Net Worth Tracker: Templates and Apps Compared
Knowing your net worth once is useful. Watching it move over months and years is where the real motivation comes from. The question is how to track it: a simple spreadsheet you build yourself, or an app that pulls in your accounts automatically? This comparison walks through both, with a free template you can copy today.
Key takeaways
- A net worth tracker records your assets minus your liabilities at regular intervals, so you can see the trend, not just one snapshot.
- A spreadsheet is free, private and fully flexible, but you update it by hand.
- Apps such as Empower, Kubera, Monarch Money, Copilot and Emma (UK) can update balances automatically, but involve bank connections, data sharing and often a subscription.
- Pick the tool you will actually keep using. Monthly or quarterly updates are enough for most people.
Searches for "best net worth tracker" grew by about 80% over the past 12 months, according to Google Trends. That makes sense. Once people work out their net worth for the first time, the next question is almost always, "How do I keep this up to date without it becoming a chore?"
If you have not calculated your net worth yet, start with our guide to net worth basics, which covers the formula and what counts as an asset or a liability. This article picks up from there. It compares the main ways to track net worth over time, so you can choose the one that suits your style, your accounts and your comfort with sharing financial data. This is general information, not financial advice.
What a good net worth tracker does
The formula is simple: net worth equals your assets minus your liabilities. A tracker simply records that number again and again, so you can see where you are heading. Whatever tool you choose, a good tracker should do a few things well.
- List every asset and liability. Bank accounts, savings, investments, pensions or retirement accounts, property and vehicles on one side; mortgages, loans, car finance and credit cards on the other.
- Record values on a regular date. The same day each month or quarter keeps comparisons fair.
- Show the trend. A chart or a running total makes progress visible and keeps you motivated.
- Separate what you control from what you do not. Paying down debt is your effort; a market swing is not. Seeing both helps you judge progress fairly.
- Be easy enough to keep using. The best tracker is the one you still open a year from now.
Pro tip
Track net worth on a schedule, not on impulse. Checking daily, especially when investments are involved, can make normal market swings feel stressful. Monthly or quarterly updates show the real direction without the noise.
Option 1: a spreadsheet net worth tracker
A spreadsheet in Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel is the classic way to track net worth. You list your accounts, type in the balances on your chosen date and let simple formulas do the rest.
Pros
- Free, or included with software you already have
- Nothing connected to your bank accounts
- Fully flexible: add any asset, from a pension to a classic car
- Updating by hand makes you look at every balance
- Easy to export and keep for the long term
Cons
- Manual updates take time
- Easy to skip a month and lose the habit
- Typing errors can creep in
- Charts and formulas need a bit of setup
A simple net worth tracker template
Copy this layout into a spreadsheet. Put one account per row and one date per column, then add totals at the bottom. The amounts are made up for illustration.
| Item | Type | Jan 31 | Feb 28 | Mar 31 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Savings account | Asset | $6,000 | $6,400 | $6,800 |
| Retirement account | Asset | $24,000 | $23,600 | $24,500 |
| Car loan | Liability | $9,000 | $8,700 | $8,400 |
| Net worth | Total | $21,000 | $21,300 | $22,900 |
Add a line chart of the "Net worth" row and you have a visual tracker. A "change since last month" row is also helpful, so you can see at a glance whether you moved forward.
Spreadsheet tips that save time
- Group rows. Put cash, investments, property and debts in separate sections with subtotals.
- Use the same date each time. Month-end works well because many statements close then.
- Value property and vehicles conservatively. Update estimates once or twice a year, not monthly, to avoid chasing guesses.
- Add a notes column. Write down why a number changed, such as "paid off credit card" or "market dip."
- Pull investment prices if you like. In Google Sheets, the GOOGLEFINANCE function can fetch delayed price data for listed investments, which saves some typing.
Common mistake
Valuing your home at the most optimistic price you have seen online. An inflated property value makes your net worth look great on paper but hides real progress. Use a cautious estimate, and remember that selling a home has costs too.
Option 2: net worth tracking apps
Apps can connect to your bank, card, loan and investment accounts and update balances for you, often with charts built in. Several apps include net worth tracking, either as their main focus or alongside budgeting. Here are some you can look at, listed in no particular order:
- Empower (formerly Personal Capital): known for investment and retirement tracking alongside a net worth view.
- Kubera: built around net worth and asset tracking, including a wide range of asset types.
- Monarch Money: a budgeting app that also tracks net worth across connected accounts.
