Takeaways
- YNAB, You Need a Budget, is a detailed mobile and desktop budgeting app.
- YNAB has a $14.99 monthly recurring fee or a flat annual fee of $1,099.
- YNAB is available for download at the App Store, Google Play, and their website.
- The desktop version of YNAB was more user-friendly than the mobile app.
- The YNAB app helps you stay on top of all your income and expenses, letting you plan for future costs.
Overall App Ranking
The YNAB app makes our Best of Budgeting Apps awards list for its easy-to-use and user-friendly interface. With YNAB, you can take a deep dive into all your cash inflows and expenses. Our team thinks the desktop app offers the best interface. The app has a monthly or annual subscription fee, but that might be worth the price of admission to get your finances on track.
YNAB’s Website
YNAB App
Smart Money Rating: 4.8/5
Best For: Budgeting and Personal Finances
Bonus Offer: 34 Day Free Trial
If you want to take your finances by the reins, build savings, and pay off debt, you need to know where every penny of your money goes. YNAB, or You Need a Budget, is a leading budgeting app whose name feels like a financial calling. It is designed to empower you to manage every dollar you earn and transform your money mindset.
YNAB is a super popular budgeting app, so we chose to review it. Users willing to rate the app really love it, giving it a 4.8 on the App Store and 4.7 on Google Play.[1][2] Our team downloaded the YNAB app and tested the web-based version to see how it works and how you could benefit from YNAB. Here's what we found.
What Is YNAB?
YNAB is a personal budgeting app that revolves around zero-based budgeting, providing every dollar with a purpose. Instead of tracking your spending after the fact, YNAB helps you plan by assigning your income to specific categories as soon as you receive it, giving you a sense of financial security.
The YNAB method promotes proactive money management and helps users break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle, giving them a sense of control. YNAB is perfect if you want to be hands-on with budgeting and understand precisely where your money is going. According to YNAB, the average user saves $600 in the first two months and $6,000 annually using the app.[3]
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How YNAB Works
YNAB operates on simple rules designed to improve and change your behavior with money:
- Give Every Dollar a Job - Allocate each dollar of income to a specific purpose—such as rent, groceries, or savings—before you spend it.
- Anticipate Large Expenses - Break large, irregular expenses (like car repairs or holiday gifts) into monthly savings goals so you are never caught off guard.
- Built-In Breathing Room - Life happens. If you overspend in one category, you can adjust your budget by moving funds from another. Flexibility is built in.
- Set Financial Goals - The ultimate goal is to reach a point where you are using this month’s income to pay next month’s expenses, helping you break the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck.
YNAB supports manual and automatic transaction imports, bank syncing, customizable categories, spending reports, goal tracking, and real-time access via mobile and desktop apps.
How Much Does YNAB Cost?
YNAB is a subscription-based service. As of 2025, pricing options are:
- $14.99 per month
- $1,099 annually (billed once), which breaks down to $9.08 monthly.
Want to test out YNAB before you make any financial commitment? No problem, they offer a 34-day free trial. While it is more expensive than some free budgeting tools, many users find the value and results well worth the investment. Students can receive 12 months free with proof of enrollment, making it an affordable option for college users.[4]
Pros of YNAB
YNAB has earned a loyal following for a reason. Here are some of its biggest strengths:
- Proactive Budgeting - Encourages you to plan how to use your money, not just track spending after it happens.
- Goal-Oriented Tools - These features help you save for specific goals and stay on top of long-term expenses.
- Highly Customizable - You can create personalized categories, savings targets, and reports tailored to your lifestyle.
- Strong Educational Resources – Get your money’s worth with free live workshops, tutorials, and an active community that helps users succeed.
- Multi-Device Access - Access your budget anytime via web, iOS, and Android apps.
- Connects Directly to Your Bank - Automatically imports all your banking and savings accounts and transactions.
- Great for Families - A single subscription can be used for up to six people.
Cons of YNAB
While YNAB has many advantages, it may not be the right fit for everyone:
- Cost - The $14.99 recurring monthly subscription or $1,099 annual fee can be a turnoff for cost-conscious savers, especially when free alternatives are available.
- Learning Curve - YNAB's budgeting method differs from traditional tracking apps, and it may take time to adjust. The budgeting app can be more challenging to use than the desktop version.
- Limited Investment Tracking - YNAB focuses on budgeting rather than wealth building, so it doesn’t have the best investment management or robo-advisor platform.
Other Budgeting Apps to Check Out
Budgeting is tremendously helpful for getting a grip on your finances, and budgeting apps let you manage your finances on the go. If you are exploring budgeting options, here are some popular alternatives to consider:
- Empower offers budgeting and strong investment tracking in one app. It is best for users who want a complete view of their finances.
- Quicken is a classic desktop-based financial tool with in-depth features for tracking income, expenses, and investments.
- PocketGuard simplifies budgeting by showing how much you have "left to spend" after bills and goals. It's excellent for casual budgeters.
- EveryDollar is a Ramsey Solutions app that uses a zero-based approach, similar to YNAB but with a simpler layout.
- Honeydue is built for those who want to manage shared finances, track bills, and communicate about money in one place.
>> Our Picks: Best Budget Apps of 2025
YNAB Review Methodology
Our team signed up for the YNAB free trial and tested both the mobile app and desktop version. We explored the different features, using hands-on, real-world testing to better understand the user interface, ease of account opening, and feel of the budgeting platform.
Smart Summary
YNAB (You Need A Budget) is a powerful budgeting app built to help you manage your money with a zero-based approach. While it does come with a monthly subscription fee and has a relatively steep learning curve, YNAB's customizable tools and strong community support make it a top choice for serious budgeters.
Smart Money requires our expert writers to rely on trusted primary sources—academic research, government reports, expert interviews, original reporting, and peer-reviewed data—to deliver precise and up-to-date content. All of our content is thoroughly fact-checked. We also incorporate relevant research from reputable publishers when it aligns with our editorial focus. For a closer look at our rigorous journalistic standards, explore our editorial guidelines.
(1) Apple. YNAB. Last Accessed May 5, 2025.
(2) Google Play. YNAB. Last Accessed May 5, 2025.
(3) YNAB. Pricing. Last Accessed May 5, 2025.
(4) YNAB. Free YNAB for College Students. Last Accessed May 5, 2025.
