Monarch Money Review 2026: Couples and households wanting one hub for budgeting plus net-worth and investment tracking.
Our verdict
Monarch Money is the best all-in-one option here for people who want budgeting alongside net-worth and investment tracking in a single, polished dashboard, and it is especially strong for couples sharing finances. Pricing is $14.99/month or $99.99/year for the Core plan with a 7-day free trial, and a newer Plus tier runs $199/year (as of 2026-07-12). Security is a highlight: Monarch documents SOC 2 Type 2 certification, offers multi-factor authentication, and connects to accounts read-only through Plaid, Finicity, and MX without storing your bank password, per its official help documentation. The main drawbacks are cost and commitment: there is no free tier, the trial is only seven days and auto-renews, and the two-tier structure introduces upsell pressure. If you want a broad financial hub rather than a strict budgeting method, Monarch is an excellent choice; committed budgeters may still prefer YNAB's method-first approach.
Score breakdown
- Fees (25%)6.0/10
- Value & Returns (25%)9.0/10
- Transparency (20%)7.0/10
- Security & Trust (15%)9.0/10
- Support (15%)8.0/10
Scored per our review methodology.
Who it's for
Best for: Couples and households wanting one hub for budgeting plus net-worth and investment tracking..
Pricing
$14.99/mo or $99.99/yr (Core); 7-day free trial; Plus tier $199/yr (as of 2026-07-12)
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | $14.99/mo (as of 2026-07-12) | Core plan billed monthly. |
| Annual | $99.99/yr Core; $199/yr Plus (as of 2026-07-12) | Annual Core works out to about $8.33/month; Plus is a higher tier. |
| Free trial | $0 for 7 days (as of 2026-07-12) | Auto-renews to a paid plan unless canceled before the trial ends. |
What the evidence says
- Monarch Core is $14.99/month or $99.99/year with a 7-day free trial; Plus is $199/year (as of 2026-07-12). (Monarch — official pricing)
- Monarch documents SOC 2 Type 2, 256-bit TLS encryption, and read-only connections via Plaid, Finicity, and MX without storing bank passwords. (Monarch — official Privacy and Security help)
- Monarch offers multi-factor authentication to protect account login. (Monarch — official Multi-Factor Authentication help)
Pros & cons
Pros
- All-in-one: budgeting, net worth, investments, and goals in one dashboard
- Strong for couples and shared households with collaborative access
- Documented SOC 2 Type 2 and multi-factor authentication; read-only bank connections
- Grew quickly as a leading Mint replacement with active feature development
Cons & red flags
- No permanently free tier; only a short 7-day trial before billing begins
- At $99.99/year (Core) it is a recurring cost, and a newer $199/year Plus tier adds upsell pressure
- Automatic renewal after the trial means you must cancel in time to avoid a charge
How it compares
Monarch Money scores 7.7/10 in our budgeting apps evaluation. See where it lands in the full ranking: Best Budgeting Apps of 2026.
- YNAB (You Need A Budget) review — 7.8/10, people who want to actively change spending habits with a disciplined, hands-on budgeting method.
- Copilot Money review — 7.5/10, apple users who want a beautifully designed app with smart automation and strong privacy.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Monarch Money?
The Core plan is $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year with a 7-day free trial, and a Plus tier is $199 per year, per Monarch's official pricing page (as of 2026-07-12).
Is Monarch Money safe?
Monarch documents 256-bit TLS encryption, SOC 2 Type 2 certification, and multi-factor authentication, and connects to accounts read-only via Plaid, Finicity, and MX without storing your bank password, per its official Privacy and Security help article.
Does Monarch sell my data?
Monarch states it operates a subscription business and does not sell your financial data or use it to train outside AI models; see its official privacy documentation for details.
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