Savings comparison
Chime vs Monarch Money
Updated
Priceless Tay may earn a commission from some links on this page, and that never changes how we compare apps.
Full disclosure: Taylor Price, who runs Priceless Tay, owns Fifecta, so keep that in mind as you read this comparison.
Short answer
Chime is a banking app and Monarch Money is a budgeting app. Chime says its savings account has no fees, and you need an active Chime Checking Account to open one, while Monarch Core costs $14.99 a month, or $99.99 a year billed annually. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026, and the official sources differ on 3 of the 9 rows in the table below.
Chime vs Monarch Money at a glance
Chime is a banking app and Monarch Money is a budgeting app. This page puts what each company's official pages and app store listings say side by side, with the date we checked every fact. The sources differ on 3 of the 9 rows in the table below.
Price and fees
Chime says its savings account has no fees, and you need an active Chime Checking Account to open one. Monarch Core costs $14.99 a month, or $99.99 a year billed annually. Monarch Plus costs $199.99 a year billed annually. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026.
Free trial
Monarch offers a free 7-day trial, and you need a payment method to start it. We haven't verified this for Chime yet, so check the official site for Chime before you decide. We checked Monarch Money on Oct 24, 2026.
APY or rate
Chime lists 1.00% APY for standard members, 3.00% APY for Chime Plus and 4.00% APY for Chime Prime, in rates effective Oct 6, 2026. Chime says the rate is variable. Chime says there is no minimum balance, but you need $0.01 in savings to earn interest. The higher rates depend on Chime Plus or Chime Prime status, which ties to qualifying direct deposits. We haven't verified this for Monarch Money yet, so check the official site for Monarch Money before you decide. We checked Chime on Oct 24, 2026.
Opening and balance minimums
Chime says its savings account has no minimum balance requirement. We haven't verified this for Monarch Money yet, so check the official site for Monarch Money before you decide. We checked Chime on Oct 24, 2026.
Protection
Chime is not a bank. Banking services come from The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, and pass-through deposit insurance applies only when certain conditions are met. We haven't verified this for Monarch Money yet, so check the official site for Monarch Money before you decide. We checked Chime on Oct 24, 2026.
Platforms
Monarch Money lists Web, iOS and Android. We haven't verified this for Chime yet, so check the official site for Chime before you decide. We checked Monarch Money on Oct 24, 2026.
Bank syncing
Monarch says it syncs with multiple financial data providers to connect with more than 13,000 financial institutions. We haven't verified this for Chime yet, so check the official site for Chime before you decide. We checked Monarch Money on Oct 24, 2026.
Features
Both Chime and Monarch Money list goals. Monarch Money lists shared budgets, investment tracking and AI features, which the sources we checked don't confirm for Chime. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026.
App store rating
Chime has 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store from 1,629,130 ratings. Monarch Money has 4.9 out of 5 on the App Store from 115,317 ratings. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026. Store ratings are a dated snapshot from each listing, not our score.
What it costs
- Chime
Chime says its savings account has no fees, and you need an active Chime Checking Account to open one.
Monarch Money$14.99a month
Monarch Core costs $14.99 a month, or $99.99 a year billed annually. Monarch Plus costs $199.99 a year billed annually.
Cost over 1 and 3 years: $99.99 and $299.97, at the yearly list price before tax.
As of · monarch.com/pricing
Bars show only when every app here lists a yearly price, so these prices sit side by side without them. Prices are list prices from each app's own page, before tax and any offer.
At a glance
APY
- Chime
- 1.00% to 4.00% APY
- Monarch Money
- Not verified yet
Source
- Chime lists 1.00% APY for standard members, 3.00% APY for Chime Plus and 4.00% APY for Chime Prime, in rates effective Oct 6, 2026. The rate is variable. Chime says there is no minimum balance, but you need $0.01 in savings to earn interest. The higher rates depend on Chime Plus or Chime Prime status, which ties to qualifying direct deposits. help.chime.com/what-is-annual-percentage-yield-apy-dfafd381, as of Oct 24, 2026.
- Monarch Money: Not verified yet.
