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Monarch Money is the most direct replacement for the shut-down Mint, and at $99.99 a year it is worth it for couples and ex-Mint users who already check a budgeting app, but borderline for a solo user who has never kept the habit. Built partly by former Mint engineers, it does everything Mint did and adds the best couple-sharing in the category, with no ads and no data sales. Its weakness: passive tracking shows you the problem but does not force behavior change. Here is the honest assessment.
Key Takeaways
- Price: $99.99/year (Core) for up to 2 users; a $199/year Plus tier adds modeling most people skip.
- Best at: all-in-one Mint replacement with net worth, budget, and investments, plus top couple-sharing.
- Weak spots: passive tracking does not change behavior, and the 7-day trial is too short.
- Verdict: clear yes for couples and ex-Mint users; try a free app first if you are a budgeting beginner.
Who Is Monarch Money For?
Best for: former Mint users, couples who share finances, and anyone who wants budget, net worth, and investments in one app with passive tracking.
Skip it if: you need zero-based budgeting to change spending (use YNAB), you mainly want investment analysis (Empower is free and deeper), or you have never maintained a budgeting habit and should test a free option first.
What Is Monarch Money?
Monarch is a personal finance app that connects to your bank, credit card, investment, and loan accounts through Plaid and other providers, then organizes everything into one dashboard for spending, net worth, investments, and goals. It works on iOS, Android, and the web. Founded in 2019 as a premium successor to free apps like Mint, it runs on subscriptions rather than ads, so there is no offer spam, no data sales, and no clutter.
How Much Does Monarch Money Cost?
| Monarch Core | Monarch Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual price | $99.99/year ($8.33/month) | $199/year ($16.58/month) |
| Monthly price | $14.99/month | Annual only |
| Free trial | 7 days | 7 days |
| Household sharing | Up to 2 users | Up to 2 users |
| Advanced modeling | No | Yes |
The annual plan saves about $80 versus paying monthly. At $99.99, Core sits near YNAB ($109) and just above Copilot ($95 for one user), but for couples it covers two users, making it far better value than paying per user elsewhere. There is no free tier, which is the most common ex-Mint complaint.
What Does Monarch Do Well?
All-in-one picture. It connects to over 13,000 institutions and aggregates checking, savings, cards, investments, loans, mortgages, and crypto into one net worth view that updates automatically. This breadth is what most people wanted from Mint.
Couples and households. Built for couples from day one: both partners get a login and a shared view, with Shared Views letting you label accounts as “mine,” “theirs,” or “ours.” At $99.99 for two users, it beats two Copilot subscriptions (~$190) or two YNAB subscriptions (~$218).
Passive tracking that works. Auto-categorization is accurate for most users after a couple of weeks, so a weekly check keeps it current. This differs from YNAB’s active, assign-every-dollar approach; Monarch shows where money went, YNAB makes you direct it first.
Investments and AI. Investment tracking is far better than Mint’s, showing performance and allocation across brokerages (though Empower is deeper). A 2026 AI assistant answers spending questions and generates weekly recaps that are useful rather than gimmicky.
Where Does Monarch Fall Short?
- Not built for behavior change. It shows the problem clearly but does not force discipline; if you overspend, zero-based budgeting (YNAB) is more effective. Pairing Monarch with automated savings and sinking funds closes most of the gap.
- The 7-day trial is too short. You need a full pay cycle to evaluate a budgeting app; YNAB offers 34 days. This is the most common complaint.
- Plaid connection hiccups. Like all Plaid-based apps, it occasionally drops connections to some banks and credit unions, requiring reconnection.
- Plus is hard to justify. At $199, the advanced modeling helps only complex or self-employed situations; most users are fine with Core.
How Does Monarch Compare to Competitors?
| Monarch | YNAB | Copilot | Empower | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual price | $99.99 | $109 | $95 (one user) | Free |
| Couple sharing | Yes (included) | Yes | No | No |
| Investment tracking | Yes | No | Yes | Best in class |
| Zero-based budgeting | No | Yes | No | No |
| Free trial | 7 days | 34 days | 1 month | Always free |
| Best for | Couples, Mint replacement | Behavior change | iPhone design | Investments |
Is Monarch Money Worth $99.99 a Year?
For a couple: clearly yes. One subscription for two users tracking joint finances is excellent value, and the shared household features alone justify the cost. For a single person: borderline. A budgeting app you check weekly is worth $99.99; one you forget in two months is worth nothing. If you are coming from Mint with the habit already, the transition is worth it. If you have never kept a budgeting habit, start with a free option and upgrade once it sticks. See our guide on getting out of debt.
FAQ
How much does Monarch Money cost?
Monarch Core is $99.99/year ($14.99/month) for up to 2 users. A Plus tier is $199/year and adds advanced modeling most individuals do not need. Both include a 7-day free trial, and there is no free tier.
Is Monarch Money good for couples?
It is the best in the category for couples. One $99.99 subscription covers two users with separate logins, a shared view, and “mine/theirs/ours” labeling, far cheaper than paying per user for Copilot or YNAB.
Is Monarch Money better than YNAB?
They serve different needs. Monarch is better for passive all-in-one tracking, couples, and net worth; YNAB is better if you need zero-based discipline to change spending. Choose based on whether you want to track or be forced to budget.
Is Monarch a good Mint replacement?
Yes, the most direct one. Built partly by former Mint engineers, it does everything Mint did and adds couple sharing, better investment tracking, and an ad-free, no-data-sale model.
Bottom Line
Monarch Money is the best all-in-one Mint replacement and a clear yes for couples and ex-Mint users at $99.99 a year, thanks to top-tier shared budgeting, net worth, and investment tracking with no ads. Its passive model will not force behavior change, so if you need discipline, choose YNAB, and if you are a budgeting beginner, try a free app first. To go deeper, see our guides on getting out of debt, the best high-yield savings accounts, and lowering your tax bill.
Pricing verified at monarch.com as of 2026 and based on extended testing. Features and prices change, so confirm current details before subscribing. This article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not financial advice. Rating: 4.3 / 5.
