Mint shut down in January 2024, so you cannot use it anymore
Mint was a assistance programs-tracking app owned by Intuit that let you connect your checking account and see all your transactions in one place. Intuit discontinued the service on January 1, 2024, and moved its users to a paid service called Credit Karma Money. If you were using Mint to monitor your checking account, you need to switch to a different tool now.
The good news is that several alternatives exist, and many are free. Your bank itself probably offers a built-in transaction tracker, and other third-party apps work much the same way Mint did. The choice depends on whether you want a tool from your bank, a standalone free app, or a paid service with more features.
Key Takeaways
- Mint stopped working on January 1, 2024, so you cannot use it to track checking account transactions anymore.
- Most banks offer their own free transaction tracking and budgeting tools inside their mobile apps or websites.
- Free alternatives to Mint include GnuCash, YNAB's free trial, and Monarch Money's free tier, each with different strengths.
- If you were using Mint, your transaction history is no longer available through the app, though your bank keeps its own records.
Why your bank's built-in tools are usually the fastest option
Your checking account already comes with a transaction tracker. Log into your bank's website or mobile app, and you can see every deposit, withdrawal, and transfer tied to that account. Most banks let you sort by date, amount, or merchant, and many let you add notes or tags to transactions.
This is free and requires no setup beyond logging in. You do not need to connect a third-party app or give another company access to your account. The transactions appear instantly because your bank is the source. If you only need to track one or two accounts, this is usually enough.
The downside is that bank tools typically do not combine accounts from multiple banks into one view. If you have a checking account at one bank and a savings account at another, you have to log into each one separately. For most people tracking a single checking account, though, this limitation does not matter.
Free third-party apps that replaced Mint's role
YNAB (You Need A Budget) offers a free 34-day trial and then costs money, but many people who used Mint switched here because it works the same way — you connect your accounts and see all transactions in one dashboard. YNAB focuses on budgeting rather than just tracking, so it pushes you to assign every dollar to a category before you spend it. If you want that structure, the paid version is worth considering.
GnuCash is free and open-source, meaning anyone can use it and modify it. You download it to your computer rather than using an app. It does not connect to your bank automatically, so you have to download your transactions from your bank and import them into GnuCash yourself. This takes more work but gives you complete control and privacy.
Monarch Money offers a free tier that lets you connect accounts and track spending, with a paid tier for more features. Rocket Money (formerly Truebill) is also free and connects to your bank, though it emphasizes finding subscriptions you forgot about and negotiating bills down. Neither is exactly like Mint, but both let you see all your transactions in one place.
What happened to your Mint transaction history
When Mint shut down, Intuit did not transfer your transaction history to another app. Your data is gone from Mint itself. However, your bank still has a complete record of every transaction on your checking account — that record lives in your bank's system and does not disappear when a third-party app closes.
If you need to see old transactions, log into your bank's website or app and look at your account history. Most banks keep at least seven years of transaction records available online, and some keep longer. You can usually download or export this history as a spreadsheet if you need it for taxes or record-keeping.
How to move your checking account tracking to a new tool
Start by deciding what you actually need. If you only want to see what you spent and where, your bank's app is probably enough. If you want to budget across multiple accounts or get alerts when you overspend a category, a third-party app makes sense.
If you choose a third-party app, the setup is straightforward. Download the app, create an account, and connect your checking account using your bank login. The app will ask permission to read your transactions (not to move money or change anything). Once connected, it pulls in your recent transactions and updates them daily or weekly depending on the app.
If you choose GnuCash, download it to your computer, create a new file, and then download your transactions from your bank as a CSV file. GnuCash can import CSV files, though the process takes a few extra steps. Look up your specific bank's name in GnuCash's import guide to see the exact steps.
Comparing the main options side by side
| Tool | Cost | Setup Time | Automatic Updates | Multiple Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your Bank's App | Free | Already have it | Yes, instant | Only if same bank |
| YNAB | Free trial, then $15/month | 5 minutes | Yes, daily | Yes |
| GnuCash | Free | 15–30 minutes | Manual download | Yes |
| Monarch Money | Free tier available | 5 minutes | Yes, daily | Yes |
| Rocket Money | Free tier available | 5 minutes | Yes, daily | Yes |
Security and privacy when connecting a new app
When you connect your checking account to a third-party app, you are giving that app permission to see your transactions. The app does not get your password — instead, it uses a secure connection called OAuth that lets you log in through your bank without sharing your credentials with the app.
Before you connect, check the app's privacy policy to see what it does with your data. Some apps sell anonymized spending data to advertisers or financial companies. Others keep your data private. Free apps often make money by selling data, while paid apps usually do not. This is a trade-off to consider based on your comfort level.
Your bank's own app is the safest option because your bank already has your data and is legally required to protect it. Third-party apps add a small amount of risk because you are trusting another company with access. The risk is low if you choose a reputable app, but it is not zero.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I export my old Mint data and import it somewhere else?
Intuit did not provide a way to export Mint data when the service shut down. Your transaction history is not available as a file you can download. However, your bank has the same transactions in its own system, so you can download them from your bank and import them into a new app like GnuCash if you need a historical record.
Will a new app connect to my checking account the same way Mint did?
Yes. Apps like YNAB, Monarch Money, and Rocket Money all connect to your bank using the same secure method Mint used. You log in with your bank credentials, give the app permission to read transactions, and it pulls in your data automatically. The process is nearly identical.
Do I have to pay for a replacement, or are there free options?
Your bank's app is free and built in. GnuCash is free to download. Monarch Money and Rocket Money both have free tiers. YNAB is free for 34 days and then costs money. You have several free paths forward, though some require more setup work than others.
What if I have accounts at multiple banks?
Your bank's app only shows accounts at that bank. A third-party app like YNAB or Monarch Money can connect to multiple banks and show all your accounts in one dashboard. This is the main reason to use a third-party app instead of sticking with your bank's built-in tracker.
Is it safe to connect my checking account to a new app?
Yes, if you use a reputable app. The connection uses secure technology that does not expose your password. Check the app's privacy policy to see how it handles your data. Your bank's own app is the safest option, but established third-party apps like YNAB and Monarch Money are also secure.