Best budgeting apps 2026 without bank linking
More and more people want to manage their money without handing their bank credentials to an app. Good news: manual tracking is back, and the options are excellent. Here's an honest comparison of the best no-bank-linking apps in 2026.
An honest comparison of the best apps to manage your money without linking your bank account in 2026: Neto, Monefy, Money Manager, Dime and Actual Budget.
Disclosure: Neto is our app, I'm its developer. That's why it tops the list, but every alternative includes its real strengths so you can decide for yourself.
Quick answer: the best budgeting app without bank linking depends on what you want to track. For fast expense logging, Monefy; for minimalism on iPhone, Dime; for open source and self-hosting, Actual Budget. If you want expenses, investments and net worth in one app without giving it access to your bank, the pick is Neto: iOS and Android, 62 currencies, 6 languages, free with an optional PRO plan.
Neto, most complete for investments and net worth
Best for: people who want more than expenses: crypto, stocks and funds with up-to-date prices, multi-currency, and a net worth that stays up to date, all without linking a bank, built in Europe under GDPR. In 6 languages and 62 currencies, with the total converted to whichever you pick. Cons: logging is manual by design, and advanced features need PRO (EUR 1.99/week or EUR 49.99/year on iPhone, EUR 2.39/week or EUR 59.99/year on Android; free to start). More about Neto.
Monefy, fastest expense logging
Best for: logging an expense in two taps with a highly visual pie-chart interface. iOS and Android. Cons: stays at daily spending, no investments, no net worth. Torn between the two? Read the Neto vs Monefy comparison.
Money Manager, the veteran, most detailed
Best for: double-entry bookkeeping fans who want detailed reports. iOS and Android. Cons: busy interface and a learning curve.
Dime, pure minimalism on iPhone
Best for: budgets and expenses with a beautiful design, free, no accounts needed. Cons: no investments, no advanced multi-currency, no wealth view.
Actual Budget, for open-source lovers
Best for: technical users who want zero-based budgeting, self-hosting and absolute data control. Cons: you set it up and maintain it yourself; desktop-first rather than mobile-first.
Side by side
What each one covers. n/a means the app doesn't offer it, or we couldn't confirm it.
| App | Platforms | Investments | Net worth | Multi-currency | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neto | iOS and Android | Crypto, stocks and funds, up-to-date prices | Yes | Yes | Free · PRO on iPhone €1.99/wk or €49.99/yr; on Android €2.39/wk or €59.99/yr |
| Monefy | iOS and Android | No | No | n/a | n/a |
| Money Manager | iOS and Android | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Dime | iPhone | No | No | Not advanced | Free |
| Actual Budget | Desktop (self-hosted) | n/a | n/a | n/a | Open source |
All five work without connecting your bank, that's the point of this list. The difference is how far they go once the expense is logged.
Which one should you pick?
If you just want to log expenses, Monefy or Dime are plenty. If you want to build it all yourself, Actual Budget. If besides expenses you want to watch your investments and your net worth grow month after month without linking your bank, that's exactly why I built Neto.
Related: Mint alternativeNeto vs spreadsheetsprivate finance without bank synchow to track expenses without bank sync.
How Neto works without banksDownload NetoFrequently asked questions
Is it safe to connect an app to my bank?
Serious apps using Open Banking (PSD2) are regulated and never see your credentials, your own bank authorises the access. The issue is less about security than scope: connecting hands your full transaction history to a third party. That's a privacy decision, not just a technical one.
Isn't logging expenses manually a chore?
It is if you leave it to the end of the month. Done in the moment it's two taps and a few seconds. And it has a side effect automatic syncing doesn't give you: the act of logging makes you think before you spend.
Which should I pick if I only want to track spending?
Any of the quick ones on the list will do, and some are free. The decision changes if you also want investments and net worth, that shortlist gets much smaller, and it's what separates an expense app from a full finance app.
Founder of Neto. Writes about expense tracking, net worth and investing from your phone, without connecting your bank.
Your money clear, without spreadsheets.
Neto is the personal finance app for iPhone and Android that works without connecting your bank: your accounts and spending, free; and with Neto PRO, your investments and debts inside your net worth.
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This guide is general information and is not financial or investment advice.