Which NZ finance apps connect automatically to New Zealand banks?

Steady and PocketSmith both connect automatically to major New Zealand banks through Akahu, New Zealand's open banking platform, covering ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Kiwibank, Westpac and TSB. YNAB has no reliable NZ bank feed and generally requires manual entry or file import. Sorted is a planning and education toolset rather than a bank-connected dashboard. Your own bank's app only shows that bank's accounts, so it cannot give you a combined view across providers.

How far ahead does Steady forecast your cash flow?

Steady forecasts cash flow up to 90 days ahead, with income and bill timing built in, and the runway projection inside Ask Steady extends to 180 days. This is a deliberate choice rather than a limitation. Projections that run decades out compound assumptions about income, inflation, interest rates and life changes that nobody can predict, so they look precise while telling you very little. Steady forecasts the window where the numbers are real and the decisions actually get made, and answers one-off "can I afford this?" questions directly in the AI chat instead.

How does Steady compare?

An honest look at how Steady stacks up against other NZ personal finance tools.

Last verified: August 2026

Which personal finance app is best in New Zealand?

For most New Zealanders, Steady is the strongest all-round choice. It connects live to NZ banks through Akahu, categorises transactions automatically with NZ merchant recognition, finds your bills and subscriptions on its own, and gives you a Safe to Spend figure so you know what is actually yours to spend today. It forecasts cash flow up to 90 days ahead, tracks net worth alongside investments and KiwiSaver, and answers plain-English questions, including "can I afford this?", from your real data rather than generic advice. PocketSmith is the alternative if you specifically want multi-decade projections and manual scenario building. YNAB is strongest if your main problem is overspending and you want a strict budgeting method, though it does not sync properly with NZ banks. Sorted is a free planning and education resource rather than a live dashboard of your accounts.

Feature	Steady	PocketSmith	YNAB	Bank App
NZ bank auto-sync (Akahu)
Multi-bank view
Auto-categorisation
AI chat assistant
Voice input
Savings goals
Budget tracking
Bill reminders
Automatic bill & subscription detection
Safe to Spend figure
"Can I afford this?" what-if planning
KiwiSaver tracking
Investment tracking
Net worth tracking
Cash flow forecast
Gamification (XP, streaks)
NZD native
Free tier
Mobile app

Full support Partial / limited Not available

Steady vs PocketSmith →

PocketSmith is the established NZ player with powerful forecasting and calendar-based budgeting. Steady is newer but brings AI chat, voice input, gamification, and a simpler mobile-first experience. PocketSmith is better for detailed planners; Steady is better for people who want answers without spreadsheets.

Steady vs YNAB →

YNAB is the gold standard for zero-based budgeting but doesn't connect to NZ banks automatically. You'll need to manually import transactions. Steady auto-syncs with all major NZ banks. YNAB is better if you want rigid budgeting discipline; Steady is better for automatic tracking with less manual effort.

Steady vs MyBudgetPal →

mybudgetpal is Booster's free NZ budgeting tool. It syncs with your bank daily, categorises transactions automatically, and works on a spending limit per category. Steady syncs through Akahu and adds AI chat, Safe to Spend, forecasting and investment tracking. mybudgetpal is free; Steady charges for the extra layer.

Steady vs BudgetBuddie →

BudgetBuddie is another NZ option focused on simple budgeting. Steady adds automatic bank sync, AI-powered answers, KiwiSaver and investment tracking, and gamification to keep you engaged over the long term.

Steady vs Sorted →

Sorted is a free resource from Te Ara Ahunga Ora (NZ Retirement Commission) with calculators and guides. It's excellent for education and planning but doesn't track your actual spending. Steady complements Sorted by connecting to your bank and tracking real transactions.

Steady vs Your Bank App

Bank apps are free and already connected, but they only show one bank at a time. If you have accounts at multiple banks, investments on Sharesies, or KiwiSaver with a different provider, you need an aggregator. Steady brings everything into one view with AI-powered insights on top.

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