Best Mint Alternatives in 2026
Mint Shut Down in January 2024
Intuit shut down Mint.com on January 1, 2024 and redirected users to Credit Karma — a credit score app, not a budgeting tool. Most Mint users have since moved on. Here's where they went.
Mint was free because it sold targeted financial product ads based on your spending data. The best replacements in 2026 take a different approach — either charging a subscription or, in SheetLink's case, putting your data directly into a spreadsheet you own.
Quick Comparison: Best Mint Alternatives 2026
| App | Price | Free Tier | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monarch Money | $14.99/mo or $99/yr | 7-day trial only | Most Mint-like experience |
| SheetLink | Free / $4.99/mo or $39.99/yr | Last 7 days, forever | Spreadsheet users who want to own their data |
| YNAB | $14.99/mo or $109/yr | 34-day trial only | Active zero-based budgeters |
| Copilot | $13/mo or $99/yr | 30-day trial only | Apple users who want beautiful design |
| Empower | Free (wealth management upsell) | Free forever | Investment and net worth tracking |
| Tiller Money | $6.58/mo ($79/yr) | 30-day trial only | Automated spreadsheet sync |
| PocketGuard | Free / $74.99/yr | Limited free tier (2 accounts) | "In My Pocket" spending view |
| Simplifi by Quicken | $47.88/yr ($3.99/mo) | 30-day trial only | Clean budgeting on a budget |
The Best Mint Alternatives, Reviewed
1. Monarch Money
$14.99/mo or $99/yrPlatform: Web, iOS, Android · Free tier: 7-day trial only
Pros
- ✓ Closest to Mint in look and feel
- ✓ Household sharing
- ✓ Goals and net worth tracking
- ✓ Strong mobile apps
Cons
- ✗ No free tier after trial
- ✗ Most expensive option at $14.99/mo
Bottom line: Best overall Mint replacement if you want a dedicated budgeting app and don't mind paying.
Full Monarch Money comparison →2. SheetLinkOur Pick
Free / $4.99/mo or $39.99/yrPlatform: Google Sheets + Excel (any platform) · Free tier: Last 7 days, forever
Pros
- ✓ Permanent free tier — no credit card required
- ✓ Data lives in your own Google Sheet or Excel file
- ✓ Privacy-first manual sync — no background bank access
- ✓ No ads, no data selling
- ✓ Works on any platform (Windows, Mac, Android, Linux)
Cons
- ✗ No built-in budgeting UI — you build your own in Sheets
- ✗ Manual sync (by design, not automatic)
Bottom line: Best for spreadsheet users who want full data ownership and no subscription risk. If Mint's ad model bothered you, SheetLink is the privacy-first alternative.
Full SheetLink comparison →3. YNAB
$14.99/mo or $109/yrPlatform: Web, iOS, Android · Free tier: 34-day trial only
Pros
- ✓ Proven zero-based budgeting methodology
- ✓ Strong community and educational content
- ✓ Student discount available (free for 1 year)
Cons
- ✗ Most expensive option
- ✗ Steep learning curve — requires active engagement
- ✗ No investment tracking
Bottom line: Best if you want a structured budgeting methodology and are willing to invest time learning it.
Full YNAB comparison →4. Copilot
$13/mo or $99/yrPlatform: iOS and Mac only · Free tier: 30-day trial only
Pros
- ✓ Best-in-class UI/UX
- ✓ Smart AI categorization
- ✓ Net worth and investment tracking
Cons
- ✗ iOS and Mac only — no Android, no Windows
- ✗ No free tier after trial
Bottom line: Best for iPhone/Mac users who prioritize design. Avoid if you use Android or Windows.
Full Copilot comparison →5. Empower
Free (wealth management upsell)Platform: Web, iOS, Android · Free tier: Free forever
Pros
- ✓ Free for dashboard and transaction tracking
- ✓ Best investment portfolio tracking of any app
- ✓ Net worth tracking across all accounts
Cons
- ✗ Wealth management advisors will pitch you ($100k+ AUM minimum)
- ✗ Budgeting features are basic compared to Mint
Bottom line: Best free option if you have investments to track. Be prepared for occasional advisor outreach.