Free trial
- Chime
- Not verified yet
- Monarch Money
- 7 days
Source
- Chime: Not verified yet.
- Monarch offers a free 7-day trial, and you need a payment method to start it. monarch.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026.
App Store rating
- Chime
- 4.81,629,130 ratings
- Monarch Money
- 4.9115,317 ratings
Source
- Chime has 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store from 1,629,130 ratings. App Store listing, as of Oct 24, 2026.
- Monarch Money has 4.9 out of 5 on the App Store from 115,317 ratings. App Store listing, as of Oct 24, 2026.
Platforms
- Chime
- Not verified yet
- Monarch Money
- Web
- iOS
- Android
Source
- Chime: Not verified yet.
- Monarch Money lists Web, iOS and Android. monarch.com, as of Oct 24, 2026.
Bank syncing
- Chime
- Not verified yet
- Monarch Money
- Yes
Source
- Chime: Not verified yet.
- Yes. Monarch says it syncs with multiple financial data providers to connect with more than 13,000 financial institutions. monarch.com, as of Oct 24, 2026.
Minimums
- Chime
- Chime says its savings account has no minimum balance requirement.
- Monarch Money
- Not verified yet
Source
- Chime says its savings account has no minimum balance requirement. help.chime.com/what-is-the-chime-savings-account-f189355c, as of Oct 24, 2026.
- Monarch Money: Not verified yet.
Protection
- Chime
- Chime is not a bank. Banking services come from The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, and pass-through deposit insurance applies only when certain conditions are met.
- Monarch Money
- Not verified yet
Source
- Chime is not a bank. Banking services come from The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, and pass-through deposit insurance applies only when certain conditions are met. help.chime.com/what-is-the-chime-savings-account-f189355c, as of Oct 24, 2026.
- Monarch Money: Not verified yet.
Features
| Feature | Chime | Monarch Money |
|---|---|---|
| AI features | Not verified yet | Listed by the source |
| Savings goals | Listed by the source | Listed by the source |
| Shared budgets | Not verified yet | Listed by the source |
| Investment tracking | Not verified yet | Listed by the source |
✓ means the official site lists it. ? means we haven't verified it yet, not that the app lacks it. Chime: help.chime.com/what-are-chime-savings-goals-4aef8222, as of Oct 24, 2026. Monarch Money: monarch.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026.
What the apps look like
Chime
From the App Store listing, Oct 24, 2026 
From the App Store listing, Oct 24, 2026 
From the App Store listing, Oct 24, 2026 
From the App Store listing, Oct 24, 2026
Screenshots: Chime on the App Store, as of Oct 24, 2026.
Monarch Money
From the App Store listing, Oct 24, 2026 
From the App Store listing, Oct 24, 2026 
From the App Store listing, Oct 24, 2026 
From the App Store listing, Oct 24, 2026
Screenshots: Monarch Money on the App Store, as of Oct 24, 2026.
Chime and Monarch Money, side by side
Rows marked “Differs” are where the official sources say different things, and 3 rows do here.
Swipe the table sideways to see both apps.
