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Budgeting comparison

Monarch Money vs Rocket Money

Updated

Data as of

Monarch Money checked Rocket Money checked

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Monarch Money logo

Monarch Money

Budgeting app

Visit site for Monarch Money (opens in a new tab)
App Store marketing images, as of Oct 24, 2026
Monarch App Store image of the June Budget screen
Monarch App Store image of transaction review
Monarch App Store image of the Accounts screen
Rocket Money logo

Rocket Money

Budgeting app

Visit site for Rocket Money (opens in a new tab)
Official images, as of Oct 24, 2026
Rocket Money Dashboard
Rocket Money App Store image of the Budget screen
Rocket Money Transactions tab

Short answer

  • Pick Monarch Money if you want shared and individual views, official guidance for budgeting irregular income, or the higher App Store rating (4.9, compared with 4.5).
  • Pick Rocket Money if you want a free version.
  • The biggest difference is price: Rocket Money has a free version, and Monarch Money lists $14.99 a month.

Full disclosure: Taylor Price, who runs Priceless Tay, owns Fifecta, so keep that in mind as you read this comparison.

Monarch Money vs Rocket Money at a glance

  • Monarch Money logoMonarch Money

    Free trial
    7 days
    Rating
    4.9 of 5App Store, 116,791 ratings
    Platforms
    3Web, iOS, Android
  • Rocket Money logoRocket Money

    Free trial
    7 days
    Rating
    4.5 of 5App Store, 404,690 ratings
    Platforms
    3iOS, Android, Web

What it costs

  • Monarch Money logoMonarch 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 at the yearly list price, or $299.97 over 3 years, before tax.

    Sourcemonarch.com/pricing, checked .
  • Rocket Money logoRocket MoneyLower price

    Rocket Money has a free version. Premium uses a pay what you think is fair price that Rocket Money says typically ranges from $7 to $14 a month, and Premium+ costs $15 a month.

    Sourcerocketmoney.com/learn/personal-finance/how-much-does-rocket-money-cost, checked .

Bars show only when every app here lists a yearly price, so these prices sit side by side without them. "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.

Features

Features each app's official source states, yes or no.
FeatureMonarch MoneyRocket Money
AI features Yes Yes
Savings goals Yes Yes
Shared budgets Yes Yes
Investment tracking Yes Yes
Data export Yes Yes

Monarch Money also lists API or MCP access.

Sources for these features

Yes means the official site lists it. No means the official site says the app doesn't have it.

Monarch Money and Rocket Money, side by side

Monarch Money and Rocket Money compared. Each value's source and the date we checked it open from its Source link.
Free trialDiffers
Monarch MoneyMonarch offers a free 7-day trial, and you need a payment method to start it.
Sourcemonarch.com/pricing, checked .
Rocket MoneyRocket Money says new Premium members get a 7-day free trial, then the monthly subscription continues at the price chosen at signup.
Sourcehelp.rocketmoney.com/en/articles/2217739-how-much-does-rocket-money-cost, checked .
PlatformsDiffers
Monarch MoneyMonarch Money lists Web, iOS and Android.
Sourcemonarch.com, checked .
Rocket MoneyRocket Money lists iOS, Android and Web.
Sourcerocketmoney.com/learn/personal-finance/how-much-does-rocket-money-cost, checked .
Bank syncingDiffers
Monarch MoneyYes. Monarch says it syncs with multiple financial data providers to connect with more than 13,000 financial institutions.
Sourcemonarch.com, checked .
Rocket MoneyYes. Rocket Money says it connects to your accounts through Plaid.
Sourcerocketmoney.com/learn/personal-finance/how-much-does-rocket-money-cost, checked .
App store ratingDiffers
Monarch MoneyMonarch Money has 4.9 out of 5 on the App Store from 116,791 ratings.
SourceApp Store listing, checked .
Rocket MoneyRocket Money has 4.5 out of 5 on the App Store from 404,690 ratings.
SourceApp Store listing, checked .

Store ratings are a dated snapshot from each listing, not our score. A row shows only when both apps have a current official source for it. 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 and compare up to four side by side.

Screen by screen

Pick a task to see what each app shows for it. App Store and Google Play images are the apps' own marketing, so they can show sample data and staged layouts. Help center images come from the app's support articles. See every app's screens.

