Why Switch from Rocket Money?
Rocket Money, which started as Truebill back in 2015, is a popular tool for tracking your spending and nixing unwanted subscriptions. It's designed to give you a clear picture of where your cash is going. But it's not the only game in town, and a lot of users are looking for other options than Rocket Money.
While the app gets a higher than average score of 3.8 / 5 stars on Trustpilot (as of September, 2025), the negative reviews and Better Business Bureau complaints point to some real headaches. Users frequently report issues with canceling premium subscriptions and confusion over the fees for bill negotiation. With AI tools getting smarter, there are now apps better than Rocket Money that do more than just track, they actually take the work off your plate.
People are often looking for a switch because of:
- High Product Fees Many users mention the high bill negotiation costs between 35%-60% of savings
- Cancellation Problems: The Better Business Bureau reports of over 200 complaints over the past three years, these pages of complaints from users who struggled to cancel their paid Rocket Money account, getting charged even after they thought they were done.
- Vague Negotiation Fees: The percentage-based fee on savings from bill negotiation can feel steep and, for some, not clearly explained upfront.
What Features to Look for in a Rocket Money Alternative
When you're searching for a replacement, don't just trade one set of problems for another. You want something that actually solves the core issue: saving you time and money without creating more work.
Look for tools that offer:
- End-to-end completion of your financial tasks: A tool nowadays should help complete tasks, not just identify them.
- Automated negotiation for bills and refunds: Proactively lowers your bills, putting actual savings in your pocket.
- The ability to handle multi-step service issues: Complex cases solved without endless transfers
- Serious data security and user privacy: Premium data security and strict user privacy.
- A focus on saving money: Savings-first, not just spreadsheets and charts of spend
Best 9 Alternative Options to Rocket Money
Here’s a quick rundown of the top nine Rocket Money alternatives that get the job done differently.
- Pine AI: AI assistant that fully handles tasks for you.
- Monarch Money: A collaborative budgeting tool for partners.
- Copilot Money: Smart, automated expense categorization.
- YNAB (You Need A Budget): A method-based budgeting system.
- Quicken Simplifi: All-in-one view of your finances.
- PocketGuard: Helps you see how much is "in your pocket."
- Trim: Negotiates bills like cable and internet.
- Cleo: An AI chatbot that roasts or praises your spending.
- Empower: For tracking spending and investments together.
Quick Comparison: Top 9 App Alternatives to Rocket Money (2025)
| App Name | Category | Key Features | Pricing | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pine AI | AI Bill Negotiator | AI-powered calls & emails, Subscription cancellation, Handles complex service tasks | Pay-per-task model | iOS, Web |
| Monarch Money | Manual Budgeting | Customizable dashboard, Joint finance tracking, Net worth sync | Starts at $14.99/month | iOS, Android, Web |
| Copilot Money | Automated Budgeting | Smart categorization, Investment tracking, Recurring expense detection | $13/month or $95/year | iOS, Mac, Android (beta) |
| YNAB | Manual Budgeting | Zero-based budgeting, Goal tracking, Financial workshops | $14.99/month or $99/year | iOS, Android, Web |
| Quicken Simplifi | Automated Budgeting | Spending plan, Savings goals, Real-time alerts | Starts at $3.99/month | iOS, Android, Web |
| PocketGuard | Automated Budgeting | "In My Pocket" feature, Bill & subscription overview, Debt payoff plan | Free (Plus version is $7.99/mo) | iOS, Android, Web |
| Trim | Bill Negotiator | Bill negotiation (cable, internet), Subscription cancellation, Medical bill audit | Takes 15% of savings | Web |
| Cleo | AI Budgeting Chatbot | "Roast" and "Hype" modes, Budgeting & saving tools, Salary advance | Free (Plus is $5.99/mo) | iOS, Android |
| Empower | Budgeting & Investing | Net worth tracker, Investment analysis, Retirement planner | Free (Wealth Management has fees) | iOS, Android, Web |
Detailed App Breakdowns
Pine AI
Pine AI showed up in early 2025 to tackle the most annoying part of managing money: actually dealing with companies. It isn't another dashboard where you track things yourself. Instead, its AI agent makes calls, sends emails, and handles tedious tasks for you, like appealing a denied insurance claim or getting a refund for a flight cancellation. The core idea is to give you back your time. It’s a completely different model. Their focus on end-to-end task completion is a clear response to the "subscription creep" problem, where the average American is spending over $200 a month on subscriptions they barely remember signing up for (C+R Research, July 2024).
