Best Mint alternatives: Top budgeting apps compared

Budgeting apps are powerful tools for individuals who struggle to manage their finances effectively. Mint was one of the top budgeting apps for many Americans, but when it shut down in March 2024, it left millions of users searching for another resource to manage their finances. There are plenty of alternatives to Mint that offer similar tools, but not all stack up to the once-popular budget platform. This guide delves into the top Mint budgeting app replacements that offer comparable features to help you achieve your financial goals.

Key features to look for in a budgeting app

Mint users commonly loved its automation and clean interface, but not all budgeting platforms have the same philosophy. Money apps typically vary in their focus, but they must include certain essential functions, including robust budgeting features. These are the top budgeting app features to look for when researching the best Mint alternatives.

• Security: Security is a non-negotiable when comparing alternatives to Mint. Apps that offer bank-level security, use two-factor authentication, and don’t sell user data should be prioritized. Enhanced security options like multi-factor authentication, Face ID, and Touch ID provide additional protection for your sensitive financial information.
• Integrations: Budgeting apps should make life easier. Look for platforms that integrate with banks, credit cards, and investment accounts. Some apps even integrate with PayPal and Venmo. Automatic bank syncing is a desirable integration, ensuring your financial data is always up-to-date without manual entry.
• Reporting and insights: Some budgeting platforms are more robust than others. Depending on your needs, you may value visual spending charts, cash flow analysis, and a savings tracker to optimize your finances. Real-time updates for financial tracking allow you to instantly see new transactions and monitor your expenses as they happen.
• User experience: There’s little sense in using a budgeting app that’s not intuitive to you. Platforms should have simple dashboards, a user-friendly interface, and an easy-to-follow setup. If it doesn’t, it could make budgeting challenging.
• Cost: Just because there’s a cost doesn’t mean it’s best to forego an app, as it might save you more in the long run. While there are some free Mint alternatives, not all may be as robust as a paid option. Don’t overlook using a free trial to determine if an app is for you. Paid versions often provide additional and premium features, such as advanced reporting, smart widgets, or enhanced security options.
• Real-time syncing: Up-to-the-minute tracking is essential to ensure you see activity as it happens. Not all apps offer this feature, but it’s helpful to make informed decisions.
• Customization: Every situation is unique, making customization integral to any budgeting app. You want the ability to set personal categories, savings goals, monthly bill trackers, and spending limits to help fine-tune your finances. Customizable features like calendar view and payment reminders are especially useful for tracking bills and due dates.

Best Mint alternatives

Selecting the right Mint alternative is key to continuing wise money management. Choosing one app that consolidates all your financial management features—like budgeting, bill tracking, and account linking—can make handling your finances much more convenient.

These are the best alternatives to Mint, based on features, pricing, and usability, to help you simplify your money management. When evaluating Mint alternatives, pay special attention to bill management and subscription manager features, as these can help you track bills, avoid late fees, and manage recurring subscriptions efficiently.

Alternative #1 – YNAB

You Need a Budget (YNAB) is one of the more well-known apps similar to Mint. The platform employs a zero-dollar approach to budgeting, assigning every dollar a specific purpose. YNAB helps users plan ahead by ensuring every dollar is given a job, allowing for proactive preparation for upcoming bills and expenses.

YNAB features include helpful capabilities such as goal planning, unlimited customization, real-time syncing, bank-level security, spending and net worth trackers, resources to aid in repaying debt, and the ability to create sinking funds. It also allows users to create budgets and manage their monthly budget based on their income. Users can share with up to six individuals, making it one of the better budgeting apps for couples.

If ease of use is important to you, YNAB may not be a good choice. Users report that it has a steep learning curve, but most users also swear by the platform for helping them keep their finances on track. Additionally, YNAB doesn’t currently allow users to categorize expenses. YNAB focuses on helping users plan their finances proactively, rather than just tracking past transactions.

Unlike other budgeting apps, YNAB doesn’t include forecasting in its offering. The platform is only concerned with the money you have on hand at the moment.

YNAB currently offers a 34-day free trial, after which it costs $14.99 monthly, or $109 annually. The company claims that users can save $600 within the first month and $6,000 in the first year.

YNAB is the best budgeting app for couples or families who want to streamline their budgets using the zero-based approach and are willing to pay for a budgeting app.

Alternative #2 – Empower

Empower, formerly known as Personal Capital, is one of the best free alternatives to Mint. The money app isn’t as comprehensive as Mint on budgeting, but it does have a strong offering for assisting users in managing their investments.

Empower is easier to use than YNAB, and you can connect all of your financial accounts, with bank-level security. Although Empower isn’t as strong in traditional budgeting, it does offer helpful features like cash-flow tracking, real-time syncing, spending analysis, and a net worth dashboard, all designed to facilitate effective spending management. Empower also helps users manage a variety of financial products, including investments, credit cards, and insurance, making it a versatile tool for overall financial health.

If you enjoy thorough analysis, Empower includes a wealth of calculators and tools to enhance your financial planning. Empower also provides tools for tracking loans and summarizes the total amount of your assets and liabilities, giving you a clear overview of your financial position.

While Empower offers investment guidance, users must pay for access to it. Currently, the cost begins at 0.89% of assets under management for accounts under $1 million. And, if you have investable assets of at least $100,000, it’s not uncommon to receive sales calls from financial advisors tied to Empower.