Home

Monarch Money logoMonarch Money

  • Monarch Customize dashboard dialog
    From Monarch Money's help centerA Customize dashboard dialog with toggles for widgets such as Getting started guide, Investments, Budget, Net worth and Spending trend.help.monarch.com, as of

Rocket Money logoRocket Money

  • Rocket Money Dashboard
    From Rocket Money's help centerThe Dashboard with current spend this month, a Payday in 8 days row and account balances.help.rocketmoney.com, as of

Accounts

Monarch Money logoMonarch Money

  • Monarch App Store image of the Accounts screen
    App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "Your entire financial life. One clear view." showing the Accounts screen with a net worth chart and account rows.App Store listing, as of
  • Monarch Accounts screen with a net worth chart
    App Store marketing imageThe Accounts screen: net worth of $748,606 with a line chart, time range buttons and Cash account rows.App Store listing, as of

Rocket Money logoRocket Money

  • Rocket Money App Store image of the Net worth tab
    App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "Track and see your net worth" showing the Net worth tab.App Store listing, as of
  • Rocket Money Net worth tab
    App Store marketing imageThe Net worth tab: $69,556 with a line chart and a Summary of Assets, Debt and Net Worth.App Store listing, as of
  • Rocket Money net worth chart
    App Store marketing imageA Net Worth card with $69,556, a line chart and time range buttons from 1M to All.App Store listing, as of

Transactions

Monarch Money logoMonarch Money

  • Monarch App Store image of transaction review
    App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "Review transactions with a swipe." showing a transaction review card for Peloton with a "Marked as Reviewed" card over it.App Store listing, as of

Rocket Money logoRocket Money

  • Rocket Money Transactions tab
    From Rocket Money's help centerThe Transactions tab with a search box and a list of transactions with icons and amounts.help.rocketmoney.com, as of
  • Rocket Money transaction detail
    From Rocket Money's help centerA transaction detail for Fish Taco with options to rename, mark recurring, ignore, add tags, add a note, create a rule or split.help.rocketmoney.com, as of
  • Rocket Money split transaction screen
    From Rocket Money's help centerA Split transaction screen dividing $49.90 by equal amounts into two parts.help.rocketmoney.com, as of

Budget

Monarch Money logoMonarch Money

  • Monarch App Store image of the June Budget screen
    App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "A budget that flexes with your life" showing the June Budget screen.App Store listing, as of
  • Monarch June Budget screen
    App Store marketing imageThe June Budget screen: $4,640 left to budget, then Income, Expenses and Goals bars and an Income table.App Store listing, as of
  • Monarch mobile budget screen
    From Monarch Money's help centerThe mobile January 2026 budget with Left to budget at the top and Income and Expenses tables.help.monarch.com, as of
  • Monarch budget summary bars
    App Store marketing imageThree budget bars for Income, Expenses and Goals, each with spent or contributed and remaining amounts.App Store listing, as of
  • Monarch Left to budget card
    From Monarch Money's help centerA green card reading $5,220 Left to budget.help.monarch.com, as of
  • Monarch budget table rows
    From Monarch Money's help centerBudget rows under Bills & Utilities and Food & Dining with budget, actual and remaining columns and progress bars.help.monarch.com, as of

Rocket Money logoRocket Money

  • Rocket Money App Store image of the Budget screen
    App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "Create monthly budgets that work for you" showing the Budget screen for September 2025.App Store listing, as of
  • Rocket Money Budget screen
    App Store marketing imageThe Budget screen: $623 left to spend, Bills & Utilities and Earnings cards, and Category Budgets.App Store listing, as of
  • Rocket Money left to spend card
    App Store marketing imageA Spending card reading $623 left to spend with a progress bar and a $48/day for 13d note.App Store listing, as of

Categories

Monarch Money logoMonarch Money

No official screen found yet

Rocket Money logoRocket Money

  • Rocket Money New Category form
    From Rocket Money's help centerA New Category form with name, color, icon and category group fields and a Save Category button.help.rocketmoney.com, as of

Goals

Monarch Money logoMonarch Money

  • Monarch App Store image of a Vacation goal
    App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "Track progress on your biggest goals" showing a Vacation goal with amounts saved and a timeline chart.App Store listing, as of
  • Monarch Vacation goal screen
    App Store marketing imageThe Vacation goal screen: $3,000.00 of $6,000.00, four amount tiles and a stepped timeline chart.App Store listing, as of
  • Monarch Allocate funds dialog
    From Monarch Money's help centerAn Allocate funds dialog moving $2,000 from Joint Checking to an Emergency fund goal.help.monarch.com, as of
  • Monarch available for goals card
    From Monarch Money's help centerA card showing $91,336.27 available for goals, two accounts, and Allocate funds and Edit goal accounts buttons.help.monarch.com, as of

