10 Best Alternatives to Monarch Money (Beginner-Friendly Budgeting Apps I’d Actually Use)
If you’ve been using Monarch Money and started wondering whether there’s a better option, you’re not alone.
I went through the same thing recently.
Monarch Money is a powerful personal finance tool — it connects to your bank accounts, helps you track spending, manage budgets, and even monitor your net worth. But there’s one catch: it isn’t free and it can feel a bit overwhelming for beginners.
So I started looking for alternatives to Monarch Money that are easier to use, cheaper, or simply better suited for beginners.
After trying several budgeting apps and researching what real users recommend, here are the ones that stood out the most.
1. Google Spreadsheets
After trying a bunch of budgeting apps, I eventually realized something surprising.
Sometimes the simplest solution is also the most powerful.
That’s exactly why we built our own automated Google Sheets financial tracker.
Instead of dealing with complicated dashboards or learning a brand-new app, everything runs inside a spreadsheet that automatically organizes your finances.
A spreadsheet tracker simplifies everything.
You can clearly see:
- Your monthly income
- Your expenses
- Your savings goals
- Your net worth over time
And because it’s built in Google Sheets, you can access it from anywhere — your phone, laptop, or tablet.
It also gives you something most budgeting apps don’t:
Complete control and privacy over your data.
You’re not locked into a platform or paying monthly subscription fees just to see your finances. Check out the best automated financial tracker.
Pricing: $5/one time
2. YNAB (You Need A Budget)
YNAB uses something called zero-based budgeting, where every dollar you earn gets assigned a job before you spend it. That might sound complicated at first, but once you get used to it, it’s incredibly powerful for building better financial habits.
What I personally like about YNAB is that it forces you to be intentional with your money. Instead of just tracking spending after it happens, you plan where every dollar should go in advance.
For beginners trying to break bad spending habits, that mindset shift can be huge.
Pricing:
$14.99/month or $99/year with a free trial.
3. Empower (Formerly Personal Capital)
If Monarch Money feels too complicated, Empower is a great alternative — especially if you care about tracking investments.
Unlike most budgeting apps, Empower focuses heavily on net worth tracking, investment analysis, and retirement planning. It still includes spending tracking and budgeting tools, but the real strength is the investment dashboard.
Another big advantage is that the basic version is completely free, which makes it one of the best Monarch Money alternatives for beginners who don’t want to commit to a subscription yet.
4. Simplifi by Quicken
Simplifi is probably the closest competitor to Monarch Money in terms of features, but it’s much more beginner-friendly.
The app focuses on helping you understand how much money you have left to spend each month using a feature called a Spending Plan. This automatically calculates your bills, savings goals, and planned spending.
What I liked when testing Simplifi is how easy the interface is. You can connect your accounts, categorize spending, and see exactly where your money is going without digging through complicated dashboards.
Pricing:
About $3.99/month when billed annually.
5. PocketSmith
PocketSmith is one of the most interesting budgeting apps I’ve tried because it lets you forecast your finances decades into the future.
Seriously — you can project your financial situation up to 30 years ahead, which is incredibly useful if you want to plan long-term goals like buying a house or retiring early.
It also offers flexible budgeting and detailed transaction tracking, making it a strong Monarch alternative if you want deeper insights into your finances.
There’s a free version, but most advanced features are part of the paid plans.
6. Tiller Money
If you’re someone who loves spreadsheets (or at least doesn’t hate them), Tiller might be the best alternative to Monarch Money.
Instead of locking you into a rigid app interface, Tiller automatically imports your financial data into Google Sheets or Excel, giving you complete control over how you track your money.
This makes it incredibly customizable.
You can build your own dashboards, track net worth, or create detailed financial reports — all using familiar spreadsheet tools.
Pricing:
About $79 per year.
7. Emma
Emma is a budgeting app that feels a bit more modern and beginner-friendly than many traditional finance tools.
It focuses on visual spending insights, subscription tracking, and helping you identify unnecessary expenses.
I’ve recommended Emma to several friends who are new to budgeting because it’s simple, colorful, and easy to understand.
Instead of overwhelming you with financial data, it highlights the most important things first — like where your money is going each month.
There’s a free version, plus premium upgrades.
8. Goodbudget
Goodbudget is perfect if you like the envelope budgeting system.
The idea is simple: you divide your money into digital “envelopes” for different categories like groceries, rent, and entertainment. When an envelope runs out, you stop spending.
It’s one of the simplest budgeting approaches out there, which is exactly why beginners often love it.
The downside is that Goodbudget doesn’t automatically sync with bank accounts, so you may need to enter transactions manually.
Still, it’s a great tool for building discipline around spending.
9. CountAbout
CountAbout is a lesser-known budgeting app, but it’s actually really useful if you’re switching from another tool like Mint or Quicken.
One feature I really appreciate is the ability to import transactions from other finance apps, making the transition much easier.
It’s also highly customizable, allowing you to create your own categories and reports.
The interface isn’t as flashy as some newer apps, but it gets the job done.
10. EveryDollar
EveryDollar was created by Dave Ramsey’s company and follows a simple zero-based budgeting approach.
The goal is straightforward: every dollar you earn should have a purpose before the month begins.
The free version requires manual transaction entry, which some people actually prefer because it makes you more aware of your spending habits.
For beginners trying to gain control of their finances, this hands-on method can be extremely effective.
11. Rocket Money
Rocket Money (formerly Truebill) focuses heavily on subscription management and expense tracking.
One thing I really like about Rocket Money is how it helps identify recurring charges you might have forgotten about. Canceling unused subscriptions can instantly free up extra money in your budget.
Some Reddit users even mention Rocket Money as one of the closest alternatives to Monarch when it comes to basic budgeting and expense tracking.
Final Thoughts
Monarch Money is a powerful financial management tool, but it’s definitely not the only option available.
In fact, depending on your goals, one of these alternatives to Monarch Money might actually work better.
Personally, I’ve learned that the best budgeting app isn’t necessarily the one with the most features.
It’s the one you’ll actually use consistently.
Because at the end of the day, budgeting isn’t really about the app — it’s about building habits that help you take control of your money.
However if privacy and simplicity is paramount for you when it comes to managing your finances then I would recommend our Automated Financial Tracker using Google Sheets.
