The short version
YNAB (You Need A Budget) is $109 billed annually, or $14.99 a month, built on one method: give every dollar a job before you spend it.[1][3] EveryDollar is the closest alternative to that method, and it has a free version. Goodbudget suits people who like envelopes. Monarch and Copilot are broader dashboards. Wonderful plans each paycheck for one person or a couple, but is not described as zero-based.
- 1
Wonderful: A plan for every paycheck, for one person or a couple
- 2
EveryDollar: A zero-based budget, free if you type transactions in
- 3
Goodbudget: Envelope budgeting with a free plan
- 4
Monarch Money: A dashboard for every account, with a partner included
- 5
Copilot Money: One person on Apple devices who wants a polished app
- 6
Quicken Simplifi: The lowest first-year price, with a spending plan
- 7
Lunch Money: A web app with rules and budget periods that follow your pay
- 8
Tiller: A budget you build in a spreadsheet you own
- 9
PocketGuard: A safe-to-spend number, or a one-time payment
At a glance
| App | Price | Free trial | Works on | App Store |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YNAB (You Need A Budget) | $14.99 monthly or $109 billed annually[1][4] | The pricing page says a 34-day free trial | iPhone, Android, Web | 4.8 |
| Wonderful | $14.99 monthly or $99 yearly, both partners[9] | A free week | Web | No rating |
| EveryDollar | Free with manual entry; Premium $17.99 monthly or $79.99 yearly[12] | Premium includes a 14-day free trial | iPhone, Android, Web | 4.7 |
| Goodbudget | Free; Premium $10 monthly or $80 yearly[17][18] | None stated | iPhone, Android, Web | 4.6 |
| Monarch Money | $14.99 monthly or $99.99 billed yearly[26][27] | The pricing page says "Your first week is on us | iPhone, Android, Web | 4.9 |
| Copilot Money | $18 monthly or $109 yearly on the website; $13.00 and $95.00 on the App Store[38][40] | The App Store and the FAQ say one month free for new users | iPhone, Web, Mac | 4.8 |
| Quicken Simplifi | $3.99 a month billed annually for the first year; renewal price not stated[42] | "While we do not offer a free trial" there is a 30-day money-back guarantee from the original purchase date | iPhone, Android, Web | No rating |
| Lunch Money | $10 monthly or $100 yearly[55] | A 30-day free trial | iPhone, Web | 4.8 |
| Tiller | $99 a year after a 30 day trial[57] | 30 days free | Web | No rating |
| PocketGuard | $12.99 monthly, $74.99 yearly or $149.99 once[61] | A 7-day free trial on each plan | iPhone, Android, Web | 4.6 |
- PocketGuard$74.99
- EveryDollar$79.99
- Goodbudget$80
- Wonderful$99
- Tiller$99
- Monarch Money$99.99
- Lunch Money$100
- YNAB (You Need A Budget)$109
- Copilot Money$109
The cheapest way to pay for a year on each app's own pricing page. EveryDollar and Goodbudget are shown at their paid yearly plans, and both have a free version without bank sync. Copilot is at the website's prices. Simplifi is left out: $3.99 a month is a first-year offer, with the renewal price not stated.
YNAB, fairly
A paid budgeting app built on a method: give every dollar a job before you spend it.[3] The method has three parts: for every dollar ask "What's it for?", plan for now, before the next paycheck, for later, such as non-monthly bills, and for ease, which means getting a month ahead.[3] That is why it is a different kind of app from a tracker: it asks you to decide, not just look.
It links banks and imports transactions, sets targets per category, has a Loan Planner and reports, and runs on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Android and the web without ads.[2][4] It holds 4.8 stars on the App Store from 62K ratings and 4.6 on Google Play from 25.4K.[4][5] One subscription can be shared with up to 5 more people at no extra cost.[1] If the method works for you, the reasons below may not apply.
Good
- A written method, not just a tracker: the app is built around planning before spending.[3]
- One subscription covers up to six people at no extra cost.[1]
- A 34-day trial with no card when you sign up on the site, and a free 365-day trial for college students.[1]
- Rated 4.8 on the App Store (62K ratings) and 4.6 on Google Play (25.4K).[4][5]
Not so good
- No free plan after the trial.[1]
- Paid monthly it is $14.99, which is $179.88 over twelve months, against $109 billed annually.[1]
- The website says a 34-day trial and the App Store says 30 days.[1][4]
- The method asks you to plan each dollar before you spend it, which the company's method page presents as the whole point of the app.[3]
Pricing
“Budgeting works if you want to change your life. In 10 years of using YNAB we went from being a total of $250,000 in debt to $950,000 in net worth. It takes time and commitment to change.”Read it where it was said ↗
Why people leave YNAB
These reasons come from YNAB's own pages and from App Store reviews dated 2026. Reviews are one person's experience, and every problem below has users who never met it.
