If you’re looking for Mint alternatives, there are plenty of options out there that can help you get your finances in order and save money.
We all know that budgets have so many benefits, but it can be a hassle- that’s why we have Mint. But they aren’t your only option.
We researched the best Mint alternatives and there are some budgeting apps and other programs to help you with money management.
The following apps are great alternatives to Mint if you’re looking for something different, so let’s get started and find out your best pick!
15 Helpful Mint Alternatives
Mint is a budgeting app that can help you take control of your finances, track your net worth, and help you create a budget.
What’s better? It’s free to use and will import data directly from your bank accounts and credit cards to properly track your transactions in one place.
But it’s not the only one! Here are 15 helpful Mint alternatives for you to consider.
1. Empower (Formerly Personal Capital)
Empower is one of the best Mint alternatives, and we’ve compared it to Mint before if you want to learn more about their difference.
It’s free to use on phones and tablets so people can manage their money, credit cards, and investments on the go.
It’s also very easy to link your financial accounts in one place with Empower, which makes it easier to keep track of all of your finances.
Empower links to all of your financial accounts, displaying where you’re spending money and suggesting methods to save more. It also has tools for investment tracking and retirement planning.
Live advisors are available to answer your questions 24/7 a week as well as wealth management services for those who need them. It has a Two-factor authentication system in place so you can feel safe when using the app.
2. EveryDollar
Consider using a different budgeting tool, such as EveryDollar for you Dave Ramsey fans.
It works off the principle of zero-based budgeting which gives every dollar a job and guides you through Dave Ramsey’s well-known Baby Steps.
For those who are new to budgeting, this is a fantastic way to ease you into it while also keeping the focus on your financial goals. It helps you to take control of your financial future in a proactive, planned way.
There is a free version, as well as paid versions that come with added features such as phone support or automated transaction imports/downloads.
There are three tiers, a 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month tier, for the Ramsey+ Premium Versions with prices starting at $59.99 and going up to $129.99.
3. Quicken
Quicken is a personal finance app that we’ve also compared to Mint. Quicken is still the most sophisticated personal finance software available to show your cash flow, according to many consumers.
If you want to switch to a Mint alternative, Quicken is probably the option for you depending on your specific requirements, such as investment tracking, linking your financial institutions, and figuring your net worth.
You can access your accounts in one place, pay any outstanding bills that you may have, and much more from this dashboard. But unlike Mint, Quicken costs $34.99 a year at a basic plan.
They save your information on a storage server, but you can also download transactions and documents to your computer because it’s a useful location to manage your finances, check tax obligations, and more.
4. You Need A Budget (YNAB)
For people who want to improve their money habits and create financial plans, You Need a Budget is an excellent choice. The goal of the program is to help you plan ahead, set a budget, and avoid making large purchases.
YNAB follows a system called “aging your money”.
It means that money from your income from last month will cover this month’s expenses, and so on forever. It is a great way to avoid living from paycheck to paycheck and slowly build up your savings account.
You can test it out with an interactive 34-day free trial, no credit card is needed, but it is a paid service after your trial, which may affect your pick on this one.
The monthly cost is $11.99 per month; however, if you want annual billing, you can save $7 per month and pay around $84.
At the time we’re writing this, the price is scheduled to go up to $98.99 on December 1, 2021.
5. Mvelopes
Another effective Mint alternative is Mvelopes, which helps you to build a budget and allows you to integrate your bank accounts to help you stay on top of your spending habits.
Mvelopes uses the “envelope system,” where you distribute every dollar into categories (or virtual envelopes) that you consider important and then spend as little as possible from them.
Syncing transactions is also automated which makes it easy to see where you are with your “envelopes” spending at any moment in time.
Mvelopes offers three different monthly plans: $6, $10, and $20 per month depending on which plan you choose. The most inexpensive one comes with limited features, while the other plans have additional bells and whistles.
If you want to save money on what you buy and have more money saved in your envelopes, sign up for an app like Honey that can show you when the price of products goes up or down and also gives you coupons to save on your transactions.
6. Tiller
Mint is a very popular budgeting app, but some people want something different for their needs- that’s where Tiller comes in.
Tiller Money is an alternative to Mint that enables you to view and manage your existing financial information in an automated daily spreadsheet, which is then saved and updated.
It uses Google Sheets and Excel templates as budget spreadsheets, so you can manage all things in one place.
Tiller Money encrypts and keeps your customer information private. They don’t see or sell your data or show advertising and your customer data is secured by 256-bit AES encryption.
You can sign up for a 30-day trial. A credit card is needed to sign up but it won’t be charged anything until after the free trial is over, so be sure to pay attention and decide beforehand if you’ll take it or leave it.
After your free trial is up, you’ll be charged $79 per year (about $6.98 a month).