Rocket Money logoRocket Money

  • Rocket Money goal picker
    From Rocket Money's help centerA goal setup screen listing Emergency Savings, Pay Off Credit Card Debt and other goals to choose from.help.rocketmoney.com, as of
  • Rocket Money Goals screen
    From Rocket Money's help centerThe Goals screen with a deposit streak, Vacation Savings and Emergency Savings progress and milestone badges.help.rocketmoney.com, as of

Reports and insights

Monarch Money logoMonarch Money

  • Monarch App Store image of the Reports screen
    App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "See where every dollar flows" showing a Reports screen with a Sankey cash flow chart.App Store listing, as of
  • Monarch Reports screen with a Sankey chart
    App Store marketing imageThe Reports screen with Cash Flow, Spending and Income tabs and a Sankey chart from income into categories like Housing and Food & Dining.App Store listing, as of
  • Monarch web cash flow report
    From Monarch Money's help centerThe web Reports Cash Flow view with income, expense and net totals and a bar chart by month.help.monarch.com, as of

Rocket Money logoRocket Money

  • Rocket Money App Store image of the Spending tab
    App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "Keep track of your monthly expenses" showing the Spending tab.App Store listing, as of
  • Rocket Money Spending tab
    App Store marketing imageThe Spending tab with Week, Month, Quarter and Year buttons, monthly bars, and Income, Total Spend and Net Income rows.App Store listing, as of
  • Rocket Money income and spend rows
    App Store marketing imageThree rows: Income $4,800, Total Spend $4,426 and Net Income $374.App Store listing, as of

Bills and recurring

Monarch Money logoMonarch Money

  • Monarch App Store image of recurring bill cards
    App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "Spot every subscription. Cut what you don't need." showing Complete and Upcoming bill cards.App Store listing, as of
  • Monarch Complete and Upcoming bill cards
    App Store marketing imageTwo cards: Complete bills like Apple Card and Mortgage, and Upcoming charges like Netflix, Disney+ and Peloton with due dates.App Store listing, as of
  • Monarch recurring calendar
    From Monarch Money's help centerA monthly calendar with colored dots under the days that have recurring items.help.monarch.com, as of

Rocket Money logoRocket Money

  • Rocket Money App Store image of the Recurring tab
    App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "See exactly where your money is going" showing the Recurring tab with a Coming up calendar.App Store listing, as of
  • Rocket Money Recurring tab
    App Store marketing imageThe Recurring tab: a Coming up card with a week calendar, then Coming Up and Coming Later charges.App Store listing, as of
  • Rocket Money App Store image of the cancellation screen
    App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "Cancel unused subscriptions with just a few taps" showing a "See what we can cancel for you" screen.App Store listing, as of
  • Rocket Money cancellation start screen
    App Store marketing imageA screen reading "See what we can cancel for you" with a Start a cancellation button.App Store listing, as of
  • Rocket Money App Store image of Lower your bills
    App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "We negotiate to help you lower bills" showing a Lower your bills screen.App Store listing, as of
  • Rocket Money Lower your bills screen
    App Store marketing imageA Lower your bills screen with bills from DirecTV, AT&T and Spectrum, each with a "Lower for me" button.App Store listing, as of
  • Rocket Money Recurring list
    From Rocket Money's help centerThe Recurring tab on All, listing subscriptions and bills with amounts and how often they charge.help.rocketmoney.com, as of
  • Rocket Money Cancel Netflix form
    From Rocket Money's help centerA Cancel Netflix form asking for name, email, phone, billing address and the last 4 digits of the card.help.rocketmoney.com, as of
  • Rocket Money Coming up calendar card
    App Store marketing imageA Coming up card that says 4 recurring charges are due in the next 7 days, above a two-week calendar.App Store listing, as of

Investments

Monarch Money logoMonarch Money

  • Monarch App Store image of the Investments screen
    App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "Investments, accounts, net worth - all connected." showing the Investments screen with a portfolio chart.App Store listing, as of
  • Monarch Investments screen with a comparison chart
    App Store marketing imageThe Investments screen: a $270,239.50 portfolio value and a chart comparing the portfolio with the S&P 500.App Store listing, as of

Rocket Money logoRocket Money

No official screen found yet

Sharing with a partner

Monarch Money logoMonarch Money

  • Monarch App Store image about managing money together
    App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline "Manage money together. No drama." showing a photo of a family with cards for Shared, Melanie and Jon and two account rows.App Store listing, as of
  • Monarch transaction detail with an Owner menu
    From Monarch Money's help centerThe web Transactions page with a transaction open and an Owner menu offering Shared, Jon and Melanie.help.monarch.com, as of
  • Monarch owner switcher and account card
    App Store marketing imageAn owner switcher with Shared, Melanie and Jon, above a Net Worth card with a joint checking and a savings account.App Store listing, as of
  • Monarch credit card list with owner avatars
    From Monarch Money's help centerA credit card list where each card has owner avatars and a balance.help.monarch.com, as of

