The short version
Monarch Money is $14.99 a month or $99.99 billed yearly, and a partner joins under the same plan.[1][2] The best alternative depends on what you want to change. Couples who don't want a partner to see every account fit Wonderful or Honeydue. People who want a method fit YNAB. People after a lower price fit Simplifi or PocketGuard, and a free net worth view is Empower. Monarch is still ahead on investment tracking and phone apps.
- 1
Wonderful: Couples who want to choose what their partner sees
- 2
Copilot Money: One person on Apple devices who wants a polished app
- 3
YNAB (You Need A Budget): People who want a method, not just a tracker
- 4
Quicken Simplifi: The lowest first-year price, with one partner sharing
- 5
Rocket Money: Finding subscriptions first, budgeting second, with a free plan
- 6
Origin: Budgeting, investing and taxes in one app, partner included
- 7
Empower Personal Dashboard: A free view of net worth and retirement
- 8
Lunch Money: A web app with rules, tags and many currencies
- 9
PocketGuard: One person who wants a safe-to-spend number, or to pay once
- 10
Honeydue: A free app for two
- 11
Tiller: People who want their data in a spreadsheet
At a glance
| App | Price | Free trial | Works on | App Store |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monarch Money | $14.99 monthly or $99.99 billed yearly[1][2] | The pricing page says "Your first week is on us | iPhone, Android, Web | 4.9 |
| Wonderful | $14.99 monthly or $99 yearly, both partners[12] | A free week | Web | No rating |
| Copilot Money | $18 monthly or $109 yearly on the website; $13.00 and $95.00 on the App Store[16][18] | The App Store and the FAQ say one month free for new users | iPhone, Web, Mac | 4.8 |
| YNAB (You Need A Budget) | $14.99 monthly or $109 billed annually[20][23] | The pricing page says a 34-day free trial | iPhone, Android, Web | 4.8 |
| Quicken Simplifi | $3.99 a month billed annually for the first year; renewal price not stated[28] | "While we do not offer a free trial" there is a 30-day money-back guarantee from the original purchase date | iPhone, Android, Web | No rating |
| Rocket Money | Free plan; Premium "typically $7 to $14 per month"; Premium+ $15 a month[35] | The help center says new Premium members get a 7-day free trial | iPhone, Android, Web | 4.5 |
| Origin | $1 for the first year, then $99 a year[43] | Origin's blog says it offers no free trial | iPhone, Android, Web, Mac | 4.6 |
| Empower Personal Dashboard | Free dashboard; advisory services are paid[50] | None stated | iPhone, Android, Web | 4.8 |
| Lunch Money | $10 monthly or $100 yearly[62] | A 30-day free trial | iPhone, Web | 4.8 |
| PocketGuard | $12.99 monthly, $74.99 yearly or $149.99 once[64] | A 7-day free trial on each plan | iPhone, Android, Web | 4.6 |
| Honeydue | Free; optional monthly tip[72] | None stated | iPhone, Android | 4.5 |
| Tiller | $99 a year after a 30 day trial[80] | 30 days free | Web | No rating |
- PocketGuard$74.99
- Wonderful$99
- Origin$99
- Tiller$99
- Monarch Money$99.99
- Lunch Money$100
- YNAB (You Need A Budget)$109
- Copilot Money$109
No paid plan with a listed price: Empower Personal Dashboard, Honeydue.
The cheapest way to pay for a year on each app's own pricing page. Origin is shown at its $99 yearly price, not the $1 first year, and Copilot at the website's prices. Left out because the cost is not one number: Rocket Money (its Premium price varies by the person's choice) and Simplifi ($3.99 a month is a first-year offer, with the renewal price not stated).
Monarch Money, fairly
A page of alternatives owes Monarch a fair hearing first. A paid budgeting and net worth app that pulls every account into one place and lets a partner join under the same subscription.[4] It connects accounts through 13,000+ institutions, tracks net worth, and offers two ways to budget: Flex, one main number to watch, or Category budgeting with rollovers.[2][7] It runs on iPhone, iPad, Android and the web, and it holds 4.9 stars on the App Store from 116K ratings and 4.8 on Google Play from 26.1K.[2][3] A partner joins at no extra cost with their own login.[5][6]
The price is $14.99 monthly or $99.99 billed yearly, after a first week that is free. There is no free plan. A Plus tier, shown at $199.99 a year on the App Store, adds forecasting tools, several income sources and deeper investment tracking.[1][2] If you are happy with it, none of the apps below is an obvious reason to move. They are for the specific reasons in the next section.
Good
- A partner joins under the same subscription at no extra cost, with a separate login.[5][6]
- Two people can fund a shared goal even when their money sits in separate accounts.[6]
- Works on iPhone, iPad, Android and the web.[2][3][4]
- Rated 4.9 on the App Store (116K ratings) and 4.8 on Google Play (26.1K reviews).[2][3]
Not so good
- No free plan after the first week.[1][2]
- Paid monthly it is $14.99, which is $179.88 over twelve months, against $99.99 billed yearly.[1]
- Forecasting, several income sources and deeper investment tracking sit in the Plus tier. The App Store shows Plus at $199.99 a year; the pricing page lists no Plus price.[1][2]
- A partner sees all accounts and transactions. The couples page describes no way to keep one account private.[5][6]
Pricing
- Monthly[1][2]$14.99 a monthPricing page and App Store both show $14.99. The pricing page does not say which tier it is.
