If you’re still hunting for “the new Mint,” you’re solving the wrong problem. Mint shut down in 2024, and no single free app has fully replaced everything it did. Instead, the budgeting app market split into specialists: some apps are built for hands-on budgeters, some for people who want to see their net worth at a glance, and some for couples who just want one shared view of the money.
This guide breaks down what Mint actually did well (automatic transaction syncing, a free price tag, basic net worth tracking, a simple credit score check) and shows you which app picks up each piece in 2026. It also covers what that switch costs now that most of the free options have quietly gone paid.
Why There’s No Single Mint Replacement in 2026
Mint bundled four things into one free app: budgeting, net worth tracking, bill reminders, and a basic credit score. When it closed, users scattered across apps that each do a slice of that job better, usually for a fee. Monarch Money, built partly by ex-Mint employees, positioned itself as the direct successor and has raised its price twice since the shutdown. As of mid-2026 it runs $14.99/month, or roughly $99/year, according to pricing pages tracked by outlets like Forbes and CNBC Select. Prices change, so confirm on Monarch’s own site before you sign up.
That price shift matters because a lot of “Mint alternative” roundups still floating around online quote Monarch’s old, lower price. If you’re comparing options based on a two-year-old article, the numbers you’re seeing are probably wrong.
The Contenders: What Each App Actually Does Best
Four apps keep coming out on top in current reviews from Forbes Advisor, CNBC Select, Kiplinger, and NerdWallet, all updated in 2026. Each one has a different personality:
- Monarch Money feels the closest to old Mint: clean interface, shared household budgets, net worth tracking, and an investment overview in one place.
- YNAB (You Need A Budget) runs on the “zero-based” method, where every dollar gets a job before you spend it. The learning curve is real, but it’s widely considered the gold standard for people who want to change their habits, not just watch them.
- Quicken Simplifi won Forbes’ Editors’ Choice for 2026. Its automated spending plan adjusts in real time, and it’s good at tracking household bills and upcoming travel.
- Empower (formerly Personal Capital) is free. It’s the strongest pick if you mostly care about investments, retirement accounts, and net worth rather than detailed category budgeting.
Price and Feature Comparison (as of Mid-2026)
Subscription prices in this category change fairly often, so treat the numbers below as a mid-2026 snapshot rather than a permanent price list. Always check the current price on the provider’s website before you subscribe.
| App | Typical Price (mid-2026) | Core Strength | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monarch Money | ~$14.99/mo or ~$99/yr | All-in-one dashboard, shared budgets | Couples and Mint refugees who want one clean view |
| YNAB | ~$109/yr (free trial available) | Zero-based budgeting method | People who want to actively change spending habits |
| Quicken Simplifi | ~$48/yr (often discounted for year one) | Automated, real-time spending plan | Planners tracking household bills and upcoming trips |
| Empower | Free (paid wealth management is optional) | Net worth and investment tracking | Investors who don’t need detailed category budgeting |
Note: Empower’s budgeting tools are free, but the company also offers optional paid wealth advisory services. You’re never required to use them just to track your spending.
Monarch Money vs. YNAB: The Two Most-Searched Comparisons
These two get compared constantly because they solve different problems. Monarch is closer to a dashboard: connect your accounts, see spending categorized automatically, and get a shared view if you split finances with a partner. YNAB asks more of you upfront. You manually assign every incoming dollar to a category, and that friction is the whole point. YNAB’s method is work. Reviewers at Kiplinger and NerdWallet keep noticing the same pattern: people who stick with it report a real shift in how they think about spending, while Monarch users mostly value the lower effort and the nicer visuals.
So which one? If passive tracking never stuck for you before, YNAB’s hands-on method may finally work. If you just want automatic categorization and a clean net worth chart, Monarch is the easier landing spot.
Is There Still a Free Budgeting App Worth Using?
Yes, with a caveat. Empower is genuinely free for its budgeting and net worth tools, which makes it the closest thing to Mint’s original price point. The catch: its budgeting features are lighter than Monarch’s or YNAB’s, since Empower’s core focus is investments. If a completely free option matters more to you than granular budget categories, it’s the most realistic pick in 2026. For zero-based budgeting or automated spending plans, expect to pay a subscription in the ranges above. And if you’d rather skip subscriptions entirely, a manual option like building your own budget in Google Sheets is free and fully under your control.
A 10-Minute Way to Pick the Right App
Instead of trying every app for a month each, run through this checklist:
- Do you want to see everything (accounts, investments, net worth) in one dashboard? Try Monarch.
- Do you want a method that forces better spending habits, not just tracking? Try YNAB.
- Do you mainly want bills and near-term spending automated for you? Try Quicken Simplifi.
- Is your main goal investments and retirement, with budgeting as a bonus? Try Empower.
- Whatever you pick, use the free trial period (if offered) before your card is charged. And check the current price on the provider’s site, since subscription costs for these apps have moved more than once in the past two years.
Before You Link Your Bank Accounts
All four apps connect to your accounts through data aggregation services, which is standard for this category. Still, do a quick check before you link anything: confirm the app uses read-only, encrypted connections (all four here do), turn on two-factor authentication on the budgeting app account itself, and skim what its privacy policy says about sharing your financial data. Policies vary by provider. None of this is a reason to avoid budgeting apps. It’s just good practice any time you give a third-party service access to a financial account.
Once your budget is under control, some readers also look at cash-back apps to stretch everyday spending a bit further, or eventually move on to beginner investing apps once monthly cash flow feels predictable.
Practical Takeaways
- Mint’s free, all-in-one model no longer exists. Every strong 2026 option is either paid or narrower in scope than Mint was.
- Monarch has raised prices more than once since 2024, so double-check current pricing before trusting older articles.
- YNAB rewards people willing to learn a method. Monarch and Simplifi reward people who want automation.
- Empower is still the most realistic free option if investment tracking matters more to you than detailed budget categories.
- Review your linked accounts and security settings before relying on any app with sensitive bank data.
This article is for general informational purposes and is not financial advice. Pricing and features are current as of mid-2026 and may change; confirm details directly with each provider before subscribing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a free budgeting app as good as Mint used to be?
Empower is the closest free option in 2026, though it leans toward investment and net worth tracking rather than detailed category budgeting. For deeper budgeting features, most strong options now charge a subscription.
Which is better, Monarch Money or YNAB?
It depends on what you want the app to do. Monarch offers a more automated, dashboard-style experience that works well for couples and Mint refugees. YNAB takes more manual input, but many users credit its zero-based method with actually changing how they spend.
How much does Quicken Simplifi cost in 2026?
Simplifi has typically run around $48/year as of mid-2026, though promotional pricing for the first year is common. Always confirm the current price on Quicken’s site, since subscription pricing can change.
Is Quicken Simplifi good for beginners?
Yes. Forbes named it a 2026 Editors’ Choice pick, partly because its automated spending plan adjusts in real time without much manual setup. That tends to suit people who are new to budgeting apps.
Are budgeting apps safe to link to my bank account?
Reputable budgeting apps use encrypted, read-only connections through established data aggregation services. You can reduce risk further by enabling two-factor authentication on the app itself and reviewing its data-sharing policy before linking accounts.
What’s the best budgeting app for couples?
Monarch Money is the one most often recommended for couples. It supports shared budgets and a combined view of accounts, and you can still keep some individual privacy depending on how you set it up.
