PocketSmith 2025 Review: The best budget app for long-range forecasting

There are many budget apps to choose from, but they are often aimed at smartphone users. If you prefer a bigger screen to understand where all your money is going, PocketSmith is worth a look.

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

Is this budget tool right for you? Read on to find out.

How does PocketSmith work?

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

As long as you use one of the paid versions of PocketSmith, you can sync bank accounts worldwide. The free version requires you to enter your transactions manually.

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

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

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

PocketSmith has three paid plans:

• Foundation: $14.95 per month; $34.95/quarterly; or $119.95 per year
• Flowering: $24.95 per month; $59.95/quarter; or $199.95 per year
• Property: $39.95 per month; $99.95/quarterly; or $319.95 per year

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

What we like

• Tracks almost all: What was your savings rate last week? How much did you spend last Tuesday? Have you got your overspending problem under control in the last three months? PocketSmith can help you answer all of these questions — and just about anything else you might ask about your cash flow and net worth.
• The calendar offers a crystal ball for your money: My favorite feature of PocketSmith 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 a dinner reservation on Friday or working a few extra hours at your gig—to make sure you have enough cash to cover all of your necessary expenses. .
• We do not sell data to third parties: PocketSmith collects a lot of information about how much you spend, how much you owe, how much you’ve saved, and more, but you don’t have to worry about someone else learning those details. The company never sells or rents data to third parties, so you won’t get loads of ads targeted to your profile.

What we don’t like

• The free version doesn’t do much: Like most budget tools, the free version of PocketSmith seems designed to lure you in for a paid tier. Within about three minutes of working on the platform, I received a pop-up notification to upgrade to the next level. And if you want to take full advantage of PocketSmith’s power, you’ll need to take some money out of your pocket. The free version does not automatically sync with your bank accounts and only forecasts up to six months into the future.
• Almost also lots of information: If you’re looking for a fairly simple tool to track your spending patterns, PocketSmith can get you rolling. Compared to some more entry-level tools like Monarch Money, PocketSmith on Tour felt like looking at a messy closet that needed organizing. There was so much to see, but I didn’t know where to start.
• Maze of price levels: PocketSmith offers three paid tiers, each with three different billing options: monthly, quarterly, and annually. It’s kind of confusing and the differences aren’t worth it for most users. Plus, you can’t explore a higher level for free to see if it’s worth paying more; 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 suitable for?

PocketSmith is a good fit for anyone who wants a wealth of detail about their money, especially if they’re planning to retire. The platform’s most expensive plan, Fortune, includes an unlimited number of panels and the ability to forecast up to 60 years ahead. It’s also a good tool for globally connected users — some of the paid versions allow syncing with bank accounts from around the world.

PocketSmith is not the best choice for someone looking for basic help to spend less and save more. The software feels suited to more advanced budgeters, and the global bank account feature is geared toward those with more cash and more worries about currency fluctuations.

Alternative to PocketSmith

If PocketSmith’s long-term forecast appeals to you, you should also look into 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 starting 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 their features.

Finally get a handle on your budget with PocketSmith.

The details

The best app to forecast your cash flow

Frequently asked questions

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