- Yearly[1][2]$99.99 a yearBilled yearly. The pricing page names two tiers, Core and Plus, but lists only these two prices.
- Yearly Plus[1][2]$199.99 a yearShown only as an in-app purchase on the App Store. The pricing page says Plus adds forecasting tools, tracking several income sources like a small business, and deeper investment tracking.
- The pricing page says "Your first week is on us." The App Store says the app is free to try for 7 days before a monthly or annual membership is billed. Neither says whether a card is needed.[1][2]
- No free plan is listed on the pricing page or the App Store. The only free access is the first week.[1][2]
“I switched to Monarch after Mint was discontinued. I initially wasn’t too interested in a paid service, but Monarch is fantastic for budgeting and doing personal finance at $100 a year. Well worth the price.”Read it where it was said ↗
Why people leave Monarch
These reasons come from Monarch's own pages and from App Store reviews dated 2026. Reviews are one person's experience, and each problem below has reviewers who never had it.
- Connections that drop. App Store reviewers describe accounts that "disconnect all the time" and a bank that stayed broken for a month.[9]
- Price against what the plan includes. One reviewer calls it "double the competitors" with no alerts near a budget.[9]
- Billing after cancelling. Several App Store reviews from July to October 2026 say they were billed after they cancelled or found it hard to cancel.[9]
- A partner who cannot join. One reviewer could not get a spouse's membership to work with the account already started.[9]
“$15 a month to even use the app. Wish this was more transparent. It’s also unclear whether your partner would also need to pay this $15 fee (which would be absurd)”Read it where it was said ↗
“I have cancelled the subscription and yet got billed how do I get it back”Read it where it was said ↗
There is also a reason that isn't a complaint. Monarch is built for couples who merge their view: its couples page says both partners will have full visibility into all accounts and transactions, and tells people to check they are comfortable with that first.[5][6] A pair that keeps some money separate may want an app where that is a setting. Our guide to couples budgeting apps and privacy goes through what each app says.
How we compared
Someone leaving Monarch usually cares about one of a few things, so those are what we looked at:
- Price for a year. Monarch is $99.99 billed yearly, so the question is who is cheaper and what you give up.
- A partner. Whether a second person is included, and what they see.
- Investments and net worth. Monarch tracks investment accounts; not every alternative does.
- Where it runs. iPhone, Android and the web.
- A free way in. A free plan or a trial, and whether it asks for a card.
We read each app's pricing and help pages, its App Store and Google Play listings, and its most recent App Store reviews, on October 27, 2026. Each fact is numbered to its source at the bottom. Where a page was silent we say so. We haven't used these apps ourselves, so nothing here is a hands-on verdict.
1. Couples who want to choose what their partner sees
Wonderful
$14.99/mo or $99/yr· Web
What it is
A budgeting app for couples who keep their own money, and for one person: each of you connects your own bank, chooses what the other sees, and every paycheck gets a plan.
Why it's on this list
Monarch's couples page says both partners have full visibility into all accounts and transactions.[5][6] Wonderful works the other way: each person connects their own bank and chooses, account by account, whether the other sees everything, only totals, or nothing. Charges you share are split evenly, by income or any way you choose, with a running total of who owes whom.
The price is close to Monarch's: $14.99 monthly or $99 yearly, for both partners, against Monarch's $14.99 or $99.99. Where Monarch is ahead is plain. It has iPhone and Android apps and Wonderful runs only in a browser. Monarch tracks investment accounts, with deeper tracking in Plus, while Wonderful counts investments only as balances toward net worth and gives no investment advice or portfolio analysis.
Ideal for: Two people with their own paychecks and accounts who share some costs and don't want to hand over a view of everything.
What it does
- Every paycheck gets a plan for bills, spending and saving before it lands.[14]
- Banks connect through Plaid and every charge is sorted into a category.[13][14]
- Mine, yours and ours: each charge counts for the person or the pair it belongs to.[14]
- Finds recurring charges and subscriptions, lists what's due before your next paycheck, and flags a bill that comes in higher than usual. It doesn't cancel them for you.[14]
- Texts you by iMessage when a bill is charged twice, a price goes up or a refund lands, and you can text it questions.[14]
- Savings goals show the month you'll reach them.[14]
- Net worth for each of you and for both, from the balances your banks send, with its line over time.[14]
- Life events like getting married come step by step, with the deadlines.[14]
Good
2. One person on Apple devices who wants a polished app
Copilot Money
$13/mo or $95/yr· iPhone, Web, Mac· App Store 4.8 (31K)[18]
What it is
A paid budgeting and net worth app for Apple devices and the web, with an AI money assistant and one plan that does everything.