- Price. App Store reviewers call it "too expensive," and one mentions "Upped fees."[6]
- Bank sync that is slow or drops. Reviews in June to October 2026 describe 12 to 24 hour delays and weeks without account data.[6]
- Interface changes. One reviewer says options were hidden "to reduce visual clutter."[6]
- Cancelling. One October 2026 reviewer calls deleting the subscription a hassle.[6]
“I really like YNAB but I think it’s too expensive.”Read it where it was said ↗
“I’ve been without account info for two weeks and they can’t fix it because they are too dependent on third parties for bank connections. Upped fees are also an issue”Read it where it was said ↗
One more reason isn't a complaint. The method asks you to plan each dollar before you spend it, and the company presents that as the whole point of the app.[3] Some people try it and find they want a lighter touch: a dashboard that tells them where things stand, or a plan that is set once for the paycheck. That is a fit question, not a flaw. Our Monarch vs YNAB page goes through that choice head to head.
How we compared
Someone leaving YNAB is usually leaving for one of a few reasons, so those are the things we looked at:
- How it budgets. Zero-based, envelopes, a plan for the paycheck, a leftover number, or a dashboard. This is the biggest difference between these apps.
- Price for a year. YNAB is $109 billed annually, so the question is who is cheaper and what you give up.
- A free way in. A free plan or a trial, and whether it asks for a card.
- A partner. Whether a second person is included, and what they see.
- Where it runs. iPhone, Android and the web.
We read each app's pricing and help pages, its App Store and Google Play listings, and its most recent App Store reviews, on October 27, 2026. Each fact is numbered to its source at the bottom. Where a page was silent we say so. We haven't used these apps ourselves, so nothing here is a hands-on verdict.
1. A plan for every paycheck, for one person or a couple
Wonderful
$14.99/mo or $99/yr· Web
What it is
A budgeting app for couples who keep their own money, and for one person: each of you connects your own bank, chooses what the other sees, and every paycheck gets a plan.
Why it's on this list
Wonderful's own pages say every paycheck gets a plan for bills, spending and saving before it lands. That is close to YNAB's idea of giving every dollar a job. It is not the same thing, and we won't claim it is: nothing on Wonderful's pages says it is zero-based in YNAB's sense, so if that rule is the reason you use YNAB, pick YNAB or EveryDollar.
Where Wonderful differs is for two people. A partner joins at no extra cost with their own login, each person chooses what the other sees, and shared costs are split evenly, by income or any way you choose. It costs $14.99 monthly or $99 yearly against YNAB's $14.99 or $109. YNAB is ahead on phones: it has iPhone, Android and Apple Watch apps, and Wonderful runs in a browser only.[1][4]
Ideal for: One person or a couple who wants every paycheck planned for bills, spending and saving, without learning a method.
What it does
- Every paycheck gets a plan for bills, spending and saving before it lands.[11]
- Banks connect through Plaid and every charge is sorted into a category.[10][11]
- Mine, yours and ours: each charge counts for the person or the pair it belongs to.[11]
- Finds recurring charges and subscriptions, lists what's due before your next paycheck, and flags a bill that comes in higher than usual. It doesn't cancel them for you.[11]
- Texts you by iMessage when a bill is charged twice, a price goes up or a refund lands, and you can text it questions.[11]
- Savings goals show the month you'll reach them.[11]
- Net worth for each of you and for both, from the balances your banks send, with its line over time.[11]
- Life events like getting married come step by step, with the deadlines.[11]
Good
2. A zero-based budget, free if you type transactions in
What it is
Ramsey Solutions' zero-based budgeting app: a free version where you type in transactions, and a paid version that imports them from your bank.
Why it's on this list
EveryDollar is the nearest in method: you plan every dollar before the month starts so income minus expenses equals zero.[13] Unlike YNAB it has a free version you can use as long as you want, with a monthly budget, unlimited categories, sinking funds and split transactions. The free version does not import transactions from a bank. Premium does, at $79.99 billed yearly or $17.99 monthly, with a 14-day trial for new users.[12] Compare them head to head in YNAB vs EveryDollar.
Ideal for: People who want a zero-based budget and are happy to type transactions in, or pay $79.99 a year for bank import.
