a better grasp of cash flow timing, such as when bills hit versus when payments are received.

Pros & Cons:

 

Pros:

Intuitive calendar design makes spending easier to understand over time

Encourages consistent tracking with a visual approach

Supports shared budgets for families or partners

Cons:

Can take some time to set up categories and recurring items

Requires regular logging to stay accurate

Availability:

Available on iOS and Android, free with optional in-app purchases

4. Household Account Book – Visual stickers, great for families

Household Account Book is a playful, family-friendly budgeting app that uses visual stickers and illustrations to make expense tracking more engaging. Designed like a digital diary, it helps users log their daily spending with cartoon-style icons and simple inputs. The interface is approachable for users of all ages, making it ideal for parents who want to involve kids or partners in managing household finances.

Key Features:

Visual stickers to represent categories like groceries, rent, or entertainment

Monthly summaries and savings goals

Illustrated mascot provides reminders and encouragement

Simple expense logging with minimal text input

Child-friendly layout to encourage shared budgeting

Who It’s For:

Perfect for families, couples, and beginner users who prefer a more visual and less technical approach to tracking expenses. It’s also a helpful introduction to budgeting for children and teens.

Pros & Cons:

Pros:

Fun and friendly interface that feels more like journaling than accounting

Encourages regular use through visual cues

Easy to use, even for young or first-time users

Cons:

Limited in terms of financial analysis and customization

May not meet the needs of users with complex financial tracking goals

Availability:

Available on iOS and Android, free with optional in-app purchases

5. MoneyNote – Clean interface, easy tagging

MoneyNote is a minimalist expense tracker that focuses on fast input and clean visuals. With a clutter-free design, it lets users log spending and categorize expenses quickly. Its simple tagging system helps organize entries without overwhelming the user, making it perfect for those who value speed and clarity over advanced features.

Key Features:

Streamlined interface for quick expense entry

Customizable tags for easy organization

Daily, weekly, and monthly summaries

Simple budget planning tools

No sign-up required to start using the app

Who It’s For:

Best for beginners, solo professionals, and users who want a low-effort way to log expenses. MoneyNote is ideal for people who prefer simplicity and don’t need complex reporting tools or account syncing.

Pros & Cons:

Pros:

Very easy to use, even with no prior budgeting experience

Quick entry saves time for users on the go

Lightweight and runs smoothly on most devices

Cons:

Lacks advanced features like account syncing or cloud backups

Limited export and reporting options

Availability:

Available on iOS and Android, free with optional in-app purchases

Features of a Good Budget Tracker App

Not all budgeting apps are built the same. A good expense tracker should do more than just record your transactions. It should help you understand your financial habits, alert you when spending goes off track, and support your long-term goals. Here are the features to look for in a reliable budget tracker or financial planning software in Singapore.

Real-Time Sync

This feature ensures your data updates instantly across all devices. It's helpful for individuals and families who track spending on the go or share budget responsibilities.

Bank Integration

A well-rounded online budget system should connect securely with your bank accounts or credit cards. This allows your expenses and income to be pulled in automatically, saving time and improving accuracy.

Visual Reports and Spending Insights

Visual tools like graphs, charts, and summaries make it easier to spot trends. When you can clearly see where your money is going, it becomes easier to adjust your behavior and stay within budget.

Budget Alerts

Notifications and reminders keep you on track. Whether it's a warning about reaching your spending limit or a reminder for an upcoming bill, alerts help prevent budget slip-ups before they happen.

💡 Bonus Tip: Save Even More with a Smarter Telco Plan

Your mobile plan is a recurring expense, so it should be included in your monthly budget. Tracking your telco spending helps you stay aware of hidden costs and overpayments. If you're not using all your data or talk time, you might be spending more than necessary.

Switching to a budget-friendly mobile plan, like those from Circles.Life, can reduce monthly costs and free up money for savings or other essentials. Most expense tracker apps let you assign categories to telco expenses, so be sure to track mobile bills along with your other financial commitments.

Recommend Circles.Life’s Budget Plans

Circles.Life offers affordable, flexible plans designed to fit different lifestyles and financial goals. These plans are perfect for anyone looking to stay connected while keeping mobile expenses predictable and under control.

Last updated on: 9 June, 2025

Each plan is contract-free, easy to manage via the Circles.Life app, and includes access to CirclesAI, powered by OpenAI's latest models, to help with everyday productivity.

Final Thoughts

Staying on top of your finances doesn’t have to be complicated. The best expense tracker apps help you build better habits by making budgeting clear, simple, and even enjoyable. Whether you prefer visual tools, calendar-based tracking, or just quick logging on the go, there’s an app for every type of user.

Free apps like Monny, MoneyNote, and Household Account Book are great starting points for beginners or families. If you’re looking for more advanced insights or features like bank syncing and AI-powered recommendations, apps like Spendee and Dobin offer a deeper level of support for long-term money management.

There’s no single best app for everyone. Try out a few options to see which one fits your lifestyle, goals, and budgeting habits. With the right tool in your pocket and a budget-friendly mobile plan like Circles.Life, managing your money in Singapore becomes a lot easier and a lot more effective.

FAQs About Expense Tracker Apps

Why use a budgeting app instead of manually maintaining a sheet?

Budgeting apps offer real-time tracking, automatic summaries, and mobile access, making it easier to stay consistent. Unlike spreadsheets, apps can send alerts, visualize your spending, and save time by automating repetitive entries.

Can I sync my budgeting app with bank or telco payments?

Yes. Apps like Spendee and Dobin allow secure syncing with bank accounts and can track telco charges as recurring expenses. This gives you a more complete view of your monthly financial commitments in one place.

Why should I track my mobile spending separately?

Your mobile plan is a recurring cost, just like rent or groceries. Tracking telco charges helps identify if you're paying for unused data or features. Using a budget-friendly plan, like those from Circles.Life, can help lower your monthly expenses and free up savings.

Are free budgeting apps safe to use in Singapore?

Most popular apps follow strong security protocols, especially those available on the App Store or Google Play. Look for apps with secure data policies, privacy controls, and local reviews. Avoid apps that request unnecessary access to sensitive data.

Can I use budgeting apps offline?

Some apps like MoneyNote and Dollarbird allow offline entry. Your data will sync when you reconnect to the internet. This is especially useful for logging expenses on the go, even when you're traveling or in low-signal areas.