| Field | ChimeBanking appChime is a financial technology company, not a bank, that offers checking and savings accounts through partner banks.Visit Chime's site | Monarch MoneyBudgeting appMonarch Money is a paid app for budgeting and for tracking your accounts, net worth and goals in one place.Visit Monarch Money's site |
|---|---|---|
| Price and feesDiffers | Chime says its savings account has no fees, and you need an active Chime Checking Account to open one.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: help.chime.com/what-is-the-chime-savings-account-f189355c | Monarch Core costs $14.99 a month, or $99.99 a year billed annually. Monarch Plus costs $199.99 a year billed annually.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: monarch.com/pricing |
| Free trial | Not verified yet. | Monarch offers a free 7-day trial, and you need a payment method to start it.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: monarch.com/pricing |
| APY or rate | Chime lists 1.00% APY for standard members, 3.00% APY for Chime Plus and 4.00% APY for Chime Prime, in rates effective Oct 6, 2026. The rate is variable.Chime says there is no minimum balance, but you need $0.01 in savings to earn interest. The higher rates depend on Chime Plus or Chime Prime status, which ties to qualifying direct deposits.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: help.chime.com/what-is-annual-percentage-yield-apy-dfafd381 | Not verified yet. |
| Opening and balance minimums | Chime says its savings account has no minimum balance requirement.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: help.chime.com/what-is-the-chime-savings-account-f189355c | Not verified yet. |
| Protection | Chime is not a bank. Banking services come from The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, and pass-through deposit insurance applies only when certain conditions are met.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: help.chime.com/what-is-the-chime-savings-account-f189355c | Not verified yet. |
| Platforms | Not verified yet. | Monarch Money lists Web, iOS and Android.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: monarch.com |
| Bank syncing | Not verified yet. | Yes. Monarch says it syncs with multiple financial data providers to connect with more than 13,000 financial institutions.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: monarch.com |
| FeaturesDiffers |
|
|
| App store ratingDiffers | Chime has 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store from 1,629,130 ratings.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: App Store listing | Monarch Money has 4.9 out of 5 on the App Store from 115,317 ratings.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: App Store listing |
App store ratings are a dated snapshot from each store listing, not our score. “Not verified yet” means we don't have a current official source for that line. How we source and date this data. Spotted a change? Tell us if something changed.
Weighing a third option? Add up to two more apps to this table and compare up to four side by side.
Which fits your Money Type?
There are four Money Types: Strategist, Spender, Saver and Scrambler. Each card matches one type to what the sources say about these two apps.
StrategistMonarch Money lists investment tracking. That fits a Strategist, who wants to watch the whole plan grow.
First fix: Save the Raise.
SpenderBoth Chime and Monarch Money list goals. A goal gives a Spender a reason to pause before buying, which is the Sleep on It fix.
First fix: Sleep on It.
SaverChime lists an APY on deposits. That fits a Saver, whose first fix is putting saved money to work.
First fix: Put It to Work.
ScramblerMonarch Money lists bank syncing. Seeing every account in one place helps a Scrambler pay bills first.
First fix: Bills First.
Not sure which one you are? Take the free Money Types quiz. It takes about two minutes.
Full disclosure: Taylor Price, who runs Priceless Tay, owns Fifecta, so keep that in mind as you read this comparison.
Another option: Fifecta
If neither Chime nor Monarch Money feels right, here is one more option to look at. Fifecta gives every paycheck a plan with FUNDS, and it starts from your Money Type, so the plan matches how you already handle money.
What real users say
These are other people's opinions, not Priceless Tay's. We quote public reviews and posts word for word, link each one and show its date, but we haven't checked the claims in them. A post counts toward a theme when it uses one of that theme's keywords, so a mention can be praise or a complaint.
What Chime users say
Based on 500 App Store reviews, 7 Reddit posts, 1 YouTube video and 2 Hacker News posts dated May 2026 to Oct 2026, read Oct 2026. We collected the Reddit and YouTube data with Apify, a scraping service, on Oct 24, 2026.
- Of the 510 reviews, posts and videos we read, 83 mention deposits, transfers or getting paid.
- Of the 510 reviews, posts and videos we read, 45 mention how easy or hard the app is to use.
- Of the 510 reviews, posts and videos we read, 40 mention customer service or support.
Positive
“It’s the best banking app out there in my opinion. You can get paid two days earlier than your paycheck...”
Critical
“Worst customer service and dispute resolution it takes over 3 months so they can tell you your dispute was denied...”
Mixed
“I've had chime for 3 years and for the most part it's been a great experience.”
Where these come from
- Chime reviews on the App Store, read Oct 24, 2026. The public feed returns the 500 most recent US reviews. We kept every one dated inside the window.
- Hacker News search for Chime, read Oct 24, 2026. Public search of comments and posts. 13 named the app; we kept 2 where the writer shares their own use of it.
- Reddit search for Chime, collected Oct 24, 2026. Collected with Apify (harshmaur/reddit-scraper) on Oct 24 2026: a keyword search for "Chime bank", posts and comments from after Oct 24 2025. It returned 61, most of them about something else. We kept 7 where the writer shares their own use of the app or a clear opinion of it. We left out moderators, bots, company accounts, referral posts and people promoting their own apps.
