Monarch Money

Why We Like It

Monarch Money was designed from the ground up with couples and families in mind, and it shows. The collaborative features — simultaneous access, shared goals, combined net worth view — are more thoughtfully implemented than in any competing app. It also works across all devices and platforms, removing the iOS-only friction of Copilot. For families who want a comprehensive financial overview (budget + investments + net worth) in a single app that both partners will actually use, Monarch is the best choice available.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Best family-sharing architecture of any app reviewed — both partners have full, equal access with real-time collaboration built into the core product
• Available on iOS and Android with strong web app, making it accessible for families with mixed devices
• Combines budgeting, net worth tracking, and investment monitoring in one dashboard — a true financial command center

Cons

• Newer platform means occasional rough edges in the product; smaller community than YNAB for troubleshooting support
• Less opinionated about budgeting method than YNAB — families who need structure and accountability may find it too flexible

Score Breakdown

Budgeting apps were evaluated on feature depth, ease of use for busy households, multi-user family sharing, goal tracking, bank-sync reliability and security, and subscription value.