Why it's on this list
Copilot is the closest in kind to Monarch: a paid app for spending, net worth, investments and subscriptions with an AI assistant. It differs in two ways. It has no Android app, and partner sharing is not live yet: its pages mark households "Coming soon" and partner invites "coming this fall".[15][16] Monarch's partner access works today. Copilot's website price is $109 a year, about $9 more than Monarch's $99.99, and its App Store shows $95.00, so check which you are shown.[16][18] See also Copilot vs Monarch.
Ideal for: One person on iPhone, iPad or Mac who wants a polished app with one plan and no tiers.
What it does
- Money Assistant: an AI you can ask about your money. The page says it "always asks before acting." It can fix transactions, run instructions in the background and flag spending trends with budget suggestions. The App Store says it is available only on iPhone.[15][18]
- Connects to 16,000+ US institutions through read-only integrations, with direct links for Venmo, Apple Card and Coinbase.[17][18]
- Sorts transactions automatically, and the assistant can change a category or match a refund to its purchase. You can set your own categories with colors and emojis.[15][18]
- Adaptive budgets that adjust to your spending.[18]
- Tracks spending, investments, net worth and subscriptions.[15][18]
Good
Not so good
- No Android app. The pages list iPhone, iPad, Mac and web only.[15][16][17]
- Sharing with a partner is not live. Households are marked "Coming soon."[15][16][17]
- No free plan after the trial.[17]
- The website and the App Store show different prices: $18 a month or $109 a year (shown as $9 a month) on the site, $13.00 and $95.00 on the App Store.[16][18]
Pricing
- Website, monthly[16]$18 a monthBilled monthly. The pricing page calls it "One simple plan" (checked in a browser 10/27).
- Website, yearly[16]$109 a yearShown as $9 a month, billed yearly, "instead of $119", and labeled a limited time offer.
- App Store, monthly[18]$13 a monthListed as $13.00 on the App Store, which is not what the pricing page shows.
- App Store, yearly[18]$95 a yearListed as $95.00 on the App Store.
“I switched to Copilot when Mint shut down. This app is much better than Mint ever was. The annual fee is a small price to pay to manage my budget and transactions.”Read it where it was said ↗
3. People who want a method, not just a tracker
What it is
A paid budgeting app built on a method: give every dollar a job before you spend it.
Why it's on this list
YNAB is a method first: give every dollar a job before you spend it.[22] Monarch is closer to a dashboard that reads your accounts; YNAB asks you to plan each month by hand. It costs $109 billed annually against Monarch's $99.99, and one subscription can be shared with up to 5 more people.[20] Its trial is 34 days with no card when you sign up on its site, against Monarch's first week. See also Monarch vs YNAB.
Ideal for: People who want to plan every dollar before they spend it and will learn a method to do it.
What it does
- The method: for every dollar, ask "What's it for?" Plan for now (before the next paycheck), for later (non-monthly bills like car repairs), and for ease (get a month ahead).[22]
- Bank import links accounts and brings in transactions automatically. Apple Card import is also listed.[21]
- Targets: set spending and savings goals per category and track progress at a glance.[21]
- Loan Planner: shows how much interest and time you save for each extra dollar paid toward debt.[21][23]
- Reports on spending, such as average grocery spend, and on net worth over time.[21][23]
Good
- A written method, not just a tracker: the app is built around planning before spending.[22]
- One subscription covers up to six people at no extra cost.[20]
- A 34-day trial with no card when you sign up on the site, and a free 365-day trial for college students.[20]
- Rated 4.8 on the App Store (62K ratings) and 4.6 on Google Play (25.4K).[23][24]
Not so good
- No free plan after the trial.[20]
- Paid monthly it is $14.99, which is $179.88 over twelve months, against $109 billed annually.[20]
- The website says a 34-day trial and the App Store says 30 days.[20][23]
- The method asks you to plan each dollar before you spend it, which the company's method page presents as the whole point of the app.[22]
Pricing
“Budgeting works if you want to change your life. In 10 years of using YNAB we went from being a total of $250,000 in debt to $950,000 in net worth. It takes time and commitment to change.”Read it where it was said ↗
4. The lowest first-year price, with one partner sharing
Quicken Simplifi
$6.99/mo; $3.99/mo the first year· iPhone, Android, Web
What it is
A web and mobile budgeting app from Quicken that links accounts, builds a spending plan, projects cash flow and tracks bills, goals and investments.
Why it's on this list
Simplifi's page shows $3.99 a month billed annually for the first year, which is the lowest first-year price on this list. It renews at the then-current rate, which its pages don't give as a number.[28][32] It tracks investments with cost basis, has a retirement planner and a spending plan that shows what you can spend per day. Sharing goes to one additional member with full access to the one shared space, and there is no way to share only some accounts. There is no free trial, only a 30-day money-back guarantee on purchases made directly from Quicken.[30][32]
Ideal for: Someone who wants net worth, bills and a retirement planner at a low first-year price and will share with one person.
