Student Budget Apps

Best Budget Apps for Students (2026)

Manage college expenses and hostel budgets

Students need simple, free budget apps to manage limited funds. These apps help track hostel expenses, food, and entertainment on student budgets.

Available Alternatives

Expenie
Recommended
Free budget app with gamification perfect for students
Free (perfect for students)

Pros

  • Completely free for students
  • Gamification makes tracking fun
  • Simple, easy to use
  • Track pocket money and part-time income
  • No complicated features to overwhelm beginners

Cons

  • Some advanced features in premium

Best for: Students wanting fun, gamified expense tracking

Splitwise
Split bills with roommates and friends
Free

Pros

  • Perfect for shared hostel expenses
  • Split restaurant bills easily
  • Track who owes whom

Cons

  • Not a budget tracker
  • Doesn't track personal expenses

Best for: Students sharing hostel and splitting bills

Google Sheets
Free spreadsheet for manual budget tracking
Free

Pros

  • Completely free
  • Works offline
  • Customizable

Cons

  • Requires setup
  • Poor mobile experience
  • Not student-friendly

Best for: Tech-savvy students comfortable with spreadsheets

Key Differentiators

Why Expenie Stands Out

Designed for students with simple, non-intimidating interface

Gamification makes budgeting fun, not a chore

Completely free - no premium required for students

Track pocket money, scholarships, and part-time income

Ready to Try Expenie?

Join thousands of users who have made the switch to Expenie for better expense tracking

Free forever for basic features • No credit card required