Personal Finance · head to head
Credit Karma vs Mint
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Credit Karma state tax filing costs 15 USD even though federal filing is 0 USD; Mint service transitioned to Credit Karma platform; standalone Mint features migrated elsewhere
- They diverge on capability: Credit Karma covers Free credit score, Mint covers Expense tracking.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Credit Karma and Mint actually diverge.
| Attribute | Credit Karma | Mint |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | freemium | free |
| Founded | 2007 | 2006 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, IOS, Android), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Personal Finance).
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 Credit Karma
- Free credit score
- Credit report monitoring
- Credit card recommendations
- Tax filing
- Credit bureaus
- Financial institutions
- IOS support
Only in Mint
- Expense tracking
- Budgets
- Bill tracking
- Credit score monitoring
- Financial insights
- Bank connections
- Bank-level encryption
- Verisign secured
Both cover
- Web support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Credit Karma
- Monitoring a credit score and the factors affecting it for freenot Mint
- Comparing credit card and loan offers with Approval Oddsnot Mint
- Filing federal tax returns at no chargenot Mint
Mint
- Legacy free budget tracking for users with supported bank connectionsnot Credit Karma
- Users transitioning to Credit Karma for continued money management featuresnot Credit Karma
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Credit Karma
- State tax filing costs 15 USD even though federal filing is 0 USD
- Credit Spark builds score history against TransUnion, and the site states that not all lenders use TransUnion credit reports or scores
- Card and loan listings are advertising placements, disclosed on the site as compensation from third party advertisers
- Send and score update frequency limits are not published on the site
Mint
- Service transitioned to Credit Karma platform; standalone Mint features migrated elsewhere
- Bank connections supported for only 17,000 financial institutions; many regional or international banks not supported
Pricing, plan by plan
Credit Karma
Free- FreeFree
- Credit score monitoring
- Credit reports
- Personalized recommendations
Mint
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Mint review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Credit Karma if
- You need free credit score.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want credit report monitoring.
Choose Mint if
- You need expense tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want budgets.
Questions people ask
- Is Credit Karma or Mint better?
- Neither clearly leads. Credit Karma starts at Free and Mint at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Credit Karma or Mint?
- Credit Karma starts at Free and Mint at Free.
- Does Credit Karma or Mint run on more platforms?
- Credit Karma runs on Web, IOS, Android. Mint runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Credit Karma for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Credit Karma best used for?
- Credit Karma is most often used for monitoring a credit score and the factors affecting it for free, comparing credit card and loan offers with approval odds, filing federal tax returns at no charge. Of those, monitoring a credit score and the factors affecting it for free and comparing credit card and loan offers with approval odds are not what Mint is typically brought in for.
- What can Credit Karma do that Mint cannot?
- Credit Karma covers Free credit score, Credit report monitoring, Credit card recommendations, Tax filing. Mint covers Expense tracking, Budgets, Bill tracking, Credit score monitoring. Both handle Web support, Android support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Credit Karma: How much does Credit Karma cost?
Credit Karma's core services are completely free: credit score monitoring, credit reports, card and loan comparisons, and federal tax filing. The only costs are optional: $15 per state tax return and $2.50 per out-of-network ATM withdrawal.
SourceMint: Is Mint still actively sold?
Mint has been reimagined on Credit Karma. The Mint website now directs users to check out the new platform on Credit Karma's net worth signup page rather than maintaining a standalone product.
SourceCredit Karma: Is Credit Karma's credit monitoring free?
Yes, Credit Karma offers free credit score monitoring, credit reports, personalized insights, and credit building tools. Users can access their credit data without any subscription cost.
SourceMint: What pricing information is available on the Mint homepage?
The Mint page does not disclose pricing details. For current pricing information, users should visit Credit Karma's website or contact support directly.
SourceCredit Karma: What is the cost to file taxes with Credit Karma?
Federal tax filing is free with Credit Karma Tax. State tax filing costs $15 per return. These costs are optional and only apply if you choose to file through the platform.
SourceRelated pages
More on Credit Karma
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