Rocket Money logoRocket Money

  • Rocket Money Share your finances screen
    From Rocket Money's help centerA "Share your finances?" screen with Full Name and Email Address fields and a Share my Account button.help.rocketmoney.com, as of
  • Rocket Money Shared confirmation
    From Rocket Money's help centerA "Shared!" confirmation saying the account was shared and the partner will get an email.help.rocketmoney.com, as of

AI assistant

Monarch Money logoMonarch Money

  • Monarch AI Assistant panel
    From Monarch Money's help centerThe AI Assistant panel on the web with past chats on the left and suggested questions like "How much did I spend on coffee last month?"help.monarch.com, as of

Rocket Money logoRocket Money

  • Rocket Money App Store image of a Rowan text chat
    App Store marketing imageApp Store image with the headline about an AI-powered assistant showing a text chat with Rowan by Rocket Money.App Store listing, as of
  • Rocket Money Rowan text conversation
    App Store marketing imageA text conversation where Rowan comments on Dining & Drinks and Grocery spending and the user replies.App Store listing, as of

Who it's for

Pick the tab that sounds like you. Every answer comes from the app's own pages, and its source opens from the Source link.

Just me

Budgeting on your own? These are the basics people ask about first.

Partners

Sharing money with a partner? Here's how each app handles a second person.

  • Can my partner use their own login details?

    Monarch Money: Yes. Your partner gets their own login.

    SourceIn their words: “Partners will each have their own login, but can view each other's data and contribute their own accounts and transactions to a shared space.” monarch.com/features/collaboration, checked .

    Rocket Money: Yes. Your partner gets their own login.

    SourceIn their words: “Each partner receives their own unique login credentials and can set their own multi-factor authentication (MFA) preferences for added security.” help.rocketmoney.com/en/articles/4562634-account-sharing, checked .
  • Can we keep shared and individual views?

    Monarch Money: Yes. You can keep shared and individual views.

    SourceIn their words: “Shared Views allows you to assign ownership to accounts and transactions, making it simple to personalize what you see without losing sight of the bigger picture.” help.monarch.com/hc/en-us/articles/42228648365076-Shared-Views-in-Monarch, checked .

    Rocket Money: No. You both see the same shared view.

    SourceIn their words: “Collaborate on finances by sharing your account with trusted family members or financial advisors - they'll see everything you see, making financial planning a team effort.” help.rocketmoney.com/en/articles/2677184-premium-membership-features, checked .
  • Can we set up joint budgets and goals?

    Monarch Money: Yes. You can work toward goals together.

    SourceIn their words: “Contribute toward goals together in Monarch, even if you keep your money in separate accounts.” monarch.com/features/collaboration, checked .

    Rocket Money: Yes. You can work toward goals together.

    SourceIn their words: “Create Financial Goals and save toward shared priorities, such as an emergency fund or vacation.” help.rocketmoney.com/en/articles/4562634-account-sharing, checked .

Family

Bringing in more of the household? Here's what each app says about families and kids. See apps with custodial accounts for kids.

  • Does it have accounts or features for kids or teens?

    Monarch Money: No.

    SourceIn their words: “if you are under the age of 18, please do not attempt to register for the Services” monarch.com/terms, checked .

    Rocket Money: No.

    SourceIn their words: “You may not use the Services, and you may not accept this Agreement, if you’re not at least 18 years of age” rocketmoney.com/terms, checked .

Freelancer

Paid on an uneven schedule or running a side hustle? Here's what each app offers. See apps with a SEP IRA or Solo 401(k).

  • Can I track irregular income without messing up my monthly budget?

    Monarch Money: Yes. It has official guidance for budgeting irregular income.

    SourceIn their words: “If your income is variable, you'll need to estimate your annual earnings.” help.monarch.com/hc/en-us/articles/32125337244052-Using-Flex-Budgeting, checked .

    Rocket Money: No.

    SourceIn their words: “Variable income: income with inconsistent amounts or pay dates such as commission cannot be tracked by the app due to being unpredictable.” help.rocketmoney.com/en/articles/6235627-enabling-payday-view, checked .
  • Can I mix business and personal expenses in this app?

