Best Free Budgeting Apps 2026 (After Mint Shut Down)
Mint is gone. Here are the best free (and affordable) budgeting apps that actually work with US banks in 2026 — no credit card required to get started.
Quick Answer
Waypoint Budget is our top pick for most people in 2026. It has a genuine forever-free tier (not a trial), syncs with 10,000+ US banks on the Plus plan, and includes an AI budget coach. If you loved Mint's simplicity but want real budgeting tools, Waypoint is the closest replacement.
When Mint shut down in early 2024, millions of Americans were left scrambling for a budgeting app. Intuit pushed everyone toward Credit Karma, but Credit Karma isn't a budgeting tool — it's a credit monitoring service that wants to sell you financial products.
Two years later, the budgeting app landscape has settled. Some apps have gotten better, some have gotten more expensive, and a few new ones have appeared. I've tested every major option and here's my honest ranking for 2026.
Quick Comparison Table
| App | Free Tier | Paid Price | Bank Sync | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Waypoint Budget | $7.99/mo | 10,000+ banks | Overall best | |
| YNAB | 34-day trial | $14.99/mo | Most US banks | Power users |
| Monarch Money | 7-day trial | $9.99/mo | Most US banks | Couples |
| Goodbudget | $10/mo | Envelope fans | ||
| EveryDollar | $17.99/mo | Premium only | Ramsey fans |
1. Waypoint Budget — Best Overall Free Budgeting App
Free tier
Forever free
Paid plan
$7.99/month
Bank sync
10,000+ US banks
Method
Zero-based budgeting
Full disclosure: I built Waypoint Budget. But I built it because I genuinely couldn't find an app that did what I needed at a price that made sense. Here's why I think it's the best option for most people.
What you get for free: Unlimited manual transactions, all budget categories, AI budget coach (5 messages/day), savings goals, spending insights, and 3 months of transaction history. This isn't a crippled trial — it's a fully functional budgeting app.
What Plus adds ($7.99/month): Automatic bank sync with 10,000+ US banks (Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citi, Capital One, and thousands more through Plaid), unlimited AI coach messages, unlimited transaction history, CSV import, and priority support.
2. YNAB (You Need A Budget) — Best for Budgeting Methodology
Free tier
34-day trial only
Paid plan
$14.99/month or $109/year
Bank sync
Most US banks
Method
Zero-based (Four Rules)
YNAB is the gold standard for zero-based budgeting and has been around since 2004. Their "Four Rules" methodology has helped thousands of people get out of debt and build savings. The app is polished, well-supported, and has an incredibly active community.
The catch? It costs $14.99/month ($109/year if you pay annually). There's no free tier — just a 34-day trial. For a budgeting app, that's a significant commitment, especially when free alternatives exist.
3. Monarch Money — Best for Couples
Free tier
7-day trial only
Paid plan
$9.99/month or $99/year
Bank sync
Most US banks
Method
Traditional budgeting
Monarch Money was widely recommended after Mint shut down, and for good reason. It offers a clean interface, solid bank sync, investment tracking, and a net worth dashboard. The standout feature is collaborative budgeting — both partners can view and manage the same budget, which makes it popular with couples.
The downside is the price ($9.99/month) and the very short free trial (7 days). Monarch is a solid product, but it's positioned as a premium tool, not a Mint replacement for casual budgeters.
4. Goodbudget — Best Free Envelope Budgeting
Free tier
Yes (20 envelopes)
Paid plan
$10/month or $80/year
Bank sync
No (manual only)
Method
Envelope budgeting
Goodbudget uses the classic envelope budgeting method — you divide your income into digital "envelopes" for each spending category. It's simple, visual, and easy to understand. The free tier gives you 20 envelopes, which is enough for most people.
The biggest limitation is no bank sync. Every transaction has to be entered manually. For some people, that's a feature (it forces you to be intentional). For others, it's a dealbreaker.
5. EveryDollar — Best for Dave Ramsey Fans
Free tier
Yes (manual only)
Paid plan
$17.99/month (Ramsey+)
Bank sync
Premium only
Method
Zero-based budgeting
EveryDollar is Ramsey Solutions' budgeting app, built around Dave Ramsey's Baby Steps methodology. The free version lets you create a zero-based budget with manual transaction entry. Bank sync, however, requires the Ramsey+ membership at $17.99/month — the most expensive option on this list.
If you're following the Baby Steps and want an app that ties directly into that framework, EveryDollar makes sense. For everyone else, the price is hard to justify when cheaper alternatives offer more features.
