Software · head to head
Monarch Money vs Quicken
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Monarch Money the free trial is one week, after which a paid subscription is required to keep using the app; Quicken quicken Simplifi (cloud version) costs $3.99 annually if billed yearly, but renews at full price $6.99/month unless cancelled before renewal
- They diverge on capability: Monarch Money covers Budget management, Quicken covers Budget creation.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Monarch Money and Quicken actually diverge.
| Attribute | Monarch Money | Quicken |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $3.99/month |
| Platforms | Web, IOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS |
| Founded | 2022 | 1983 |
Identical on both: 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 Monarch Money
- Budget management
- Financial insights
- Cryptocurrency
- Web support
- Android support
Only in Quicken
- Budget creation
- Bill management
- Credit cards
- Windows support
- Mac support
Both cover
- Investment tracking
- Tax planning
- Bank accounts
- Investment accounts
- IOS support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Monarch Money
- Tracking household budgets and spending across linked bank accountsnot Quicken
- Shared budgeting between partners in one accountnot Quicken
- Monitoring net worth and investment balances alongside cash accountsnot Quicken
Quicken
- Individuals managing personal finances via Quicken Simplifi cloud app for budgeting and savings trackingnot Monarch Money
- Freelancers and self-employed managing business and personal finances via Quicken Business & Personal plannot Monarch Money
- Users preferring local data storage via Classic desktop editionsnot Monarch Money
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Quicken
- Quicken Simplifi (cloud version) costs $3.99 annually if billed yearly, but renews at full price $6.99/month unless cancelled before renewal
- Renewal pricing significantly higher than introductory rate; annual cost jumps from $47.88 (promotional) to $83.88 (regular renewal)
Pricing, plan by plan
Monarch Money
On request- Premium$14.99/month
- Unlimited accounts
- Investment tracking
- Tax planning
- Premier$39.99/month
- All Premium features
- Financial advisor access
Quicken
$3.99/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Quicken review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Monarch Money if
- You need budget management.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want financial insights.
Choose Quicken if
- You need budget creation.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
- You also want bill management.
Questions people ask
- Is Monarch Money or Quicken better?
- Neither clearly leads. Monarch Money starts at On request and Quicken at $3.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Monarch Money or Quicken?
- Monarch Money starts at On request and Quicken at $3.99/month.
- Does Monarch Money or Quicken run on more platforms?
- Monarch Money runs on Web, IOS, Android. Quicken runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
- What is Monarch Money best used for?
- Monarch Money is most often used for tracking household budgets and spending across linked bank accounts, shared budgeting between partners in one account, monitoring net worth and investment balances alongside cash accounts. Of those, tracking household budgets and spending across linked bank accounts and shared budgeting between partners in one account are not what Quicken is typically brought in for.
- What can Monarch Money do that Quicken cannot?
- Monarch Money covers Budget management, Financial insights, Cryptocurrency, Web support. Quicken covers Budget creation, Bill management, Credit cards, Windows support. Both handle Investment tracking, Tax planning, Bank accounts, Investment accounts.