What it does
- A spending plan that shows what you can spend per day.[28]
- Projected cash flow with "what-if" scenarios.[28]
- Tracks upcoming bills and subscriptions and shows all your subscriptions.[28]
- Automatically categorizes transactions and connects to over 14,000 financial institutions.[28]
- Savings goals, reports and insights.[28]
One caution on its rating: the App Store listing we could read is named "Quicken: Budget & Track Money", and its reviews mention Simplifi but may include other Quicken plans.[33][34]
Good
- A partner can use the shared space without paying for a second subscription.[30]
- 30-day money-back guarantee on purchases made directly from Quicken.[31][32]
- Every support channel is included with every subscription.[29]
- Covers budgeting, bills, investments and a retirement planner in one subscription.[28]
Not so good
- No free plan and no free trial.[32]
- Annual billing only, and renewal is at the then-current rate, not the first-year offer.[28][32]
- Only one shared space and one additional member; no way to share only some accounts.[30]
- A person invited to share must accept on the web app; signing in on the mobile app prompts them to subscribe.[30]
Pricing
- Simplifi, first-year offer[28]$3.99 a monthBilled annually. The page says the final price may differ from the monthly price times 12, and the offer is for the first year when ordered directly from Quicken by November 26, 2026.
- Simplifi, price shown beside the offer[28]$6.99 a monthBilled annually. Shown next to $3.99 on the page without a label. The subscription renews at "the then-current rates".
“Really nice budgeting, finance, and tracking tool. The setup takes some time and it isn’t perfect, but works very very well for the cost.”Read it where it was said ↗
5. Finding subscriptions first, budgeting second, with a free plan
What it is
An app that finds your subscriptions, can cancel them and negotiate bills for you, and tracks spending and budgets, with a free plan and two paid ones.
Why it's on this list
Rocket Money starts from subscriptions, not budgets. On Premium a team cancels them for you, and it negotiates bills for 35% to 60% of the first year's savings for Free and Premium members. It has a free plan, which Monarch does not. The catch is that a full budget needs Premium, whose price is not one number: its article says "typically $7 to $14 per month".[35] Account sharing with a partner is listed as a Premium feature, with no detail on what the partner sees.
Ideal for: Someone whose first problem is forgotten subscriptions and who wants a free plan to start.
What it does
- Finds recurring subscriptions in one place. On Premium, a team cancels them for you; its cost article says this usually takes 2 to 10 days. On Free you cancel them yourself.[35]
- Negotiates cable, phone and insurance bills for a success fee of 35% to 60% of the first year's savings.[35][36][37]
- Tracks upcoming bills, net income and spending, with automatic categories.[35]
- Custom budgets: two custom category budgets on Free, unlimited custom budgets and categories on Premium.[35]
- Premium adds transaction rules, splits, notes, tags, manual transactions and CSV export.[35]
Good
- A free plan exists and covers subscription tracking, bills and basic budgets.[35]
- Cancels subscriptions for you on Premium and negotiates bills.[35]
- Large installed base: 403K ratings on the App Store at 4.5 stars and 141K on Google Play at 4.5.[38][39]
- Premium is a sliding scale you pick yourself, with a 7-day trial.[35][36]
Not so good
- The price is not fixed: the learn article says $7 to $14 a month, the help center gives no numbers, and the App Store lists purchases from $2.99 to $9.99.[35][36][38]
- Bill negotiation costs 35% to 60% of the first year's savings for Free and Premium members.[35][36]
- On Free you cancel subscriptions yourself. Hands-off cancelling is Premium.[35][37]
- The free plan allows two custom category budgets, so a full budget needs Premium.[35]
Pricing
- Free[35]FreeMobile only. Tracks subscriptions and upcoming bills, with two custom category budgets.
- Premium[35][36][38]Pay what you think is fair, "typically $7 to $14 per month, subject to change," per the learn article. The help center says the price varies by platform and gives no numbers. The App Store lists Premium purchases from $2.99 to $9.99 without billing periods.
- Premium+[35][36][38]$15 a monthA fixed $15 a month plus tax. Adds Rowan, an AI assistant that works through text messages, and no fee on bill negotiation.
- The help center says new Premium members get a 7-day free trial, then the subscription continues at the price chosen at sign-up. The learn article states no trial.[35][36]
- A free plan exists. It links accounts (not in real time), tracks subscriptions but you cancel them yourself, tracks upcoming bills, and shows spending breakdowns.[35]
“I selected 7 dollars per month and it still charged me for 15”Read it where it was said ↗
6. Budgeting, investing and taxes in one app, partner included
Origin
$99/yr; $1 the first year· iPhone, Android, Web, Mac· App Store 4.6 (3,980)[46]
What it is
A subscription app for iPhone, Android, Mac and web that tracks spending and investments, has an AI advisor, and lets a partner join at no extra cost.
Why it's on this list
Origin goes wider than Monarch: besides budgeting it has an investing view with its own index portfolios, an AI advisor, estate planning and free DIY tax filing including joint filing for couples.[43][44] A partner is included at no extra cost. Both partners see a combined household view, and the blog describes no way to share only some accounts.[45] The first year is $1, then $99 a year, about the same as Monarch's $99.99. Many 2026 App Store reviews end "Entered a sweepstakes for this review," so weigh its 4.6 rating with that in mind.[47]
Ideal for: Couples who want spending, investing and taxes in one app under a flat fee.