- YouTube search for Chime, collected Oct 24, 2026. Collected with Apify (streamers/youtube-scraper) on Oct 24 2026: a search for "Chime bank review" from the past year, up to 8 videos. It returned 8. We kept 1 and left out the app's own channel, sponsored videos, videos with affiliate or referral links and videos about a different product. We count themes from each video's title, description and captions, but we don't quote videos, because the captions we have carry no timestamps.
- u/Beautiful_Boat3144 in r/CashApp on Reddit, Oct 24, 2026.
- u/Dankdefender420 in r/chimefinancial on Reddit, Oct 24, 2026.
- u/Sure-Resist-1415 in r/chimefinancial on Reddit, Oct 23, 2026.
- u/LittleLotteRae in r/chimefinancial on Reddit, Oct 23, 2026.
- u/Extreme_Set485 in r/chimefinancial on Reddit, Oct 23, 2026.
- u/Revolutionary_Ad1168 in r/Mercari on Reddit, Oct 23, 2026.
- u/dnyte270 in r/chimefinancial on Reddit, Oct 22, 2026.
- devchix on Hacker News, Oct 22, 2026.
- jimz on Hacker News, Jun 25, 2026.
- "Why I Will NEVER Use Chime Bank Again (Shocking Truth)" by Credit Card Blueprint on YouTube, May 17, 2026.
FAQ
How much does Chime cost?
Chime says its savings account has no fees, and you need an active Chime Checking Account to open one. We checked this on Oct 24, 2026.
How much does Monarch Money cost?
Monarch Core costs $14.99 a month, or $99.99 a year billed annually. Monarch Plus costs $199.99 a year billed annually. We checked this on Oct 24, 2026.
What APY does Chime list?
Chime lists 1.00% APY for standard members, 3.00% APY for Chime Plus and 4.00% APY for Chime Prime, in rates effective Oct 6, 2026. Chime says the rate is variable. Chime says there is no minimum balance, but you need $0.01 in savings to earn interest. The higher rates depend on Chime Plus or Chime Prime status, which ties to qualifying direct deposits. We checked this on Oct 24, 2026.
Does Monarch Money have a free trial?
Monarch offers a free 7-day trial, and you need a payment method to start it. We checked this on Oct 24, 2026.
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Keep comparing
- See Chime alternatives, closest category first.
- See Monarch Money alternatives, closest category first.
- Browse our guide to the best high-yield savings accounts.
- Want the bigger picture? Compare more money apps.
Full disclosure: Taylor Price, who runs Priceless Tay, owns Fifecta, so keep that in mind as you read this comparison.
Want a plan built on your Money Type?
Fifecta gives every paycheck a plan with FUNDS, so you know where each dollar goes.
Sources and confidence
- Last checked
- Not verified yet
- 1 of 13 facts
Chime6 of 7 verified, 1 not verified yet, last checked Oct 24, 2026
- Price and feeshelp.chime.com/what-is-the-chime-savings-account-f189355c, as of Oct 24, 2026
- APY or ratehelp.chime.com/what-is-annual-percentage-yield-apy-dfafd381, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Minimumshelp.chime.com/what-is-the-chime-savings-account-f189355c, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Protectionhelp.chime.com/what-is-the-chime-savings-account-f189355c, as of Oct 24, 2026
- PlatformsNot verified yet
- Featureshelp.chime.com/what-are-chime-savings-goals-4aef8222, as of Oct 24, 2026
- App store ratingApp Store listing, as of Oct 24, 2026
Monarch Money6 of 6 verified, last checked Oct 24, 2026
- Price and feesmonarch.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Free trialmonarch.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Platformsmonarch.com, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Bank syncingmonarch.com, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Featuresmonarch.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026
- App store ratingApp Store listing, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Reference: banks.data.fdic.gov/bankfind-suite/bankfind, checked Oct 24, 2026.
Each fact links to the official page it came from, with the date we checked it. Once a fact is older than its app's window (8 days for apps whose rates change often, 35 days for the rest), it reads “Not verified yet” until we check it again. How we source, date and index this data.
This is education, not financial advice.
