The Best Mint Alternatives in 2026 (Including Ones That Never Touch Your Bank)
When Intuit shut Mint down and pushed everyone toward Credit Karma, millions of people lost the free budgeting app they had used for years. Two years on, a lot of them still have not settled anywhere.
Most "best Mint alternative" lists sort by features, which is the wrong axis. The question that actually decides it is the one Mint never gave you a choice about: do you want an app that reads your bank, or one that does not? Price, polish and platform are all downstream of that. So this list is sorted by which side of the line each app sits on.
What to look for
- Bank linking, or not. The biggest fork. Automatic import is hands-off but means a third party reads your transactions. Manual tracking keeps that data private and makes you more aware of what you spend. The cost is that you log it yourself.
- Free, or paid. Mint was free because it monetised your data with ads and offers. Most modern alternatives charge a subscription instead, which is the healthier arrangement even though it feels worse.
- How much philosophy you want. Some apps come with a whole budgeting method and a learning curve. Others track and get out of the way.
- Platforms. Check before you commit, especially if your household is not all on one phone.
The alternatives
1. SpendSmart AI, if you do not want to link a bank
A local-first tracker built on the idea that tracking your spending should not require handing over a bank login. You add expenses by typing a few words ("coffee 5"), saying them out loud, or photographing a receipt, and the amount, category and date get filled in. Your data lives on your device first and syncs across your own devices.
It is the manual approach without the tedious part.
- Bank linking: none, ever.
- Best for: privacy-conscious people, anyone burned by a breach, ex-Mint users who never loved auto-import.
- Price: free tier for everyday tracking, with the AI paths metered. Pro lifts the caps and adds receipt scanning, full history and AI monthly insights.
- Platforms: Android, iPhone and web.
2. Monarch Money, for the full auto-import replacement
Monarch became one of the most popular destinations for Mint refugees. It connects to your accounts, tracks net worth, handles budgets and goals, and supports shared household finances. Polished and comprehensive, and it works the way Mint did.
- Bank linking: yes. Best for: people who want the whole Mint experience and will pay for it.
3. Copilot Money, for Apple users (and web)
A carefully designed app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and the web that links your accounts and categorises intelligently. If you live in the Apple ecosystem and want a premium auto-import experience, it is the strongest pick. No Android.
- Bank linking: yes. Best for: iPhone, iPad and Mac users who care about design.
4. YNAB, for serious budgeters
YNAB is not really a tracker. It is a budgeting method with software around it, and "give every dollar a job" genuinely changes how people handle money. Its fans are devoted for real reasons. The trades are the price and a learning curve steep enough to need workshops. It can import from banks or you can enter manually.
- Bank linking: optional. Best for: people who want to change their habits and will invest the time.
5. Rocket Money, if your leak is subscriptions
Rocket Money, formerly Truebill, finds and cancels unwanted subscriptions and negotiates bills on top of basic budgeting. It links your accounts to do it.
- Bank linking: yes. Best for: people whose biggest problem is things they forgot they were paying for.
6. Goodbudget, for free envelope budgeting
A digital take on the envelope system, manual by default. Free tier plus a paid tier that adds more envelopes and an optional automatic bank sync (via Plaid) if you decide you want it.
- Bank linking: optional. Manual by default, automatic sync is a Premium add-on. Best for: envelope-method people who want a manual-first tool with automation available if they change their mind.
7. Actual Budget, for the technical crowd
Open-source and local-first, which the privacy community likes for good reason. Self-host it and it is free. The catch is that it is aimed at technical users and takes real setup rather than an install.
- Bank linking: optional. Best for: developers and tinkerers who want full control.
Quick comparison
| App | Links your bank? | Best for | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| SpendSmart AI | No | Private tracking with fast capture | Free + Pro |
| Monarch Money | Yes | Full Mint replacement | Paid |
| Copilot Money | Yes | Apple users, design | Paid |
| YNAB | Optional | Zero-based budgeting | Paid |
| Rocket Money | Yes | Cancelling subscriptions | Free + paid |
| Goodbudget | Optional | Free envelope budgeting | Free + paid |
| Actual Budget | Optional | Self-hosters, developers | Free / open-source |
Prices and plan models change. Check each app's own site before you commit to one.
So which one
- Auto-import and the full Mint experience: Monarch, or Copilot if you are all-Apple.
- Change how you budget for good: YNAB.
- Do not want to link a bank, and want it to be quick: SpendSmart AI.
- Free and manual: Goodbudget, or SpendSmart's free tier.
If the part of Mint you will not miss is connecting your bank to it, there is now a whole category built for people who would rather keep their financial data on their own device. SpendSmart AI is one of them. Free to start, no card, no bank login.
Common questions
Is there a free Mint alternative? Yes. Goodbudget has a free envelope-budgeting tier, and SpendSmart AI has a free tier that covers everyday tracking.
What is the best Mint alternative that does not link my bank? SpendSmart AI never links a bank, full stop. Goodbudget's free tier is manual too, though its Premium plan offers an optional automatic bank sync if you ever want it. SpendSmart lets you log by voice or text in a couple of seconds, which is what usually makes or breaks manual tracking.
Why did Mint shut down? Intuit discontinued it in March 2024 and steered users to Credit Karma, which does not replicate Mint's budgeting features. That gap is why so many people went looking.
Can I still get my old Mint data? Almost certainly not. Mint has been fully wound down, so if you did not export before it closed, treat it as gone and start fresh. Your banks still hold the underlying history if you ever need it.