What it does
- An AI advisor ("Ask Origin") that answers money questions using your connected accounts. Origin says there are "no usage limits on the AI Advisor".[42][43]
- Tracks spending, cash flow, subscriptions and bills, and builds budgets from your habits.[46]
- Automatic categorization of transactions; you can edit transactions and add new ones.[43]
- Connects accounts through Plaid, MX and Mastercard, and accepts CSV uploads.[43][44]
- Investing view: holdings, allocation and performance across connected brokerage and retirement accounts, plus Origin's own automated index portfolios.[44][46]
Good
- Partner access is included in the price.[43][45]
- Free DIY tax filing is part of the membership, including joint filing.[43][44]
- One flat fee: $99 a year after the first year, with no add-ons for tax filing or partner access.[43]
- Covers budgeting, investing, estate planning and an AI advisor in one app.[42][46]
Not so good
- No free plan or free trial on the pages opened; the first year is $1, then $99 a year.[43][44]
- Many 5-star App Store reviews in 2026 end with "Entered a sweepstakes for this review."[47]
- Origin's claim that its AI Advisor scored 98.3% on the CFP exam is its own marketing and was not checked.[43]
- App Store reviewers in 2026 report bank connections that expire or will not reconnect, and slow support.[47]
Pricing
- First year promotion[43][44]$1 a year"$1 for the first year." Per Origin's blog.
- Annual after year one[43]$99 a year"$99/year", a flat annual fee. Partner access and tax filing carry no add-on.
- Origin's blog says it offers no free trial, only the first-year price: "Try Origin for $1 for your first year." Whether a card is needed was not stated on the pages opened.[44]
- No free plan is described on the pages opened. The App Store listing is free to download, and 2026 reviewers say the app is unusable without a subscription.[46][47]
“My wife and I are able to combine all our accounts here — and see who’s is who’s. It’s got a great AI integration as well.”Read it where it was said ↗
7. A free view of net worth and retirement
Empower Personal Dashboard
Free· iPhone, Android, Web· App Store 4.8 (421,639)[53]
What it is
A free dashboard and app that links your bank, card, loan and investment accounts to show net worth, spending and retirement scenarios, paid for by Empower's advisory services.
Why it's on this list
Empower is the only app here whose dashboard is free, because it is paid for by Empower's advisory services, which carry a fee based on the assets managed.[49][50] It leans toward investments and retirement: net worth, a retirement planner, portfolio analysis and a Fee Analyzer. Its pages describe budgeting only as tracking daily spending, and nothing on them describes a partner or joint view, so it is a net worth tool beside Monarch, not a budgeting replacement for a couple.[50]
Ideal for: Someone who mostly wants net worth, retirement scenarios and a fee check on investments, and wants to pay nothing.
What it does
- Net worth: total holdings minus total debts, across accounts in one place, with the effect of paying down debt or saving more.[51]
- Retirement planner: compare retirement ages, see what goals such as college or travel need, and set up withdrawals.[52]
- Budgeting and cash flow: tracks daily spending and expenses; transactions are categorized automatically.[50]
- Portfolio analysis: performance, risk level and where your money is invested.[50]
- Fee Analyzer, to find hidden fees in investment accounts.[55]
Good
- The dashboard and its tools are free.[50]
- Covers retirement and investment accounts, not just bank and card spending.[50][52]
- 4.8 stars on the App Store from 421,639 ratings, for the app that also serves retirement-plan users.[53]
- Includes a Fee Analyzer and a retirement planner that tests different retirement ages.[52][55]
Not so good
- Advisory services are paid for with a fee based on assets under management; the free tools are offered next to them.[49][50]
- The pages describe budgeting only as tracking daily spending; no envelope, zero-based or per-category plan is described.[50]
- Nothing on the pages opened describes a spouse, partner or joint view.[49][50][51][52]
- Its own pages give two different advisory minimums: $100,000 and more than $250,000.[49][50][52]
Pricing
- Personal Dashboard[50]Free"Nothing! The dashboard experience and financial tools are completely free."
- The dashboard and its financial tools are free. The high-yield cash account is described as having "no account fees, no minimums".[50]
“Don’t think the interface is up to modern standard. It is clunky, heavy, difficult to use and find transactions.”Read it where it was said ↗
8. A web app with rules, tags and many currencies
Lunch Money
$10/mo or $100/yr· iPhone, Web· App Store 4.8 (58)[61]
What it is
A web budgeting app that pulls in bank transactions, with rules, recurring items, multi-currency support and unlimited contributors to a budget.
Why it's on this list
Lunch Money is a web app with a rules engine, budget periods that can follow your pay cycle, more than 160 currencies and unlimited contributors, each with their own login.[59] It is $10 monthly or $100 yearly after a 30-day trial.[56][62] Its iPhone app has 58 ratings so far, and the pages we read list no Android app.[58][61]Check the figures on its pricing page before paying.
Ideal for: Someone who likes setting up rules, tags and budget periods that follow their pay cycle.
