The best Monarch Money alternative
with more features, lower price
CountAbout gives you zero-based budgeting, Projected Register Balance, Quicken/Simplifi import, Schedule C & E tracking, and FIRE planning. Features Monarch doesn’t offer. All for $54.99/year vs Monarch’s $99.99.
Monarch Money is popular, but it’s not your only choice
Monarch Money gained traction as a modern, visual budgeting app with household sharing and net worth tracking. But at $99.99/year with only a 7-day free trial, some users feel locked in before they can fully evaluate it.
CountAbout offers a 45-day free trial, costs nearly half the price, and includes tools not found in Monarch, like Quicken/Simplifi import, projected register balances, receipt attachments, Schedule C & E tracking, and small-business invoicing.
6 reasons to choose CountAbout over Monarch Money
Save $45/year
CountAbout Premium is $54.99/year vs Monarch’s $99.99/year. Even CountAbout Basic at $19.99/year gives you more than most apps offer at 5x the price.
45-day trial vs 7 days
Monarch offers a 7-day trial. CountAbout gives you 45 days. Enough time to import your data, connect accounts, and really see if it fits your life.
Import from Quicken & Simplifi
CountAbout is the only budgeting app that imports your full Quicken and Simplifi history. Monarch doesn’t support direct Quicken import, so migrating historical data requires manual CSV export.
Projected Register Balance
See your future account balance on any date based on scheduled transactions. CountAbout makes this cash-flow forecasting tool easy to use right from your register.
Receipts & attachments
Attach receipts, contracts, and documents directly to transactions. Essential for taxes and record-keeping. A standout CountAbout feature.
Built for small business too
Schedule C & E tracking and invoicing make CountAbout work for freelancers, landlords, and small business owners. Monarch is personal-only.
CountAbout vs Monarch Money: Feature Comparison
See exactly what you get with each app.
| Feature | CountAbout | Monarch Money |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Price (with bank sync) | $54.99 | $99.99 |
| Basic Plan (manual entry) | $19.99/yr | N/A |
| Free Trial | 45 days | 7 days |
| Automatic Bank Sync | ✓ | ✓ |
| Net Worth Tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investment Balance Tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Import from Quicken | ✓ | ✗ |
| Import from Simplifi | ✓ | ✗ |
| Projected Register Balance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Receipt Attachments | ✓ | N/A |
| Schedule C & E Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Small-Business Invoicing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Custom Categories | ✓ | ✓ |
| Split Transactions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ad-Free | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mobile Apps (iOS & Android) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Loan Amortization Schedule | ✓ | ✗ |
| Auto Loan Payment Splitting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Smart Auto-Categorization | ✓ (3-layer) | ✓ |
| Zero-Based Budgeting | ✓ | Partial (Flex mode) |
| Customizable Dashboard Widgets | ✓ | ✓ |
| FIRE Planning Widget | ✓ | ✗ |
| Multiple Data Aggregators | ✓ (3: MX, Plaid, Yodlee) | 1 |
| Budget Year-to-Date Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free for Active Military | ✓ | ✗ |
| Multi-User Access | ✓ Full & Read Only, unlimited | Partner only |
Switching from Monarch Money: What to Know
Can I import my Monarch Money data into CountAbout?
Monarch allows CSV export of your transactions. You can import those into CountAbout to keep your history. If you also have Quicken or Simplifi data, CountAbout supports direct import of those formats.
Does CountAbout track net worth like Monarch?
Yes. CountAbout tracks investment balances and account values so you can see your full financial picture, including 401(k)s, brokerage accounts, and more.
Does CountAbout support household sharing?
CountAbout’s Multi-User Access lets the account owner invite as many people as they want via email. Each invited user gets their own secure login with either Full Access or Read Only permissions. Manage household finances together without sharing a single password. Included in every plan at no extra cost.
Why is CountAbout so much cheaper?
CountAbout is built by a small, focused team with low overhead. We don’t spend on massive marketing campaigns or VC-funded growth. The savings go directly to you.
Can couples or families use CountAbout together?
Yes. CountAbout’s Multi-User Access lets the account owner invite a partner, family member, or bookkeeper by email. Each invited user gets their own secure login with either Full Access (can view and modify) or Read Only (view-only, enforced server-side). It’s included in every plan at no extra cost, with no limit on invited users. Learn more →
Try CountAbout free
for 45 days
All features included. No credit card required. See why people are choosing CountAbout over Monarch Money.
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