Why people look for a Monarch alternative

Monarch Money is a well-made budgeting and net-worth app, and many people are happy with it. But it comes with two friction points that send people searching. First, the price: Monarch is about $99.99 per year, or about 4.99 per month, which is on the higher end for a personal budgeting app. Second, there is no free tier. You get a 7-day trial, and then you pay, so there is no way to keep using it casually for free.

For anyone who wants to try an app before committing, keep a free option in their pocket, or simply spend less than 00 a year, that combination is enough to look elsewhere. The good news is there are strong alternatives at every price point, including free ones.

Monarch's rise is tied to Mint's fall. When Intuit shut Mint down in March 2024, Monarch was one of the apps that picked up former Mint users, and it earned a lot of goodwill doing so. But Mint was free, and Monarch is not, so plenty of those same users are now taking a second look and asking whether they really need to pay about 00 a year for a budget. That is a reasonable question, and the answer for many people is no.

A seven-day trial is also short. It is barely enough time to connect your accounts, wait for a full month of transactions to sync, and form an honest opinion. If you want to live with an app for a few weeks before deciding, a free tier is worth far more than a fast-expiring trial, and that is the single biggest practical reason people go looking for a Monarch alternative.

Monarch alternatives compared

Prices below are approximate and can change. A free tier means you can keep using the app without paying, not just a trial.

A closer look at each Monarch alternative

Beyond Neptune, here is the honest take on the other options in the table, with approximate pricing so you know what you are committing to.

Copilot Money - about $95/yr

A beautifully designed tracker with smart categorization, priced just under Monarch. The catch is that it is built for Apple devices, with only a limited web app (added in late 2025) and no native Android app, so it fits best if you live in Apple's ecosystem.

Simplifi by Quicken - about $47.88/yr

The cheapest paid option here, with a capable spending plan from the makers of Quicken. There is no free tier, and the interface can feel busier than newer apps, but the price is genuinely low.

Rocket Money - free with premium

Best known for negotiating bills and canceling unwanted subscriptions, with a usable free tier and premium around $4-12 per month. Its budgeting is lighter than Monarch, so it suits people who care most about trimming recurring costs.

Empower (Personal Capital) - free tracker

A free net-worth and investment tracker that is strong on the wealth side, paired with a wealth-management upsell. It is great for watching investments, but it is a lighter fit for everyday spending and category budgeting.

Why Neptune is the top Monarch alternative

Neptune covers the things people like about Monarch, a clean overview of accounts, budgets, and net worth, while fixing the two things they do not: the price and the missing free tier.

Free to start

You can create an account, connect your first bank, and budget without paying. No 7-day countdown before you have to decide.

Built-in AI assistant

Ask questions about your money in plain English and get answers based on your real accounts. Monarch does not offer this the way Neptune does.

Web, iOS, and Android

Neptune runs everywhere, so you are not locked to one device. Your data syncs across all of them.

Cheaper if you upgrade

Neptune's Base plan is about $96 per year, a bit less than Monarch, and there is a 33% discount on your first 12 months when you subscribe on the web with code NEPTUNE33.

How to switch from Monarch to Neptune

Moving over is quick, and because Neptune is free to start, you can run both side by side before you cancel anything.

1. Create a free Neptune account

Sign up on the web, iOS, or Android. There is no credit card required and no trial clock, so you can take your time.

2. Reconnect your banks

Link the same accounts you had in Monarch through Plaid. Neptune imports your recent history and categorizes it automatically, so your budget fills in fast.

3. Compare for a couple of weeks

Keep Monarch during its billing period and use Neptune alongside it. Because Neptune has a real free tier, there is no pressure to decide in seven days.

4. Cancel when you are ready

Once Neptune feels like home, cancel Monarch. If you upgrade Neptune, subscribing on the web with code NEPTUNE33 takes 33% off your first 12 months.

When Monarch is still worth it

Monarch is a genuinely good product, and there are cases where it is the right call. If you and a partner want a highly polished, collaboration-first experience and you do not mind paying about $99.99 a year for it, Monarch delivers a refined shared dashboard with strong net-worth tracking and thoughtful design. Some people simply prefer its interface and its approach to goals, and that preference is valid.

If price and a free tier are not your main concerns, try Monarch's trial alongside Neptune's free plan and keep whichever feels better. The point of an alternative is to fit you, not to win an argument.

Related guides

• Best budgeting apps for 2026 - The full ranked comparison across every major app.
• Mint alternatives - Where Mint users are moving now that it has closed.
• The AI budgeting app - What Neptune's AI money assistant can do for you.
• Track your net worth - See all your accounts, cards, and loans in one place.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Monarch Money cost?

Monarch Money is about $99.99 per year, or about 4.99 per month. It offers a 7-day trial but no ongoing free tier, so you pay once the trial ends.

Is there a free alternative to Monarch Money?

Yes. Neptune is free to start and ad-free, with bank connections and an AI assistant included. Rocket Money and Empower also have free tiers, though they focus on bill negotiation and net-worth tracking respectively.

What is the best Monarch Money alternative?

For most people, Neptune. It is free to start, ad-free, runs on web, iOS, and Android, and includes an AI money assistant. If you are all-in on Apple, Copilot is a strong design-focused option.

Is Neptune cheaper than Monarch?

Yes. Neptune is free to start, and its Base plan is about $96 per year versus about $99.99 for Monarch. Subscribing on the web with code NEPTUNE33 takes 33% off your first 12 months.

Does Neptune work on Android like Monarch?

Yes. Neptune runs on Android, iOS, and the web, with one account syncing across all of them, just like Monarch supports multiple platforms.