Best Debt Payoff Apps for iPhone in 2026
If you have an iPhone, you have access to the widest selection of debt payoff apps available. iOS gets more dedicated debt tools than any other platform, including a few exclusives. Here’s an honest look at the best options for 2026.
Quick Comparison
| App | Focus | Price | Strategies | Bank Sync | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ascent | Debt payoff | $29.99 lifetime | 9 | No | Strategy variety + couples |
| Debt Payoff Planner | Debt payoff | Free / $2/mo | 3 | No | Simple, affordable tracking |
| YNAB | Full budgeting | $14/month | Manual setup | Yes | Complete money management |
| EveryDollar | Budgeting | Free / $18/mo | Manual setup | Premium only | Dave Ramsey followers |
| PocketGuard | Spending | Free / $8/mo | No | Yes | Seeing what’s left to spend |
| Rocket Money | Bill management | Free / $6-12/mo | No | Yes | Canceling subscriptions + bills |
Detailed Reviews
Ascent — Best for Strategy Options and Couples
Ascent is an iOS exclusive that takes debt payoff further than most apps. Where most tools give you snowball and avalanche, Ascent offers nine different strategies — including stress-based prioritization, where you rank debts by how much anxiety they cause and build your plan around that.
The PartnerSync feature is unique. Two iPhone users can share a debt payoff plan while each controlling what the other person sees. If you’re tackling debt with a partner, there’s nothing else like it.
Strengths: Nine strategies, partner sync, BNPL tracking, one-time purchase, strong privacy design. Weaknesses: No bank sync, no Android version, newer app with a smaller community. Price: $29.99 one-time for core features. Premium subscription for PartnerSync.
Debt Payoff Planner — Best Budget-Friendly Option
Debt Payoff Planner is one of the most popular dedicated debt apps on the App Store. It’s simple, clean, and does one thing well: helps you build a payoff plan using snowball, avalanche, or custom ordering.
The free version is functional enough to be useful. The paid tier ($2/month) unlocks extra features like what-if scenarios and additional customization. It’s the most affordable paid option on this list.
Strengths: Clean interface, very affordable, focused on debt payoff, easy to set up. Weaknesses: Fewer strategies than Ascent, no partner features, no bank sync. Price: Free with ads / $2/month for Pro.
YNAB — Best Full Budgeting System
YNAB (You Need A Budget) is widely considered the gold standard for zero-based budgeting. It syncs with your bank accounts, tracks every dollar, and helps you build a complete financial plan. You can track debt within YNAB by setting up loan accounts and debt payoff goals.
Strengths: Bank sync, comprehensive budgeting, excellent educational content, works across all platforms. Weaknesses: Expensive at $14/month, steep learning curve, debt tracking is manual within the budgeting framework. Price: $14/month (34-day free trial).
EveryDollar — Best for Dave Ramsey Fans
EveryDollar is built around Dave Ramsey’s baby steps philosophy. If you follow his method, this app will feel like home. The free version lets you create a monthly budget. The premium version adds bank sync and more detailed tracking.
Strengths: Simple budgeting interface, aligns with a proven debt-free methodology, guided setup. Weaknesses: Premium is expensive ($18/month), limited without the paid tier, debt tracking is basic. Price: Free (manual) / $18/month for Premium with bank sync.
PocketGuard — Best for Spending Awareness
PocketGuard connects to your bank accounts and shows you how much you have left to spend after bills, goals, and necessities. It’s not a debt payoff tool specifically, but seeing your “in my pocket” number can help you avoid adding new debt while you pay off old debt.
Strengths: Great at showing spendable cash, bank sync, subscription tracking, clean design. Weaknesses: Not built for debt payoff, no payoff strategies, limited debt-specific features. Price: Free / $8/month for Plus.
Rocket Money — Best for Bill Management
Rocket Money (formerly Truebill) focuses on subscriptions, bills, and saving money on existing services. It can negotiate bills on your behalf and track your net worth. It’s useful as a complement to a dedicated debt app, not a replacement for one.
Strengths: Bill negotiation, subscription cancellation, bank sync, net worth tracking. Weaknesses: Not a debt payoff tool, no strategies or payoff plans, premium pricing varies. Price: Free / $6-12/month for Premium.
How to Choose
If your main goal is paying off debt as fast as possible, go with a dedicated debt app — Ascent or Debt Payoff Planner. Both focus specifically on building and tracking a payoff plan. Ascent gives you more strategies and partner features; Debt Payoff Planner is simpler and cheaper.
If you want a complete money system, YNAB is the best all-in-one option. It handles budgeting, saving, and debt tracking in one place, but you’ll set up debt strategies yourself.
If you need help with spending and bills first, PocketGuard or Rocket Money can help you find extra money to put toward debt. They’re great companions to a dedicated payoff tool, but they won’t build a plan for you.
The best app is the one that matches where you are right now. If you’re just starting out and overwhelmed, a simple tool like Debt Payoff Planner gets you moving. If you want depth and flexibility, Ascent or YNAB will grow with you.
Ready to automate your payoff plan?
Ascent tracks your debt automatically, supports 9 payoff strategies, and lets couples manage debt together with PartnerSync.
Learn About AscentRelated Content
Ascent
Ascent is a premium iOS debt payoff app offering 9 payoff strategies, couples-focused PartnerSync, BNPL tracking, and stress-based prioritization.
Debt Payoff Planner
Debt Payoff Planner is a freemium iOS and Android app for tracking debt payoff using snowball, avalanche, or custom strategies with a modern mobile interface.
Best Debt Payoff Apps for Couples in 2026
Compare the best debt apps for couples. See which tools let you track debt together with partner features, shared budgets, and privacy.