Accounting · head to head
Empower vs Monarch Money

Monarch Money
Personal Finance
All-in-one wealth management platform
- From
- $99/year
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Empower specific advisory fees not published; Form ADV consultation required; Monarch Money the free trial is one week, after which a paid subscription is required to keep using the app
- They diverge on capability: Empower covers Net worth tracking, Monarch Money covers Budget management.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Empower and Monarch Money actually diverge.
| Attribute | Empower | Monarch Money |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $99/year |
| Pricing model | quote | subscription |
| Category | Accounting | Personal Finance |
| Founded | 2009 | 2022 |
Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated).
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 Empower
- Net worth tracking
- Retirement planner
- Cash flow
- 401k fee analyzer
- Bank connections
- Brokerage accounts
- SOC 2
- Bank-level encryption
Only in Monarch Money
- Budget management
- Tax planning
- Financial insights
- Bank accounts
- Investment accounts
- Cryptocurrency
- IOS support
Both cover
- Investment tracking
- Web support
- Android support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Empower
- Wealth trackingnot Monarch Money
- Retirement planningnot Monarch Money
- Investment analysisnot Monarch Money
Monarch Money
- Tracking household budgets and spending across linked bank accountsnot Empower
- Shared budgeting between partners in one accountnot Empower
- Monitoring net worth and investment balances alongside cash accountsnot Empower
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Empower
- Specific advisory fees not published; Form ADV consultation required
- High minimum investment thresholds ($100,000 for Personal Strategy)
- Detailed fee structure available only in Form ADV documents
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
Empower
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Empower review.
Monarch Money
$99/year- Core Plan$99/year
- 7-day free trial
- Plus$null/year
- Premium features
Which should you pick?
Choose Empower if
- You need net worth tracking.
- You work on Web, Ios, Android.
- You also want retirement planner.
Choose Monarch Money if
- You need budget management.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want tax planning.
Questions people ask
- Is Empower or Monarch Money better?
- Neither clearly leads. Empower starts at On request and Monarch Money at $99/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Empower or Monarch Money?
- Empower starts at On request and Monarch Money at $99/year.
- Does Empower or Monarch Money run on more platforms?
- Empower runs on Web, Ios, Android. Monarch Money runs on Web, IOS, Android.
- What is Empower best used for?
- Empower is most often used for wealth tracking, retirement planning, investment analysis. Of those, wealth tracking and retirement planning are not what Monarch Money is typically brought in for.
- What can Empower do that Monarch Money cannot?
- Empower covers Net worth tracking, Retirement planner, Cash flow, 401k fee analyzer. Monarch Money covers Budget management, Tax planning, Financial insights, Bank accounts. Both handle Investment tracking, Web support, Android support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Empower: Does Empower have a minimum investment requirement?
Empower's advisory services require different minimums based on service level. Personal Strategy advisory requires a minimum of $100,000 in investable assets. Private Client services require $1,000,000 or more.
SourceMonarch Money: How much does Monarch Money cost?
Monarch Money Core plan costs 99 USD/year, referenced in customer testimonials and promo code terms. Additional Plus tier exists but specific pricing is not disclosed on the main page.
SourceEmpower: How are Empower's advisory fees calculated?
Advisory fees are calculated based on the amount of assets being managed under advice. Specific fee rates are not disclosed on the homepage.
SourceMonarch Money: Is there a free trial?
Yes, Monarch Money offers a 7-day free trial for new users with no credit card required.
SourceEmpower: Is the high-yield cash account free?
Yes. Empower's high-yield cash account has no account fees and no minimum balance required.
SourceMonarch Money: Are there discounts available?
Monarch Money offers 30% off the first year with promo code WELCOME for new members on annual Core plan subscriptions. Cannot be combined with other offers.
SourceEmpower: Are there fees for stock and ETF trading?
Empower offers commission-free trading for stocks and ETFs with low fees.
SourceRelated pages
More on Monarch Money
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