Drawbacks aside, if you’re searching for a more holistic money management platform, Empower is the best budgeting and investing app available.

Alternative #3 – Quicken Simplifi

Quicken Simplifi is the best app for budgeters wanting a Mint-like approach to money management. If you’re new to budgeting, Quicken Simplifi is worth considering as it targets beginners with a user-friendly interface.

Quicken Simplifi has a relatively clean interface that consolidates everything in one location, allowing you to view your finances at a high level. The app features a monthly view that displays upcoming bills and monthly bills, making it easier to track and manage recurring expenses. The app has bank-level security and includes features like refund trackers, real-time syncing, personalized spending categories, expense tracking, and forecasting.

You can also use Quicken Simplifi to create savings goals, which can be helpful when trying to achieve different milestones. The platform also allows users to share access with a partner or financial advisor.

Unfortunately, Quicken Simplifi does not offer a free trial, and there’s no free version of the app. Quicken often runs promotions on pricing, but the standard cost is $5.99 per month. The platform also doesn’t integrate with Zillow, so users must manually input home values.

If simplicity without sacrificing a comprehensive approach is important to you, and you want the ability to share access with another individual, Quicken Simplifi is a good budgeting app to try.

Alternative #4 – PocketGuard

PocketGuard is another easy-to-use Mint alternative. If you were with Mint, PocketGuard even lets users transfer their history over to its platform.

PocketGuard takes the approach of budgeting with what you have leftover each month after paying all of your bills. It also helps you track recurring charges and recurring bills, making it easier to manage ongoing financial commitments and avoid missing payments.

PocketGuard offers bank-level security and a wide range of features, including spending trackers and insights, real-time syncing, cancellation of unused subscriptions, the ability to cancel subscriptions directly from the app, expense tracking, net worth tracking, customizable spending categories and goals, and debt payoff planning. The app can also negotiate bills on your behalf to help lower your expenses and provide reminders to help you avoid late fees. The app also integrates with unlimited bank accounts and has priority human support. You can also share access with a partner or financial advisor.

Unfortunately, there’s no free tier for PocketGuard. The service formerly offered a free tier with the requirement to pay for access to more advanced tools. That ability is now gone, with only a seven-day free trial period remaining. Interested individuals must pay $12.99 monthly or $74.99 annually to use the platform.

PocketGuard is best for individuals who want a simple budgeting approach and those actively paying off debt.

Alternative #5 – EveryDollar

EveryDollar is a budgeting app created by Ramsey Solutions, the company founded by Dave Ramsey. Like YNAB, EveryDollar employs a zero-based budgeting approach, aiming to give every dollar a purpose. It’s not a surprise either that EveryDollar focuses heavily on helping users avoid and eliminate debt.

Where EveryDollar stands out is with its two tiers: Free and EveryDollar Premium. The free version is fairly barebones, including features such as unlimited monthly budgets, creating sinking funds, customized budget categories, and the ability to split transactions. Users must manually add transactions at this level, and can also set up biweekly budgeting cycles for recurring expenses.

Bumping up to EveryDollar Premium unlocks more powerful functions like syncing financial account data, paycheck planning, bank-level security, live financial coaching, account sharing, transaction and net worth tracking, due date reminders, and the ability to set spending limits for different categories. Although real-time syncing is included with Premium, users often complain that it’s not truly real-time, but rather delayed by up to 24 hours.

EveryDollar Premium costs $17.99 monthly, or $79.99 per year. Users can test out the platform with a 14-day free trial. The app claims new users can identify up to $3,015 in annual savings through using the app.

EveryDollar is best for people seeking to pay off debt who don’t mind a more time-intensive approach to budgeting.

Comparison table: Mint vs. top alternatives

Personal finance is personal for a reason. Selecting a budgeting app like Mint isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. You need to pick a platform that works best for your needs.

If you prioritize automation, Simplifi may be a good choice. For individuals seeking more financial insight, YNAB or Empower may be better options. Other notable Mint alternatives include Monarch Money, Rocket Money, and Copilot Money, each offering unique features for bill tracking, budgeting, and expense management. Here’s how the top competitors compare against Mint.

Frequently asked questions about Mint alternatives

Are you looking to switch from Mint? These are some common questions people have when researching the top budgeting apps in the market.

What is the best alternative to Mint?

YNAB is the best Mint alternative for people who want to live on a budget. If you’re searching for robust budgeting app features that focus on automation and simplicity, Quicken Simplifi is a good choice. Empower is a wise choice for individuals seeking a comprehensive budgeting app and investment tool to manage their finances holistically.

Why should I consider an alternative to Mint?

Mint is no longer in service, as it was shut down by its parent company, Intuit, in 2024, leaving users with no ability to manage their finances. Using a replacement for Mint enables individuals to create a budget and manage their money in a way to achieve financial goals.

Can I switch easily from Mint to another app?

Yes, it can be relatively simple to switch from Mint to another budgeting and bill tracker app. Most apps allow the import of transactions from CSV files or manual entry to recreate budgets. It may take time to transition initially, but it will go smoother if you export Mint data first. Don’t overlook using free trials to identify the best budgeting app for your needs.

Conclusion

Living on a budget is a helpful way to achieve financial goals. Mint was a popular money management app for many, but it’s no longer in service. Fortunately, numerous Mint alternatives let you accomplish similar objectives. Take advantage of free trials to identify the best replacement for your needs and start managing your money today.