Beyond.com writes: Just a few years ago, the idea that mobile apps had a place in the business world would've earned a laugh. Apps were regarded as kid's stuff. With the rise of Web 3.0, however, the idea of doing serious work from a tablet or smartphone started to earn a little respect. Apps are serious business now, and serious businesses from freelancers to Fortune 500 companies are taking notice. Among the first areas to benefit from this new appreciation is accounting apps. The uniquely number-centric world of accounting makes an accounting app—whether for home finances, payroll processing, or accounts receivable—a natural choice for business. There are now so many accounting apps, in fact, that some sort of guide is called for.
Starting on the home front, a number of accounting apps are optimized for personal budgeting. While the emphasis in personal accounting apps is generally on simplicity, some are sophisticated enough to handle the books for a small or home-based business. Personal accounting apps such as CalendarBudget and BudgetPulse combine an intuitive interface with colorful charts and graphs to clarify your income and expense tracking.
Moving up the scale of complexity, you'll find a number of accounting apps that place emphasis on flexible account tracking, rather than colorful outputs. The idea seems to be that the users of these accounting apps will be professionally engaged, as opposed to casual, users who need to use the apps every day. Accounting apps such as IExpenseOnline and Mint pile up features such as investment tracking and currency converters.
More than a few of these accounting apps are offered for free. This is especially true for the smaller-scale personal finance apps. You can still find some good deals higher up on the scale, though, if you're willing to look around. Yodlee MoneyCenter is free, for example, and offers such high-end features as net-worth reporting and mobile alerts. It doesn't even have in-app ads to distract you. Other accounting apps do charge a fee, usually monthly, but even here there are deals to be had. eFinPlan has long been a favorite of accounting professionals, and the $98 annual subscription can be cut in half for elderly or disabled individuals, as well as for single parents.
Accounting apps have come from nowhere in the last few years to become an indispensable part of today's business climate. Ordinary people are using them to keep track of groceries, freelance writers are using them to handle contract work and to keep an eye on payments, and even account managers at large companies have begun to supplement their in-office software with something they can work on from home. It would appear that the accounting mobile apps have arrived.
Shelley Elmblad for About.com writes: Looking for a good web app to manage money? Here are the best choices for online personal finance and budgeting software.
15 Best Online Personal Finance Software Apps
BudgetPulse
BudgetPulse is free online personal finance software that's easy to use without sacrificing meaningful budget tools and financial reports. This app is also great for anyone who doesn't want to enter financial account numbers and passwords to download transactions automatically. You can download transactions yourself from your bank and import them, or enter via your keyboard. Savings goals can be made public for fund raising or giving family and friends a chance to chip in toward reaching goals.
MintManilla
Manilla is a relative newcomer to online personal finance apps. While it has no budgeting tools, it removes the complication from keeping an eye on financial account balances, paying bills on time and managing magazine subscriptions and travel reward points.
Mint is very popular online money management software that tracks all your accounts in one place while offering some great financial tools. Although not a personal financial management feature, Mint finds customized financial products and services that can save you money, but keeps these offers tucked away unless you want to see them. Mint is free, and took first place for 2011 Best Online Personal Finance Software.
CalendarBudget
CalendarBudget is a free online app that shows financial transactions and upcoming bills on a color coded calendar. This app will help you budget and then forecast your financial picture into the future for years to come.
IExpenseOnline
IExpenseOnline is ideal for those who want to do detailed budget and expense tracking. IExpenseOnline is free, the look of the app is easy on the eyes and it's simple to use.
moneyStrands
Among the nifty features in moneyStrands is an upcoming bills calendar, multiple currency support, money saving offers and a 15 day free trial. As of March, 2011, moneyStrands suspended automatic account aggregation for an extended period of time. Currently, there is no ETA for restarting this important feature, so if you don't want to enter transactions manually, consider one of the other selections.
Yodlee MoneyCenter
Yodlee MoneyCenter provides a consolidated view of personal finance accounts, along with net worth reporting, a budgeting tool, mobile and email alerts and more. Yodlee MoneyCenter is free and has no ads, and has online bill pay.
ClearCheckbook
ClearCheckbook is free online personal finance software that tracks account and your budget in one place. Because account numbers are never entered into ClearCheckbook, your data is secure.
Mvelopes
Mvelopes is an online personal finance app that combines envelope budgeting principles with a great set of other money management tools, an online community and access to 24x7 help. A debt reduction tool is included.
Depending on the subscription plan chosen, Mvelopes costs $9.95 per month or $95 per year, which includes online bill pay. A free version is available, but minus some features and with limited accounts and envelopes.
Mvelopes is an online personal finance app that combines envelope budgeting principles with a great set of other money management tools, an online community and access to 24x7 help. A debt reduction tool is included.
Depending on the subscription plan chosen, Mvelopes costs $9.95 per month or $95 per year, which includes online bill pay. A free version is available, but minus some features and with limited accounts and envelopes.
Depending on the subscription plan chosen, Mvelopes costs $9.95 per month or $95 per year, which includes online bill pay. A free version is available, but minus some features and with limited accounts and envelopes.
PearBudget Online Budgeting Software
PearBudget is simple web-based personal budgeting software that uses an envelope budgeting model to help you to avoid debt and overspending. PearBudget costs $3 per month.
PearBudget is simple web-based personal budgeting software that uses an envelope budgeting model to help you to avoid debt and overspending. PearBudget costs $3 per month.
Google Chrome Money Management Apps and Extensions
The Chrome Web Store has free and paid money management apps and extensions, which make handling financial tasks from within Chrome very convenient. Check out the money management apps at the Chrome Web Store. Most are free.
The Chrome Web Store has free and paid money management apps and extensions, which make handling financial tasks from within Chrome very convenient. Check out the money management apps at the Chrome Web Store. Most are free.
Facebook Money Management Apps
Millions of people visit Facebook every day to get status updates and news from friends. Did you know you can also track the status of your personal finances on Facebook?
Millions of people visit Facebook every day to get status updates and news from friends. Did you know you can also track the status of your personal finances on Facebook?
iGoogle Gadgets
iGoogle pulls information from a wide variety of sources to give you a highly customizable online personal start page including some nifty financial gadgets to add to your iGoogle pages.
iGoogle pulls information from a wide variety of sources to give you a highly customizable online personal start page including some nifty financial gadgets to add to your iGoogle pages.
eFinPLANNeoBudget Online Budget Software
NeoBudget is envelope budgeting software that uses images to show much money as been set aside to pay bills or for savings. NeoBudget includes a debt reduction module to help you with your online budget. NeoBudget costs $2.50 per month.