Introduction
In 2025, the personal budgeting app market is booming like never before. According to a survey from Business Research Insights, the global personal finance app market is projected to reach $21.4 billion in 2025, with a stunning 20.57% CAGR from 2024 to 2033.
Smartphone penetration and digital banking adoption continue to fuel this surge. Meanwhile, AI-powered features and predictive analytics are rapidly shifting basic tools into intelligent financial advisors.
An application like Mint can be an excellent choice for businesses seeking to target potential clients with high income potential. Building an app like Mint today isn’t just about tracking expenses; it’s about delivering real-time insights, automation, and personalized advice.
Users now demand seamless integration with bank accounts, investment portfolios, crypto wallets, and built-in bill reminders. Gamification and voice-based assistance are also gaining popularity, particularly among younger generations seeking inspiration to save and remain financially vigilant.
This article guides you through the essential steps and innovative feature development to create next-generation budgeting apps. You’ll learn what users expect in 2025, the tech stacks that support intelligent financial UX, and how to design with scalability and security at the core.
Why Build a Budgeting App like Mint?
By 2025, personal finance management apps are expected to evolve into comprehensive financial wellness platforms. Building a budgeting app like Mint today means tapping into a growing demand for more innovative, more intuitive money management solutions.
Here’s why it’s an idea worth investing in:
1. Market Trends
Today’s budgeting apps are no longer just about tracking expenses; they’re transforming into AI-powered financial companions. Features like automated savings, bill negotiation, and personalized investment advice are now standard expectations.
Additionally, with the rise of open banking and fintech APIs, developers can seamlessly connect users to their entire financial ecosystem, creating unified, real-time insights across accounts, cards, loans, and even crypto wallets.
2. User Demand
Modern users expect apps to do more than record transactions. They want goal-oriented savings tools, automated reminders, subscription tracking, and gamified experiences to keep them engaged.
With over 65% of millennials favoring apps for managing all financial activities in one place, there’s a strong demand for holistic solutions
3. Monetization Opportunities
There are multiple revenue models, including freemium plans, premium subscriptions, in-app ads, affiliate partnerships with banks and insurers, and offering paid financial advice and tools.
Embedded finance trends also create opportunities for cross-selling loans, credit cards, and investment products directly within the app.
11 Key Features to Consider When Creating a Budgeting App
A successful budgeting app isn’t just about tracking expenses; it’s about empowering users to take control of their finances.
Here are 11 essential features and how they benefit users:
1. Account Aggregation
Connecting multiple bank accounts, credit cards, and wallets in one place.
Benefit: Gives users a unified view of their financial health.
2. Expense Tracking
Automatically categorizing and tracking all transactions in real-time.
Benefit: Helps users understand spending habits and cuts unnecessary costs.
3. Budget Creation & Management
Allows users to set budgets for different categories.
Benefit: Promotes disciplined spending and goal-oriented savings.
4. Bill Reminders
Send alerts for upcoming due dates.
Benefit: Reduces late fees and improves credit scores.
5. Goal Setting
Enables users to set and track savings goals.
Benefit: Encourages saving for specific milestones like vacations or emergencies.
6. Data Visualization
Offers charts and graphs for income and expenses.
Benefit: Simplifies understanding of financial trends over time.
7. Subscription Tracking
Identify and manage recurring subscriptions.
Benefit: Prevents unnoticed auto-renewals and helps cancel unused services.
8. Multi-Currency Support
Supports international currencies for global users.
Benefit: Ideal for travelers and expatriates managing diverse accounts.
9. Security Features
Integrate multi-factor authentication and encryption protocols.
Benefit: Builds trust by safeguarding sensitive financial data.
10. AI Insights & Recommendations
Provide personalized spending advice using AI analytics.
Benefit: Helps users make smarter financial decisions effortlessly.
11. Offline Access
Allow limited functionality without internet connectivity.
Benefit: Useful for tracking expenses anytime, anywhere.
How to Make a Budget App: A 6-Step Guide
Building a budgeting app requires careful planning and execution to ensure it meets user needs and stands out in a competitive market.
Here’s a six-step roadmap to guide you through the process.
1. Market Research
Conduct in-depth research to understand user pain points, preferences, and the offerings of competitors. Analyze trends in fintech, user demographics, and regulatory requirements. This helps identify unique features that will differentiate your app and align it with current user expectations.
2. Design
Create an intuitive and user-friendly UI/UX that focuses on simplicity and engagement. Include dashboards, charts, and visualizations that make financial data easy to interpret. Ensure your design supports accessibility and works seamlessly across multiple devices and screen sizes.
3. Tech Stack
Select a robust tech stack that prioritizes scalability and security. Consider cross-platform frameworks like Flutter or React Native, secure backend solutions, APIs for banking integration, and cloud services for real-time processing and storage
4. Development
Start with MVP development to test core functionalities like expense tracking and account aggregation. Use agile methodologies for iterative development, allowing you to refine features based on early user feedback and market changes.
5. Testing
Perform rigorous testing to ensure reliability, security, and performance. This includes functional, usability, security, and stress testing across devices. Address bugs and optimize workflows to deliver a seamless user experience at launch.
6. Launch
Roll out the app with a soft launch to gather initial feedback. Develop a marketing strategy that focuses on app stores, social media, and partnerships with financial institutions. Post-launch, track analytics to optimize features and enhance user engagement.
Recommended Tech Stack to Create a Budgeting App like Mint
1. Frontend
Frameworks/Libraries: React Native (cross-platform), Flutter (cross-platform), Swift (iOS), Kotlin (Android)
UI/UX Tools: Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch for design prototyping
Visualization Libraries: D3.js, Chart.js for graphs and charts
2. Backend
Languages: Node.js, Python (Django/Flask), Java (Spring Boot)
Frameworks: Express.js (for Node.js), FastAPI (for Python)
API Development: RESTful APIs or GraphQL for client-server communication
Authentication: OAuth 2.0, JWT (JSON Web Tokens) for secure user access
3. Database
Relational Database: PostgreSQL or MySQL for transactional data
NoSQL Database: MongoDB for unstructured financial data
Caching: Redis for faster data retrieval and performance optimization
4. APIs & Integrations
Banking APIs: Plaid, Yodlee, or FinBox for account aggregation
Payment Gateways: Stripe, PayPal for in-app payments or premium features
Notifications: Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM), Twilio for SMS/email alerts
5. Security & Compliance
Encryption: AES-256 for data security
Compliance: GDPR, PCI DSS, and local financial regulations
User Authentication: Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
6. Cloud & DevOps
Cloud Providers: AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure for hosting
DevOps Tools: Docker, Kubernetes for containerization and scalability
CI/CD: Jenkins, GitHub Actions for continuous deployment
Read More:- How to Build a Personal Budgeting App Like Mint
Top comments (0)