What it does
- Zero-based budgeting: plan every dollar before the month starts so income minus expenses equals zero.[13]
- Free: monthly budget, unlimited categories and line items, split transactions, due dates for bills, and savings goals for big purchases.[12][14]
- Sinking funds for future expenses, in the free version.[12][13]
- Premium imports transactions automatically from connected accounts. Ramsey says it uses Mastercard Connect and Plaid.[12]
- Premium plans spending around payday and bill due dates.[12][13]
Good
Not so good
- No bank import on the free version. You type every transaction.[12]
- Premium is $17.99 billed monthly, which is $215.88 over twelve months, against $79.99 billed yearly.[12]
- Rated 4.3 on Google Play, lower than the App Store's 4.7.[14][15]
- The plans page and the App Store show different Premium plans and prices.[12][14]
Pricing
- Free[12]FreeUsable as long as you want. Manual transaction entry, no bank import.
- Premium, monthly[12][14]$17.99 a monthBank import and the rest of Premium.
- Premium, yearly[12][14]$79.99 a yearShown by Ramsey as about $6.67 a month.
- Ramsey+, yearly[14]$129.99 a yearListed only as an in-app purchase on the App Store, along with Ramsey+ at $59.99 for three months. The plans page does not describe it.
- Premium includes a 14-day free trial, for new users only.[12]
- A free version you can use as long as you want. It has a monthly budget, unlimited categories, manual transactions, sinking funds, split transactions, bill due dates and live-person support. It does not import transactions from a bank.[12][13]
“We found $5000 of margin in month 1 of using EveryDollar. No in app purchases required and no upsells. Just solid budgeting and sound advice.”Read it where it was said ↗
3. Envelope budgeting with a free plan
Goodbudget
Free, or $10/mo or $80/yr· iPhone, Android, Web· App Store 4.6 (13,516)[22]
What it is
An envelope budgeting app for the web, iPhone and Android where you divide income into virtual envelopes and share the budget across devices.
Why it's on this list
Goodbudget is envelope budgeting: you divide income into envelopes, spend from the matching one and stop when it is empty.[24] It has a free plan with 10 regular envelopes, 10 annual or goal envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices and 1 year of history, and manual entry. Premium is $10 monthly or $80 yearly and adds automatic bank sync (US banks only), unlimited envelopes and accounts, 5 devices and 7 years of history.[17][18] Reviewers in 2025 and 2026 report syncing across devices failing.[23]
Ideal for: People who like the envelope method and want a free plan to try it.
What it does
- Envelope budgeting: you divide income into category envelopes, spend from the matching envelope and stop when it is empty, with no physical cash.[24]
- The free plan has 10 regular envelopes and 10 annual or goal envelopes; Premium removes the cap.[17][18]
- Syncs and shares a budget across iPhone, Android and the web, with data backed up to Goodbudget's website.[20][22]
- Automatic bank sync is a Premium feature and works with US banks only. The free plan is manual entry.[17][18]
- Reports in the app: spending by envelope (a pie chart), income versus spending, and debt progress; more reports on the web.[22]
Good
Pricing
- Free[17][18]FreeCalled "Free Forever" on the page. 10 regular envelopes, 10 annual or goal envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices, 1 year of history, debt tracking, community support.
- Premium[17][18]$10 a month · $80 a yearAdds automatic bank sync (US banks only), unlimited envelopes and accounts, 5 devices, 7 years of history and email support.
“This is simple, fast to make entries, and can sink with my wife. Plus free if you have 10 or less categories.”Read it where it was said ↗
4. A dashboard for every account, with a partner included
What it is
A paid budgeting and net worth app that pulls every account into one place and lets a partner join under the same subscription.
Why it's on this list
Monarch pulls every account into one place and offers two ways to budget: Flex, which splits spending into fixed, flexible and non-monthly buckets, or Category budgeting, with rollovers.[32] It is a different kind of app from YNAB, closer to a dashboard than a method, and it adds net worth and investment accounts. It costs $99.99 billed yearly after a free first week, against YNAB's $109 and 34 days. A partner joins at no extra cost but sees everything.[26][30] See Monarch vs YNAB and our Monarch alternatives.
Ideal for: People who want one dashboard for every account and a partner included, and don't need to assign each dollar.