What it does
- Connects to bank and credit card accounts through Plaid so transactions pull in automatically.[58][59]
- Also takes manual entry and CSV imports, and manual accounts for cash, assets, gift cards and crypto.[58]
- Custom budget periods that match your pay cycle.[59]
- A rules engine that categorizes transactions based on conditions you set.[59]
- Recurring items that match imported transactions automatically.[59]
Good
Not so good
- Current prices could not be confirmed: the pricing page returned HTTP 403 when we tried it.[57]
- The pages opened show no iOS or Android app.[58]
- Bank syncing goes through Plaid, and the guide says to open bank syncing tickets from the in-app support menu when something breaks.[58]
- Not envelope budgeting: a Hacker News commenter says its philosophy is "fundamentally different from YNAB".[60]
Pricing
“...I'm a big fan of lunchmoney, and I'm rooting for the success of the app.”Read it where it was said ↗
9. One person who wants a safe-to-spend number, or to pay once
What it is
A paid budgeting app for iPhone, Android and web that links bank accounts and shows how much is safe to spend after bills, goals and essentials.
Why it's on this list
PocketGuard centers on "Leftover", what you can still spend after bills, goals and essentials, and it is the cheapest per year here at $74.99, with a lifetime option at $149.99.[64][67] No partner or shared login is described on the pages we read, so for two people it is a weaker fit than Monarch. Several 2025 and 2026 reviews report being charged at the start of the trial.[68]
Ideal for: One person who wants a single leftover number and may prefer to pay once.
What it does
- "Leftover": what you can still spend after bills, goals and essentials.[63][67]
- Budget with zero-based, envelope or category methods, with rollovers for unspent or overspent money.[63][65]
- Pace: predicts how much you will have left at month's end from your spending habits.[63][67]
- Finds recurring charges and subscriptions automatically, and the listing mentions a built-in bill negotiation service.[63][67]
- Transaction rules that match merchant names, keywords, amounts, categories or accounts.[67]
Good
Not so good
- No free plan; the app requires the trial or a paid plan.[64]
- Monthly billing is $12.99, about double the yearly rate per month.[64]
- No partner or shared login is described on the pages opened.[63][64][65][66]
- App Store reviewers in 2025 and 2026 report being charged at the start of the trial, and a trial that does not appear in App Store subscription settings.[68]
Pricing
“I do love the option of 1 lifetime payment rather than monthly fee.”Read it where it was said ↗
10. A free app for two
What it is
A free phone app for couples that shows both people's linked accounts, bills and budgets, with a choice of how much each person shares.
Why it's on this list
Honeydue is the free answer for couples: "100% free for everybody," with an optional tip.[72] After you connect a bank it asks what your partner can see: balances and transactions, balances only, or nothing.[73] Its pages list no web app, and its reviews report accounts that stop syncing, so it trades Monarch's polish for a price of zero.[75][76][77]
Ideal for: Couples who want a free app on their phones and a choice of what the other sees.
What it does
- Shared view of linked bank account balances, loans and investments. The site says it connects "over 20,000 financial institutions across 5 countries."[71][75]
- Choose what your partner sees per account: balances and transactions, balances only, or nothing.[73]
- Monthly household spending limits for each category, with alerts as you and your partner get close.[75]
- Bill reminders that notify you or your partner when a payment is due.[71][75]
- Chat built into the app: send a quick reaction or ask your partner about a specific transaction.[71]
Good
Pricing
- Free[72]FreeHoneydue's help center says, "Honeydue is 100% free for everybody, and we don't block any features with a paywall."
- Monthly tip (optional)[72][75]Any amount from $1 to $10 a month through the App Store or Google Play. The help center says tips fund new features. The App Store lists $0.99 to $9.99.
- The whole app is free. The only paid thing is the optional tip, which can be changed or cancelled in the App Store or Google Play.[72]
“My husband and I have used this for years and genuinely love using it.”Read it where it was said ↗
11. People who want their data in a spreadsheet
Tiller
$99/yr· Web
What it is
A service that sends your bank transactions into Google Sheets or Excel spreadsheets you own, with budget templates on top.
Why it's on this list
Tiller sends your bank transactions into spreadsheets you own, with templates on top. It is $99 a year, about the same as Monarch, after 30 days free and 30 more with a full refund.[80] It suits people who would rather build their own budget than use a ready screen. The pages we read name no mobile app and don't describe a partner login, so sharing means sharing the sheet.[79]
Ideal for: People comfortable in Google Sheets or Excel who want the bank feed without giving up their data.
What it does
- Syncs bank accounts into private spreadsheets you own, with daily automation.[79]
- All transactions flow into one Transactions Sheet.[79]
- Works with both Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel.[81]
- AutoCat sorts transactions into categories, and you can set your own category rules.[79][81]
- The Foundation Template is an automated spreadsheet budget; other templates cover expenses, debt, net worth and savings.[79][81]
Good
Pricing
- Tiller[80]$99 a year"After 30 days, Tiller is just $99/year." The only plan listed; no monthly option shown.
