The free alternative to YNAB and other personal finance apps

If you've searched for a personal finance app, you've probably run into the same problem: the ones that actually work are expensive, English-only, or so basic they're not very useful. This article breaks down what's out there and why more people are choosing Moncua.

The problem with the most popular apps

YNAB (You Need A Budget)

YNAB is the most recommended budgeting app in the English-speaking world, and for good reason: it has a solid methodology and good reporting. But it has two major drawbacks:

• It costs $14-15 per month (or ~$99 per year). That's a meaningful subscription just to track your own money.
• It's English-only. No Spanish version.

For someone who wants to simply control their finances, paying a monthly subscription for a financial tool feels contradictory.

Mint

Mint was for years the most popular personal finance app in the United States. It shut down permanently in January 2024. If you used it or are looking for it, it no longer exists.

Excel and Google Sheets

The most widely used alternative, especially outside the US. It's free and flexible, but has real limitations:

• Not designed for mobile use
• Doesn't alert you when you exceed a spending limit
• Creating visual reports requires formula knowledge
• Sharing with a partner means manual updates and version conflicts
• It's not built for this, and it shows

Freemium apps with locked features

Several apps (Money Lover, Spendee, Wallet) offer a free plan but lock the most useful features behind a subscription: advanced reports, budgets, multi-device sync, or monthly transaction limits. The free plan exists to get you hooked before asking you to pay.

What a good personal finance app actually needs

Before choosing, it's worth defining what you need. A complete app should let you:

• Record income and expenses with customizable categories
• Create a monthly budget and see how you're tracking in real time
• Set aside funds for future expenses (provisions) and savings goals
• Track debts and receivables with payment history
• View reports that show you where your money goes
• Use it on both your phone and computer
• Share it with your partner or family if needed

With that list, most free options fall short.

Why Moncua is different

Moncua is not freemium. All features are available to all users, at no cost.

That includes:

• Unlimited accounts (bank, cash, investments)
• Complete monthly budget with real-time execution tracking
• Provisions and savings goals with progress tracking
• Debt and receivables management with payment history
• Patrimony and investments
• Five interactive reports with charts
• Cost centers to separate personal finances from a business
• Shared management with roles (editor or read-only)
• CSV data import
• Dark mode and access from any device

Why it's actually free

Moncua is a non-profit project. Revenue has a defined cap: anything beyond it is reinvested in the platform and in financial education for those who need it most. The model is sustained by minimal, non-invasive advertising, and there's a low-cost subscription option for those who prefer an ad-free experience.

There's no catch, no better paid tier. What you see is what you get.

Quick comparison

Who Moncua is for

• If you're looking for a YNAB alternative without the monthly cost
• If you used Mint and need a replacement that's equivalent or better
• If you currently use Excel but want something more visual and mobile-friendly
• If you manage finances with your partner and both need to see the same information
• If you want to go beyond expense tracking and also manage debts, savings, and investments in one place

Create your free Moncua account. It takes less than a minute and no credit card required.