A personal finance app that doesn't need your bank login
MoneyWarden is a personal finance app for people who don't want to give a budgeting app their bank username and password. It finds the money that leaves each month without a name and tracks one goal you care about, using rough numbers you type or a statement file you download yourself.
Free, about 3 minutes, no account needed.
What MoneyWarden never asks for
- Your bank login
- Account numbers
- Card numbers
- A connection to your bank
There is no screen in MoneyWarden where you sign in to your bank. Nothing pulls your transactions in the background.
How it works without a bank connection
- The free verdict. Name one goal, then tap through a dozen everyday spends with rough monthly numbers. In about three minutes you see how much is leaving each month without a decision, whether your goal is on track, and which of five money types your numbers point to. Your answers stay on your device.
- The MoneyWarden+ hunt. Members go through a statement to find the missing money. Type the charges in, or download your statement as a CSV file from your bank's website and drop it in. Account and card numbers are stripped in your browser, and only the date, description and amount of each line are read. How to download a statement as CSV.
- Your call on every charge. Anything you can't place gets three choices: cut it, keep it, or protect it. MoneyWarden never decides for you.
- A Debrief every month. It opens with one question: is your goal closer? Every number comes from fixed formulas; an AI assistant writes the explanation from those numbers and never does the math.
How it compares
Most popular money apps are built around connecting your bank accounts, and for many people that is the right choice: it saves typing. If you would rather not connect, here is an honest picture of the options.
| App | Bank login needed? | Best at |
|---|---|---|
| MoneyWarden | No. Rough numbers, typed charges, or a CSV statement you download yourself. | Finding money that leaves without a name, and tracking one goal month by month. |
| Rocket Money | Built around linking your accounts. | Finding subscriptions automatically once your accounts are linked. |
| Monarch | Built around linking your accounts. | A full picture of household finances across many accounts. |
| Copilot | Built around linking your accounts. | Automatic categorising and a polished view of spending. |
| YNAB | Optional. You can enter transactions by hand or import a bank file (web and iPad). | Detailed zero-based budgeting, if you want to plan every dollar. |
| Goodbudget | No on the free plan; you enter each transaction. Bank sync is a paid extra. | Envelope budgeting, including for couples. |
| A spreadsheet | No. | Total control, if you build and keep it up yourself. |
Other apps' features as described on their own help pages and in public reviews, October 2026. They change, so check each app's site before you choose.
Why some people don't link their bank
- They don't want to hand a bank password to another company, or are unsure what access they are granting.
- Their bank's terms or their own comfort rule it out.
- They tried a linked app and found the flood of categorised transactions more noise than help.
- They want to look at their money on their own schedule, not get pinged about it.
None of these is wrong, and neither is linking. It's a preference, and MoneyWarden is built for the people who prefer not to.
What it costs
Your Money Verdict is free. MoneyWarden+ is $9.99 a month, or $99 a year. Cancel anytime from your account. Your first MoneyWarden+ payment has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Questions
Is there a budgeting app that doesn't need my bank login?
Yes. MoneyWarden never asks for your bank login, account numbers or card numbers. You use rough numbers, type charges in, or upload a CSV statement you download yourself. Goodbudget's free plan and YNAB's manual entry also work without linking a bank.
Can MoneyWarden see my bank account?
No. MoneyWarden has no connection to your bank. It only sees the numbers you type or the statement lines you choose to upload, with account and card numbers removed in your browser first.
How do I find subscriptions without linking my bank?
Download your last statement as a CSV file from your bank's website, then look for the same merchant appearing every month. MoneyWarden members can drop that file into the hunt to get the list built for them. Our free guide How to cancel any subscription covers what to do next.
Do I need exact numbers?
No. Ballpark numbers are enough for the free verdict. If they don't match your real balances, that gap is the leak, and the hunt helps you find it.
Is this financial advice?
No. MoneyWarden is an educational tool that shows what your spending costs over time. It doesn't recommend investments, loans or financial products.