7. MoneyPatrol
The MoneyPatrol app lets you build a budget for your money by allowing you to define spending categories. It keeps track of how much money you spend in each category and whether or not it fits with your planned expenses.
The Money Patrol strong financial tracking system automatically sorts your transactions into spending classes and labels them according to the merchant once you link your accounts. You also have the ability to enter any additional purchases manually.
Another feature is the ability to create monthly and weekly budgets while keeping track of your accounts’ purchases and running important reports.
The service is free for the first 15 days, but after that, it costs $84 per year or about $7 each month.
8. PocketSmith
Most people use Mint when they are budgeting because it’s completely free, efficient, and simple to use. However, if you’re looking for an alternative app that stands out, PocketSmith may be perfect for you.
PocketSmith is a budgeting app that allows you to manage your finances from anywhere. It’s never been easier to stay organized and get ahead of your finances on the go.
This program will help you set up budgets and calendars for the future months with ease – it even tracks one-time expenses and income so there are no surprises!
This app has a lot of features, including one that lets you analyze your spending habits and generate financial forecasts. The “What Happens If” section is really helpful because it explains what would happen to budgets if there were changes in income or other planning tools!
9. Banktivity
Banktivity is a native application for Apple’s macOS operating system. It also offers mobile synchronization with your Apple iPad, iPhone, and even Watch!
It is the ultimate money management app. Not only does it support multiple currencies, but you can pay bills and monitor investments within Banktivity as well!
What makes things even better?
The “tagging” feature allows users to track different expenses under one broader category like transportation or food- making life way easier in general when trying to stay on top of spending habits without overdoing anything at once!
With its free 30 day trial period that will give you everything, you’ll be able to explore this money management app to see if it’s right for you. Credit cards are required, however, and they will be billed after the free version is over.
10. Goodbudget
Goodbudget is the digital version of an old-fashioned envelope system, similar to Mvelopes.
The envelope system is an age-old budgeting technique because it forces users to think about what they’re spending their money on before actually creating expenses. You pick your important budget categories and plan around them
It helps you create envelopes for monthly and future spending, even infrequent categories like birthday shopping or auto maintenance, so you can stay on top of your finances!
This way, you can plan your spending versus just tracking it. It’s a great idea for people who are looking at their bank accounts and feeling overwhelmed by all the money going out every month with no end in sight!
With the free plan, you can have up to 20 envelopes with one account and two devices. The paid version of GoodBudget is $7 a month or $60 annually and comes with unlimited envelopes, unlimited accounts, and five devices.
11. Moneydance
Moneydance has taken Quicken’s functionality while leaving out the outdated software, resulting in an interface that looks sleek and clean.
The most appealing program for individuals who want to create their own extensions and personalize them as they choose is MoneyDance. You can do that with an open API by using a free, downloadable Extension Developer’s Kit.
MoneyDance has many features, including budgeting and tracking investments. With the app, you may track your expenses and invoices. There’s also free bill pay so that your bills are paid on time!
Would you like to migrate from Quicken to MoneyDance? Simply import your Quicken account into MoneyDance and you’re ready to go.
12. Simplifi
Simplifi is a new mobile budgeting app by Quicken that helps you manage your money better. It does this by analyzing what expenses and incomes are coming in, so it can create an effective spending plan for the future months ahead of time!
You’ll be able to identify recurring subscriptions or other regular payments like rent before they happen, giving you a heads up on your budget.
There’s no cost for the first month, so if it doesn’t work well with your schedule or needs then simply cancel before the trial period ends!
Simplifi helps you track transactions by automatically categorizing your expenses and keeping tabs on what is coming up in the future. You can also set savings goals to help you reach your goals faster.
If there are any bills or subscriptions you no longer use, then you can find them with ease using the watchlists and limits feature. This way when they come up again in the future, it will be easy for you to avoid them!
You can also use the Trim artificial assistant to help you keep track of your subscriptions and even find ways to reduce your bills!
13. CountAbout
CountAbout was created for users wary of Mint and Quicken. Users can input financial data directly from Quicken and Mint using the Internet application.
You can use CountAbout on both the iOS and Android platforms which allows you to look at your budget from anywhere.
It’s not an investment management tool, but it does provide basic financial information and tools. Basic memberships start at $9.99 per year or Premium memberships are $39.99 per year, but you can give it a test run with their 45-day free trial.
14. QuickBooks
Quickbooks is a software that is geared more for small business needs but can also be used by individuals who want a more in-depth look at their personal finances.
QuickBooks can’t be beaten for managing the financials from part-time side hustles to a full-time company.
It has many other features that Mint doesn’t have, including cash flow forecasting and custom reporting options and it has a free 30-day trial so that you can try all the features.
15. Budgeting Templates
While there is no one perfect way to budget, many people find that traditional budgeting templates are the best fit. There are free printable budget templates for you to try budgeting the old-fashioned way.