We put Pine AI first for a reason: unlike most apps, we handle the messy, multi-step calls so you walk away with money saved.
- Best for: Offloading complex financial chores to an AI assistant.
- Key Features:
- AI agent handles calls, emails, and web forms.
- Negotiates to lower bills (cable, internet, phone).
- Manages subscription cancellations and refund requests.
- Pros:
- Saves you from sitting on hold with customer service.
- Built to handle multi-step problems, not just simple tasks.
- You only pay when a task is successfully completed.
- Cons:
- It's a newer service, so it's still building its track record.
- The pay-per-task model is different from a flat subscription fee.
- Currently available on iOS and Web only.
- Pricing: Pay-per-task model where Pine AI takes a percentage of savings for successful negotiations. Source: 19pine.ai as of September, 2025.
- Who it’s for: Anyone who is tired of spending hours on the phone with customer service and just wants the problem solved.
Monarch Money
Launched in 2020 by former Mint employees, Monarch Money is built for people who want a clean, collaborative way to manage their finances. It’s especially popular with couples and families trying to get on the same page. Its main draw is a customizable dashboard that syncs everything from bank accounts to investments without plastering ads all over the place. Positive praise, for the goal-setting feature, genuinely useful for planning big purchases without constant manual entry, something that can be incredibly tedious with other platforms that require you to categorize every single transaction down to the cent. Though when first trying to sign-up, the flow just wasn’t intuitive, at times quite frustrating.
- Best for: Couples or partners managing shared financial goals.
- Key Features:
- Shared dashboard for collaborative tracking.
- Connects to investment and crypto accounts.
- Set and track progress toward joint savings goals.
- Pros:
- No ads, which is a huge plus.
- Clean, modern interface that's easy to navigate.
- Strong focus on net worth and investment tracking.
- Cons:
- It’s one of the more expensive options.
- Budgeting features are less rigid than YNAB.
- Some users report syncing issues with smaller banks.
- Pricing: $14.99 per month or $99.99 annually. Source: Monarch Money as of September, 2025.
- Who it’s for: Partners who want a shared view of their finances without a clunky spreadsheet.
Copilot Money
Copilot Money came on the scene in 2020 as a Mac and iOS-only app, which immediately gave it a sleek, design-forward feel. It uses AI to automatically categorize your transactions with surprising accuracy, which is a big step up from apps where you have to manually fix everything. It's built for people who value a beautiful interface and smart automation. Its ability to spot and track recurring charges is a lifesaver, especially with so many services hiking their prices in the name of "shrinkflation." It helps you catch those small increases before they add up. Not for you if you're an Android user.
- Best for: Apple users who want smart, automated expense tracking.
- Key Features:
- AI-powered transaction categorization.
- Tracks subscriptions and recurring bills.
- Clean interface with customizable categories.
- Pros:
- Beautifully designed and intuitive to use.
- Amazon and Venmo integrations are very detailed.
- The review feed makes checking transactions fast.
- Cons:
- No web app or full Android version yet (it's in beta).
- It's read-only, you can't move money within the app.
- Some find the investment tracking features a bit basic.
- Pricing: $13 per month or $95 per year after a free trial. Source: Copilot Money as of September, 2025.
- Who it’s for: The iPhone user who wants a smart, good-looking app to manage their daily spending.
