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Compare Budgeting Apps

Side-by-side comparison of 2 budgeting apps

Feature

YNAB (You Need A Budget)

★ 4.70
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Monarch Money

★ 4.50
View Details →
Basic Information
Website Visit Site ↗ Visit Site ↗
Pricing Model Subscription Subscription
Price Details 34-day free trial; then $15/month or $109/year. Free for college students for one year. Monthly or annual subscription plans; free trial available
Monthly Price $15.00 $14.99
Annual Price $109.00
Save $71.00/year
$99.99
Save $79.89/year
Founded 2004 2018
Platform Support
Web
Ios
Android
Windows
Mac
Linux
Features
Account syncing (bank, credit, investments)
Ad-free experience
Bank account syncing via Plaid/TrueLayer
Collaboration with partners or advisors
Custom reports and visualizations
Customizable budget categories
Customizable budgets
Goal setting for savings and debt
Goal tracking (savings, debt payoff)
Loan calculator for debt management
Manual transaction entry option
Net worth tracking
Privacy-focused (no data selling)
Real-time syncing across devices
Shared budgeting for up to six users
Spending and net worth reports
Target setting for irregular expenses
Transaction categorization
Zero-based budgeting
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • + Forces disciplined, intentional spending
  • + Excellent bank syncing when it works
  • + Detailed reports for financial nerds
  • + Clean, intuitive interface
  • + Syncs a wide range of accounts
  • + Great for couples or shared budgeting
Cons
  • Pricey subscription for a budgeting app
  • Steep learning curve for newbies
  • Bank sync can be slow or glitchy
  • No free plan—paywall city
  • Can’t import Mint data directly (ouch)
  • Some features feel basic for the price

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Quick Summary

YNAB (You Need A Budget)

Best for:

Users wanting ongoing support

Platform coverage:

6 platforms

Feature count:

10 features

Monarch Money

Best for:

Users wanting ongoing support

Platform coverage:

6 platforms

Feature count:

9 features