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Compare Budgeting Apps

Side-by-side comparison of 2 budgeting apps

Feature

GnuCash

★ 4.20
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YNAB (You Need A Budget)

★ 4.70
View Details →
Basic Information
Website Visit Site ↗ Visit Site ↗
Pricing Model Free Subscription
Price Details Completely free, open-source, and no hidden costs—unless you count the time spent learning its quirks. 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 1998 2004
Platform Support
Web
Ios
Android
Windows
Mac
Linux
Features
Bank account syncing via Plaid/TrueLayer
Check printing
Customizable budget categories
Detailed reports and graphs
Double-entry bookkeeping
Financial calculations
Goal setting for savings and debt
Loan calculator for debt management
Manual transaction entry option
Mortgage and loan tracking
Multi-currency support
QIF/OFX/CSV import
Real-time syncing across devices
Scheduled transactions
Shared budgeting for up to six users
Small business accounting tools
Spending and net worth reports
Stock and mutual fund tracking
Target setting for irregular expenses
Zero-based budgeting
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • + Free as in beer and speech
  • + Robust accounting features for small businesses
  • + No vendor lock-in—your data is yours
  • + Forces disciplined, intentional spending
  • + Excellent bank syncing when it works
  • + Detailed reports for financial nerds
Cons
  • Interface looks like it’s stuck in 1998
  • Learning curve steeper than a tax audit
  • No mobile app for on-the-go budgeting
  • Pricey subscription for a budgeting app
  • Steep learning curve for newbies
  • Bank sync can be slow or glitchy

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Quick Summary

GnuCash

Best for:

Budget-conscious users

Platform coverage:

3 platforms

Feature count:

10 features

YNAB (You Need A Budget)

Best for:

Users wanting ongoing support

Platform coverage:

6 platforms

Feature count:

10 features