Apps Like Mint: Best Budgeting Alternatives for 2026

July 25, 2026

Mint was the budgeting app millions of people leaned on for more than a decade. Then Intuit pulled the plug in March 2024, and all those users had to find a new home for their money. If you never settled on a replacement, or the app you picked never clicked, this guide is for you.

The good news is that 2026 has better tools than Mint ever offered. Below are three apps like Mint that cover budgeting, net worth tracking, and even your credit, so you can pick the one that fits how you actually manage money.

Why Mint's Shutdown Left a Gap

Mint was free, simple, and connected to almost every bank. It automatically sorted your spending into categories and showed your whole financial picture in one place. When it closed, Intuit pushed users toward Credit Karma, which does not offer the same hands-on budgeting.

That left a hole. People wanted an app that could link their accounts, track spending, set goals, and show net worth without a steep learning curve. Several companies stepped up to fill it.

What to Look for in a Mint Replacement

Not every budgeting app works the same way, so it helps to know your priorities before you switch. Here are the features that matter most.

  • Account syncing: The app should connect to your banks, cards, loans, and investments automatically.
  • Budgeting style: Some apps use flexible categories, others use strict zero-based budgets or envelopes.
  • Cost: A few strong options are free, while others charge a monthly or yearly fee.
  • Extras: Look for net worth tracking, goal setting, and cash flow forecasts.

If trimming recurring bills is your main goal, our roundup of apps like Rocket Money is worth a look too. Otherwise, keep these points in mind as you read about the three apps below.

Monarch Money: The Most Popular Successor

When Mint closed, Monarch Money quickly became the most-recommended paid replacement. It brings budgeting, net worth tracking, and investment monitoring together in one clean dashboard.

Monarch connects to more than 15,000 institutions and organizes everything into a single view. You can track spending, set savings goals, and see forward-looking cash flow projections, which is something Mint never did. A 2026 update added an AI assistant that answers plain-English questions about your money and sends weekly recaps.

Monarch is not free. The Core plan runs $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year, with a Plus plan at $199 per year. Couples can share one account, which makes it a strong pick for households that manage money together. If you want the closest thing to a modern, upgraded Mint, this is it.

Best for: Comprehensive Budgeting App

Monarch Money

Monarch Money
4.8Firstcard rating

Monarch Money simplifies personal finance by uniting all your accounts in one place—secure, ad-free, and built for couples. 50% off your first year when you sign up via Firstcard!

Standout feature

#1 rated budgeting app (WSJ). 50% off first year via Firstcard.

Fees

$14.99/mo or $99.99/yr ($8.33/mo)

Pros

Beautiful, ad-free interface (4.9★ App Store). Best budgeting app for couples and families. Comprehensive account syncing and cash flow forecasting.

Cons

No free tier — requires paid subscription.

Piere: The Best Free Alternative

If the price tag on Monarch gives you pause, Piere is built for you. Its free plan, called Piere Purple, includes budgeting, net worth tracking, spending insights, and account connections. This is a genuine free tier, not a trial that nags you to upgrade.

Piere leans on AI to suggest budgets and spot patterns in your spending. It is ad-free, connects multiple accounts, and even offers a first-of-its-kind Venmo integration so your peer-to-peer activity shows up too.

There is a paid tier if you want more. Piere Plus+ costs $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year and adds advanced transaction rules, historic net worth, and deeper AI insights. For most people replacing Mint, though, the free plan does the job.

Best for: People who struggle with budgeting and want automated savings

Piere

Piere
4Firstcard rating

Put your money on autopilot with Piere. Beat the temptation to overspend with AI-powered budgeting that automatically saves and repays debt for you. Track your net worth and win at budgeting with personalized AI guidance.

Standout feature

AI-powered autopilot saving and debt repayment. Free 7-day trial.

Fees

Free tier available; Piere Plus $9.99/mo or $79.99/yr

Pros

Intuitive, calming interface. AI automates saving and debt repayment. Free tier with substantial functionality.

Cons

Android app has limited features compared to iOS.

Watch Your Credit While You Budget

Mint used to show your credit score right next to your budget. If you miss that, pair your budgeting app with Creditship, which offers free three-bureau credit monitoring.

Creditship tracks your VantageScore, sends real-time alerts, and layers on an AI credit coach that suggests concrete steps to raise your score. It points out which negative items to dispute and which balances to pay down first. Since budgeting and credit health go hand in hand, running both apps together gives you a fuller picture than Mint offered on its own.

It costs nothing to monitor your credit here, so it is an easy add-on no matter which budgeting app you choose.

Best for: People who need to improve their credit

Creditship

Creditship
5Firstcard rating

Get free credit monitoring and concrete advice how to improve your credit from Creditship AI.

Standout feature

AI Credit Coach. AI analyzes your credit report in depth and gives you tailored, actionable steps to raise your score.

Fees

Free

Pros

Free credit report access plus monitoring and alerts

Cons

No credit repair feature

How to Move Your Data Over

Mint did not let users export a clean history when it closed, so most people start fresh. That is not a bad thing. When you link your accounts to a new app, it usually pulls in 90 days or more of past transactions automatically.

Give yourself a weekend to set up categories and budgets the way you like them. After a month of use, review your spending and adjust. Within a billing cycle or two, your new app will feel just as familiar as Mint once did.

The Bottom Line

You have real choices now that Mint is gone. Pick Monarch Money if you want a polished, full-featured app and do not mind paying. Choose Piere if you want strong budgeting for free. And add Creditship to keep an eye on your credit at no cost.

Start by downloading one app this week and linking a single account. Small steps make the switch painless.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a free app exactly like Mint?

No app is an identical copy, but Piere comes closest with a free plan that covers budgeting, net worth, and account syncing. Creditship also fills the free credit-tracking role Mint once played. Together they replicate most of what Mint did at no cost.

Why did Mint shut down?

Intuit, which owned Mint, discontinued the app in March 2024 and steered users toward Credit Karma. Credit Karma focuses on credit and offers, not the hands-on budgeting Mint was known for, which is why so many users looked elsewhere.

Is Monarch Money worth the price?

For many households, yes. Monarch adds features Mint never had, such as cash flow forecasts and an AI assistant, and it lets couples share one account. If you value a polished experience and use the app often, the cost can pay for itself in better decisions.

Are these budgeting apps safe to use?

These apps use bank-level encryption and read-only connections, meaning they can see your transactions but cannot move your money. No system is completely risk-free, so use a strong password and turn on two-factor authentication for extra protection.


Firstcard Educational Content Team

Firstcard Educational Content Team - July 25, 2026

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