What it does
- Connects bank accounts, credit cards, loans, investment accounts and real estate, through 13,000+ financial institutions.[29]
- Tracks net worth across all connected accounts.[27][29]
- Sorts transactions automatically and searches across every account in one list.[27][29]
- Two ways to budget: Flex, which splits spending into fixed, flexible and non-monthly buckets and gives one main number to watch, or Category budgeting.[27][32]
- Rollovers: money left in a category carries into the next month, to cover bills that do not come every month.[32]
Good
- A partner joins under the same subscription at no extra cost, with a separate login.[30][31]
- Two people can fund a shared goal even when their money sits in separate accounts.[31]
- Works on iPhone, iPad, Android and the web.[27][28][29]
- Rated 4.9 on the App Store (116K ratings) and 4.8 on Google Play (26.1K reviews).[27][28]
Not so good
- No free plan after the first week.[26][27]
- Paid monthly it is $14.99, which is $179.88 over twelve months, against $99.99 billed yearly.[26]
- Forecasting, several income sources and deeper investment tracking sit in the Plus tier. The App Store shows Plus at $199.99 a year; the pricing page lists no Plus price.[26][27]
- A partner sees all accounts and transactions. The couples page describes no way to keep one account private.[30][31]
Pricing
- Monthly[26][27]$14.99 a monthPricing page and App Store both show $14.99. The pricing page does not say which tier it is.
- Yearly[26][27]$99.99 a yearBilled yearly. The pricing page names two tiers, Core and Plus, but lists only these two prices.
- Yearly Plus[26][27]$199.99 a yearShown only as an in-app purchase on the App Store. The pricing page says Plus adds forecasting tools, tracking several income sources like a small business, and deeper investment tracking.
- The pricing page says "Your first week is on us." The App Store says the app is free to try for 7 days before a monthly or annual membership is billed. Neither says whether a card is needed.[26][27]
- No free plan is listed on the pricing page or the App Store. The only free access is the first week.[26][27]
“I switched to Monarch after Mint was discontinued. I initially wasn’t too interested in a paid service, but Monarch is fantastic for budgeting and doing personal finance at $100 a year. Well worth the price.”Read it where it was said ↗
5. One person on Apple devices who wants a polished app
Copilot Money
$13/mo or $95/yr· iPhone, Web, Mac· App Store 4.8 (31K)[40]
What it is
A paid budgeting and net worth app for Apple devices and the web, with an AI money assistant and one plan that does everything.
Why it's on this list
Copilot has adaptive budgets that adjust to your spending, plus net worth, investments and subscriptions, and an AI Money Assistant on iPhone.[37][40] That is a looser way to budget than YNAB's: it follows what you spend instead of asking you to assign it first. The website price is $109 a year, the same as YNAB, and the App Store shows $95.00. It has no Android app, and partner sharing is marked "Coming soon".[37][38][40]
Ideal for: One person on iPhone, iPad or Mac who wants a polished app with adaptive budgets.
What it does
- Money Assistant: an AI you can ask about your money. The page says it "always asks before acting." It can fix transactions, run instructions in the background and flag spending trends with budget suggestions. The App Store says it is available only on iPhone.[37][40]
- Connects to 16,000+ US institutions through read-only integrations, with direct links for Venmo, Apple Card and Coinbase.[39][40]
- Sorts transactions automatically, and the assistant can change a category or match a refund to its purchase. You can set your own categories with colors and emojis.[37][40]
- Adaptive budgets that adjust to your spending.[40]
- Tracks spending, investments, net worth and subscriptions.[37][40]
Good
Not so good
- No Android app. The pages list iPhone, iPad, Mac and web only.[37][38][39]
- Sharing with a partner is not live. Households are marked "Coming soon."[37][38][39]
- No free plan after the trial.[39]
- The website and the App Store show different prices: $18 a month or $109 a year (shown as $9 a month) on the site, $13.00 and $95.00 on the App Store.[38][40]
Pricing
- Website, monthly[38]$18 a monthBilled monthly. The pricing page calls it "One simple plan" (checked in a browser 10/27).
- Website, yearly[38]$109 a yearShown as $9 a month, billed yearly, "instead of $119", and labeled a limited time offer.
- App Store, monthly[40]$13 a monthListed as $13.00 on the App Store, which is not what the pricing page shows.
- App Store, yearly[40]$95 a yearListed as $95.00 on the App Store.
“I switched to Copilot when Mint shut down. This app is much better than Mint ever was. The annual fee is a small price to pay to manage my budget and transactions.”Read it where it was said ↗
6. The lowest first-year price, with a spending plan
Quicken Simplifi
$6.99/mo; $3.99/mo the first year· iPhone, Android, Web
What it is
A web and mobile budgeting app from Quicken that links accounts, builds a spending plan, projects cash flow and tracks bills, goals and investments.
Why it's on this list
Simplifi builds a spending plan that shows what you can spend per day, projects cash flow with what-if scenarios and tracks upcoming bills.[42] It is the lowest first-year price here at $3.99 a month billed annually, renewing at the then-current rate, with annual billing only and no free trial, only a 30-day money-back guarantee on direct purchases.[42][46] Reviewers in 2026 report bank connections that drop and features that were removed.[48]
Ideal for: Someone who wants a spending plan, bill tracking and cash flow projections at a low first-year price.
