PocketGuard
simple safe-to-spend guardrails that prevent you from overspending
How it works
PocketGuard is a budgeting app focused on one core question: after bills, goals, and essentials, how much money is actually safe to spend? Its In My Pocket feature calculates your disposable income in real time so you always know what you can afford. Paid tiers add unlimited account syncing, a debt payoff planner, subscription tracking, bill negotiation via Billshark, and customizable spending categories.
Is it right for you?
Consider if you
- You tend to overspend and need a dead-simple what's left to spend number
- You want bill negotiation and subscription cancellation built into your budget app
- You want a debt payoff planner with both avalanche and snowball methods
Skip if you
- People who want a fully useful free tier — free version allows only 2 accounts
- Those seeking credit score tracking or full investment portfolio analysis
- Anyone who prefers strict zero-based budgeting with the YNAB methodology
Your money and data
PocketGuard connects to your accounts via read-only Plaid and Finicity integration — it can view your transactions but cannot move money on your behalf. Data is protected with bank-level 256-bit SSL encryption and biometric login.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- In My Pocket feature calculates exactly how much is safe to spend after all obligations
- Lifetime purchase option at $149.99 eliminates ongoing subscription costs
- Debt payoff planner supports both avalanche and snowball repayment methods
Cons
- Free tier is barely functional — only 2 account connections and 2 spending categories
- No credit score tracking or investment analysis features
- Some smaller banks and credit unions may not connect via Plaid or Finicity
Pricing details
$12.99/month or $74.99/year · 7-day free trial · limited free tier · lifetime $149.99 one-time
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