Rocket Money vs Monarch Money
These are two of the most popular premium budgeting apps right now—but they solve different problems. Rocket Money wants to save you money on bills. Monarch wants to be your complete financial dashboard. Let's break down which one makes sense for you.
Rocket Money
Bill Negotiation & Subscription Tracker
Best for: People drowning in subscriptions who want someone else to negotiate bills
Pros
- Actually negotiates bills on your behalf
- Finds and cancels forgotten subscriptions
- Solid spending insights and alerts
- Net worth tracking included
Cons
- Takes 30-60% of savings from negotiations
- No expense splitting features
- Premium required for best features
- Bill negotiation can take weeks
Monarch Money
Comprehensive Household Finance
Best for: Households wanting detailed financial planning and investment tracking
Pros
- Beautiful, intuitive interface
- Investment portfolio tracking
- Collaborative features for couples
- Goals and net worth tracking
Cons
- No free tier at all
- Priciest option in the category
- No bill negotiation service
- Expense splitting is limited
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | Rocket Money | Monarch Money |
|---|---|---|
| Bill Negotiation | ||
| Subscription Tracking | ||
| Investment Tracking | ||
| Couple/Household Sync | ||
| Free Tier Available | ||
| Goal Tracking | ||
| Expense Splitting | ||
| Net Worth Dashboard | ||
| Budget Categories | ||
| AI Insights |
The Verdict
Pick Rocket Money if you're bleeding cash on subscriptions and want someone to fight your cable company for you. Choose Monarch if you want a polished dashboard for your entire financial life and don't mind paying premium prices. But here's the thing: neither does expense splitting well. If you split rent with roommates or share costs with a partner, you'll still need another app—or you could try Savida, which handles budgeting AND splitting in one place.
Why Not Get the Best of Both?
Savida combines budget tracking, expense splitting, and AI coaching in one app. No more switching between apps or paying for multiple subscriptions.