YNAB (You Need A Budget)
YNAB has been around since 2004, and it's less of an app and more of a financial philosophy. It’s built on the principle of zero-based budgeting, where you give every single dollar a "job." This is for people who want to be deeply involved in their finances. It’s not a passive tracking app. Instead, it forces you to actively decide where your money is going, which can be a game-changer for getting out of debt or saving for a big goal, like a down payment after seeing how much you're really spending on takeout. I tried it and found the initial learning curve was steep, requiring a real commitment to watching their tutorials and sticking with the method before it finally clicked.
- Best for: Hands-on budgeters who want to follow a specific method.
- Key Features:
- Zero-based budgeting system.
- Debt payoff and savings goal tools.
- Extensive educational resources and workshops.
- Pros:
- The methodology is proven to help people save money.
- Strong community and customer support.
- Syncs with bank accounts to streamline allocation.
- Cons:
- Requires a significant time commitment to learn and maintain.
- More expensive than many other budgeting apps.
- The strictness of the method isn't for everyone.
- Pricing: $14.99 per month or $99 annually. Source: YNAB as of September, 2025.
- Who it’s for: The person who’s ready to go all-in on a structured budgeting plan to radically change their financial habits.
Quicken Simplifi
Quicken is one of the oldest names in personal finance, and Simplifi, launched in 2020, is its modern, mobile-first answer to apps like Rocket Money. It’s designed to give you a simple, real-time snapshot of your finances without the complexity of the full Quicken desktop software. It’s great for getting a quick overview of your bank accounts, credit cards, loans, and investments in one place. Its custom spending plan helps you stay on track without the rigid rules of something like YNAB. It’s really useful for avoiding that end-of-the-month panic when you realize you overspent again. The app is simple.
- Best for: A simple, consolidated view of your money without strict rules.
- Key Features:
- A customized spending plan that adapts to your life.
- Watchlists for specific spending categories.
- Projected cash flow to avoid overdrafts.
- Pros:
- Easy to set up and use.
- Less demanding than more intense budgeting apps.
- Consolidates spending, bills, subscriptions, and investments.
- Cons:
- Investment tracking tools are not as robust as Empower.
- Some users report syncing issues.
- Doesn't offer bill negotiation services.
- Pricing: Starts at $3.99 per month (billed annually). Source: Quicken Simplifi as of September, 2025.
- Who it’s for: Someone who wants a clear financial dashboard and light budgeting tools without a major time commitment.
PocketGuard
PocketGuard, launched in 2015, is built around one simple question: "How much is in my pocket for spending?" The app calculates this number by looking at your income, upcoming bills, and savings goals. It’s for people who get overwhelmed by complex spreadsheets and just want a straightforward answer about what they can afford to spend today. It automatically sorts your expenses and finds opportunities to save, like flagging a subscription you might have forgotten about after a free trial. The app’s main strength is its simplicity, though I found its constant push for users to sign up for other financial products through their marketplace to be a bit distracting from the core purpose.
- Best for: Getting a quick, simple answer on your daily disposable income.
- Key Features:
- "In My Pocket" calculation for guilt-free spending.
- Automated bill and subscription tracking.
- Debt payoff planning tools.
- Pros:
- Very easy to understand and get started with.
- Helps prevent overspending with a clear daily limit.
- The free version is quite functional.
- Cons:
- The free version has ads and limited features.
- Syncing can be slow at times.
- Less customization than other apps.
- Pricing: A free version is available; PocketGuard Plus is $7.99/month, $34.99/year, or a $79.99 lifetime plan. Source: PocketGuard as of September, 2025.
- Who it’s for: The financial beginner who wants a simple guardrail to prevent daily overspending.
