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Compare Budgeting Apps

Side-by-side comparison of 2 budgeting apps

Feature

Buckets

★ 4.30
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YNAB (You Need A Budget)

★ 4.70
View Details →
Basic Information
Website Visit Site ↗ Visit Site ↗
Pricing Model Paid Subscription
Price Details One-time purchase of $64 for a lifetime license, usable on all household devices. Optional SimpleFIN bank sync costs $15/year. 34-day free trial; then $15/month or $109/year. Free for college students for one year.
Monthly Price Free $15.00
Annual Price $64.00 $109.00
Save $71.00/year
Founded 2017 2004
Platform Support
Web
Ios
Android
Windows
Mac
Linux
Features
Bank account syncing via Plaid/TrueLayer
Customizable budget buckets
Customizable budget categories
Debt account management
Envelope budgeting system
Goal setting for savings and debt
Loan calculator for debt management
Local data storage for privacy
Manual transaction entry
Manual transaction entry option
Multi-device license for household
Net wealth tracking
Optional bank syncing via SimpleFIN
Real-time syncing across devices
Recurring expense reports
Shared budgeting for up to six users
Spending and net worth reports
Target setting for irregular expenses
Untimed free trial
Zero-based budgeting
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • + One-time fee, no subscription nonsense
  • + Data stays on your device—privacy first
  • + Flexible bucket system for custom budgets
  • + Forces disciplined, intentional spending
  • + Excellent bank syncing when it works
  • + Detailed reports for financial nerds
Cons
  • No native bank syncing without extra cost
  • Mobile app is read-only (for now)
  • No iOS app, sorry Apple fans
  • Pricey subscription for a budgeting app
  • Steep learning curve for newbies
  • Bank sync can be slow or glitchy

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Quick Summary

Buckets

Best for:

One-time purchase preference

Platform coverage:

4 platforms

Feature count:

10 features

YNAB (You Need A Budget)

Best for:

Users wanting ongoing support

Platform coverage:

6 platforms

Feature count:

10 features