Ranked 2 of 6 in best budgeting apps
One list for transactions across accounts, with category budgets, forecasts on Plus and shared access for collaborators. It is a hosted subscription after a 7-day trial, with no free plan and no self-hosted option.
Best for Household budgets with forecasts and shared access
About Monarch Money
Monarch shows transactions from linked accounts in one searchable list, with budgets by category and cash-flow tracking. Investment accounts can be monitored alongside spending, and collaborators can share the same view. The web app and the iOS and Android apps use the same data, so a budget stays in step across devices.
Monarch is a paid subscription after a 7-day trial. Its pricing page argues that paid apps protect data quality better than free ones, and the Plus tier adds forecasting tools and support for several income sources. It is a hosted service with no open-source code and no self-hosting option.
Key features
- Budgets by category
- Forecasting on Plus
- Investment monitoring
- Collaboration
- Web, iOS and Android apps
Strengths
- One list for transactions across linked accounts
- Forecasting and multiple income sources on Plus
- Shared view for collaborators
Limits
- No free plan
- Hosted only, with no self-hosting option
Where Monarch Money ranks
| List | Rank | Score | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Budgeting apps | 2 of 6 | 88.5 | Household budgets with forecasts and shared access |
Alternatives to Monarch Money
All 5 alternatives
YNABZero-based budgeting app with bank connections and a subscription
Actual BudgetHas a free option; is open source; also runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
Copilot MoneyAlso runs on macOS.
Simplifi by QuickenSubscription spending plan app with goals and cash-flow projections
Firefly IIIHas a free option; is open source.
Questions about Monarch Money
- Is Monarch Money free?
- Monarch Money is a paid product (subscription). Subscription after a 7-day free trial.
- Is Monarch Money open source?
- No. Monarch Money is proprietary software; its source code is not public.
- Which platforms does Monarch Money support?
- Monarch Money is available on: Web, iOS, Android.
- What is Monarch Money best for?
- Household budgets with forecasts and shared access. In our ranking of budgeting apps it is number 2 of 6 with a score of 88.5.
- What are the best alternatives to Monarch Money?
- The highest-ranked alternatives on listme.name are YNAB, Actual Budget, Copilot Money, Simplifi by Quicken.
