Mint Alternative: Peggy vs Mint for Budgeting
Mint shut down in March 2024, so this comparison focuses on what former Mint users may still need. Peggy is an alternative for voice tracking, AI insights, shared wallets, and budgeting without connecting a bank account.
Is Peggy the right Mint alternative for you?
Choose Peggy for intentional daily tracking
Peggy fits former Mint users who want voice and screenshot entry, AI insights, shared wallets, and no bank connection.
Look elsewhere for automatic account aggregation
Peggy is not a like-for-like Mint replacement if automatic bank sync, credit monitoring, or investment tracking is essential.
If voice entry is your priority, read our voice budget app guide. For joint finances, compare the best budget apps for couples.
What happened to Mint?
Mint shut down in March 2024
After 17 years, Intuit shut down Mint and pushed users to Credit Karma - a completely different product that doesn't even offer budgeting. Millions of users were left without their go-to expense tracker overnight.
Your data was the product
Mint was free because it monetized your financial data through ads and product recommendations. Your spending habits, account balances, and financial profile were used to target you with credit card offers and financial products. Peggy charges a transparent subscription because you're the customer, not the product.
Bank syncing was a single point of failure
Mint relied entirely on bank syncing through third-party aggregators. When connections broke, automatic imports stopped until the connection recovered. Peggy lets you log expenses by voice, screenshot, or text - so you're never dependent on a flaky bank connection.
Connected data adds another trust layer
Mint relied on third-party connections to access financial data users authorized. Authentication handling depended on the institution and provider, but the model added another service and an ongoing data connection to trust. Peggy does not connect financial accounts.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Peggy | Mint |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Active | Shut down (March 2024) |
| Voice expense tracking | Yes | No |
| AI chat insights | Yes | No |
| Screenshot-to-entry | Yes | No |
| Debt tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Shared wallets | Yes | No |
| Multi-currency | Yes | No |
| Budget tracking | Yes | Yes |
| CSV import/export | Yes | Export only |
| Bank sync | No (by design) | Yes (required bank credentials) |
| Privacy-first | Yes | No (ad-supported, data monetized) |
Why Peggy is the best Mint replacement
Voice and AI-powered tracking
Mint relied on bank syncing to categorize expenses automatically. Peggy goes further - say "I spent $12 on lunch" and AI instantly categorizes it. Snap a receipt screenshot and it's parsed automatically. Ask "How much did I spend on food this month?" and get an instant answer.
Privacy-first, not ad-supported
Mint was free because it sold your data to advertisers. Peggy charges a transparent subscription because your financial data is yours alone. No ads, no data monetization, no third-party bank credential sharing.
Shared wallets for families and roommates
Mint was single-user only. Peggy lets you create shared wallets so you can split and track expenses with family, partners, or roommates in real time.
Built to last
Mint's shutdown proved that free, ad-supported finance apps are fragile. Peggy has a sustainable business model - you pay for the product, so the product works for you. No risk of waking up to find your budgeting app has been shut down.
Frequently asked questions
Can I import my old Mint data into Peggy?
If you exported your Mint data as CSV before it shut down, you can import it directly into Peggy. Your transactions and categories will carry over.
Is Peggy free like Mint was?
Peggy offers a 1-week free trial to get started. Mint was "free" but monetized your financial data through targeted ads. Peggy's transparent pricing means your data stays private.
Why doesn't Peggy connect to my bank?
By design. Bank syncing requires sharing credentials with third-party aggregators - the same setup that made Mint a security concern. Peggy gives you faster, safer alternatives: voice commands, screenshots, and manual entry.
What happened to Credit Karma as Mint's replacement?
Intuit pushed Mint users to Credit Karma, but Credit Karma doesn't offer budgeting, expense tracking, or category management. It's a completely different product focused on credit scores and financial product recommendations.