PocketSmith Review 2025: The best budgeting app for long-term forecasting

There is an abundance of budgeting applications to choose from, but they often target smartphone users. If you prefer a larger screen to get an idea of ​​where all your money is going, PocketSmith is worth a look.

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

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

PocketSmith

like

• detailed insights

• cash flow forecasting

• desktop friendly

I don’t like it

• limited free features

• superb interface

• confusing pricing levels

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 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 around the world. The free version requires you to enter your transactions manually.

PocketSmith’s key distinguishing feature 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 budgeting 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 take a hands-on approach and create your own budget, or use the company’s auto-budget feature to create a guide based on your transaction history. No matter what you’re doing, 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 of this is primarily done 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
• Bloom: $24.95/month; $59.95/quarter; or $199.95/year
• fate: $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 you can plan your finances and the level of email support.

What we like

• Tracks almost 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 of these questions — and pretty much anything else you could ask about your cash flow and net worth.
• 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 that helps you make adjustments — like canceling that Friday dinner reservation or working extra hours at your side gig — to make sure you have enough cash to cover all of your necessary expenses.
• Does not 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 these details. The company never sells or rents data to third parties, so you won’t get a bunch of ads targeted to your profile.

What we don’t like

• The free version doesn’t do much: Like most budgeting tools, PocketSmith’s free version seems designed to lure you into the paid tier. Within about three minutes of working with the platform tools, 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 doesn’t automatically sync with your bank accounts and only forecasts up to six months into the future.
• almost too lots of information: If you’re looking for a fairly simple tool to track your spending patterns, PocketSmith might make your head spin. Compared to some more entry level tools such as Monarch Moneytouring PocketSmith felt like looking at a messy closet that needed organizing. There was a lot to look at, 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 don’t seem worth it to most users. Also, you can’t explore a higher tier for free to see if it’s really 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 like 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 every time you log into the platform. The company has never had any data breach.

Who is PocketSmith suitable for?

PocketSmith is suitable for anyone who wants a mountain of details about their money, especially if they plan to retire. The platform’s most expensive plan, Fortune, includes unlimited dashboards and the ability to forecast up to 60 years into the future. It is also a good tool for the globally connected user – some of the paid versions allow synchronization with bank accounts from around the world.

PocketSmith is not the best solution 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 aimed at those with more money and more concern about currency fluctuations.

Alternatives to PocketSmith

If PocketSmith’s long-term forecasting appeals to you, you should also check out Empower and Quicken Premier. Both tools are designed with retirement-focused investors in mind, and they also have budgeting features to help you make spending decisions.

If you’re just starting out on your budgeting journey, take a look best budgeting apps to see what works best for your needs. Most of them offer a free trial so you can test their features.

Finally manage your budget with PocketSmith.

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The best app to forecast your cash flow

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