Personal Finance · head to head
Mint vs PocketGuard
The short version
- Only Mint has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Mint service transitioned to Credit Karma platform; standalone Mint features migrated elsewhere; PocketGuard no free plan, only 7-day free trial
- They diverge on capability: Mint covers Expense tracking, PocketGuard covers Real-time spending alerts.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Mint and PocketGuard actually diverge.
| Attribute | Mint | PocketGuard |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $6.25/month |
| Pricing model | free | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Founded | 2006 | 2012 |
Identical on both: 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 Mint
- Expense tracking
- Budgets
- Bill tracking
- Credit score monitoring
- Financial insights
- Bank connections
- Bank-level encryption
- Verisign secured
Only in PocketGuard
- Real-time spending alerts
- Budget tracking
- Goal setting
- Spending insights
- Bank accounts
- Credit cards
- IOS support
Both cover
- Web support
- Android 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 PocketGuard
- Users transitioning to Credit Karma for continued money management featuresnot PocketGuard
PocketGuard
- Tracking spending and bills against a personal budgetnot Mint
- Finding and cancelling recurring subscriptionsnot 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
PocketGuard
- No free plan, only 7-day free trial
- Monthly subscription at $12.99/month costs $155.88 annually if not switched to annual billing
- Lifetime plan at $149.99 is relatively expensive for personal finance software
Pricing, plan by plan
Mint
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Mint review.
PocketGuard
$6.25/month- Premium - Monthly$12.99/month
- Budgeting tools
- Expense tracking
- Unlimited bank accounts
- Premium - Annual$6.25/month
- Same as monthly
- $74.99 annual charge saves $81/year
- Lifetime$149.99/one-time
- All features
- No recurring fees
- Lifetime access
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 PocketGuard if
- You need real-time spending alerts.
- You work on Web, IOS, Android.
- You also want budget tracking.
Questions people ask
- Is Mint or PocketGuard better?
- Neither clearly leads. Mint starts at Free and PocketGuard at $6.25/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Mint or PocketGuard?
- Mint has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Mint and $6.25/month for PocketGuard.
- Does Mint or PocketGuard run on more platforms?
- Mint runs on Web, iOS, Android. PocketGuard runs on Web, IOS, Android.
- Can I use Mint for free?
- Yes. Mint has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PocketGuard starts at $6.25/month.
- 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 PocketGuard is typically brought in for.
- What can Mint do that PocketGuard cannot?
- Mint covers Expense tracking, Budgets, Bill tracking, Credit score monitoring. PocketGuard covers Real-time spending alerts, Budget tracking, Goal setting, Spending insights. Both handle Web support, Android support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Mint: 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.
SourcePocketGuard: How much does PocketGuard cost?
PocketGuard Premium costs $12.99/month for monthly billing or $6.25/month when billed annually ($74.99/year). A one-time Lifetime plan is also available for $149.99.
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.
SourcePocketGuard: Does PocketGuard offer a free trial?
Yes, PocketGuard offers a 7-day free trial with full access to all features. No credit card is required to start the trial.
SourcePocketGuard: What is the annual savings with PocketGuard's yearly plan?
PocketGuard's annual plan costs $74.99/year ($6.25/month), saving $81 per year compared to paying $12.99 monthly ($155.88/year).
SourceRelated pages
More on PocketGuard
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