Managing money does not come easy to everyone, but this digital age offers many solutions to the ever-present concern of staying on top of finances.
Budgeting apps are one way to maintain oversight of personal spending habits. CivicScience asked 1,622 respondents about their experience with this new trend. As it turns out, 51% of respondents have never heard of personal budgeting apps.
Among those who haven’t used the app, 6% plan to do so in the future, a small, but a potentially meaningful group to keep an eye on, as their experiences could shape the future of this niche service. The chart below rebased this question by awareness:
Budgeting Apps by Gender
When it comes to using budgeting apps, gender does play a role. 68% of those who haven’t used a budgeting app but who plan to are women, while 51% of those who have already used and like budgeting apps are men. This data suggests that the target demographic has the potential to shift, as women who plan to use the apps get on board.
Budgeting Apps by Income
Income is also related to the budgeting app trend. Low-income earners make up the majority of respondents in two categories: those who already use and like the apps (49%) and those who haven’t tried them but plan to do so (70%).
Budgeting Apps by Age Group
As with many tech-related topics, age may also be an element of popularity. 70% of those who like and use budgeting apps are Millennials. This age group also makes up 63% of those who have not yet tried these apps but plan to do so.
Given the overwhelming interest from the 18-34 set, it’s likely that budgeting apps will have a continually growing market in the foreseeable future. Individuals who begin using these apps at the beginning of their financial journey may be more likely to continue usage, even as they take on higher-earning positions and enter later life stages.
Although budgeting apps may not be mainstream just yet, their potential popularity, especially among women, low-income earners, and Millennials make them a trend to watch.