What it does
- A spending plan that shows what you can spend per day.[42]
- Projected cash flow with "what-if" scenarios.[42]
- Tracks upcoming bills and subscriptions and shows all your subscriptions.[42]
- Automatically categorizes transactions and connects to over 14,000 financial institutions.[42]
- Savings goals, reports and insights.[42]
Good
- A partner can use the shared space without paying for a second subscription.[44]
- 30-day money-back guarantee on purchases made directly from Quicken.[45][46]
- Every support channel is included with every subscription.[43]
- Covers budgeting, bills, investments and a retirement planner in one subscription.[42]
Not so good
- No free plan and no free trial.[46]
- Annual billing only, and renewal is at the then-current rate, not the first-year offer.[42][46]
- Only one shared space and one additional member; no way to share only some accounts.[44]
- A person invited to share must accept on the web app; signing in on the mobile app prompts them to subscribe.[44]
Pricing
- Simplifi, first-year offer[42]$3.99 a monthBilled annually. The page says the final price may differ from the monthly price times 12, and the offer is for the first year when ordered directly from Quicken by November 26, 2026.
- Simplifi, price shown beside the offer[42]$6.99 a monthBilled annually. Shown next to $3.99 on the page without a label. The subscription renews at "the then-current rates".
“Easy to set up. For me it’s great! Tracking my finances - I only have to look in one place for everything. Love it!”Read it where it was said ↗
7. A web app with rules and budget periods that follow your pay
Lunch Money
$10/mo or $100/yr· iPhone, Web· App Store 4.8 (58)[54]
What it is
A web budgeting app that pulls in bank transactions, with rules, recurring items, multi-currency support and unlimited contributors to a budget.
Why it's on this list
Lunch Money is a web app where budget periods can follow your pay cycle and a rules engine sorts transactions.[52] One Hacker News commenter wrote that its philosophy is "fundamentally different from YNAB, being that it's not envelope-based", so it is not a like-for-like swap for the method.[53] It is $10 monthly or $100 yearly after a 30-day trial. Check the figures on its pricing page before paying.[49][55]
Ideal for: Someone who wants rules, tags and a budget period that matches their pay cycle.
What it does
- Connects to bank and credit card accounts through Plaid so transactions pull in automatically.[51][52]
- Also takes manual entry and CSV imports, and manual accounts for cash, assets, gift cards and crypto.[51]
- Custom budget periods that match your pay cycle.[52]
- A rules engine that categorizes transactions based on conditions you set.[52]
- Recurring items that match imported transactions automatically.[52]
Good
Not so good
- Current prices could not be confirmed: the pricing page returned HTTP 403 when we tried it.[50]
- The pages opened show no iOS or Android app.[51]
- Bank syncing goes through Plaid, and the guide says to open bank syncing tickets from the in-app support menu when something breaks.[51]
- Not envelope budgeting: a Hacker News commenter says its philosophy is "fundamentally different from YNAB".[53]
Pricing
“...The Lunch Money philosophy is fundamentally different from YNAB, being that it's not envelope-based”Read it where it was said ↗
8. A budget you build in a spreadsheet you own
Tiller
$99/yr· Web
What it is
A service that sends your bank transactions into Google Sheets or Excel spreadsheets you own, with budget templates on top.
Why it's on this list
Tiller sends your bank transactions into spreadsheets you own, with a Foundation Template as an automated budget and other templates for expenses, debt, net worth and savings.[56][58] It is the opposite end from YNAB's guided method: you decide the structure. It costs $99 a year after 30 days free and 30 more with a full refund.[57] The pages we read name no mobile app.
Ideal for: People comfortable in Google Sheets or Excel who want to build the budget themselves.
What it does
- Syncs bank accounts into private spreadsheets you own, with daily automation.[56]
- All transactions flow into one Transactions Sheet.[56]
- Works with both Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel.[58]
- AutoCat sorts transactions into categories, and you can set your own category rules.[56][58]
- The Foundation Template is an automated spreadsheet budget; other templates cover expenses, debt, net worth and savings.[56][58]
Good
Pricing
- Tiller[57]$99 a year"After 30 days, Tiller is just $99/year." The only plan listed; no monthly option shown.
“...I use Tiller Money to automate my various bank and credit card transactions directly into Google Sheets”Read it where it was said ↗
9. A safe-to-spend number, or a one-time payment
What it is
A paid budgeting app for iPhone, Android and web that links bank accounts and shows how much is safe to spend after bills, goals and essentials.
