YNAB stands out by offering a fully functional manual entry mode, allowing privacy-conscious users to avoid bank aggregator sharing entirely. However, if you use bank sync, your credentials and transaction data flow through MX, Plaid, and other aggregators. YNAB collects detailed financial data regardless of sync method, including all manually entered transactions.
| Data Type | Collected | Shared | Sold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account and identity info | Yes | Service Providers | No |
| Bank credentials (if syncing) | Optional | Aggregators | No |
| Transaction history | Yes | Service Providers | No |
| Budget categories and goals | Yes | No | No |
| Account balances | Yes | Service Providers | No |
| Usage and analytics | Yes | Yes | No |
If you use bank sync, YNAB shares your banking credentials with MX, Plaid, or other aggregators. These companies retain access to your accounts and transaction data under their own privacy policies.
Every transaction, whether synced or manual, creates a detailed picture of your finances—income, spending categories, debts, and savings patterns.
YNAB shares data with analytics tools and service providers for app functionality, customer support, and product improvement.
YNAB retains your financial data for years, building a comprehensive historical record of your finances that persists even after account closure.
YNAB is one of few apps that works fully without bank syncing. Manual entry users avoid sharing credentials with Plaid/MX entirely.
YNAB explicitly states they don't sell personal data. The subscription model means they don't need to monetize user data through advertising.
Users can export their complete data and request account deletion. YNAB provides reasonable data portability.