7 Best Monarch Money Alternatives in 2026 (Cheaper & Free)
Our Verdict: Monarch Money is a polished financial dashboard at $9.99/month with no free tier. Here are 7 alternatives that offer budgeting, tracking, or both — many for free or at a lower price point.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | New Day Budgeting | Monarch Money |
|---|---|---|
| App | New Day Budgeting | Free / $4.99 — Best for: AI budgeting + gamification (half the price) |
| Empower | Free | Best for: Investment tracking and net worth (free) |
| YNAB | $14.99/mo | Best for: Zero-based budgeting methodology |
| Copilot Money | $14.99/mo | Best for: Beautiful design on iOS |
| Simplifi | $5.99/mo | Best for: Spending plans and watchlists |
| PocketGuard | Free / $12.99/mo | Best for: Simple "safe to spend" metric |
| Goodbudget | Free / $10/mo | Best for: Envelope budgeting for couples |
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | New Day Budgeting | Monarch Money |
|---|---|---|
| Monarch Money | ||
| New Day Budgeting |
Pros and Cons
New Day Budgeting
Pros
- New Day Budgeting offers AI and gamification at half the price of Monarch
- Empower replaces Monarch's investment tracking for free
- Simplifi offers solid budgeting at $4/month less than Monarch
Cons
- No single alternative matches Monarch's all-in-one dashboard
- Investment tracking requires a separate app
- Collaborative features vary across alternatives
Monarch Money
Pros
- Beautiful all-in-one financial dashboard
- Investment and net worth tracking included
- Collaborative features for couples
- Bank sync included
Cons
- $9.99/month with no free tier
- Only 7-day trial
- No AI budget creation
- No gamification
Feature Comparison
| Feature | New Day Budgeting | Monarch Money |
|---|---|---|
| App | New Day Budgeting | Free / $4.99 — Best for: AI budgeting + gamification (half the price) |
| Empower | Free | Best for: Investment tracking and net worth (free) |
| YNAB | $14.99/mo | Best for: Zero-based budgeting methodology |
| Copilot Money | $14.99/mo | Best for: Beautiful design on iOS |
| Simplifi | $5.99/mo | Best for: Spending plans and watchlists |
| PocketGuard | Free / $12.99/mo | Best for: Simple "safe to spend" metric |
| Goodbudget | Free / $10/mo | Best for: Envelope budgeting for couples |
Our Verdict
Monarch Money is a polished financial dashboard at $9.99/month with no free tier. Here are 7 alternatives that offer budgeting, tracking, or both — many for free or at a lower price point.
Who Should Choose What?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Monarch Money worth $9.99/month?
Monarch is worth it if you actively use investment tracking, net worth monitoring, and collaborative features alongside budgeting. If you primarily budget, New Day Budgeting offers more budgeting features at $0-$4.99/month.
What is the best free alternative to Monarch Money?
New Day Budgeting (free) for budgeting plus Empower (free) for investment tracking together replicate most of Monarch's functionality at zero cost.
Does Monarch Money have a free version?
No. Monarch offers only a 7-day free trial, then charges $9.99/month or $99.99/year. There is no free tier.