Disclosure: VaultFlow is ours. Monarch Money is not, and we have no deal with its makers. Both get the same four fields below, including their drawbacks.
Short answer
For a household budget shared with a partner and an advisor, with every account connected, Monarch Money is excellent — as a paid membership. For a free budget and net worth app with no bank login, pick VaultFlow.
Monarch Money connects your accounts, categorises transactions, and puts net worth, budgets, bills and subscriptions in one view. You can add your partner at no extra cost and invite a financial professional. It is free to try for 7 days, then a monthly or annual membership, with no ads.
VaultFlow is free, has no membership and no bank connection. You import your bank’s statement file and it stays on your iPhone or iPad.
Pick VaultFlow if
- You don’t want a membership fee
- You don’t want to connect your bank accounts
- You manage your money on your own
Pick Monarch Money if
- You budget with a partner
- You want every account connected and updated for you
- You want your advisor to see the same numbers
Side by side
| VaultFlow (ours) | Monarch Money | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — no subscription | Free 7-day trial, then a monthly or annual membership |
| Account needed | None | A Monarch account |
| Getting transactions in | Import your bank’s statement file (CSV, OFX or QFX — duplicates skipped), describe your money in plain words, or add it yourself | Connect your accounts; transactions are categorised automatically |
| Budgets | A budget and a colour on each category; refunds lower spending instead of counting as income | Flex Budgeting or Category Budgeting |
| Bills | Bills due this week and later, a reminder one to three days before; mark one paid and it comes off the right account | Bills and subscriptions on a calendar or list, with notifications |
| Net worth | Accounts, any number of credit cards, investments with live prices, your home, loans and goals | Net worth, investments and goals |
| Sharing and devices | Not synced between devices yet — move by exporting and importing a file | Partner and household members at no extra cost; invite an advisor |
The two apps in detail
VaultFlow
Ours
- Best for
- People who want their whole net worth in one place without giving an app their bank login
- Highlights
- Assets, debts, property and investments in one net worth, with live prices for holdings
- Import the CSV, OFX or QFX statement your bank already gives you — duplicates skipped
- Or let ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini do the typing with ready-made prompts
- No bank login and no account; your data stays on your device and exports any time as a spreadsheet
- Pricing
- Free
- Watch out
- There is no automatic bank sync — to update, you import the statement file your bank lets you download (CSV, OFX or QFX) or add numbers yourself. It doesn’t sync between devices yet, needs iOS 26.2 or later, and runs on iPhone and iPad only.
Monarch Money
- Best for
- Couples and families who want every account connected in one shared view
- Highlights
- Connects your accounts and categorises transactions
- Flex or Category budgeting
- Partner at no extra cost, and advisor access
- Pricing
- Free 7-day trial, then a monthly or annual membership
- Watch out
- There is no free plan after the trial, and it works by connecting your financial accounts.
The real difference: a connected household, or a private free app
Monarch’s strength is that everything updates itself and everyone sees it — partner, advisor, you. That is what the membership pays for.
VaultFlow suits one person who would rather download a statement now and then than connect their bank. It is free, and nothing leaves the device; the trade-off is no sharing and no sync between devices yet.
Other options
Want more than two options? Free Monarch Money Alternatives for iPhone compares 6 apps.
Every app of this kind we have compared is in the best net worth tracker apps for iPhone.
Common questions
Is Monarch Money free?
No. It is free to try for 7 days, then a membership billed monthly or annually.
Is there a free version of Monarch Money?
The listing describes a 7-day trial and a paid membership, not a free tier.
What is a free alternative to Monarch Money?
VaultFlow is free with no subscription, with budgets, bills and net worth — but no bank connection and no partner sharing.
Does VaultFlow work in Canada?
Yes. It doesn’t connect to banks at all, so any bank that lets you download a CSV, OFX or QFX statement works.
App Store listings checked on 29 September 2026. Prices change — each entry describes how an app is paid for rather than a number that goes stale.
Published · No affiliate links
MMA.socialUFC fan ratings
TrendingPunjabiPunjabi music charts
BoldOpinionAnonymous hot takes
brolic.ioGym leaderboards