With a traditional spreadsheet, you can set up your budget any way you want and even use Google Sheets rather than Excel if you prefer. What’s more, people often take their time when entering them in order to really examine each expense and think about whether or not they’re worth it.
Our Budgeting Template is a great example for those looking for something easy to use, grab your freebie version of it right here! We also have a Budget Binder that will change your lives for the better- just like it improved ours!
Alternatives FAQs
Is it better to budget digitally or physically?
It’s a tough question to answer because there are pros and cons for both.
Many people prefer using physical spreadsheets and notebooks to track their budgets because they can customize them any way they want and have more flexibility than with digital versions. They also don’t need an Internet connection in order to use these tools.
However, some people find tracking expenses on a spreadsheet takes too much time, especially without a good template to use. Using mobile budget apps is easy because they can keep track of their expenses on the go, their spending is tracked in one easy program, and most of it can be managed and planned within minutes.
Is Mint the best for budgeting?
Mint is a great budgeting tool to help you find and fix your money leaks. It helps you know exactly how much you’re spending on things like food or travel and helps you realize areas where you need to save money.
Mint also reminds you when bills are due and what payments are coming up in the future so that you can plan accordingly. The app lets users track their budgets by automatically categorizing transactions for them, which means less work!
Mint does not offer investment tools or advice about money planning, but not everyone needs features like that when they create a budget.
The Bottom Line – Mint is a great tool for those who want a little extra help managing their money. It’s easy to use it and the intuitive interface makes it simple to set up your budget and track your spending so that you can get on top of things as quickly as possible.
But it doesn’t hurt to look for Mint.com alternatives.
Which alternative is most similar to Mint?
The best personal finance software that is most similar to Mint is Empower (Personal Capital), in our opinion. We value how much it can help you with your retirement and investment accounts.
Empower lets you connect all of your brokerage accounts, checking accounts, savings accounts, and loans into one place. You can also link retirement accounts like 401Ks or IRAs so that Empower can calculate your net worth.
Just like Mint, the app will automatically categorize your expenses for you so all you have to do is spend money as you normally would. You can also track your budgets and savings goals, see what’s coming up in the future.
What options are free for budgeting and personal finance?
Mint is a great free personal finance tool but there are other options that are also free for budgeting and personal finance. Many free options are ideal for those just getting started. After you’ve got a good handle on things and want more detailed information, then you may want to upgrade to one of those premium services we mentioned earlier.
Some of the free budgeting and personal finance tools are:
- Empower
- PocketSmith
- EveryDollar
- GoodBudget
- Budget templates using Google Sheets or Excel
Can any of these apps track investments or even loans?
The best Mint alternatives that can track investments or even loans are:
Budgeting Tips
Here are some budgeting tips to help you on your budgeting journey.
Use your credit card less to prevent overspending or impulse buys, plus it helps you reduce your debt when you use your debit card instead.
Keep your goals in mind when you budget- don’t forget that sometimes you need to cut back on expenses when money gets tight, but you can be flexible month to month.
And don’t stress over your budget! It’s all about making life easier on you in the long run!
Most people spend their lives living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to make ends meet. Budgeting can help you end this cycle!
Live Frugally
Learning how to live frugally is the best money hack that can lead you towards financial freedom. Making small, everyday changes in the way you spend money can add up to a huge difference over time.
For example, if you’re spending $15 on takeout for dinner every week, then consider buying ingredients and cooking at home. Same quality, more quantity, but it’s cheaper!
Similarly, if you enjoy going out with friends, look for free music festivals in your area where you can spend time together.
Save More, Spend Less
It makes sense- the less you spend, the more cash you have for the future.
You can save money without changing your lifestyle drastically, freeing up more of your income for savings and investments.
You can save money with programs like Ibotta, Capital One Shopping, and Rakuten, earning cash back, rewards, or snagging coupons on many of your purchases!
Look for ways that you can save money without compromising all the time. Small changes can have a big impact over time!
Avoid Lifestyle Inflation
When people start earning more money, they tend to upgrade their standard of living. This is known as lifestyle inflation, and it’s one of the biggest threats to maintaining a stable financial situation.
The best way to avoid lifestyle inflation is to embrace what you already have. If you get a big raise at work, avoid lifestyle inflation by funneling any extra money into your emergency fund.
Once your emergency savings are fully funded, then consider putting some of it towards larger goals like homeownership, investments, or retirement.
Our Thoughts
Have a hard time keeping your finances in check? Mint is not the only option for personal finance software out there that may help you.
You can find other programs to help you organize and manage your money, avoid debt, keep track of spending habits, calculate budgets, save money on taxes or create an emergency fund.
If you’re looking for some alternatives that will work better than Mint for your needs then one of the Mint alternatives we mentioned might help!
