Mint works on a reactive basis, meaning it tracks your spending after it happens. Mint will automatically categorize your spending, so it requires almost no input from you other than setting up your initial budget. While Mint is a great free alternative, it may also be a good fit if you’re looking for an easier solution than YNAB. However, beyond simple budgeting features, it also allows you to monitor your investments and even set up bill reminders. Mint is a wildly popular free alternative to YNAB. Our first YNAB alternative is the budgeting behemoth Mint. With that out of the way, let’s get into the five YNAB alternatives to consider as your budgeting solution. When determining what other budgeting tools might be able to replace YNAB, I considered each of the above reasons for wanting a YNAB alternative.įor example, if price is the factor that has you seeking a YNAB alternative, I made sure to include an option that costs less than YNAB. I also considered elements like the feature set, ease of use, etc. While I would encourage you to stick with it, if you’re looking for something a bit less complicated to set up, there are other options to consider. For this reason, setting it up takes some time and patience. In particular, the YNAB app works differently than most other budgeting apps you may have used. And it does budgeting exceptionally well.īut if you are looking for a financial tool that offers information on your investments, retirement planning, etc., you’ll need to look elsewhere. Prefer a Solution with Other Financial Tools However, if you’re looking for a solution that requires less time investment (i.e., checking your budget daily), YNAB might not be right for you. I don’t find keeping YNAB up to date to be an arduous task.

If that’s the case, great! YNAB works on a very granular level, whereby you will allocate all of your income to a purpose. Second, perhaps you’ve been budgeting for a while and feel that you have things reasonably well under control. However, if money is tight, this might be a steep price to pay, especially when viable, free (or cheaper) alternatives are available. I remain convinced that you will save far more than the cost of YNAB. I am often asked if YNAB is worth the money. It costs $11.99 per month for the monthly plan or $84 per year for the annual plan. Wondering how much YNAB costs? Instead, You Need a Budget operates on a subscription model. Some reasons to consider an alternative to YNAB include: Price While YNAB has been a real game-changer for me ( helping me save over $1,500 per month), it’s not right for everybody. YNAB Alternatives: A Summary Why Seek a YNAB Alternative?īefore I cover these five alternatives to YNAB, let’s talk about why you may want to consider a YNAB alternative.

Ynab budgeting sheet