    Monarch Money: Yes. You can track business spending next to personal spending.

    SourceIn their words: “Business tracking is available to Monarch Plus members.” help.monarch.com/hc/en-us/articles/48344411171092-Business-Tracking, checked .

    Rocket Money: Yes. You can track business spending next to personal spending.

    SourceIn their words: “Create as many customized budget categories from your linked accounts as you need for different aspects of your life - whether that be from your personal expenses, family finances, or business costs.” help.rocketmoney.com/en/articles/2677184-premium-membership-features, checked .
  • Can I export my transactions for tax prep?

    Monarch Money: Yes. You can export your transactions for tax prep.

    SourceIn their words: “Prepare for tax season using the Business Tax Prep report, which maps your transactions to IRS Schedule C line items for easy export.” help.monarch.com/hc/en-us/articles/48344411171092-Business-Tracking, checked .

    Rocket Money: Yes. You can export your transactions for tax prep.

    SourceIn their words: “Download your transaction data for specific time periods, perfect for tax preparation, personal record-keeping, or detailed financial analysis.” help.rocketmoney.com/en/articles/2677184-premium-membership-features, checked .

Business

Running a small business? Here's what each app says about business money.

  • Can I mix business and personal expenses in this app?

    Monarch Money: Yes. You can track business spending next to personal spending.

    SourceIn their words: “Business tracking is available to Monarch Plus members.” help.monarch.com/hc/en-us/articles/48344411171092-Business-Tracking, checked .

    Rocket Money: Yes. You can track business spending next to personal spending.

    SourceIn their words: “Create as many customized budget categories from your linked accounts as you need for different aspects of your life - whether that be from your personal expenses, family finances, or business costs.” help.rocketmoney.com/en/articles/2677184-premium-membership-features, checked .
  • Can I export my transactions for tax prep?

    Monarch Money: Yes. You can export your transactions for tax prep.

    SourceIn their words: “Prepare for tax season using the Business Tax Prep report, which maps your transactions to IRS Schedule C line items for easy export.” help.monarch.com/hc/en-us/articles/48344411171092-Business-Tracking, checked .

    Rocket Money: Yes. You can export your transactions for tax prep.

    SourceIn their words: “Download your transaction data for specific time periods, perfect for tax preparation, personal record-keeping, or detailed financial analysis.” help.rocketmoney.com/en/articles/2677184-premium-membership-features, checked .
  • Can I share my finances with my accountant?

    Monarch Money: Yes. You can export your data and send the file.

    SourceIn their words: “You can download your transaction and balance history from Monarch as a CSV file for your own records, for taxes, or to use in a spreadsheet.” help.monarch.com/hc/en-us/articles/15526600975764-Downloading-Transaction-or-Account-History, checked .

    Rocket Money: Yes. You can export your data and send the file.

    SourceIn their words: “You can also add notes to any transaction (helpful for remembering context months later), create manual transactions for cash purchases or accounts you prefer not to link, and export filtered transaction lists to CSV files for further analysis or tax preparation.” rocketmoney.com/learn/personal-finance/how-much-does-rocket-money-cost, checked .

A question shows only when every app here has a current official source that answers it. We only say no when the app's own page does.

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.

  • Strategist

    Both Monarch Money and Rocket Money list investment tracking. That fits a Strategist, who wants to watch the whole plan grow.

    First fix: Save the Raise.

  • Spender

    Both Monarch Money and Rocket 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.

  • Saver

    Neither 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.

  • Scrambler

    Both Monarch Money and Rocket Money 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 Rocket 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.

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 Nov 3, 2026.

How much does Rocket Money cost?

Rocket Money has a free version. Premium uses a pay what you think is fair price that Rocket Money says typically ranges from $7 to $14 a month, and Premium+ costs $15 a month. We checked this on Nov 3, 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 Nov 3, 2026.

Does Rocket Money have a free trial?

Rocket Money says new Premium members get a 7-day free trial, then the monthly subscription continues at the price chosen at signup. We checked this on Nov 3, 2026.

More comparisons

Keep comparing

Pinterest pin for Monarch Money vs Rocket Money, a side-by-side app comparison from Priceless Tay.

Save this comparison

Pin it so you can find it again when you're ready to choose.

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
Sourced facts
12 facts, each linked and dated
Monarch Money6 sourced facts, last checked Nov 3, 2026
Rocket Money6 sourced facts, last checked Nov 3, 2026

Each fact links to the official page it came from, with the date we checked it. Once a fact is older than 30 days, it comes off the page until we check it again. How we source, date and index this data.

This is education, not financial advice.