With Mint shut down, millions of users needed a new home for their finances — and Monarch Money became the most popular destination. This step-by-step guide shows how to switch from Mint to Monarch Money in 2026 without losing your data or momentum.
Why Monarch Is the Top Mint Replacement
Monarch offers what ex-Mint users want: account aggregation, budgeting, net worth tracking, and a clean dashboard — plus couples access included. It even built a Mint import tool specifically for migrating users. For the full overview, see our Monarch Money review.
Before You Start
- Export your Mint data while you still can (if you saved a CSV before shutdown, keep it handy).
- List your linked accounts — banks, credit cards, loans, investments.
- Note your budget categories so you can recreate them.
Step 1: Create Your Monarch Account
Sign up at Monarch and start the free trial (7 days). Choose monthly or annual billing — annual is cheaper at $99.99/year versus $14.99/month. See the full Monarch pricing breakdown, and look for first-year promo codes before you commit.
Step 2: Import Your Mint Data
Monarch’s onboarding includes a Mint import option. Upload your exported Mint transaction CSV to bring over historical transactions. This preserves your spending history so your reports aren’t starting from zero.
Step 3: Connect Your Accounts
Link your banks, credit cards, loans, and investment accounts. Monarch supports thousands of institutions. Connecting live accounts (rather than relying only on the CSV) keeps balances and transactions syncing automatically going forward.
Step 4: Rebuild Your Budget
Recreate your Mint budget categories in Monarch. Monarch uses flexible category budgets with rollover, so:
- Set monthly amounts for each spending category.
- Enable rollover for categories like groceries or “fun money.”
- Group categories (needs, wants, savings) if you used a system like 50/30/20.
Step 5: Clean Up Categorization
For the first week or two, review how Monarch categorizes transactions and create rules to auto-sort recurring ones. A little setup now means accurate reports later.
Step 6: Set Up the Extras
- Invite your partner (free) if you share finances.
- Add goals for savings targets, debt payoff, or big purchases.
- Check net worth — Monarch tracks assets and liabilities over time, something Mint did less well.
Migration Checklist
| Step | Done |
|---|---|
| Export Mint CSV | ☐ |
| Create Monarch account | ☐ |
| Import Mint transactions | ☐ |
| Connect live accounts | ☐ |
| Rebuild budget categories | ☐ |
| Add partner + goals | ☐ |
Verdict
Switching from Mint to Monarch Money takes about an hour, and the Mint import tool makes preserving your history painless. Once your accounts are connected and budget rebuilt, Monarch picks up exactly where Mint left off — with better net worth tracking and couples support on top.
Still deciding between replacements? Compare the top options in our YNAB vs Monarch Money guide and the best budgeting apps of 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I import my Mint data into Monarch Money?
Yes. Monarch built a Mint import tool that accepts your exported Mint transaction CSV, preserving your spending history.
How much does Monarch Money cost after Mint?
Monarch costs $14.99/month or $99.99/year, with couples access included. First-year discount codes are often available.
Is Monarch the best Mint alternative?
For most users, yes — it’s the closest all-in-one match to Mint with better net worth tracking. YNAB is the better pick if your priority is changing spending habits.