PocketSmith Budgeting App Review for 2025

There are plenty of budgeting apps to choose from, but they're often geared toward smartphone users. If you prefer a bigger screen to get a sense of where all your cash is going, PocketSmith is worth a look.

PocketSmith is budgeting software that operates with a desktop-first approach. And if you'd also like the option to review your budget on your smartphone, it has a mobile app companion called PocketSmith Sidekick.

Is this budgeting tool the right fit for you? Read on to find out.

How does PocketSmith work?

PocketSmith does what every good budgeting program should do: It tracks what you earn, what you spend and what you save, and uses that data to develop charts and graphs to illustrate your cash flow.

As long as you're using one of PocketSmith's paid versions, you can sync bank accounts around the world. The free version requires you to enter your transactions manually. 

PocketSmith's key differentiator is its ability to predict what your personal finances will look like a long time from now. With the most expensive plan, you can forecast up to 60 years ahead. If you've been using another popular budgeting tool, the company makes it easy to switch with an express migration tool designed to automatically import all your data.

When it comes to budgeting, you can opt to take a hands-on approach and design your own budget or use the company's auto-budget feature to create a guide based on your transaction history. No matter what you do, you'll be able to get a handy calendar view that helps you predict how much money you'll have each day based on your bills and income.

All this is done primarily through a desktop version, but the company's mobile app, PocketSmith Sidekick, lets you monitor your budget and net worth on the go, too.

PocketSmith has three paid plans:

• Foundation: $14.95/month; $34.95/quarter; or $119.95/year 
• Flourish: $24.95/month; $59.95/quarter; or $199.95/year
• Fortune: $39.95/month; $99.95/quarter; or $319.95/year

The main differences between the plans are the number of connected banks and dashboards you get, how far out you can project your finances, and your level of email support.

What we like

• Tracks just about everything: What was your savings rate last week? How much did you spend last Tuesday? Have you gotten your overspending problem under control in the past three months? PocketSmith can help you answer all these questions -- and just about anything else you could ask about your cash flow and net worth. 
• Calendar offers a crystal ball for your money: My favorite PocketSmith feature is its calendar, which predicts how much money you'll have each day of the month. It's a valuable tool to help you make adjustments -- like canceling that dinner reservation on Friday or working some extra hours on your side gig -- to ensure you have enough cash to cover all your necessary expenses.
• Doesn't sell data to third parties: PocketSmith collects a lot of information about how much you spend, how much debt you have, how much you've saved and more, but you don't have to worry about anyone else learning those details. The company never sells or rents data to third parties, so you won't receive a bunch of advertisements targeted to your profile.

What we don't like

• Free version doesn't do much: Like most budgeting tools, PocketSmith's free version seems designed to entice you to spring for a paid tier. Within about three minutes of tooling around on the platform, I received a pop-up notification to upgrade to the next tier. And if you want to fully leverage PocketSmith's power, you will need to take some cash out of your pocket. The free version doesn't automatically sync with your bank accounts, and it only forecasts up to six months in the future.
• Almost too much information: If you're looking for a fairly simple tool to track your spending patterns, PocketSmith might make your head spin. Compared with some more introductory-level tools, like Monarch Money, touring PocketSmith felt kind of like looking at a messy closet that needed to be organized. There was a lot to look at, but I didn't know where to start.
• Maze of pricing tiers: PocketSmith offers three paid tiers, each with three different billing options: monthly, quarterly and annually. It's kind of confusing, and the differences don't seem worth it for most users. Plus, you can't explore a higher tier for free to see if it's actually worth paying more for; PocketSmith forces you to agree to upgrade. 

Is PocketSmith safe?

Yes. PocketSmith encrypts all your data. In addition, it uses services such as Plaid to sync your bank account with the software instead of sharing your login information. You can also enable two-factor authentication to verify your identity each time you log into the platform. The company has never had any record of a data breach.

Who is PocketSmith suited for?

PocketSmith is a good fit for anyone who wants a mountain of details about their money, especially if they're planning for retirement. The platform's priciest plan, Fortune, includes an unlimited number of dashboards and the ability to forecast up to 60 years ahead. It's also a good tool for the globally connected user -- some of the paid versions allow syncing with bank accounts from around the world. 

PocketSmith isn't the best solution for someone looking for basic help with spending less and saving more. The software feels suited for more advanced budgeters, and the global bank account feature is geared toward those with more money and more concerns about currency fluctuations.

Alternatives to PocketSmith

If PocketSmith's long-term forecasting appeals to you, you should also look at Empower and Quicken Premier. Both tools are designed with the retirement-focused investor in mind, and they also have budgeting features to help guide your spending decisions.

If you're just setting out on your budgeting journey, check out the best budgeting apps to see what works best for your needs. Most of them offer a free trial version so you can test-drive their features.

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• 6 Top Budgeting Apps to Help You Master Your Money 
• Rocket Mortgage Review for December 2024 
• 12 Budget Hacks to Beat Inflation