Why People Are Comparing Mint vs Copilot
When Intuit shut down Mint in March 2024, over 37 million users suddenly needed a new budgeting app. Copilot quickly emerged as one of the most recommended alternatives — especially among iPhone users who valued Mint's automatic transaction tracking and clean interface. But how does Copilot actually stack up against what Mint offered? And is it worth $13/month?
Mint: What It Was and Why People Loved It
Mint was a free, passive budgeting app. You linked your accounts, and Mint automatically pulled in transactions, categorized them, and sent alerts when you overspent a category. It wasn't a strict zero-based budgeting tool — it was more of a financial dashboard and spending tracker. Mint also showed your credit score, net worth, and bill reminders in one place.
Mint's key strengths: completely free, automatic bank syncing, intuitive interface, bill tracking, and broad account support (banking, investments, credit cards, loans). Its biggest weakness: it was reactive. Mint tracked overspending after it happened rather than preventing it before it did.
Copilot: The Premium iPhone-First Alternative
Copilot is a premium budgeting app designed exclusively for iOS (iPhone and iPad — no Android). It launched in 2020 and built a devoted following for three reasons: stunning design, intelligent automation, and genuinely useful insights.
Copilot uses machine learning to categorize transactions and gets smarter over time by learning your spending patterns. Its dashboard shows beautiful charts and graphs that make your financial picture immediately understandable at a glance. At $13/month or $95/year, it's one of the more affordable premium options compared to YNAB ($99/year) or Monarch Money ($99.99/year).
Feature Comparison: Mint vs Copilot
| Feature | Mint (defunct) | Copilot |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | $13/mo or $95/yr |
| Platform | iOS + Android | iOS only |
| Bank syncing | Automatic | Automatic |
| Transaction categorization | Rule-based | AI/ML-powered |
| Budgeting method | Category limits | Category limits + flex spending |
| Net worth tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Investment tracking | Basic | Yes |
| Credit score | Yes (free) | No |
| Bill tracking | Yes | Limited |
| Design quality | Good | Excellent |
| Learning from behavior | No | Yes (AI) |
Who Should Choose Copilot
Copilot is the right choice if you:
- Use an iPhone and care about app design and experience
- Valued Mint's automatic tracking but want something smarter and more modern
- Want a budgeting app that requires minimal manual effort
- Are comfortable paying ~$8/month for a premium experience
- Track investments and want everything in one view
Copilot is not the right choice if you use Android, want a completely free app, or want the disciplined zero-based budgeting approach that YNAB and EveryDollar offer. For those users, Monarch Money (Android + iOS, $14.99/month) or YNAB are stronger alternatives to Mint.
The Verdict
For former Mint users on iPhone, Copilot is the closest match to Mint's experience — and in most ways, it's better. The AI categorization is dramatically more accurate than Mint's rule-based system, the design is significantly cleaner, and the insights are more actionable. The $13/month cost is the only real barrier. If you're on Android or want a free option, look at Monarch Money's free tier or EveryDollar's free plan instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Copilot available on Android?
No. Copilot is currently iOS-only (iPhone and iPad). Android users looking for a Mint alternative should consider Monarch Money or YNAB instead.
How much does Copilot cost?
Copilot costs $13/month or $95/year. A free trial is available, typically 30 days.
What is the best free alternative to Mint?
For free Mint alternatives, consider EveryDollar's free plan (manual tracking, zero-based budgeting) or Credit Karma (free tracking and credit monitoring, less robust budgeting).