New Day Budgeting vs. Empower (Personal Capital): Comparison (2026)
Our Verdict: Empower is a free financial dashboard focused on investment tracking and retirement planning, with budgeting as a secondary feature. New Day Budgeting is a dedicated budgeting app with AI and gamification. They serve different primary needs — use both together for the best results.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | New Day Budgeting | Empower (formerly Personal Capital) |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | Yes — full features | Yes — dashboard is free |
| AI Budget Creation | Yes — Budget Buddy AI | No |
| Gamification & Rewards | Yes — points, streaks, prizes | No |
| Investment Tracking | No | Yes — core feature |
| Retirement Planner | No | Yes |
| Net Worth Tracking | No | Yes |
| Budgeting Depth | Comprehensive — primary focus | Basic — secondary feature |
| Wealth Management | No | Yes (0.49-0.89% AUM fee) |
| Mobile App | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | New Day Budgeting | Empower (formerly Personal Capital) |
|---|---|---|
| Free | ||
| Premium |
Pros and Cons
New Day Budgeting
Pros
- Purpose-built for budgeting
- AI creates and optimizes budgets
- Gamification builds daily habits
- No upselling to wealth management
Cons
- No investment or retirement tracking
- No net worth dashboard
- Does not replace a financial advisor
Empower (formerly Personal Capital)
Pros
- Free investment tracking and retirement planner
- Comprehensive net worth dashboard
- Fee analyzer for investment accounts
- Professional wealth management option
Cons
- Budgeting features are basic
- Upsells wealth management services
- Not a dedicated budgeting tool
- Can feel overwhelming for simple budgeting needs
Feature Comparison
| Feature | New Day Budgeting | Empower (formerly Personal Capital) |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier | Yes — full features | Yes — dashboard is free |
| AI Budget Creation | Yes — Budget Buddy AI | No |
| Gamification & Rewards | Yes — points, streaks, prizes | No |
| Investment Tracking | No | Yes — core feature |
| Retirement Planner | No | Yes |
| Net Worth Tracking | No | Yes |
| Budgeting Depth | Comprehensive — primary focus | Basic — secondary feature |
| Wealth Management | No | Yes (0.49-0.89% AUM fee) |
| Mobile App | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
Our Verdict
Empower is a free financial dashboard focused on investment tracking and retirement planning, with budgeting as a secondary feature. New Day Budgeting is a dedicated budgeting app with AI and gamification. They serve different primary needs — use both together for the best results.
Who Should Choose What?
- Array
- Array
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Empower really free?
Empower's financial dashboard (investment tracking, net worth, retirement planner) is completely free. They make money through their wealth management service (0.49-0.89% of assets). You are never required to use the paid service.
Can I use both New Day Budgeting and Empower?
Yes, this is actually the ideal setup. Use New Day Budgeting for daily budgeting, spending tracking, and financial goals. Use Empower for investment monitoring, retirement planning, and net worth tracking. Both are free.
Does Empower have good budgeting features?
Empower's budgeting is basic — it categorizes spending and shows trends, but has no budget creation tools, no AI, no gamification, and no goal-oriented budgeting. For serious budgeting, you need a dedicated app like New Day Budgeting.