Why it's on this list
PocketGuard shows "Leftover", what you can still spend after bills, goals and essentials, and it lists zero-based, envelope and category methods with rollovers.[60][62] That makes it the one other app here that names zero-based budgeting among its options. It is $74.99 a year or $149.99 once, with a 7-day trial.[61] No partner or shared login is described on the pages we read, and several 2025 and 2026 reviews report being charged at the start of the trial.[65]
Ideal for: One person who wants a single leftover number and may prefer to pay once.
What it does
- "Leftover": what you can still spend after bills, goals and essentials.[60][64]
- Budget with zero-based, envelope or category methods, with rollovers for unspent or overspent money.[60][62]
- Pace: predicts how much you will have left at month's end from your spending habits.[60][64]
- Finds recurring charges and subscriptions automatically, and the listing mentions a built-in bill negotiation service.[60][64]
- Transaction rules that match merchant names, keywords, amounts, categories or accounts.[64]
Good
Not so good
- No free plan; the app requires the trial or a paid plan.[61]
- Monthly billing is $12.99, about double the yearly rate per month.[61]
- No partner or shared login is described on the pages opened.[60][61][62][63]
- App Store reviewers in 2025 and 2026 report being charged at the start of the trial, and a trial that does not appear in App Store subscription settings.[65]
Pricing
“I do love the option of 1 lifetime payment rather than monthly fee.”Read it where it was said ↗
Each one against YNAB
The table lines YNAB up against each alternative: what is the same, and what changes if you switch.
| App | Same as YNAB | Different from YNAB |
|---|---|---|
| Wonderful | Plans before you spend. A partner joins under one subscription. | Its pages call it a plan for each paycheck, not zero-based. Each person chooses what the other sees. Browser only.[9][11] |
| EveryDollar | Zero-based: plan every dollar before the month starts. | A free version with manual entry. Premium $79.99 a year for bank import.[12][13] |
| Goodbudget | Plans spending in advance, on iPhone, Android and web. | Envelopes. A free plan with limits. Premium $80 a year for bank sync.[17][18][24] |
| Monarch Money | Paid, iPhone, Android and web, with a partner included. | A dashboard for every account with Flex or Category budgets. $99.99 a year. A partner sees everything.[26][30][32] |
| Copilot Money | Paid, about $109 a year on its website. | Adaptive budgets that follow spending. No Android app. Partner sharing not live.[37][38][40] |
| Quicken Simplifi | Plans against income, with bills and goals. | A per-day spending plan and cash flow projection. $3.99 a month for year one. No trial.[42][46] |
| Lunch Money | Web app, bank feed through Plaid. | Not envelope-based, per one commenter. Rules engine. $10 monthly or $100 yearly.[51][52][53][55] |
| Tiller | A bank feed with categories and budget templates. | A spreadsheet you own and structure yourself. $99 a year. No mobile app named.[56][57][58] |
| PocketGuard | Lists a zero-based method among its options. | A leftover number for one person. $74.99 a year or $149.99 once. No partner described.[60][61][62] |
Is there a free YNAB alternative?
YNAB has no free plan: a 34-day trial on its site with no card, and a 365-day trial for college students.[1] Two alternatives have a free plan, and each leaves out bank import.
- EveryDollar is free to use as long as you want, with a monthly budget, unlimited categories, sinking funds and live-person support. You type transactions in.[12]
- Goodbudget is free with 10 regular and 10 annual or goal envelopes, 1 account and 2 devices. Automatic bank sync is Premium.[17][18]
If you don't mind typing, the free versions do the job of a plan. If you want the bank feed, the cheapest yearly prices here are PocketGuard at $74.99, EveryDollar at $79.99 and Goodbudget at $80. Our list of free budgeting apps goes further, and Wonderful isn't free after its trial.
YNAB competitors by method
People searching for an alternative to You Need A Budget are really choosing a way to budget. Here is where each method lands.
- Assign every dollar in advance: YNAB, EveryDollar and, among its options, PocketGuard. See the best zero-based budget apps.
- Envelopes: Goodbudget, and PocketGuard as an option.
- A plan per paycheck: Wonderful, and Simplifi's per-day spending plan.
- A dashboard that follows your spending: Monarch and Copilot.
- Build it yourself: Tiller's spreadsheets and Lunch Money's rules.
How to choose
Decide first whether you want to keep the idea of planning in advance. If you do, the choice is narrow. If you don't, the field opens up.
