# EnvelopeBudget vs YNAB

> EnvelopeBudget ($4/mo) vs YNAB ($14.99/mo). EnvelopeBudget costs less per year. Pick EnvelopeBudget for people who want hosted envelope budgeting with optional manual entry or bank sync through SimpleFIN or Plaid, plus debt-payoff planning and shared budgets; pick YNAB for people who want a proven, well-supported zero-based method and polished apps on every device, and are happy to pay a premium and put in some time to learn it.

Source: https://budgetingapps.org/compare/envelopebudget-vs-ynab

EnvelopeBudget, our Editor’s Pick, has a financial interest in BudgetingApps.org.

## Key differences

- **Price:** EnvelopeBudget is cheaper: about $40 a year versus $109 a year for YNAB, a difference of $69. EnvelopeBudget also offers a lifetime option ($60 ($60 lifetime (first 500 members; remaining spots not stated))).
- **Trying it first:** Free trials: EnvelopeBudget (34-day free trial, no credit card required) and YNAB (34-day free trial, no credit card needed when signing up directly (6 weeks via a friend's referral link, per YNAB, rolling out Sept 2026)).
- **Budgeting method:** EnvelopeBudget is built for envelope, zero-based and expense tracking budgeting; YNAB for envelope and zero-based. They overlap on envelope and zero-based.
- **Platforms:** Both run on Android, iOS and Web.
- **Feature differences:** EnvelopeBudget lists multi-currency, which YNAB’s listing does not confirm.
- **Separate logins for shared budgets:** Invite family or teammates to the same budget with their own logins. Sharing one password or sign-in link does not count. Separate logins do not necessarily mean private accounts or transactions. EnvelopeBudget: Yes. Invite family and team members to shared budgets with their own logins. Manage member access and transfer budget ownership; eligible family members can share the family owner's subscription access. YNAB: Yes. YNAB Together includes the subscriber and up to five additional people, each with their own login, under one subscription. Share selected plans with group members. The group manager can access every member's plans; other members see plans shared with them.
- **Bank sync:** EnvelopeBudget: Optional SimpleFIN ($1.50/mo or $15/yr paid to SimpleFIN) or Plaid ($3/mo or $30/yr add-on). Plaid is enabled in the web, iOS and Android apps, per current owner confirmation; the vendor changelog documents Plaid connections and mobile bank-sync updates. YNAB: Optional Direct Import through MX and Plaid, plus select Apple Wallet accounts. Accounts usually refresh once or twice a day. Countries supported were not confirmed in the pages I read; YNAB shows a country label next to each institution.
- **Track record:** YNAB has been around since 2004; EnvelopeBudget since 2009.

## Which should you choose?

- **EnvelopeBudget is best for:** people who want hosted envelope budgeting with optional manual entry or bank sync through SimpleFIN or Plaid, plus debt-payoff planning and shared budgets.
- **YNAB is best for:** people who want a proven, well-supported zero-based method and polished apps on every device, and are happy to pay a premium and put in some time to learn it.

Full reviews: [EnvelopeBudget](https://budgetingapps.org/apps/envelopebudget.md), [YNAB](https://budgetingapps.org/apps/ynab.md)