Trim
Trim started in 2015 as a chatbot that would automatically find and cancel your unwanted subscriptions. It has since evolved to focus more on negotiating bills, primarily for things like cable, internet, and phone services. It works by taking a percentage of the money it saves you. This is for someone who hates the idea of haggling with Comcast but loves the idea of paying less. The service can be a bit hit-or-miss, but when it works, it saves you money for doing literally nothing. It feels like magic. Weirdly, I had a bill successfully negotiated but the confirmation email took nearly a week to arrive, which left me wondering if it had actually worked.
- Best for: Passively lowering your monthly bills without making calls.
- Key Features:
- Negotiates cable, internet, phone, and medical bills.
- Finds and cancels unwanted subscriptions.
- Automates savings into an FDIC-insured account.
- Pros:
- It's a "set it and forget it" service.
- You only pay if it successfully saves you money on negotiations.
- Can find savings you wouldn't have known about.
- Cons:
- The 15% success fee can feel high.
- Negotiation success isn't guaranteed.
- The user interface is less polished than other modern apps.
- Pricing: Bill negotiation is free upfront; Trim takes 15% of the total first year's savings. Source: AskTrim as of September, 2025.
- Who it’s for: The person who would rather give up a small percentage of savings than spend a single minute on the phone with their cable company.
Cleo
Cleo, which launched in the UK in 2016 and later came to the US, is a budgeting app with a personality. It’s an AI chatbot that connects to your bank accounts and communicates with you via text, either "roasting" you for your spending habits or "hyping" you up for saving. It’s designed for a younger generation that wants financial advice to feel more like texting a friend. It's an unconventional approach, but for some, the humorous and sometimes brutal feedback is exactly the motivation they need to stop buying coffee every day. It's a fun gimmick.
- Best for: Gamified financial feedback and cash advances.
- Key Features:
- AI chatbot with "roast" and "hype" modes.
- Set budgets and track spending categories.
- Offers salary advances up to $250 for eligible users.
- Pros:
- The conversational style makes finances feel less intimidating.
- The "roast" feature can be a powerful motivator.
- No-interest cash advance can be a lifesaver.
- Cons:
- The personality might not be for everyone.
- Some core features are locked behind the paid subscription.
- It's more of a financial coach than a deep budgeting tool.
- Pricing: A free version is available; Cleo Plus is $5.99/month and Cleo Builder is $14.99/month. Source: Cleo as of September, 2025.
- Who it’s for: The Gen Z user who wants their budgeting app to have a sense of humor and dish out tough love.
Empower (formerly Personal Capital)
Empower, originally launched as Personal Capital in 2009, is a beast of a tool focused on wealth management. While it has budgeting features, its real power is in its ability to give you a 360-degree view of your entire net worth, including all your investments, retirement accounts, and property. This is for the person who has moved beyond simple budgeting and is focused on building long-term wealth. Its free dashboard is one of the best out there for tracking your portfolio and planning for retirement. The constant calls from their financial advisors to get you to sign up for their paid wealth management service can get old pretty fast, though.
- Best for: Tracking investments and planning for retirement.
- Key Features:
- A comprehensive net worth tracker.
- Retirement planning and fee analyzer tools.
- Consolidates all financial accounts in one place.
- Pros:
- The free financial dashboard is incredibly powerful.
- Excellent tools for analyzing investment fees.
- Provides a high-level view of your entire financial picture.
- Cons:
- Budgeting tools are basic compared to others on this list.
- Frequent calls and emails to upsell you to their advisory service.
- Less focused on day-to-day spending management.
- Pricing: The tracking dashboard is free. Wealth Management services have a fee starting at 0.89% for the first $1 million. Source: Empower as of September, 2025.
- Who it’s for: The investor who is more concerned with their 401(k) allocation than their weekly grocery budget.
How Pine AI could be the alternative solution for Rocket Money
Let's be blunt. Tracking your subscriptions is only half the battle. The real work is canceling them, negotiating better rates, or getting refunds. That’s where tools like Rocket Money often just point you in the right direction, leaving you to do the actual work.
Pine AI is different. It's built to finish the job.