Full Empower comparison →6. Tiller Money
$6.58/mo ($79/yr)Platform: Google Sheets + Excel · Free tier: 30-day trial only
Pros
- ✓ Automatic daily bank sync to Google Sheets or Excel
- ✓ Pre-built spreadsheet templates
- ✓ More automated than SheetLink
Cons
- ✗ No free tier
- ✗ $79/yr minimum commitment
- ✗ No manual sync option if you prefer privacy control
Bottom line: Best if you want automatic daily sync into a spreadsheet without clicking a button. Pricier than SheetLink.
Full Tiller Money comparison →7. PocketGuard
Free / $74.99/yrPlatform: iOS, Android · Free tier: Limited free tier (2 accounts)
Pros
- ✓ Simple "how much can I spend" view
- ✓ Bill negotiation feature
- ✓ Clean mobile UI
Cons
- ✗ Free tier limited to 2 accounts
- ✗ Less powerful than Mint was
- ✗ No web app
Bottom line: Best for people who want a simple spending snapshot. Not ideal if you had many accounts in Mint.
Full PocketGuard comparison →8. Simplifi by Quicken
$47.88/yr ($3.99/mo)Platform: Web, iOS, Android · Free tier: 30-day trial only
Pros
- ✓ Most affordable dedicated budgeting app
- ✓ Clean web and mobile experience
- ✓ Spending plan feature
Cons
- ✗ Annual billing only
- ✗ Less polished than Monarch or Copilot
- ✗ No investment tracking
Bottom line: Best value dedicated budgeting app at $47.88/yr if you want something Mint-like without paying $99-109/yr.
Full Simplifi by Quicken comparison →Why Mint Shut Down — And What to Avoid in a Replacement
Mint was free because it monetized your spending data. Every transaction you logged helped Intuit build a profile to sell you credit cards, loans, and insurance. When Intuit decided this model wasn't worth maintaining, they shut it down overnight.
The lesson: free budgeting apps that rely on selling financial products are platform risks. The best Mint alternatives in 2026 either charge a transparent subscription fee or, like SheetLink, put your data in a spreadsheet you own so there's no platform risk at all.
What Happened to Credit Karma After Mint Shut Down?
Intuit redirected Mint users to Credit Karma in January 2024. Credit Karma added basic transaction tracking, but it was designed as a credit score app — not a budgeting tool. Most former Mint users found it inadequate and moved to one of the alternatives listed above.
The Mint Alternative That Puts Data in Your Spreadsheet
SheetLink syncs bank transactions to Google Sheets or Excel via Plaid. No ads, no data selling, no platform risk. Free forever for 7 days — no credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened to Mint?
Intuit shut down Mint.com on January 1, 2024. Mint had been free because it monetized user data through targeted financial product ads. Intuit redirected Mint users to Credit Karma, but most users found it a poor substitute for budgeting.
What is the best free Mint alternative in 2026?
Empower (formerly Personal Capital) is free for investment and net worth tracking. SheetLink has a permanent free tier (last 7 days of transactions, no credit card required) for spreadsheet-based budgeting. Both avoid the $10-15/month subscription most other Mint alternatives charge.
Which Mint alternative is most similar to Mint?
Monarch Money is the closest to the original Mint experience — automatic bank sync, spending categories, budgets, and goals in a clean web and mobile app. It costs $14.99/month or $99/year.
Is there a Mint alternative that syncs to Google Sheets or Excel?
Yes. SheetLink and Tiller Money both sync bank transactions to Google Sheets or Excel via Plaid. SheetLink costs $4.99/mo (free tier available) and uses privacy-first manual sync. Tiller costs $6.58/mo ($79/yr) with automatic daily sync.
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