What You'd Pay Per Year
EveryDollar Premium: $215.88/year ($17.99/mo)
YNAB: $109/year (annual) or $179.88/year (monthly)
Monarch Money: $99/year (annual) or $119.88/year (monthly)
Goodbudget Plus: $80/year
Waypoint Budget Plus: $95.88/year ($7.99/mo)
Waypoint Budget Free: $0/year
Waypoint Budget saves you $4-$120/year vs other paid options
How We Ranked These Apps
We evaluated each app on five criteria that matter most to everyday budgeters:
Price & Free Tier Quality
Is the free version actually usable? How much does the paid plan cost? A budgeting app shouldn't break your budget.
Bank Sync Reliability
Does it connect to major US banks? How often does the sync break? Unreliable sync defeats the purpose.
Ease of Use
Can you start budgeting in under 15 minutes? Or does it require hours of tutorials? The best app is one you actually use.
Features That Matter
Savings goals, spending reports, custom categories, and tools that actually help you make better money decisions.
Security & Privacy
Bank-level encryption, read-only access to accounts, and a clear privacy policy. Your financial data needs to be safe.
US Banks Supported by Waypoint Budget
Waypoint Budget uses Plaid for bank syncing, supporting 10,000+ US financial institutions including:
- Big Four: Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citibank
- Major banks: Capital One, US Bank, PNC, TD Bank, Truist
- Online banks: Ally Bank, Marcus by Goldman Sachs, Discover, SoFi
- Credit unions: Navy Federal, BECU, Pentagon FCU, and thousands more
- Investment accounts: Fidelity, Charles Schwab, Vanguard, and more
Which App Should You Choose?
You want the best value
Choose Waypoint Budget. Free tier is genuinely useful. Plus at $7.99/month is the cheapest option with bank sync. AI coach is included at every level.
You want the most established app
Choose YNAB. It's been around 20+ years with a proven methodology and huge community. But budget $14.99/month for it.
You budget as a couple
Choose Monarch Money. Built for joint finances with collaborative features. Worth the $9.99/month if you split with a partner.
You prefer manual tracking
Choose Goodbudget. Free envelope budgeting with no bank sync required. Also consider Waypoint Budget's free tier for manual budgeting with AI coaching.
The Bottom Line
The post-Mint landscape has settled, and there are genuinely good options at every price point. You don't need to spend $15/month to budget effectively.
My recommendation: Start with Waypoint Budget's free tier. It's the only app on this list where you can start budgeting immediately, get AI-powered help, and never be forced to pay. If you want bank sync, the Plus plan at $7.99/month is less than half the price of every other syncing option.
Whatever you choose, the most important thing is that you start. A free app you actually use beats a $15/month app collecting dust.
Frequently Asked Questions
What replaced Mint for budgeting?
Several apps filled the gap after Mint shut down in early 2024. Waypoint Budget, Monarch Money, and YNAB are the most popular replacements. Waypoint Budget offers the closest free experience to what Mint provided, with the addition of actual budgeting tools (Mint was primarily a spending tracker, not a budgeting app).
Is there a completely free budgeting app?
Yes. Waypoint Budget and Goodbudget both offer genuine free tiers (not trials). Waypoint Budget's free tier includes unlimited manual transactions, all budget categories, and an AI coach. Goodbudget's free tier gives you 20 envelopes with manual tracking.
Which app works with Chase and Bank of America?
Waypoint Budget (Plus), YNAB, and Monarch Money all sync with Chase and Bank of America. Waypoint Budget uses Plaid, which supports over 10,000 US financial institutions including Chase, BofA, Wells Fargo, Capital One, Citi, and most credit unions.
Is YNAB worth $14.99/month?
YNAB is an excellent app with a proven methodology and strong community. However, at $14.99/month it's the second most expensive option (after EveryDollar Premium). Waypoint Budget offers the same zero-based budgeting approach with a free tier and a Plus plan at $7.99/month. For most people, YNAB's premium features don't justify the 3x price difference.
Are budgeting apps safe to connect to my bank?
Reputable budgeting apps use services like Plaid or Finicity to connect to your bank. These services use bank-level encryption and read-only access — they can view your transactions but can't move money or make changes. Always check that the app uses a recognized aggregation service and has a clear privacy policy.
Ready to Start Budgeting?
Try Waypoint Budget free — no credit card, no trial expiration. Start tracking your spending in under 10 minutes. Syncs with Chase, BofA, Wells Fargo, and 10,000+ more.
No credit card required • Free forever • Plus starts at $7.99/month
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Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and represents the author's personal experience and opinions. The author is the founder of Waypoint Budget, which is included in this comparison. We have endeavored to be fair and accurate, but readers should be aware of this potential bias. YNAB, Monarch Money, Goodbudget, EveryDollar, and Mint are trademarks of their respective owners. This article is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any of these companies. Pricing, features, and availability may change without notice. Always verify current details directly with service providers before making financial decisions. This content does not constitute financial advice. Information is based on publicly available data as of February 2026.