“...I use Tiller Money to automate my various bank and credit card transactions directly into Google Sheets”Read it where it was said ↗
Each one against Monarch
The table lines Monarch up against each alternative: what is the same, and what changes if you switch.
| App | Same as Monarch | Different from Monarch |
|---|---|---|
| Wonderful | Partner included, $14.99 a month, about $99 a year. | Each person chooses what the other sees. Splits shared costs. Browser only, no investment analysis.[12][13] |
| Copilot Money | Paid, with net worth, investments and subscriptions. | No Android app. Partner sharing marked coming this fall. $109 a year on the website.[15][16] |
| YNAB (You Need A Budget) | Paid, iPhone, Android and web, one subscription for a partner. | A method that plans each dollar. 34-day trial on its site. $109 billed annually.[20][22] |
| Quicken Simplifi | Net worth, bills and investments; a partner can join. | $3.99 a month for the first year, annual billing only. One shared member. No trial.[28][30][32] |
| Rocket Money | Finds subscriptions, tracks spending and budgets. | A free plan. Cancels subscriptions on Premium. Bill negotiation fee of 35% to 60%.[35] |
| Origin | A partner is included, with a combined view. | Adds an AI advisor, index portfolios and free DIY tax filing. $1 first year, then $99.[43][44][45] |
| Empower Personal Dashboard | Net worth across linked accounts. | Free. Retirement planner and Fee Analyzer. No partner view described.[50][51][52] |
| Lunch Money | Collaborators with their own logins. | A rules engine and 160+ currencies. $10 monthly or $100 yearly. No Android app listed.[59][62] |
| PocketGuard | Paid budgeting with bills, goals and subscriptions. | A leftover number. $74.99 a year or $149.99 once. No partner described.[64][67] |
| Honeydue | Each partner links their own accounts. | Free. Per-account sharing choice. Phone apps, no web app listed.[72][73] |
| Tiller | Bank feed with categories and a daily email. | Lives in a spreadsheet you own. $99 a year. No mobile app named.[79][80] |
Is there a free Monarch alternative?
Monarch has no free plan: only the first week is free. Three apps here have a free way in, and each gives up something Monarch has.
- Honeydue is free, with no feature behind a paywall.[72] It is for two people on phones, and its pages list no web app.
- Empower has a free dashboard for net worth and retirement scenarios.[50] It sells advisory services, and its budgeting is basic.
- Rocket Money has a free plan that tracks subscriptions and bills with two custom budgets, but you cancel subscriptions yourself and a full budget needs Premium.[35]
Wonderful isn't free after its trial. Our list of free budgeting apps goes further, with the limits of each free plan.
Monarch competitors by what you need
People searching for Monarch Money competitors usually mean one of four needs. Here is where each lands.
- A cheaper full budgeting app: Simplifi (first year $3.99 a month), PocketGuard ($74.99 a year), or Tiller and Wonderful at $99.
- A partner who sees only what they should: Wonderful or Honeydue.
- More on investments and taxes: Origin, Empower or Simplifi.
- A different way of budgeting: YNAB's plan for every dollar, Lunch Money's rules, or Tiller's spreadsheets.
How to choose
Start with the reason you are leaving Monarch, because that decides which of these is a real change and which is a lateral move.
Choose Wonderful if you:
- Keep your own accounts and share some bills
- Want to choose what your partner sees, account by account
- Are fine in a browser and don't need investment analysis
Choose Honeydue if you:
- Want it free
- Both use phones
- Can live with sync that sometimes needs a nudge
Choose YNAB (You Need A Budget) if you:
- Want to plan each dollar before spending it
- Don't mind a learning curve
- Want one plan shared with up to six people
Choose Quicken Simplifi if you:
- Want the lowest first-year price
- Want a retirement planner and investment tracking
- Will share with one person
Choose Origin if you:
- Want budgeting, investing and taxes together
- Are fine with a combined partner view
Choose Empower Personal Dashboard if you:
- Care most about net worth and retirement
- Want a free tool and are not planning to use a partner view
Choose Copilot Money if you:
- Use Apple devices only
- Don't need a partner login today
Choose Tiller if you:
- Are comfortable in a spreadsheet
- Want to own your data
Where Wonderful fits, and where it doesn't
We make Wonderful, so weigh this section accordingly. It fits couples who keep their own money and share some of it: your own paychecks and banks, a plan for every paycheck, and shared costs split the way you agreed. If your main reason for leaving Monarch is that a partner sees everything, that is what it was built for. See Wonderful vs Monarch for couples.
It is the wrong move if you want investment tracking beyond balances, because Wonderful gives no investment advice or portfolio analysis. It is also web only, with no iPhone or Android app yet, it has no free plan after the trial, and it doesn't cancel subscriptions for you. If you have merged everything and like Monarch's apps, staying is a reasonable choice. For more options, see the best budgeting apps for couples.
Questions people ask
What is the best alternative to Monarch Money?
It depends on what you want to change. For couples who don't want a partner to see every account, Wonderful and Honeydue let each person choose what the other sees. For a method rather than a tracker, YNAB. For the lowest first-year price, Quicken Simplifi at $3.99 a month billed annually. For net worth and retirement at no cost, Empower's free dashboard.
Is there a free Monarch alternative?
