Software · head to head
Mint vs GnuCash
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Mint service transitioned to Credit Karma platform; standalone Mint features migrated elsewhere; GnuCash desktop only, with no mobile application
- They diverge on capability: Mint covers Expense tracking, GnuCash covers Double-entry bookkeeping.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Mint and GnuCash actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Mint
- Expense tracking
- Budgets
- Bill tracking
- Credit score monitoring
- Financial insights
- Bank connections
- Bank-level encryption
- Verisign secured
Only in GnuCash
- Double-entry bookkeeping
- Multi-currency support
- Reports and graphs
- Budget tracking
- Import/Export
- OFX format
- Windows support
- Mac support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Mint
- Legacy free budget tracking for users with supported bank connectionsnot GnuCash
- Users transitioning to Credit Karma for continued money management featuresnot GnuCash
GnuCash
- Personal finance tracking with a checkbook register interfacenot Mint
- Double-entry bookkeeping for a small businessnot Mint
- Tracking stocks, bonds and mutual fund accountsnot Mint
- Importing transactions via QIF, OFX or HBCInot Mint
- Scheduled recurring transactions and financial reportsnot Mint
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
GnuCash
- Desktop only, with no mobile application
- Version 3.11 is the last release supporting Windows 7 and macOS 10.12 and earlier
- Uses strict double-entry accounting, so every transaction needs two sides
Pricing, plan by plan
Mint
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Mint review.
GnuCash
Free- Open SourceFree
- Double-entry bookkeeping
- Multi-currency support
- Reports and graphs
Which should you pick?
Choose Mint if
- You need expense tracking.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want budgets.
Choose GnuCash if
- You need double-entry bookkeeping.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Mac, Linux.
- You also want multi-currency support.
Questions people ask
- Is Mint or GnuCash better?
- Neither clearly leads. Mint starts at Free and GnuCash at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Mint or GnuCash?
- Mint starts at Free and GnuCash at Free.
- Does Mint or GnuCash run on more platforms?
- Mint runs on Web, iOS, Android. GnuCash runs on Windows, Mac, Linux.
- Can I use Mint for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Mint best used for?
- Mint is most often used for legacy free budget tracking for users with supported bank connections, users transitioning to credit karma for continued money management features. Of those, legacy free budget tracking for users with supported bank connections and users transitioning to credit karma for continued money management features are not what GnuCash is typically brought in for.
- What can Mint do that GnuCash cannot?
- Mint covers Expense tracking, Budgets, Bill tracking, Credit score monitoring. GnuCash covers Double-entry bookkeeping, Multi-currency support, Reports and graphs, Budget tracking.