Software · head to head
Banktivity vs Monarch Money
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Banktivity runs on macOS, iPhone and iPad only, with no Windows, Android or web version; Monarch Money the free trial is one week, after which a paid subscription is required to keep using the app
- They diverge on capability: Banktivity covers Account tracking, Monarch Money covers Budget management.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Banktivity and Monarch Money actually diverge.
| Attribute | Banktivity | Monarch Money |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Mac, IOS | Web, IOS, Android |
| Founded | 2007 | 2022 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Banktivity
- Account tracking
- Bill management
- Budget forecasting
- Mac support
Only in Monarch Money
- Budget management
- Tax planning
- Financial insights
- Cryptocurrency
- Web support
- Android support
Both cover
- Investment tracking
- Bank accounts
- Investment accounts
- IOS support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Banktivity
- Personal budgeting and money management on a Macnot Monarch Money
- Investment and net worth trackingnot Monarch Money
- Retirement planning projectionsnot Monarch Money
- Connecting to over 14,000 financial institutionsnot Monarch Money
Monarch Money
- Tracking household budgets and spending across linked bank accountsnot Banktivity
- Shared budgeting between partners in one accountnot Banktivity
- Monitoring net worth and investment balances alongside cash accountsnot Banktivity
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Banktivity
- Runs on macOS, iPhone and iPad only, with no Windows, Android or web version
- Pricing is not shown on the product page and sits behind a separate plans page
Monarch Money
- The free trial is one week, after which a paid subscription is required to keep using the app
- The advertised 30 percent discount with code WELCOME applies to the first year only and is restricted to new users
- There is no free tier, and a Plus tier gates features above the base subscription
Pricing, plan by plan
Banktivity
On request- Monthly$4.99/month
- Full feature access
- Cloud sync
- Annual$39.99/month
- All monthly features
- Discounted rate
Monarch Money
On request- Premium$14.99/month
- Unlimited accounts
- Investment tracking
- Tax planning
- Premier$39.99/month
- All Premium features
- Financial advisor access
Which should you pick?
Choose Banktivity if
- You need account tracking.
- You work on Mac, IOS.
- You also want bill management.
Choose Monarch Money if
- You need budget management.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want tax planning.
Questions people ask
- Is Banktivity or Monarch Money better?
- Neither clearly leads. Banktivity starts at On request and Monarch Money at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Banktivity or Monarch Money?
- Banktivity starts at On request and Monarch Money at On request.
- Does Banktivity or Monarch Money run on more platforms?
- Banktivity runs on Mac, IOS. Monarch Money runs on Web, IOS, Android.
- What is Banktivity best used for?
- Banktivity is most often used for personal budgeting and money management on a mac, investment and net worth tracking, retirement planning projections, connecting to over 14,000 financial institutions. Of those, personal budgeting and money management on a mac and investment and net worth tracking are not what Monarch Money is typically brought in for.
- What can Banktivity do that Monarch Money cannot?
- Banktivity covers Account tracking, Bill management, Budget forecasting, Mac support. Monarch Money covers Budget management, Tax planning, Financial insights, Cryptocurrency. Both handle Investment tracking, Bank accounts, Investment accounts, IOS support.