The short answer: the closest like-for-like replacement for Microsoft Money is Quicken Classic on Windows, which can open a Money file directly, but it is a yearly subscription. If you want no monthly fee, the strongest picks are:
- GnuCash: free, and the nearest to Money’s accounting depth.
- Moneydance: a one-time licence that imports Money’s QIF exports and tracks investments.
- Zeroed: our own app. $19.99 once, offline envelope budgeting on Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android.
Prices were checked on 7 October 2026.
Microsoft Money is not coming back. Microsoft announced in June 2009 that it would stop selling it, and removed Money’s online services in January 2011. A free “Money Plus Sunset” edition followed in June 2010, and Microsoft’s later Money in Excel template closed on 30 June 2023. If you still keep your accounts in a .mny file, this guide covers what to move to and how to get your history out.
What happened to Microsoft Money?
Microsoft stopped selling Money after announcing in June 2009 that demand for a full personal finance suite had declined. Online services for existing installations, including statement downloads, online bill payment and investment quotes, were removed in January 2011, when support ended.
On 17 June 2010 Microsoft released Money Plus Sunset, a free edition that opens and edits existing Money files without online activation. It has no automatic statement downloads, no online bill payment and no online quotes. It also cannot import data files from non-US editions of Money, which matters if you used a UK version.
Money in Excel, a Microsoft 365 template that pulled bank data into a spreadsheet, ran from 2020 for US subscribers only. Microsoft ended it on 30 June 2023.
Can you still use Microsoft Money on Windows 11?
Many people report that Money Plus Sunset still installs and runs on Windows 11. It gets no updates, though, so treat it as a frozen archive rather than a tool to build on.
- Keep a backup of the
.mnyfile somewhere safe. - Expect manual statement imports only.
- Plan your move while the file still opens. Every alternative below needs either the file itself (Quicken for Windows) or QIF exports made from Money.
Microsoft Money alternatives at a glance
Prices checked 7 October 2026. Subscription prices are as shown on each vendor’s site; first-year offers change often, so check before you buy.
| App | Price | Platforms | Bringing your Money data across | Monthly fee? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zeroed (ours) | $19.99 once (founder price until 14 Feb 2027, then $39.99), 34-day free trial | Windows, macOS, iPhone, iPad, Android | Imports QIF, OFX, QFX, CSV and PDF statements | No |
| GnuCash | Free, open source | Windows, macOS, Linux | QIF and OFX import | No |
| Moneydance | One-time licence (about $65); optional Moneydance+ bank downloads, about $4 a month or $40 a year | Windows, macOS, Linux, plus free mobile companion apps | Imports QIF files exported from Money | No (unless you add Moneydance+) |
| Quicken Classic | Subscription, from $6.99 a month billed annually | Windows, Mac | Quicken for Windows (Deluxe and up) imports a Money file directly | Yes |
| MoneyManager Ex | Free, open source | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | QIF and CSV import | No |
| HomeBank | Free, open source | Windows, Linux, macOS (third-party build) | OFX/QFX recommended, QIF supported | No |
| Actual Budget | Free, open source (desktop app or self-hosted) | Windows, macOS, Linux, web | CSV, QIF, OFX, QFX and CAMT import | No |
| Banktivity | Subscription, $6.99–$10.99 a month billed annually, 30-day trial | Mac, iPhone, iPad | Check its import options for your Money export before buying | Yes |
The alternatives, one by one
1. Zeroed: pay once, offline envelope budgeting (ours)
Zeroed is the app we make, so weigh that.
- What it is: a zero-based (envelope) budgeting app for people who want their finances off the cloud. It works fully offline, keeps your data encrypted on your device with AES-256, needs no account and has no bank sync by design.
- Getting data in: you import statements from any bank as CSV, PDF, OFX, QFX or QIF, so a QIF file exported from Money can come across.
- Price: $19.99 once at the founder price until 14 February 2027, then $39.99, with all 1.x updates included. The 34-day trial has every feature unlocked and never asks for a card.
- Best for: Money users who mostly budgeted and tracked bills, and want one app across Windows, Mac and their phone with no monthly fee.
- Not for you if: you used Money mainly for investment portfolios and stock prices. Zeroed is budgeting-first. See Zeroed.
2. GnuCash: free, double-entry, closest to Money’s depth
- What it is: a free, open-source accounting program (GNU GPL, built by volunteers) for Windows, macOS and Linux, now at version 5.17. It uses proper double-entry bookkeeping.
- Strengths: handles investments and multiple currencies, and imports QIF and OFX, so your Money exports have a home.
- Downsides: a steeper learning curve and a dated interface.
- Best for: former Money power users who want everything Money did, for free, and don’t mind learning accounting terms.
3. Moneydance: one-time licence, imports your QIF exports
- What it is: desktop personal finance for Windows, macOS and Linux, from Infinite Kind, with free iPhone and Android companion apps.
