The best YNAB alternatives
YNAB’s plan-every-dollar method works, but at $14.99 a month or $109 a year — and with the time it asks of you — it is not for everyone. These are the alternatives worth considering, whether you want to keep the method for less or drop it for something simpler.
At a glance
| App | Price | Free version | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wally | Free | Yes — fully free, no subscription | Free, simpler category budgets |
| EveryDollar | Free tier, or Premium $17.99/mo or $79.99/yr | Yes — manual entry, unlimited categories | Zero-based budgeting with a free tier |
| Goodbudget | Free tier, or Premium $10/mo or $80/yr | Yes — 10 envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices | Envelope budgeting, free to start |
| Actual Budget | Free (open source; paid hosting optional) | Yes — entirely free | A free, open-source YNAB-style app |
| Monarch Money | $14.99/mo or $99.99/yr (Plus: $199.99/yr) | No — 7-day trial only | More features for a similar price |
Why people leave YNAB
Price is the obvious one: there is no permanent free plan after the 34-day trial. The less obvious one is effort. YNAB rewards people who check in often and follow the method closely; people who wanted lighter-touch budgeting often find they are paying for an app they have started avoiding.
- 1.
Wally
Our appBest for: Free, simpler category budgets
Wally is free on iOS and Android and uses straightforward category budgets — you can follow 50/30/20 or your own split without learning a method. It suits people who found YNAB powerful but too much work to keep up.
- Price
- Free
- Platforms
- iOS & Android
- Accounts
- Manual entry + CSV import
The catch: Wally is not zero-based and does not sync with your bank; you add transactions manually or import them from a CSV.
See how Wally works - 2.
EveryDollar
Best for: Zero-based budgeting with a free tier
EveryDollar uses the same give-every-dollar-a-job idea as YNAB, and its free tier lets you budget with manual entry and unlimited categories. It is the closest like-for-like swap if you want to keep the method.
- Price
- Free tier, or Premium $17.99/mo or $79.99/yr
- Platforms
- iOS, Android, Web
- Accounts
- Manual on free; automatic sync on Premium
The catch: Bank sync requires EveryDollar Premium.
Wally vs EveryDollar - 3.
Goodbudget
Best for: Envelope budgeting, free to start
Goodbudget digitizes the envelope method — a close cousin of YNAB’s approach — and has a free tier, with manual entry by default.
- Price
- Free tier, or Premium $10/mo or $80/yr
- Platforms
- iOS, Android, Web
- Accounts
- Manual entry; bank sync on Premium (US banks)
The catch: The free tier is capped (10 envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices); more needs Premium.
Wally vs Goodbudget - 4.
Actual Budget
Best for: A free, open-source YNAB-style app
Actual Budget is free and open source, with envelope-style budgeting that will feel familiar to YNAB users, and you can host your own data.
- Price
- Free (open source; paid hosting optional)
- Platforms
- Web, desktop apps; mobile via browser only
- Accounts
- Optional, via third-party bridges
The catch: No native mobile apps (you use it in a browser), and setup suits technical users.
Wally vs Actual Budget - 5.
Monarch Money
Best for: More features for a similar price
If price is not the issue but YNAB’s strictness is, Monarch offers flexible budgets plus investments, net worth and forecasting.
- Price
- $14.99/mo or $99.99/yr (Plus: $199.99/yr)
- Platforms
- iOS, Android, Web
- Accounts
- Automatic bank sync
The catch: It costs about the same as YNAB ($99.99 a year for Core) with no free plan.
Read our Monarch Money review
How to choose
If you like the method and just want to stop paying, EveryDollar’s free tier or Actual Budget keep it alive. If the method itself was the problem, pick something simpler — Wally’s category budgets take minutes to set up and cost nothing.
Before you cancel, save a copy of your transaction history from YNAB. Most budgeting apps, Wally included, can import transactions from a CSV file.
Still deciding whether to stay? Read our full YNAB review.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free alternative to YNAB?
If you want to keep zero-based budgeting, EveryDollar’s free tier or the open-source Actual Budget are the closest matches. If you want something simpler, Wally is free on iOS and Android with category budgets.
Is there a cheaper app that works like YNAB?
EveryDollar uses the same zero-based method with a free manual tier, and Goodbudget offers envelope budgeting with a free tier. Both charge for bank sync.
Can I move my data from YNAB to another app?
If you can get your transactions out of YNAB as a spreadsheet or CSV, apps that support CSV import — including Wally, via its import template — can bring that history across. Do it before your subscription ends.