For years, Budgeting App Mint was the go-to finance tool in the U.S. for tracking monthly expenses, categorizing spending, and viewing accounts in one dashboard. People used the Mint budgeting app because it was simple, free, and beginner-friendly — something many budgeting tools did not offer at that time.
But when Intuit discontinued Mint in 2024, millions of users began searching for a Mint alternative that could replace the features they depended on. Searches like “apps like Mint”, “Mint budgeting replacement”, and “Mint shutdown explanation” shot up overnight — and this is exactly why this guide exists.
Our goal is simple:
✔ Explain what Mint was
✔ Why the Mint budgeting app shutdown happened
✔ Whether Mint works in 2025
✔ And what the best Mint alternatives are right now
🔵 What Exactly Was Mint Budgeting App?
Mint was a personal finance management tool that helped users:
- Track expenses automatically
- Monitor bank + credit transactions
- Create monthly budgeting categories
- Receive bill reminders
- View net worth in one screen
- Understand spending habits clearly
For over a decade, the Mint budgeting app was ranked as the #1 free budgeting solution for beginners, students, families, and anyone who wanted financial clarity without spreadsheets.
It changed how Americans budgeted — until everything shifted.
🔥 Why Budgeting App Mint Shut Down
In November 2024, Intuit officially discontinued Mint and migrated users to Credit Karma Money.
However, Credit Karma is not a budgeting system — it focuses more on credit score monitoring rather than budgeting structure. This gap led users to immediately search for a Mint alternative.
The shutdown happened because:
| Reason | Explanation |
|---|---|
| No Major Feature Updates | Mint failed to evolve for modern users |
| App Stability Declined | Frequent bank-sync errors and lags |
| Monetization Failed | Overload of ads hurt user experience |
| Competition Grew | Apps like YNAB & PocketGuard advanced fast |
| Strategy Shift | Intuit merged features into Credit Karma |
Simple truth → People needed budgeting. Mint stopped being one.
🧠 Is Mint still usable in 2025?
Technically, some users can still log in — but not reliably.
After shutdown:
❌ Bank sync breaks
❌ Categories stop updating
❌ No new security patches
❌ No budgeting insights
❌ No official support
If you’re still using it, the smarter move is switching to an active Mint budgeting app alternative.
Best Mint Alternatives in 2025 (Ranked & Compared)
Since the Mint budgeting app is no longer supported, people are now looking for an app that feels like Mint — but more modern, more accurate and more automation-friendly.
Below are the best Mint alternatives, reviewed with clarity, comparison and real-world use cases.
🥇 1. YNAB — Best Overall Mint Alternative
YNAB (You Need A Budget) is the strongest Mint alternative, especially if you want deep spending awareness. Instead of only tracking expenses the way Mint budgeting app did, YNAB encourages you to assign every dollar a purpose — a zero-based budgeting method.
🔹 Why YNAB beats the Mint budgeting app
- Better control, less impulse spending
- Real-time category management
- Helps eliminate paycheck-to-paycheck cycle
- Works great for families + dual income homes
- Steeper learning curve but long-term results
Best for: People serious about saving money, not just tracking it.
🥈 2. PocketGuard — Best Simple Replacement (Closest to Mint UI)
If you want something as easy as the Mint budgeting app, PocketGuard is the closest match. It maintains the simplicity Mint users loved — but adds smart spending controls.
🔹 Why PocketGuard is a strong Mint alternative
- “In My Pocket” safe-to-spend feature
- Clean UI like Mint budgeting app
- Automates expense grouping
- Great free plan (Mint had ads instead)
Best for: Students, beginners, and first-time budgeters.
🥉 3. Monarch Money — Modern & Family-Focused Mint Alternative
Made by ex-Mint developers, Monarch Money feels like what Mint could have evolved into. A sleek dashboard, shared budgeting, and deeper insights make it a premium replacement.
🔹 Why Monarch beats the Mint budgeting app
- Shared budgets for couples and families
- Investment + net worth tracking
- Automation rules and charts
- More accurate spending prediction
Best for: Shared households, newly married couples, parents.
🔥 4. Rocket Money — Best Mint Replacement for Subscriptions & Bills
Rocket Money does what Mint budgeting app never mastered — subscription control and bill negotiation. It can automatically find recurring payments and cancel them for you.
🔹 Why Rocket Money is a powerful Mint alternative
- Detects + cancels unwanted subscriptions
- Negotiates bills automatically
- Alerts if spending increases suddenly
- Helps reduce expenses without effort
Best for: People who overspend without noticing.
⭐ 5. Goodbudget — Best for Manual Envelope-Style Budgeting
If you prefer control and category-based restriction instead of automation, Goodbudget is a great alternative to the Mint budgeting app.
🔹 Why Goodbudget wins for discipline budgeting
- Envelope monthly budgeting
- Great for students + families
- Helps build real spending awareness
- Manual but powerful method
Best for: People who want stricter budgeting behavior.
⭐ 6. Credit Karma Money — Mint’s Official Successor (But Limited)
Mint users were redirected here — but Credit Karma isn’t a full Mint budgeting app replacement. Budget tools are basic and not suited for tracking long-term spending habits.
Best for: Credit monitoring, not budgeting.
📌 TABLE 1 — Mint vs Mint Alternatives (Core Chart)
| Feature / App | Mint (Old) | YNAB | PocketGuard | Monarch Money | Rocket Money | Goodbudget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Budgeting Style | Basic Tracking | Zero-Based | Simple UI | Advanced Shared | Automation + Subscriptions | Envelope System |
| Bank Sync | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | Limited |
| Subscription Tools | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✔ Detection | ✔ Auto-Cancel | ❌ |
| Shared Budgets | ❌ | ✔ | ❌ | ✔ Best | ❌ | ✔ Basic |
| Cost | Free (Old) | Paid | Free + Paid | Paid | Free + Paid | Free + Paid |
| Best For | Past Users | Discipline Users | Beginners | Couples | Overspenders | Manual Budget Users |
FAQ — Mint Budgeting App (2025 Update)
Q1. Why was the Mint budgeting app discontinued?
Intuit shut down Mint in 2024 and redirected users to Credit Karma Money, which focuses on credit monitoring rather than budgeting automation.
Q2. What is the best Mint alternative in 2025?
YNAB is the strongest replacement if you want control and zero-based budgeting. PocketGuard is the most Mint-like. Monarch is best for families.
Q3. Is credit karma the new version of Mint?
Not really. Credit Karma is not designed like the Mint budgeting app and lacks budgeting categories, envelope control and spending automation.
Q4. Which budgeting tool feels most similar to Mint?
PocketGuard → closest user interface
Monarch → most advanced & Mint-like
YNAB → most powerful long-term savings tool
Q5. Best free alternative to Mint?
PocketGuard Free + Goodbudget Free are the closest free options available today.
Q6. Can you still access Mint in 2025?
Some logins may still work, but syncing and tracking are unreliable — switching to a stable Mint alternative is the smarter move.
🔥 Final Conclusion
The Mint budgeting app shaped personal finance habits for millions — but evolution in budgeting tools has moved beyond Mint. With stronger apps available today, 2025 is the perfect time to upgrade to smarter automation, envelope systems, subscription management, and shared household tracking.
If you loved Mint for its simplicity → choose PocketGuard.
If you want real budgeting discipline → choose YNAB.
If you budget as a couple/family → choose Monarch Money.
If subscriptions drain your money unknowingly → choose Rocket Money.
If you prefer envelope strategy → Goodbudget is ideal.
Mint has ended — budgeting hasn’t.
Your next best tool is waiting. 🔥