I’d dread doing the manual work of sitting on hold, navigating phone trees, and arguing with retention agents. It’s a huge time sink. A 2024 study from ACA found that 43% of customers would rather clean a toilet than call customer support. Pine AI's whole purpose is to take that work off your hands. You tell the AI what to do, and it does it. It's less of a tracking app and more of a personal agent that fights for you, which is a big reason why it's one of the more interesting Rocket Money alternatives out there.
Methodology: How We Selected the Best Alternatives to Rocket Money
Our list isn't random. To find the best apps that exist currently in 2025, our team evaluated over 15 popular financial apps that could be an alternative to Rocket Money based on four key criteria:
- Effectiveness & User Success: Does the app actually save people time and money? We checked user reviews and focused on apps that complete tasks, not just track them. Many users leave Rocket Money because they still have to do the hard work themselves.
- Ease of Use: How quickly can a beginner get value? We prioritized apps with intuitive interfaces that don't require a week of watching tutorials. An app should simplify your life, not become another chore.
- Security & Trust: Does the app use bank-level encryption and have a clear privacy policy? This is non-negotiable. Your financial data is sensitive, and you need to know it's protected.
- Value for Cost: Is the price justified? Whether it's a monthly fee or a percentage of savings, the cost has to be worth the benefit. We compared pricing to market averages and favored models that align with user success.
Disclaimer about this blog post - Best Rocket Money Alternative Apps in the US (2025)
This article was last updated on September 8, 2025. We do our best to keep our content accurate and fresh, but the digital world moves fast. Information, especially details like pricing and app features, is often sourced from third-party sites and may change without notice.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Rocket Money App
What popular features are there that Rocket Money don’t offer that other competitors do? End-to-end task completion. Many alternatives, like Pine AI, use AI agents to actually make calls and send emails for you, rather than just telling you who to call.
What should I consider when leaving the Rocket Money app? Make sure to export any data you want to keep and, most importantly, confirm your premium subscription is fully canceled to avoid future charges.
What apps to use to replace Rocket Money? It depends on your goal. For hands-on budgeting, use YNAB. For automated task completion and bill negotiation, check out Pine AI or Trim.
What apps would complement the Rocket Money app? If you like Rocket Money's tracking but want to add investment oversight, Empower's free dashboard is a great addition.
Are there any security concerns I should be aware of with Rocket Money? Like any app that links to your bank accounts, there's always a risk. Review their security policies. Users on forums sometimes express concern about sharing so much data with a single company.
Does Rocket Money actually negotiate your bills for you? Yes, but they take a large cut of the savings, typically between 30% to 60%. This fee is often a surprise for users who didn't read the fine print carefully before agreeing to the service.
Sources & References
- Consumer Affairs - Rocket Money Review https://www.consumeraffairs.com/finance/truebill.html
- Pine AI - Pricing information - https://www.19pine.ai/
- Monarch Money - Pricing information - https://www.monarchmoney.com/pricing
- Copilot Money - Pricing information - https://copilot.money/
- YNAB (You Need A Budget) - Pricing information - https://www.ynab.com/pricing/
- Quicken Simplifi - Pricing information - https://www.quicken.com/products/simplifi/
- PocketGuard - Pricing information - https://pocketguard.com/plus/
- Trim - Pricing information - https://www.asktrim.com/
- Cleo - Pricing information - [suspicious link removed]
- Empower - Pricing information - https://www.empower.com/wealth-management/fees
- Trustpilot - Rocket Money Reviews - https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/rocketmoney.com
- Better Business Bureau - Rocket Money Complaints - https://www.bbb.org/us/md/silver-spring/profile/billing-services/rocket-money-inc-0241-236043013/complaints
- C+R Research - 2024 Subscription Survey -https://www.crresearch.com/blog/subscription-service-statistics-and-costs/
- ACA Study - The US Customer Experience Index, 2024 - https://bradcleveland.com/customer-experience-statistics/

