Budgeting comparison
Monarch Money vs PocketGuard
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
Monarch Money and PocketGuard are both budgeting apps. Monarch Core costs $14.99 a month, or $99.99 a year billed annually, while PocketGuard Premium costs $12.99 a month, $74.99 a year billed yearly, or $149.99 once for lifetime access. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026, and the official sources differ on 6 of the 6 rows in the table below.
Monarch Money vs PocketGuard at a glance
Monarch Money and PocketGuard are both budgeting apps. 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 6 of the 6 rows in the table below.
Price and fees
Monarch Core costs $14.99 a month, or $99.99 a year billed annually. Monarch Plus costs $199.99 a year billed annually. PocketGuard Premium costs $12.99 a month, $74.99 a year billed yearly, or $149.99 once for lifetime access. 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. PocketGuard offers a 7-day free trial. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026.
Platforms
Monarch Money lists Web, iOS and Android. PocketGuard lists Web, iOS, Apple Watch and Android. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026.
Bank syncing
Monarch says it syncs with multiple financial data providers to connect with more than 13,000 financial institutions. PocketGuard says it connects to more than 20,000 institutions in the US, Canada and the UK through Plaid, Finicity and Salt Edge. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026.
Features
Both Monarch Money and PocketGuard list goals and AI features. Monarch Money lists shared budgets and investment tracking, which the sources we checked don't confirm for PocketGuard. PocketGuard lists data export, which the sources we checked don't confirm for Monarch Money. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026.
App store rating
Monarch Money has 4.9 out of 5 on the App Store from 115,317 ratings. PocketGuard has 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store from 7,681 ratings. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026. Store ratings are a dated snapshot from each listing, not our score.
What it costs
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.
$99.99 a year, from the yearly priceCost over 1 and 3 years: $99.99 and $299.97, at the yearly list price before tax.
As of · monarch.com/pricing
PocketGuardLower price$12.99a month
PocketGuard Premium costs $12.99 a month, $74.99 a year billed yearly, or $149.99 once for lifetime access.
$74.99 a year, from the yearly priceCost over 1 and 3 years: $74.99 and $224.97, at the yearly list price before tax.
As of · pocketguard.com/pricing
Bars compare each app's yearly list price. "Lower price" marks the lowest monthly price the sources list. It's a number, not our pick. Prices are list prices from each app's own page, before tax and any offer.
At a glance
Free trial
- Monarch Money
- 7 days
- PocketGuard
- 7 days
Source
- Monarch offers a free 7-day trial, and you need a payment method to start it. monarch.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026.
- PocketGuard offers a 7-day free trial. pocketguard.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026.
App Store rating
- Monarch Money
- 4.9115,317 ratings
- PocketGuard
- 4.67,681 ratings
Source
- Monarch Money has 4.9 out of 5 on the App Store from 115,317 ratings. App Store listing, as of Oct 24, 2026.
- PocketGuard has 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store from 7,681 ratings. App Store listing, as of Oct 24, 2026.
Platforms
- Monarch Money
- Web
- iOS
- Android
- PocketGuard
- Web
- iOS
- Apple Watch
- Android
Source
- Monarch Money lists Web, iOS and Android. monarch.com, as of Oct 24, 2026.
- PocketGuard lists Web, iOS, Apple Watch and Android. pocketguard.com, as of Oct 24, 2026.
Bank syncing
- Monarch Money
- Yes
- PocketGuard
- Yes
Source
- 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.
- Yes. PocketGuard says it connects to more than 20,000 institutions in the US, Canada and the UK through Plaid, Finicity and Salt Edge. pocketguard.com, as of Oct 24, 2026.
Features
| Feature | Monarch Money | PocketGuard |
|---|---|---|
| AI features | Listed by the source | Listed by the source |
| Savings goals | Listed by the source | Listed by the source |
| Shared budgets | Listed by the source | Not verified yet |
| Investment tracking | Listed by the source | Not verified yet |
| Data export | 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. Monarch Money: monarch.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026. PocketGuard: pocketguard.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026.
What the apps look like
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.
PocketGuard
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: PocketGuard on the App Store, as of Oct 24, 2026.
Monarch Money and PocketGuard, side by side
Rows marked “Differs” are where the official sources say different things, and 6 rows do here. "Lower price" marks the lowest monthly price the sources list. It's a number, not our pick.
Swipe the table sideways to see both apps.
| Field | 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 | PocketGuardBudgeting appPocketGuard is a paid budgeting app that tracks your accounts, bills and budgets and shows what is safe to spend.Visit PocketGuard's site |
|---|---|---|
| Price and feesDiffers | 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 | Lower pricePocketGuard Premium costs $12.99 a month, $74.99 a year billed yearly, or $149.99 once for lifetime access.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: pocketguard.com/pricing |
| Free trialDiffers | 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 | PocketGuard offers a 7-day free trial.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: pocketguard.com/pricing |
| PlatformsDiffers | Monarch Money lists Web, iOS and Android.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: monarch.com | PocketGuard lists Web, iOS, Apple Watch and Android.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: pocketguard.com |
| Bank syncingDiffers | 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 | Yes. PocketGuard says it connects to more than 20,000 institutions in the US, Canada and the UK through Plaid, Finicity and Salt Edge.As of Oct 24, 2026. Source: pocketguard.com |
| FeaturesDiffers |
|
|
| App store ratingDiffers | 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 | PocketGuard has 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store from 7,681 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 Monarch Money and PocketGuard 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.
SaverNeither app's sources confirm a feature we match to this type yet, so the quiz is the better place to start.
First fix: Put It to Work.
ScramblerBoth Monarch Money and PocketGuard list 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 Monarch Money nor PocketGuard 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.
FAQ
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.
How much does PocketGuard cost?
PocketGuard Premium costs $12.99 a month, $74.99 a year billed yearly, or $149.99 once for lifetime access. We checked this on Oct 24, 2026.
Which is cheaper, Monarch Money or PocketGuard?
The lowest monthly price Monarch Money lists is $14.99 a month, and the lowest PocketGuard lists is $12.99 a month, so PocketGuard lists the lower monthly price. We checked both on Oct 24, 2026, and plans change, so check both pricing pages before you decide.
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 Monarch Money alternatives, closest category first.
- See PocketGuard alternatives, closest category first.
- Browse our guide to the best budgeting apps.
- 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
- None of the 12 facts
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
PocketGuard6 of 6 verified, last checked Oct 24, 2026
- Price and feespocketguard.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Free trialpocketguard.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Platformspocketguard.com, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Bank syncingpocketguard.com, as of Oct 24, 2026
- Featurespocketguard.com/pricing, as of Oct 24, 2026
- App store ratingApp Store listing, as of 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.
