| Monarch Money | Vault | Pulse | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $14.99/month or $99.99/year | One-time purchase on Etsy | One-time purchase on Etsy |
| Free option | 7-day free trial | Free live demo | Free live demo |
| Focus | All accounts, budgets and investments | Budget, bills, debt and net worth | Bills and subscriptions |
| Bank connection | Yes, automatic sync | No — private, manual entry | No — private, manual entry |
| Account needed | Yes | No | No |
| Couples | Shared household access | Sync your own devices with a 6-digit code | Sync your own devices with a 6-digit code |
| Investment tracking | Yes, with holdings | Balances in your net worth | No |
Monarch Money prices as published for its Core plan in 2026; a higher Plus plan is also offered. Check Monarch's website for current pricing. Monarch Money is a trademark of its owner. VaultlyApps is not affiliated with or endorsed by it.
Try before you switch: Vault has a free live demo with sample data — no sign-up, no bank login.
Open the Vault demoWhat Monarch Money does well
Monarch Money became a popular choice for people leaving Mint, and it does a lot well:
- Automatic syncing of bank, card, loan and investment accounts.
- A clean dashboard with budgets, cash flow, recurring bills and net worth.
- Investment tracking, with holdings and performance.
- Shared access for couples and households.
- Apps on web, iPhone and Android, with a 7-day free trial.
Why people look for a Monarch Money alternative
- Price: $14.99 a month or $99.99 a year for the Core plan, with no free plan after the trial. Over five years that's about $500.
- Bank logins: syncing means a third-party service holds live access to your accounts. Some people would rather not.
- More than they need: if you mainly want a budget you'll stick to and bills you won't miss, an all-in-one platform can feel heavy.
The alternatives: Vault and Pulse
Vault — the closest match. A full personal finance dashboard: a zero-based budget, a Safe to Spend number, "Can I afford it?", bills and subscriptions, a snowball/avalanche debt planner and net worth tracking with monthly snapshots.
Pulse — for bills and subscriptions. If Monarch's recurring-bills view is the part you use most, Pulse tracks every bill and subscription, shows what's due next and what each one costs you a year. (How to track subscriptions)
Both are a one-time purchase on Etsy, need no account and no bank login, work on phone and computer, and sync between your devices with a 6-digit code.
Which should you choose?
- Choose Monarch Money if automatic syncing of every account and investment tracking matter most, and the yearly fee fits your budget.
- Choose Vault if you want budget, bills, debt and net worth in one private dashboard — paid once.
- Choose Pulse if your main goal is never missing a bill and cutting subscriptions you've forgotten about.
See what your subscriptions really cost first with the free subscription cost calculator.
Try it before you switch
Every VaultlyApps planner has a free live demo with realistic sample data. It opens in your browser — no account, no bank login, nothing to install.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to Monarch Money?
Is Monarch Money worth it?
Can Vault track my investments like Monarch?
Can couples use Vault together?
Who should stay with Monarch Money?
Written by
Finance Specialist & Editor, VaultlyApps
Researched against primary US sources and reviewed by a finance expert on our team. Written for US readers — general education, not financial, tax or legal advice. Editorial policy · Disclaimer