- Copilot: a budgeting and spending app with net worth tracking.
- Emma: a UK money app that brings accounts together and can show your overall position.
Features, supported countries, supported banks and pricing change often, so check each app's current features, pricing and privacy policy before you sign up. Many offer a trial, which is a good way to test whether your accounts connect smoothly.
Pros of apps
- Balances update automatically
- Charts and history are built in
- Easier to keep going without a manual routine
- Often combine net worth with budgeting or investment views
Cons of apps
- You share account access and financial data with a third party
- Bank connections sometimes break and need reconnecting
- Many charge a subscription
- Less control over categories and unusual assets
- If the app closes or changes, your history may be hard to move
Spreadsheet vs app: side-by-side comparison
Here is a quick way to compare the two approaches on the things that matter most.
| Factor | Spreadsheet | App |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Usually free | Often a subscription; check current pricing |
| Setup time | An hour or so to build | Quick, but connecting accounts can take a while |
| Ongoing effort | Manual updates each month or quarter | Mostly automatic, with occasional reconnecting |
| Privacy | Data stays with you | Data shared with the app and its partners |
| Flexibility | Track anything, any way | Limited to what the app supports |
| Long-term history | Yours to keep | Depends on export options |
Which one suits you?
- Choose a spreadsheet if you have a handful of accounts, value privacy, enjoy a monthly money check-in or own unusual assets an app may not handle well.
- Choose an app if you have many accounts, want budgeting and net worth in one place, or know you will not keep up a manual routine.
- Try a hybrid if you want both: use an app for daily spending, then copy the month-end net worth total into your own spreadsheet so you always own your history.
Hypothetical example
Imagine Tom, a freelance photographer in Manchester. He has two bank accounts, a pension, a stocks and shares ISA and a small car loan. He tried an app but disliked connecting so many accounts, so he switched to a spreadsheet. On the last Sunday of each month, he spends 15 minutes typing in balances and adds a note about anything unusual. After a year, his chart shows a steady rise, with one dip during a quiet work month. That honest record helps him plan a bigger cash buffer for next year.
How to set up your tracker in an afternoon
- List your accounts. Write down every asset and liability, including old pensions or savings accounts you rarely check.
- Choose your tool. Pick a spreadsheet, an app or a hybrid based on the comparison above.
- Set your update date. Month-end or quarter-end works well. Add a recurring reminder to your calendar.
- Enter your starting numbers. This is your baseline. Do not judge it, just record it.
- Add a chart. A simple line chart of your total keeps the focus on direction.
- Review once a quarter. Ask what moved the number: saving, paying down debt or market changes. Then set one small goal for the next quarter.
Pro tip for business owners
If you run a business, keep your personal net worth tracker separate from your business accounts. You can list your share of the business as a single asset with a cautious value, but do not mix business cash and personal savings in the same rows.
Your net worth tracker checklist
- List all assets and liabilities, including forgotten accounts
- Decide between a spreadsheet, an app or a hybrid
- If using an app, check its current features, pricing and privacy policy
- Set a monthly or quarterly update date with a reminder
- Record your baseline net worth
- Value property and vehicles cautiously and update them rarely
- Add a chart and a notes column
- Review the trend every quarter and set one small goal
Frequently asked questions
How often should I update my net worth tracker?
Monthly or quarterly is enough for most people. More frequent updates mostly show market noise. Pick a regular date and stick to it so each entry compares fairly with the last.
Are net worth apps safe to connect to my bank?
Many apps use secure connection services, but any link to your accounts involves sharing data with a third party. Read the app's privacy policy, check what data it stores and shares, use strong passwords and two-factor authentication, and disconnect accounts you no longer use.
Should I include my home and car in my net worth?
Most people include their home, with the mortgage listed as a liability, because it is usually a major asset. Cars lose value over time, so include them at a cautious estimate or leave them out. The key is to be consistent.
What if my net worth is negative?
That is common, especially with student loans or a new mortgage. A tracker is just as useful here, because you can watch the number climb toward zero as you pay down debt. Focus on the direction, not the starting point.
Related reading
The bottom line
A net worth tracker does not need to be fancy. A spreadsheet gives you privacy, flexibility and full control for free, while apps like Empower, Kubera, Monarch Money, Copilot and Emma save time by updating balances for you, in exchange for sharing data and often paying a subscription.
Choose the option you will still be using next year, set a regular update date and focus on the trend. Small steady gains, recorded honestly, are what turn a number into real progress.