Choose EveryDollar if you:
- Want to keep the zero-based idea
- Are happy to type transactions in for free
- Would pay $79.99 a year for bank import
Choose Goodbudget if you:
- Like envelopes
- Want a free plan to start
- Can live with limits on envelopes and devices
Choose Wonderful if you:
- Want each paycheck planned, not a method to learn
- Share money with a partner and want to choose what they see
- Are fine in a browser
Choose Monarch Money if you:
- Want one dashboard for every account
- Don't mind a partner seeing everything
- Want net worth and investments beside the budget
Choose Quicken Simplifi if you:
- Want the lowest first-year price
- Like a per-day spending plan and cash flow projections
Choose Tiller if you:
- Are comfortable in a spreadsheet
- Want to own your data
Choose Copilot Money if you:
- Use Apple devices only
- Want budgets that follow your spending
Choose PocketGuard if you:
- Want one safe-to-spend number
- Would rather pay once
Where Wonderful fits, and where it doesn't
We make Wonderful, so weigh this section accordingly. It fits one person or a couple who wants every paycheck planned for bills, spending and saving, with a partner included and a choice about what the other sees. That is the nearest it gets to YNAB, and it is a neighbor, not a copy: its pages don't call it zero-based, and YNAB, EveryDollar and Goodbudget are the apps built around assigning money in advance.
It is web only, with no iPhone or Android app yet, it has no free plan after the trial, it gives no investment advice and it doesn't cancel subscriptions for you. If you love YNAB's method, stay. For couples, see the best budgeting apps for couples.
Questions people ask
What is the best alternative to YNAB?
It depends on what you like about YNAB. For the same zero-based idea, EveryDollar plans every dollar before the month starts and has a free version where you type transactions in. For envelopes, Goodbudget has a free plan. For a dashboard that reads every account, Monarch. For a plan for each paycheck, with a partner included, Wonderful.
Is there a free YNAB alternative?
Two, with limits. EveryDollar's free version has a monthly budget, unlimited categories and sinking funds, but no bank import, so you type every transaction. Goodbudget's free plan allows 10 regular and 10 annual or goal envelopes, 1 account and 2 devices, with no bank sync. YNAB itself is free for college students for 365 days. Wonderful has no free plan after its trial.
What are YNAB's competitors?
The apps closest to YNAB are EveryDollar and Goodbudget, which budget by plan or envelope, and PocketGuard, which lists zero-based, envelope and category methods. Monarch, Copilot and Quicken Simplifi are broader dashboards that also budget. Lunch Money and Tiller are for people who like rules or spreadsheets, and Wonderful plans each paycheck.
Is there a YNAB alternative that is zero-based?
EveryDollar is zero-based: you plan every dollar before the month starts so income minus expenses equals zero. PocketGuard lists zero-based, envelope or category methods. Wonderful plans each paycheck for bills, spending and saving but doesn't describe itself as zero-based. See the full list of zero-based budget apps.
Is Wonderful zero-based like YNAB?
Not as far as its own pages say. Wonderful gives every paycheck a plan for bills, spending and saving before it lands, which is close to YNAB's idea of giving every dollar a job. It doesn't claim to work by YNAB's rule of assigning every dollar and moving money between categories, so if that rule is the point, use YNAB or EveryDollar.
How much does YNAB cost compared with the alternatives?
YNAB is $14.99 monthly or $109 billed annually. EveryDollar Premium is $79.99 a year, Goodbudget Premium $80, PocketGuard $74.99, Monarch $99.99, Tiller $99, Lunch Money $100 and Wonderful $99 for both partners. Copilot is $109 on its website. Simplifi is $3.99 a month for the first year.
Which YNAB alternatives work on Android?
Monarch, EveryDollar, Goodbudget, Simplifi and PocketGuard list Android apps. Copilot has no Android app, the pages we read for Lunch Money list an iPhone app and no Android one, and Wonderful and Tiller run in the browser. YNAB has iPhone, Android, Apple Watch and web.
Which YNAB alternative is best for couples?
YNAB Together shares one subscription with up to six people, so the cost isn't the issue; what each person sees is. Monarch includes a partner with full visibility into everything. Wonderful includes a partner and lets each person choose what the other sees. EveryDollar has a Household option for one shared budget.
Why do people leave YNAB?
From its own pages and App Store reviews in 2026: price, with one reviewer calling it too expensive; bank sync that is slow, with reviews describing delays of 12 to 24 hours; interface changes; and difficulty cancelling. It also has fans: a 4.8 on the App Store from 62K ratings, and long-time users who credit the method.
Does YNAB have a free trial, and do the alternatives?
