PocketGuard Review for 2025

If you’re looking for a budgeting app, there’s a good chance you've come across PocketGuard in your search. It's been around since 2015, and it's gained plenty of fans over the years, with high praise from Android and iPhone users alike.

Like Rocket Money, PocketGuard is a great fit for the average budgeter, with a range of features, ease of use and an affordable price. Where it stands out the most is with its debt planning feature, which can help you create a strategy to pay off your outstanding balances.

Is PocketGuard the right budgeting tool for you? We took it for a test drive to help you decide.

8.8

PocketGuard

Like

• Debt payoff planning
• Added security layer
• Bill negotiation
• Personal finance education

Don't like

• Limited trial period
• No subscription cancellation
• Unclear data privacy and marketing policies

How does PocketGuard work?

David McMillin/CNET

PocketGuard works like most budgeting apps: You can link your checking, savings, investment and credit card accounts using Plaid and Finicity to import your data in just a few seconds, without sharing your account numbers or sensitive information. 

PocketGuard automatically sorts some of your transactions into spending categories, but I had to sort many of mine manually. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, though. Taking extra time to think about where your cash is going can help you manage your money better.

You can also label your recurring charges, set up savings goals and do all the usual budgeting actions that come with most other budgeting apps. 

The most valuable feature of PocketGuard is its debt payoff tool, which can help you create a payment plan, calculate how much interest you'll pay and track your progress.

I was disappointed that the app didn’t encourage me to see if I could set aside even more to pay down my credit card balance. If you want an app that can challenge you to be a better budgeter -- and hold you accountable to your goals -- you might consider Cleo. 

What we like

David McMillin/CNET

• Debt payoff planning: Debt can be overwhelming, and PocketGuard can help you create a strategy to tackle yours. Many budgeting apps don't offer this feature.
• Extra security layer: PocketGuard requires a unique PIN to access your account, and it also offers facial and fingerprint recognition to sign in. This can give you peace of mind that your financial information won’t slip into the wrong hands -- even if you lose your phone.
• Bill negotiation services: PocketGuard will automatically try to score some savings on recurring bills such as your cable, home security and mobile phone. If the company successfully lowers your bill, it'll take 40% of the savings. (Rocket Money also offers this service and charges 30% to 60% of your first year's savings.)
• Personal finance education: The app includes a free, 20-minute, self-guided tutorial that covers different approaches to budgeting, debt management, goal setting and more. While the information is pretty basic, it’s helpful for anyone in the early stages of creating a money plan. 

What we didn't like

• Limited trial period: PocketGuard’s free trial period is only seven days, which isn’t a ton time to see if the app fits your needs. I recommend opting for the monthly billing option initially if you decide to pay for the app. While it’s more expensive at $12.99 per month, you don’t want to lock yourself into the $74.99 annual cost without being confident you'll actually use the app. PocketGuard has a free version, but it's pretty barebones.
• No subscription cancellation service: The app can show you your recurring subscriptions and provide instructions to cancel them, but you'll need to do the legwork. Rocket Money, on the other hand, can identify and cancel your subscriptions for you.
• Unclear data privacy and marketing policies: PocketGuard states, “We don’t sell your data, we don’t show ads and we earn our money exclusively by selling subscriptions and better service.” However, the company’s privacy policy includes disclaimers about using your financial information to generate offers for products and services from its marketing partners. When I started using the app, I had to ask it not to track my activity across other websites.

Is PocketGuard safe?

PocketGuard checks all the boxes when it comes to keeping your data safe. The company uses 256-bit SSL encryption, and it goes a step beyond many other budgeting apps by asking you to create a unique PIN for account access. You can also enable facial and fingerprint recognition for an added layer of protection.

Who is PocketGuard best suited for?

PocketGuard is a solid pick if you're juggling multiple credit card balances and want an easy way to create a payment plan and monitor your progress.

Alternatives to the PocketGuard budgeting app

If you’re considering PocketGuard, make sure you also check out Rocket Money, which was CNET Editors’ Choice pick for the best overall budgeting app in 2024. Rocket Money is equally easy to use, has a lower price point and provides all the basic budgeting features you need. It offers a free subscription cancellation service and credit score monitoring, but it lacks PocketGuard's debt payoff tool.

Check out our best budgeting apps roundup for other options worth exploring.

Manage your money easier with PocketGuard.