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Compare Budgeting Apps

Side-by-side comparison of 2 budgeting apps

Feature

Empower

★ 4.00
View Details →

YNAB (You Need A Budget)

★ 4.70
View Details →
Basic Information
Website Visit Site ↗ Visit Site ↗
Pricing Model Freemium Subscription
Price Details Free for dashboard and tools; advisory services start at 0.89% AUM for the first $1M, dropping to 0.49% above $10M. 34-day free trial; then $15/month or $109/year. Free for college students for one year.
Monthly Price Free $15.00
Annual Price Free $109.00
Save $71.00/year
Founded 2009 2004
Platform Support
Web
Ios
Android
Windows
Mac
Linux
Features
Account aggregation
Bank account syncing via Plaid/TrueLayer
Budget and cash flow tracking
Customizable budget categories
Debt paydown planner
Emergency fund recommendations
Fee Analyzer for hidden investment costs
Goal setting for savings and debt
Investment portfolio analysis
Loan calculator for debt management
Manual transaction entry option
Net worth tracking
Real-time syncing across devices
Retirement planning tools
Shared budgeting for up to six users
Spending and net worth reports
Target setting for irregular expenses
Tax optimization strategies
Transaction categorization
Zero-based budgeting
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • + Free and robust financial tracking tools
  • + User-friendly, visually appealing interface
  • + Comprehensive investment analysis
  • + Forces disciplined, intentional spending
  • + Excellent bank syncing when it works
  • + Detailed reports for financial nerds
Cons
  • Frequent account syncing issues
  • Limited transaction customization (no date changes or manual entries)
  • Advisory fees are steep compared to competitors
  • Pricey subscription for a budgeting app
  • Steep learning curve for newbies
  • Bank sync can be slow or glitchy

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Quick Summary

Empower

Best for:

Users wanting to try before buying

Platform coverage:

6 platforms

Feature count:

10 features

YNAB (You Need A Budget)

Best for:

Users wanting ongoing support

Platform coverage:

6 platforms

Feature count:

10 features