YNAB
A zero-based budgeting app built around a specific method, where every pound gets assigned a job before you spend it.
- Category
- Budgeting
- Platforms
- iOS, Android, web, Apple Watch
- Price
- $14.99/month or $109/year
- Official site
- ynab.com
What it does
- Applies zero-based budgeting — you allocate all available money to categories rather than tracking spending after the fact.
- Syncs bank accounts automatically in the US and Canada, though manual entry is fully supported.
- Covers up to six people on one subscription, so households share a single cost.
- Reports on net worth, spending and how long money sits before being spent.
- Offers an API and a large ecosystem of community-built integrations.
- Runs live online workshops teaching the method, included with a subscription.
The free tier
None. A 34-day free trial is available without a credit card, and verified college students get a free year.
Worth knowing before you sign up
- The method is the product — it asks for active, regular involvement rather than passive tracking, which is why it suits some people and not others.
- Subscribing through the iOS App Store can cost substantially more than subscribing directly on the website.
- Each budget handles a single currency, which matters if your money sits in more than one.
- It is the most expensive mainstream budgeting app, and does not discount.
Who it suits
People who want to change how they handle money rather than just see where it went, and who will put in the weekly effort the method asks for.
Compiled from the developer's own site, app store listing and published pricing, cross-checked against independent reporting. Last checked September 2026. Pricing changes often and can vary by region — check what your own account is offered before subscribing. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.