Top Mint Alternatives for Budgeting in 2026

Quicken Simplifi is identified as the leading alternative to Mint, praised for its simplicity and clean user interface. Unlike competitors that may use complex themes, Simplifi offers a scrolling landing page that provides a detailed overview of financial stats, including net worth, recent spending, and upcoming payments.

The app excels in connecting to various financial institutions, including Fidelity, and allows users to invite a spouse or financial advisor to co-manage accounts. Key features include the ability to set savings goals and categorize specific purchases from a merchant as recurring without creating broad rules.

However, Simplifi has limitations. It lacks Zillow integration for tracking home values, requiring manual entry of real estate assets. Additionally, there is no free trial, though Quicken offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. The budgeting feature is self-explanatory, showing total take-home income and an "income after bills" figure to help users set spending targets.

Monarch Money is another strong option, founded by a former Mint product manager. While initially more difficult to use than Simplifi, it offers impressive granularity. Users can create detailed balance sheets and forecasts, and recurring expenses can be set based on specific parameters like transaction amounts. Monarch recently added a detailed reporting section on the web and support for tracking vehicle values via an aggregator, complementing its existing Zillow integration. It also allows access for spouses or advisors and supports Apple Card tracking via iOS 17.4.

Copilot Money is noted as the "best-looking" app, though currently exclusive to iOS and Macs (with Android and web versions promised). It utilizes AI for expense categorization and offers unique integrations with Amazon and Venmo. The app features a "demo mode" for testing and offers a two-month free trial.

NerdWallet provides a completely free budgeting app supported by ads. It highlights cash flow, net worth, and credit scores. It follows the 50/30/20 budgeting rule but lacks custom spending categories at this time. Setup can be tedious due to mandatory two-factor authentication for security.

YNAB (You Need a Budget) is distinct for its zero-based budgeting system, requiring users to assign a purpose for every dollar. It does not rely on forecasting future income, focusing instead on current account balances. This method requires more user effort but is effective for correcting spending habits.

Most budgeting apps rely on Plaid, an industry-standard network that connects banks to third-party apps. Plaid works with over 12,000 financial institutions and is used by more than 8,000 apps. To use these services, users enter bank login credentials and two-factor authentication codes through the Plaid interface, which securely passes account balances and transaction history to the budgeting app.

To migrate data from Mint, users must download a CSV file of their transactions. This is done by signing into Mint, selecting transactions, and choosing the export option. Once downloaded, this file can be uploaded to the new budgeting app. It is noted that while apps advertise Mint import capabilities, the process generally involves uploading this CSV file rather than a direct credential transfer.

Choosing the right budgeting app depends largely on specific needs and preferences. Quicken Simplifi offers the best balance of ease of use and functionality for most users. Monarch Money is ideal for those needing detailed control and reporting, while Copilot appeals to users prioritizing design and automation. For budget-conscious users, NerdWallet provides a free entry point, and YNAB offers a rigorous system for those looking to overhaul their financial habits. Regardless of the choice, users should prepare to utilize CSV files to preserve their financial history.