- Subscription and money apps compared
- Ten apps for tracking subscriptions and spending
- The subscriptions a tracker can't cancel for you
- Bank-linked apps or simple subscription lists
- A one-hour subscription clear-out
- Subscriptions people forget
- My plain advice on choosing a subscription tracker
- Frequently asked questions
The right Rocket Money alternative depends on what you want from it: spotting forgotten subscriptions, planning spending, or seeing your whole financial picture. Check whether it links to your bank, what's free and whether it works in your country. Ten options follow in no particular order, plus steps for a subscription clear-out.
Subscription trackers became popular for a simple reason: most of us are paying for something we've forgotten about. Rocket Money is one well-known answer, but it isn't the only one, and some people want something simpler, more private or better suited to the UK.
The ten apps below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order. Some are full money apps that track every transaction; others just keep a list of subscriptions with renewal dates. Each description comes from the app's own website or store listing, re-checked today. My own audit of the AI subscriptions I was paying for shows how quickly they add up.
Subscription and money apps compared
In the free plan column, Yes means the app's own site or store listing describes a free app or free plan, Trial only means a time-limited trial and No means neither is stated. Several apps here are subscription-only after a trial.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bobby | Subscription tracker | Tracking subscriptions by hand | Yes |
| Copilot Money | Personal finance app | Polished budgeting on Apple devices | Trial only |
| Emma | Spending and bills app | Spotting subscriptions in the UK | Trial only |
| Empower | Net worth dashboard | Net worth and retirement view | Yes |
| Monarch Money | Household finance app | Couples managing money together | No |
| PocketGuard | Spending limit app | Knowing what's left to spend | Trial only |
| Quicken Simplifi | Budgeting app | Spending plans with bill forecasts | No |
| Snoop | UK money app | Cutting bills in the UK | Yes |
| Tiller | Spreadsheet money tracking | Spending sheets in Google Sheets or Excel | Trial only |
| YNAB | Zero-based planning app | Giving every amount you earn a job | Trial only |
Ten apps for tracking subscriptions and spending
Bobby
Best for: People who don't want to link a bank and are happy to add each subscription by hand to see renewal dates.
Copilot Money
Best for: Apple users who want a polished view of spending, categories and investments in one app.
Emma
Best for: UK users who want bank-linked tracking that flags subscriptions and bills as they leave the account.
Empower
Best for: Savers who care more about net worth and retirement than day-to-day spending limits and want everything on one dashboard.
Monarch Money
Best for: Couples who want to share one view of accounts, spending plans and goals and are happy with a subscription-only app.
PocketGuard
Best for: Spenders who want one number showing what's left after bills and goals, plus help spotting recurring charges.
Quicken Simplifi
Best for: Planners who want a spending plan that forecasts upcoming bills and subscriptions from a long-standing finance brand.
Snoop
Best for: UK households who want bank-linked tips on bills, contracts and subscriptions they could switch or cancel.
Tiller
Best for: Spreadsheet lovers who want bank transactions flowing into Google Sheets or Excel daily, then build their own views.
YNAB
Best for: Households ready to plan every amount in advance using the zero-based method, with lots of learning help.
The subscriptions a tracker can't cancel for you
Here's something trackers don't always make clear. Apple Support says you use the web or your device to cancel a subscription from Apple or one you bought with an app from the App Store, through your Apple Account settings.
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What that means for you: a tracker app can show an App Store subscription and remind you before it renews, but you still cancel it yourself in your Apple Account settings. The same goes for many other app store and in-app subscriptions, so treat any 'we'll cancel it for you' promise with care.
Bank-linked apps or simple subscription lists
Bank-linked apps read your transactions, spot recurring payments and show where your money goes each month. They're powerful, but you're handing over access to your accounts. Simple subscription lists work the other way round: you add each subscription by hand and the app reminds you before renewal dates.
If you want a full view of spending, a bank-linked app makes sense. If you just want to stop forgetting about free trials, a manual list is quicker to set up and keeps your bank details out of it.
A one-hour subscription clear-out
- List every subscription from your bank and card statements for the last three months.
- Mark each one keep, downgrade or cancel.
- Cancel through the right place: the app store, the company's site or your account settings.
- Note the renewal date of everything you keep.
- Set a reminder a few days before each annual renewal.
- Check your following statement to confirm the cancellations stuck.
Subscriptions people forget
- Free trials. Many turn into annual plans if you don't cancel in time.
- Work tools. Professional add-ons are easy to forget; my guide on cancelling LinkedIn Premium covers each route.
- Family plans. Check who's still using shared streaming or storage plans.
- Annual renewals. They're the ones that hurt, because you forget they exist for eleven months.
Do you make a subscription or money tracking app? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on choosing a subscription tracker
If forgotten subscriptions are the main problem, start with a simple list app and add everything by hand; it takes half an hour and you'll learn more doing it yourself. If you want to understand all your spending, try a bank-linked app during its trial and see whether you open it every week.
Whatever you pick, cancel through the right channel, especially for app store subscriptions, and check your next statement. A tracker is only useful if the cancellations go through, so take ten minutes to confirm them.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free alternative to Rocket Money?
A few apps here have free versions, including simple subscription lists and UK money apps. Others are subscription-only after a trial.
Can a subscription tracker cancel my subscriptions?
Not always. Apple says App Store subscriptions are cancelled through your Apple Account settings, so you may need to do it yourself.
Is it safe to link my bank to a money app?
Many apps use secure read-only connections, but you're still sharing access. If that worries you, use a manual list instead.
Which app is best for UK users?
Look for apps built for UK banks, which can connect to local accounts and flag UK bills and contracts.
How do I find all my subscriptions?
Go through three months of bank and card statements, and check your app store subscription list on each device.
What's the difference between a tracker and a spending app?
Trackers focus on recurring payments and renewals, while spending apps show every transaction and help you plan.
