Works Worldwide — Multi-Currency

Monarch Money AlternativeGlobal, Private & 60% Cheaper

Budgero is a privacy-first budgeting app with native multi-currency support, offline mode, and local LLM integration. Use it anywhere in the world for $40/year — or free with Budgero Core.

Start 14-Day Free TrialTry Budgero Core Free

No credit card required. Zero-knowledge encryption on all plans.

Why Switch from Monarch Money?

Monarch Money works great — but only in North America. Here's where Budgero shines.

True Multi-Currency

Monarch shows everything as $ with no conversion. Budgero handles USD, EUR, GBP, and 100+ currencies with live exchange rates and automatic conversion.

60% Lower Cost

Monarch costs $99.99/year. Budgero Cloud is $40/year with all features. Budgero Core is completely free — forever.

Zero-Knowledge Privacy

Monarch has "bank-level" encryption but can still access your data. Budgero uses zero-knowledge encryption — we literally cannot see your finances.

Local LLM Integration

Monarch's AI uses third-party providers, sending transaction data externally for processing. Budgero integrates with locally-hosted models (Ollama, LM Studio) — your data stays on your device.

Budgero vs Monarch Money

Feature-by-feature comparison

FeatureBudgeroMonarch Money
Annual price
$40/yearOr free with Core
$99.99/year
Monthly price
$4.99/mo
$14.99/mo
Multi-currency support
Live FX rates, auto conversion
USD/CAD only, no conversion
Works worldwide
US & Canada only
Works offline
Cloud-only, needs internet
Zero-knowledge encryption
We cannot see your data
Bank-level, but not zero-knowledge
Local LLM integration
Connect to locally-hosted models
Uses third-party AI (data processed externally)
Bank sync
Push API*DIY with encrypted Python SDK
US/Canada banks only
Investment tracking
Manual
AutomaticSyncs with brokerages
Zero-based budgeting
Shared budgets
Free tier available
Budgero Core is free forever
7-day trial only

* Push API requires writing your own automation scripts using our encrypted Python SDK. Not a plug-and-play bank sync. Learn more

Switch to Budgero if:

  • You live outside the US/Canada or travel frequently
  • You manage money in multiple currencies
  • You want true privacy with zero-knowledge encryption
  • You want to use your own locally-hosted LLM (Ollama, LM Studio)
  • You want to save $60/year (or go free with Core)
  • You need offline access when traveling

Stick with Monarch if:

  • You need automatic US/Canadian bank sync
  • You want automatic investment/brokerage syncing
  • You only use USD and live in North America
  • You prefer fully hands-off automation over privacy

What Monarch Money Gets Wrong

Monarch Money is a solid app for US-based users, but it has significant limitations:

  • No multi-currency: Monarch displays all transactions as "$" regardless of actual currency. A 1,000 JPY transaction shows as "$1,000" — misleading and unusable for international users.
  • US/Canada only: You cannot download the app outside North American app stores or connect non-US/Canadian banks.
  • Cloud-only: No offline mode. You need internet to access your budget.
  • AI processes data externally: Monarch's AI assistant uses third-party LLM providers, sending transaction data to external servers for processing (though not stored or used for training).
  • Expensive: At $99.99/year, Monarch costs 150% more than Budgero Cloud.

Ready to switch from Monarch Money?

Try Budgero free for 14 days. Multi-currency, zero-knowledge encryption, and works anywhere in the world.

Start Free Trial — $40/year after

Want to try offline first? Open Budgero Core — free forever