How to Use PocketGuard to Track Your Spending

PocketGuard connects to your bank accounts and shows exactly how much money you have left after bills and savings goals — making budgeting simple.

In this guide (5 steps):

1.Download PocketGuard and create an account
2.Connect your bank accounts
3.Set up your income and recurring bills
4.Review your "In My Pocket" number
5.Set a savings goal

Download PocketGuard and create an account

~15s

Search "PocketGuard" in the App Store or Google Play. Download the app and sign up with your email address and a strong password.

Connect your bank accounts

~18s

Tap "Add Account" and search for your bank by name. The app uses Plaid to connect — you enter your online banking username and password through a secure Plaid screen, not directly in PocketGuard.

Quick Tip

Connect your main checking account first. You can add savings accounts and credit cards later to get a complete picture.

Set up your income and recurring bills

~15s

PocketGuard will ask about your regular income and fixed expenses like rent, phone bills, and subscriptions. Fill these in accurately — they affect what shows as "In My Pocket."

Review your "In My Pocket" number

~15s

The main screen shows your In My Pocket amount. This is your safe-to-spend number. Check it before making discretionary purchases.

Set a savings goal

~20s

Tap "Goals" to set up a savings target — for example, a vacation fund or emergency savings. PocketGuard will subtract this from your available balance automatically.

Warning

PocketGuard displays your accounts in real time, but it may take 24 hours for very recent transactions to appear. Do not assume a purchase is safe just because the balance has not updated yet.

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PocketGuard is a budgeting app that connects to your bank accounts and credit cards to give you an instant view of your finances. The main feature is a number called "In My Pocket" — the amount of money available to spend freely after accounting for bills, savings, and recurring expenses.

For example, if you have $2,000 in your checking account, $600 in upcoming bills, and $200 in savings goals, PocketGuard shows $1,200 as your available amount. This single number makes it much easier to answer the question "Can I afford this?" without doing any math yourself.

PocketGuard automatically categorizes your transactions — groceries, dining, utilities, entertainment — and shows you spending trends over time. If you spend more than usual on dining one month, the app highlights it so you can decide whether to adjust.

The free version covers most everyday budgeting needs. PocketGuard Plus (about $7.99/month or $34.99/year) adds features like bill tracking, debt payoff planning, and the ability to customize spending categories.

PocketGuard uses bank-level security (256-bit encryption) and connects through Plaid, the same service used by major banks. Your bank credentials are never stored in the PocketGuard app itself.

This app works best for people who want a simple, automatic budget without manually entering every transaction. If you prefer to track every penny manually, a spreadsheet may suit you better.

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