Yes, three with limits. Honeydue is free with no feature behind a paywall and an optional tip. Empower's dashboard and tools are free, paid for by its advisory services. Rocket Money has a free plan that tracks subscriptions and bills with two custom budgets. None matches Monarch's full budgeting for $0, and Wonderful is not free after its trial.
What are Monarch Money's competitors?
The paid budgeting apps closest to it are Copilot ($109 a year on its website), YNAB ($109 billed annually), Quicken Simplifi, Origin ($99 a year after a $1 first year), Lunch Money ($100 a year) and PocketGuard ($74.99 a year). Empower and Rocket Money overlap on net worth and subscriptions, and Wonderful and Honeydue are built for couples.
Which Monarch alternative is best for couples?
If you want each person to choose what the other sees, Wonderful or Honeydue. Monarch's couples page says both partners have full visibility into all accounts and transactions, which suits couples who share everything. Origin and Simplifi also include a partner, but both describe a shared view rather than per-account choice.
How much does Monarch cost compared with its alternatives?
Monarch is $14.99 monthly or $99.99 billed yearly, with a Plus tier shown at $199.99 a year on the App Store. Wonderful is $14.99 or $99 for both partners. YNAB is $109 a year, Lunch Money $100, Tiller $99, PocketGuard $74.99, and Simplifi $3.99 a month for the first year.
Can a partner hide an account from the other in Monarch?
Monarch's couples page says both parties have full visibility into all accounts and transactions, and it describes no way to keep one account private. None of its pages we read describe a setting for that. Honeydue and Wonderful describe per-account choices on their own pages.
Which Monarch alternatives have an Android app?
YNAB, Simplifi, Rocket Money, Origin, Empower, PocketGuard and Honeydue list Android apps. Copilot has no Android app, and the pages we read for Lunch Money list an iPhone app and no Android one. Wonderful and Tiller run in the browser.
What is the best Monarch alternative for investments?
Empower and Origin lean furthest into investing. Empower's free dashboard shows portfolio analysis and a retirement planner. Origin has an investing view and its own index portfolios. Simplifi tracks investments with cost basis and has a retirement planner. Monarch tracks investment accounts too, and its Plus tier adds deeper investment tracking. Wonderful has no investment analysis.
Does Monarch have a free trial, and do the alternatives?
Monarch's first week is free. YNAB gives 34 days on its website, Copilot one month, Lunch Money 30 days, Tiller 30 days plus 30 more with a refund, Rocket Money's Premium 7 days, PocketGuard 7 days and Wonderful a free week. Simplifi lists no trial, only a 30 day money-back guarantee on direct purchases.
Is there a Monarch alternative with a one-time payment?
PocketGuard lists a lifetime option at $149.99, paid once, next to its $74.99 yearly plan. Every other paid app here bills monthly or yearly. To switch to the lifetime plan, PocketGuard says you must cancel your subscription first or request a refund.
Why do people leave Monarch Money?
From its own pages and App Store reviews: price against what the plan includes, accounts that disconnect, billing that continued after cancelling according to several 2026 reviews, and difficulty getting a partner's membership to work. Plenty of reviewers also praise it: it holds a 4.9 on the App Store from 116K ratings.
Sources
82 sources · read October 27, 2026
Every number on this page comes from monarch.com, apps.apple.com, play.google.com and 21 more. If a source has changed since, the source is right.
- 1Monarch pricingmonarch.com
- 2Monarch on the App Storeapps.apple.com
- 3Monarch on Google Playplay.google.com
- 4Monarch home pagemonarch.com
- 5Monarch for couplesmonarch.com
- 6Monarch collaborationmonarch.com
- 7Monarch budgetingmonarch.com
- 8Monarch planningmonarch.com
- 9Apple public review feed for Monarchitunes.apple.com
- 10Monarch help: Monarch for Couples and Householdshelp.monarch.com
- 11Trustpilot, www.monarchmoney.comtrustpilot.com
- 12Wonderful terms of servicewonderful.money
- 13Wonderful privacy policywonderful.money
- 14Wonderfulwonderful.money
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- 20YNAB pricingynab.com
- 21YNAB featuresynab.com
- 22The YNAB methodynab.com
- 23YNAB on the App Storeapps.apple.com
- 24YNAB on Google Playplay.google.com
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- 26YNAB: Using YNAB as Partnerssupport.ynab.com
- 27Trustpilot, ynab.comtrustpilot.com
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- 53App Store listing, Empowerapps.apple.com
- 54App Store reviews, Empowerapps.apple.com
- 55Empower free tools pageempower.com
- 56Lunch Money help center welcomesupport.lunchmoney.app
- 57Lunch Money blog: The Least Annoying Price Increase in History (Oct 16, 2024)lunchmoney.app
- 58Lunch Money help center: Getting startedsupport.lunchmoney.app
- 59Lunch Money blog: 11 Lunch Money Features You Should Be Usinglunchmoney.app
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- 66PocketGuard help: all featurespocketguard.com
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- 69Trustpilot, pocketguard.comtrustpilot.com
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- 74Honeydue Joint Cashhoneydue.com
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- 79Tiller hometiller.com
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App names are trademarks of their owners; Wonderful isn't connected with them. Wonderful gives general information. It isn't a financial or tax advisor.