- Price: a one-time licence (about $65 when we checked; the exact price shows in your currency at checkout) includes the next major upgrade. Moneydance+ adds automatic bank downloads for about $4 a month or $40 a year.
- Moving from Money: export each account from Money as a QIF file, one account at a time, and import those files into Moneydance.
- Best for: people who want Money-style accounts and investment tracking without a mandatory subscription.
4. Quicken Classic: the direct replacement, as a subscription
- What it is: the closest experience to Money. Quicken for Windows (Deluxe or higher) can import a Microsoft Money file directly, with no QIF step.
- One catch on older files: an older Money file must first be opened once in Money Plus Sunset, so it is converted to the latest format.
- Price: subscription only, from $6.99 a month billed annually on the day we checked. Memberships renew automatically at the then-current price.
- Best for: people who want the least effort moving and are happy to pay every year.
5. MoneyManager Ex: free and simple, everywhere
- What it is: a free, open-source money manager with no ads or charges, for Windows, macOS, Linux and Android. It imports QIF and CSV, and exports QIF, CSV and HTML.
- Best for: Money users who want a lighter, familiar register-style app without accounting jargon.
6. HomeBank: free desktop veteran
- What it is: free software for Windows and Linux, with a third-party macOS build.
- Importing: it recommends OFX or QFX and supports QIF. CSV import works only in HomeBank’s own layout.
- Best for: simple home accounts and clear charts at no cost.
7. Actual Budget: free, open source, local-first budgeting
- What it is: an open-source envelope budgeting app you can run as a desktop app or self-host. It imports CSV, QIF, OFX, QFX and CAMT files.
- Best for: technically comfortable users who want free zero-based budgeting and are happy to manage their own setup.
8. Banktivity: polished, Mac-only, subscription
- What it is: a native app for Mac, iPhone and iPad.
- Price: subscription only, from $6.99 a month billed annually (Bronze) up to $10.99 (Gold), with a 30-day free trial for new customers.
- Best for: Mac users who want bank connections and investment tracking and accept a yearly fee. Check that it reads your Money export during the trial.
Which Microsoft Money alternatives have no monthly fee?
Six have no monthly fee. Four are free: GnuCash, MoneyManager Ex, HomeBank and Actual Budget. Zeroed is a single $19.99 payment, and Moneydance is a one-time licence with an optional subscription only if you want automatic bank downloads. Quicken Classic and Banktivity are subscriptions.
For a wider list of budgeting apps without a subscription, see the best budgeting apps without a subscription.
How to move your data out of Microsoft Money
- Back up first. Copy your
.mnyfile and any backup (.mbf) files somewhere safe before you change anything. - Open the file in Money Plus Sunset if you are on an older version. Quicken needs this step to convert the file, and Sunset is also where you make QIF exports. Remember that Sunset cannot import data files from non-US editions, so if you used a UK edition, make your exports from that edition if it offers them.
- Moving to Quicken for Windows: use Quicken’s Microsoft Money file import.
- Moving to anything else: export each account from Money as a QIF file. Money exports one account at a time.
- Import into the new app account by account, then check each balance against a recent bank statement before you rely on it. Categories rarely map perfectly, so expect to tidy some up.
- Keep the old file. Even after a clean move, an untouched
.mnyfile is your record of the years you spent in Money.
Frequently asked questions
Is Microsoft Money still available? No. Microsoft stopped selling Money after its June 2009 announcement and removed its online services in January 2011. Money Plus Sunset, a free edition released in June 2010, can still open and edit existing files, but it has no online features and gets no updates.
Can I still use Microsoft Money on Windows 11?
Many people report that Money Plus Sunset still runs on Windows 11. It is unsupported, so keep a backup of your .mny file and plan a move while the file still opens.
What is the closest free alternative to Microsoft Money? GnuCash is the closest free alternative for depth: double-entry accounts, investments and multiple currencies on Windows, Mac and Linux. MoneyManager Ex is the closest free option for a simpler, register-style feel.
Can I import my Microsoft Money file into another app? Quicken for Windows (Deluxe or higher) imports a Money file directly once it has been opened in Money Plus Sunset. Other apps take QIF files that you export from Money one account at a time: GnuCash, Moneydance, MoneyManager Ex, HomeBank, Actual Budget and Zeroed all import QIF.
Is there a Microsoft Money alternative with no monthly fee? Yes. GnuCash, MoneyManager Ex, HomeBank and Actual Budget are free. Zeroed is $19.99 once, and Moneydance is a one-time licence with an optional subscription for bank downloads.
What happened to Money in Excel? Money in Excel was a Microsoft 365 template for US subscribers that brought bank data into Excel. Microsoft ended it on 30 June 2023.
Sources (checked 7 October 2026): Microsoft Money history, Quicken plans, Banktivity pricing, GnuCash, MoneyManager Ex, HomeBank import help, Actual Budget importing, Moneydance+ pricing, Moneydance migration from Microsoft Money. Zeroed facts are from the Zeroed page.