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Big Numbers

Is there a simpler Monarch Money alternative that just shows what I spent?

Steven Zhang · October 17, 2026

Short answer: Yes. Big Numbers is an iPhone app that shows three numbers: what you spent today, this week, and this month, with no budgets or categories to set up. Monarch Money is the better pick if you want budgets, goals, investments, and shared household finances on web, iPhone, iPad, and Android.

At a glance

Big Numbers Monarch Money
Main idea Three spending totals Budgeting, planning, investments, and net worth
Price Free download, $0.99/week $14.99/mo or $99.99/yr. Plus is a higher annual tier; Monarch's Plus announcement lists $199/yr.
Free tier Free to download No
Trial Free trial mentioned on the App Store listing; length not published there 7 days ("your first week is on us"), plus a money-back guarantee
Platforms iPhone only (iOS 26 or later) Web, iPhone, iPad, Android
Availability Available on iPhone in the US and Canada. Connects to US banks only. US and Canada
Bank connection Connects to 19,000+ US banks Plaid, Mastercard Data Connect (formerly Finicity), MX
Budgets and categories None to set up Yes, category or flex budgeting
Widgets Daily, weekly, or monthly total on Home Screen and Lock Screen Budget, Transactions, Investments, Receipt Scanning (Home Screen)

How they differ

Monarch is a home base for your whole financial life. It has budgets, a cash flow view, reports, investments, and a Plus tier with forecasting. It lets households share one account. It also lets you pick between three data providers per bank, which helps when a connection breaks.

Big Numbers is the opposite size. It answers one question. Open the app or glance at the widget and you see today, this week, and this month. You can hide a transaction or filter by account, but there is nothing to budget.

Who should choose Monarch Money

  • You want a real budget, by category or with flex budgeting.
  • You manage money with a partner and want shared views.
  • You want investments, forecasting, or net worth.
  • You use Android or want a full web app.

Monarch does much more than Big Numbers and runs on more devices. That is a real advantage if you want a system.

Who should choose Big Numbers

  • You left a budgeting app because it took too much upkeep.
  • You only want to know what you spent, at a glance.
  • You use an iPhone and want the total on your Lock Screen.
  • You prefer no categories to review.

Big Numbers is a free download on the App Store, with an in-app subscription of $0.99/week. A separate read-only Grok connector is billed on its own Subscribe plans.

FAQ

What is a cheaper alternative to Monarch Money?

Big Numbers is a free download with a $0.99/week in-app subscription. Monarch is $14.99 a month or $99.99 a year, with a higher Plus tier. Big Numbers does far less, so compare on what you need, not just price.

Does Monarch Money have a free plan?

We did not find one. Monarch offers a 7-day trial and a money-back guarantee.

Is Monarch Money too complicated for just tracking spending?

It depends on you. Monarch is built for budgets and planning. If you only want spending totals, a single-purpose app like Big Numbers asks for less setup.

Does Big Numbers have budgets like Monarch?

No. Big Numbers has no budgets or categories. It shows how much you spent today, this week, and this month.

Which app works on Android?

Monarch has an Android app. Big Numbers is iPhone only.

Sources

All accessed 2026-10-17.