7 Best Free Finance Apps in New Zealand (2026)
The best free personal finance apps that actually work with NZ banks. No trials, no hidden fees — genuinely free tools for managing your money.
Weekly insights on saving, spending, and making your money work harder. No spam.
You don't need to spend money to manage money. Several genuinely free finance apps work with NZ banks — no trials that expire, no hidden upgrade requirements.
Here are the 7 best free options for New Zealanders in 2026, ranked by how useful they actually are.
What "free" means here
We're only including apps where the free tier is genuinely usable long-term — not 14-day trials or apps where the free version is so limited it's basically a demo. Every app listed below lets you do meaningful financial management without paying a cent.
1. Steady (Free tier)
What you get free: 1 bank connection via [Akahu open banking](/blog/akahu-open-banking-nz-explained), 90 days of transaction history, 1 savings goal, 5 AI questions per month, spending insights, [safe-to-spend](/blog/safe-to-spend-explained) calculation, bill tracking.
Best for: People who want automatic bank sync and AI-powered insights without paying. Even the free tier connects to your real bank account and [tracks spending automatically](/blog/track-spending-automatically-nz).
What you miss: Unlimited bank connections, full history, unlimited AI conversations, and advanced features are on the Plus plan. But for a single bank account, the free tier is genuinely comprehensive.
NZ banks supported: ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac, Kiwibank, TSB, SBS, and more via Akahu.
Check out all [Steady's features](/features) or see [how it compares](/compare).
2. MyBudgetPal (by Booster)
What you get free: Full app — it's completely free. Bank connections, automatic categorisation, spending insights, goal tracking.
Best for: People who want a no-cost option with no upgrade pressure. MyBudgetPal is funded by Booster (a KiwiSaver provider), so the app itself is entirely free.
Limitations: Less advanced than paid options. No AI assistant, simpler categorisation, and the interface is more basic. But for straightforward budget tracking, it does the job.
NZ banks supported: Major NZ banks via direct connections.
3. Sorted.org.nz tools
What you get free: Budget planner, KiwiSaver fund finder, retirement calculator, debt repayment calculator, savings goal planner. All completely free.
Best for: One-off financial planning. Sorted is run by Te Ara Ahunga Ora (the Commission for Financial Capability) and funded by the NZ government. See our [detailed comparison of Steady vs Sorted](/compare/sorted).
Limitations: Not an app — it's a website. No bank connection, no [automatic tracking](/blog/track-spending-automatically-nz), no ongoing monitoring. You enter numbers manually each time.
4. Your bank's built-in app
What you get free: Transaction categorisation, basic spending insights, savings goals (some banks), payment scheduling.
Best for: People who only use one bank and want zero additional setup.
Limitations: Only shows one bank. Can't see your full financial picture if you have accounts at multiple institutions. No AI insights, basic categorisation, no [investment tracking](/blog/track-investments-nz).
Which banks have the best apps? ASB and ANZ have the most developed spending insights. BNZ's app is clean and fast. Kiwibank's is improving. See our [NZ bank comparison](/blog/nz-bank-accounts-compared-2026).
5. PocketSmith (Free tier)
What you get free: 2 accounts, 6 months of history, manual transaction entry, basic budgeting and categorisation.
Best for: People who don't mind entering transactions manually and want PocketSmith's powerful interface.
Limitations: The free tier doesn't include automatic bank feeds — you have to manually import or enter every transaction. That's a significant limitation. The paid tiers (from $12.95/month) unlock automatic syncing. See our [Steady vs PocketSmith comparison](/compare/pocketsmith).
6. BudgetBuddie
What you get free: Bank connections to 25+ NZ institutions, spending categorisation, budget tracking, goal setting.
Best for: People who want a straightforward NZ-focused [budgeting app](/blog/how-to-budget-nz-beginners) with bank connections included.
Limitations: Simpler feature set than Steady or PocketSmith. No AI, no gamification, fewer insights. But the basics are solid and it connects to NZ banks for free. See our [Steady vs BudgetBuddie comparison](/compare/budgetbuddie).
7. Sharesies (for investments)
What you get free: Portfolio tracking, market data, educational content. No account fees.
Best for: [Tracking your investments](/blog/track-investments-nz) — shares, ETFs, and managed funds. Not a budgeting app, but essential if you invest.
Limitations: Only covers investments, not everyday banking. You pay brokerage when you buy/sell, but the tracking and portfolio view are free.
How to choose
If you want the easiest setup: Your bank's app. It's already connected.
If you want AI insights: Steady's free tier. Ask questions about your money in plain English.
If you want full free with no limits: MyBudgetPal. Completely free, no upgrade pressure.
If you want long-term planning: Sorted.org.nz. Best free calculators in NZ.
If you're detail-oriented: PocketSmith's free tier, if you don't mind manual entry.
A note on privacy
Free apps need to make money somehow. Check how each app handles your data:
- Steady: Funded by paid subscriptions. Free tier is a growth tool. Data stays private. See our [security page](/security).
- MyBudgetPal: Funded by Booster (KiwiSaver provider). May promote KiwiSaver products.
- Sorted: Government funded. No commercial interests.
- Bank apps: Your bank already has your data. No additional privacy concerns.
- BudgetBuddie: Check their privacy policy for data usage details.
The [NZ Privacy Act 2020](/blog/is-steady-safe) gives you rights over your financial data regardless of which app you use.
The bottom line
You have genuine options for free financial management in New Zealand. For most people, we'd suggest starting with Steady's free tier (for automatic tracking and AI) alongside Sorted.org.nz (for planning and calculators). Together, they cover daily management and long-term planning without costing a cent.
See the full [app comparison](/blog/best-budgeting-apps-nz-2026) or [try Steady free](/pricing).
Written by the Steady Team
Steady is a personal finance app built in New Zealand. We help Kiwis track spending, set savings goals, and understand their money — without spreadsheets or manual budgeting.Learn more about us
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