YNAB gives 34 days on its website with no card (the App Store says 30). EveryDollar Premium has a 14-day trial, Copilot one month, Lunch Money 30 days, Tiller 30 days plus 30 with a refund, PocketGuard 7 days, Monarch and Wonderful a week. Goodbudget lists no Premium trial, and Simplifi only a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Is there a one-time-payment alternative to YNAB?
PocketGuard lists a lifetime option at $149.99. Every other app here bills monthly or yearly. EveryDollar and Goodbudget are free to use at their basic level, with bank sync as the paid part.
Sources
66 sources · read October 27, 2026
Every number on this page comes from ynab.com, apps.apple.com, play.google.com and 16 more. If a source has changed since, the source is right.
- 1YNAB pricingynab.com
- 2YNAB featuresynab.com
- 3The YNAB methodynab.com
- 4YNAB on the App Storeapps.apple.com
- 5YNAB on Google Playplay.google.com
- 6Apple public review feed for YNABitunes.apple.com
- 7YNAB: Using YNAB as Partnerssupport.ynab.com
- 8Trustpilot, ynab.comtrustpilot.com
- 9Wonderful terms of servicewonderful.money
- 10Wonderful privacy policywonderful.money
- 11Wonderfulwonderful.money
- 12EveryDollar plans (Ramsey Solutions)ramseysolutions.com
- 13EveryDollar budget page (Ramsey Solutions)ramseysolutions.com
- 14EveryDollar on the App Storeapps.apple.com
- 15EveryDollar on Google Playplay.google.com
- 16Apple public review feed for EveryDollaritunes.apple.com
- 17Goodbudget pricing (signup page)goodbudget.com
- 18Goodbudget help: Subscribe to Goodbudgetgoodbudget.com
- 19Goodbudget refunds and cancellationsgoodbudget.com
- 20Goodbudget home pagegoodbudget.com
- 21Goodbudget help indexgoodbudget.com
- 22App Store listing, Goodbudgetapps.apple.com
- 23App Store reviews, Goodbudgetapps.apple.com
- 24Goodbudget envelope budgeting pagegoodbudget.com
- 25Goodbudget changeloggoodbudget.com
- 26Monarch pricingmonarch.com
- 27Monarch on the App Storeapps.apple.com
- 28Monarch on Google Playplay.google.com
- 29Monarch home pagemonarch.com
- 30Monarch for couplesmonarch.com
- 31Monarch collaborationmonarch.com
- 32Monarch budgetingmonarch.com
- 33Monarch planningmonarch.com
- 34Apple public review feed for Monarchitunes.apple.com
- 35Monarch help: Monarch for Couples and Householdshelp.monarch.com
- 36Trustpilot, www.monarchmoney.comtrustpilot.com
- 37Copilot Money homecopilot.money
- 38Copilot Money pricingcopilot.money
- 39Copilot Money FAQcopilot.money
- 40Copilot on the App Storeapps.apple.com
- 41Apple public review feed for Copilotitunes.apple.com
- 42Quicken Simplifi product pagequicken.com
- 43Quicken blog: personal finance software with the best customer supportquicken.com
- 44Simplifi help: How to use Spaces sharingsupport.simplifi.quicken.com
- 45Simplifi help: How to cancel and get a refundsupport.simplifi.quicken.com
- 46Simplifi help: Subscription questionssupport.simplifi.quicken.com
- 47App Store listing, Quicken: Budget & Track Moneyapps.apple.com
- 48App Store reviews, Quicken: Budget & Track Moneyapps.apple.com
- 49Lunch Money help center welcomesupport.lunchmoney.app
- 50Lunch Money blog: The Least Annoying Price Increase in History (Oct 16, 2024)lunchmoney.app
- 51Lunch Money help center: Getting startedsupport.lunchmoney.app
- 52Lunch Money blog: 11 Lunch Money Features You Should Be Usinglunchmoney.app
- 53Hacker News search for Lunch Money commentshn.algolia.com
- 54Lunch Money on the App Storeapps.apple.com
- 55Lunch Money pricinglunchmoney.app
- 56Tiller hometiller.com
- 57Tiller pricingtiller.com
- 58Tiller featurestiller.com
- 59Hacker News search for Tiller Money commentshn.algolia.com
- 60PocketGuard home pagepocketguard.com
- 61PocketGuard pricingpocketguard.com
- 62PocketGuard help: Plus overviewpocketguard.com
- 63PocketGuard help: all featurespocketguard.com
- 64App Store listing, PocketGuardapps.apple.com
- 65App Store reviews, PocketGuardapps.apple.com
- 66Trustpilot, pocketguard.comtrustpilot.com
App names are trademarks of their owners; Wonderful isn't connected with them. Wonderful gives general information. It isn't a financial or tax advisor.