Best Mint Alternative in 2026 (After Mint Shutdown)

Mint shut down in January 2024, leaving over 3.5 million users searching for an alternative. If you're looking for a simple, affordable budget app to replace Mint, Monthli is your best option.

Here's an honest comparison of what makes Monthli the best Mint replacement - and when you might want to consider other alternatives.

Why Mint shut down

In January 2024, Intuit discontinued Mint to push users toward Credit Karma. After 18 years of helping people budget for free, Mint simply… disappeared.

What happened:

• Intuit killed Mint to consolidate under the Credit Karma brand
• 3.5+ million active users affected
• No direct replacement offered by Intuit
• Data export deadline was January 1, 2024

If you were a Mint user, you know the frustration of suddenly needing to find a new budgeting solution.

What Mint users need in an alternative

Based on what made Mint popular, here's what former Mint users are looking for:

• ✓Simple expense tracking - just income and expenses, nothing complex
• ✓Category-based budgeting - groceries, transport, rent, etc.
• ✓Monthly overview - see your finances at a glance
• ✓Affordable - Mint was free (ad-supported), so cheaper is better
• ✓Privacy-focused - no data selling to advertisers
• ✓No bank login required - manual entry keeps it simple

Why Monthli is the best Mint alternative

Quick comparison

Key advantages over Mint

1. No ads or data selling. Mint was "free" but made money by selling your financial data to advertisers and showing you credit card offers. Monthli costs €3/month but respects your privacy completely.

2. Simpler monthly budgeting. Mint tried to do everything - budgeting, investing, bills, credit score. Monthli focuses on one thing: monthly budgeting. Less clutter, more clarity.

3. GDPR-compliant and European-friendly. Monthli is built in Europe, follows GDPR, and uses EUR by default. Mint was US-focused.

4. Just €36/year. That's the cost of 12 coffees per year - or 2 coffees per month. For most people, the mental clarity of ad-free budgeting is worth it.

5. Manual entry keeps it simple. No bank login required. Enter transactions manually, which takes 2–3 minutes per day and keeps you aware of spending.

Other Mint alternatives to consider

Monthli isn't the only option. Here are other solid alternatives, with honest pros and cons:

Monarch Money (~$15/month)

Best for: Premium users who want beautiful design + auto-sync

Pros: Gorgeous UI, excellent bank sync, net worth tracking

Cons: Expensive ($180/year), overkill for simple budgeting

EveryDollar (~$18/month)

Best for: Dave Ramsey fans focused on debt payoff

Pros: Zero-based budgeting, debt snowball features

Cons: Expensive, requires buying into Ramsey methodology

PocketSmith (~$13/month)

Best for: People who love forecasting and projections

Pros: Calendar-based view, future forecasting

Cons: Complex interface, learning curve

YNAB (~$14/month)

Best for: Power users who want detailed methodology

Pros: Proven system, strong community, educational content

Cons: Expensive, steep learning curve, requires commitment

Bottom line: If you want premium features and don't mind paying $150–200/year, these are solid. But if you just need simple monthly budgeting like Mint offered, Monthli gives you 80% of the functionality for 20% of the price.

How to switch from Mint to Monthli

Step 1: Export your Mint data (if you still have access). Mint allowed CSV exports before shutdown. If you have this data, keep it for reference.

Step 2: Sign up for Monthli's 7-day free trial. No credit card required. Test it risk-free.

Step 3: Set up your categories in 5 minutes. Add categories like Groceries, Rent, Transport, Subscriptions - whatever matches your spending.

Step 4: Start tracking. Enter your income and expenses for this month. Next month, copy and adjust.

That's it. No complex setup, no 4-hour tutorial videos.

Frequently asked questions

Is Monthli really better than Mint?

For simple personal budgeting, yes. Monthli has no ads, respects your privacy, and costs less than a coffee per month. If you loved Mint's simplicity but hated the ads, Monthli is perfect.

Can I import my Mint data?

Manual migration only right now. CSV import is coming in a future update (Q3 2026).

Does Monthli have bank sync like Mint?

Not yet. Manual entry keeps it simple and private. Auto-sync is planned for late 2026, but many users prefer manual entry because it keeps them aware of spending.

Is €3/month worth it if Mint was free?

Mint was "free" but sold your data and showed you ads. €3/month ($36/year) is less than one streaming subscription and gives you:

• No ads
• Privacy protection (GDPR-compliant)
• No data selling
• Focus on YOUR budget, not credit card offers

What if I don't like it?

7-day free trial. No credit card required. Cancel anytime.