Top 8 Free Personal Finance Software Choices / The Best Free Software for Managing Money and Budgets

Shelly Elmblad for About.com writes: The best of free personal finance software is listed below, whether you want to manage money online or on your computer desktop. You will want to check out my picks for free personal tax preparation software.

The best of free personal finance software is listed below, whether you want to manage money online or on your computer desktop. You will want to check out my picks for free personal tax preparation software.

Buddi

Buddi Transaction Register

Buddi runs on Windows, Mac and Linux systems and has been translated into multiple languages. For safety, Buddi can encryptfinancial data with a password, and it's designed to be easy to use even if you have no financial background. Features include budgeting, tracking accounts, personal finance reports, but you will have to enter transactions manually (no transaction downloads). Free plugins can be downloaded to add more features, and online user manual is easy to read and use.

• Compatible Operating Systems: Any operating system running Sun Java Virtual Machine (you can get Java downloads here), including Windows, Mac OS X 10.4 and higher, and most flavors of Linux.

Read Buddi Review and Download

ceMoney Lite

Adding a Transaction in AceMoneyMechCAD Software / Shelley Elmblad Screenshot

AceMoney Lite supports investment tracking and two financial accounts (checking, credit card, etc.). You could get around the two account stipulation by using one account with categories for multiple accounts with subcategories for income and expense budgeting, but if that sounds like a hassle, there are other good alternatives on this list.

There's an active online user community for help or suggestions if needed, and the software is being improved all the time by an active development team. The full version of AceMoney runs $40 and supports unlimited accounts.

• Compatible Operating Systems: Windows, Linux, Mac

AceMoney Review and Download Link

Microsoft Money Sunset Deluxe

Screen Shot by Shelley Elmblad

After discontinuing Microsoft Money Plus, Microsoft made Money Sunset Deluxe available for free. Microsoft Money Plus Sunset Deluxe replaces earlier versions of the software, but it is crippled with no Internet supported features like automatic transaction updates and Microsoft offers no support for this version. However, for people who don't need Internet-supported features or who don't mind importing transactions from their online bank, Money Plus Sunset is worth considering.

• Compatible Operating Systems: Windows

Microsoft Money Sunset Deluxe Review with Download Info

GnuCash

GnuCash ReportSimba Management Limited

GnuCash is available for Mac, Windows and other operating systems. Features include tracking bank accounts, stocks, income and expenses and small business accounting features. GnuCash is based on professional accounting principles to ensure balanced books and accurate reports, and since it's actively developed, this free financial software is improving all the time.

• Compatible Operating Systems: Windows, GNU/Linux, Mac OS X, Solaris, NetBSD, FreeBSD.

GnuCash Review with Download Link

PL Cash

PLCash © Copyright 2003, Paul Lutus

PLCash stores data in plain text format, which allows you to use a spreadsheet or word processing software to read and analyze your financial data. PLCash also offers useful personal finance reports, support for multiple account types and basic investment tracking. Data can be imported from Quicken, Microsoft Money or any other software that supports QIF data exports.

PLCash does not encrypt data.

• Compatible Operating Systems: Any operating system with Java Runtime installed.

Learn More About PL Cash

Financial Fate Personal Financial Planning Software

Financial Fate - Trademark of Financial Modeling Solutions, Inc.

Financial Fate is for longer-term personal financial planning and has been designed to require no formal financial planning training to use. Financial Fate can tell you if your money management practices will lead to being financially solvent for life, or if you need to make some changes to avoid money problems later.

Financial Fate Review and Download Link

Free Budget Spreadsheets

PearBudget.com

If you don't need fully featured personal financial software and you're really more concerned about keeping a budget, there are some great free budget spreadsheet templates you can use with Microsoft Excel, OpenOffice Calc or the spreadsheet in Google Docs. Just download and open them in your spreadsheet software.

Free Online Personal Finance Software

Getty Images / Nick Koudis

There's a great selection of online personal finance software available, and much of it has more features than the free desktop offerings. Most online money management apps are free and can be used anywhere you have an Internet connection.

Free Online Personal Finance Software