YNAB (You Need A Budget)

YNAB enforces zero-based budgeting, syncing bank accounts and pushing intentional spending with a steep learning curve.

4.70/5
Subscription - 34-day free trial; then $15/month or $109/year. Free for college students for one year.
Founded 2004

About YNAB (You Need A Budget)

YNAB is the budgeting app that preaches zero-based budgeting like it’s the path to financial nirvana. Every dollar you earn gets a job—groceries, rent, or that emergency fund you’ll thank yourself for later. It syncs with your bank accounts for real-time transaction tracking, offers robust reports, and nags you to plan ahead for irregular expenses. The interface is slick but demands your attention; it’s not a set-it-and-forget-it tool. With a learning curve steeper than a ski slope and a price tag that’ll make you wince, YNAB’s for those ready to commit to financial bootcamp.

Company: You Need A Budget LLC

Key Features

Zero-based budgeting
Bank account syncing via Plaid/TrueLayer
Manual transaction entry option
Customizable budget categories
Spending and net worth reports
Goal setting for savings and debt
Real-time syncing across devices
Shared budgeting for up to six users
Loan calculator for debt management
Target setting for irregular expenses

Pros

  • + Forces disciplined, intentional spending
  • + Excellent bank syncing when it works
  • + Detailed reports for financial nerds
  • + Strong community and educational resources
  • + Flexible for irregular incomes

Cons

  • Pricey subscription for a budgeting app
  • Steep learning curve for newbies
  • Bank sync can be slow or glitchy
  • No automatic subscription management
  • iPad app feels like a toddler version of the web app

Quick Info

Platforms

Web Ios Android Windows Mac Linux

Pricing Model

Subscription

34-day free trial; then $15/month or $109/year. Free for college students for one year.

Pricing Options

Monthly: $15.00
Yearly: $109.00
Save $71.00 annually

Is YNAB (You Need A Budget) Right for You?

YNAB (You Need A Budget) is a subscription budgeting app that helps users manage their personal finances. Founded in 2004, the app has established itself as a reliable tool for budget tracking and financial planning.

Who Should Use YNAB (You Need A Budget)?

YNAB (You Need A Budget) is ideal for users who need zero-based budgeting. With support for web, ios, android, windows, mac, linux platforms, it's accessible across multiple devices.

YNAB (You Need A Budget) Pricing

YNAB (You Need A Budget) offers a subscription pricing model. 34-day free trial; then $15/month or $109/year. Free for college students for one year.. The subscription model ensures you always have access to the latest features and updates.

Ready to Take Control of Your Finances?

Start your journey to better financial health with YNAB (You Need A Budget) today.