YNAB (You Need A Budget) uses the zero-based budgeting method where every dollar gets assigned a job. At $99/year, it's a premium option, but uniquely offers a fully functional manual-entry mode without bank syncing. When you do sync, they use third-party aggregators like MX and Plaid. The company has maintained a good reputation for user-focused policies.
YNAB costs $99/year with no free tier beyond the 34-day trial. Price increases have occurred without grandfather clauses for existing subscribers.
Bank syncing uses MX, Plaid, and other aggregators. By connecting accounts, you're agreeing to their terms and sharing credentials with multiple companies.
Subscriptions auto-renew annually. You must cancel before renewal to avoid charges. Refunds are discretionary, not guaranteed.
YNAB can terminate accounts for ToS violations. You'd lose access to years of budget history if your account is closed.
YNAB is fully functional without bank syncing. You can enter transactions manually, avoiding third-party credential sharing entirely.
You can export your complete budget data as CSV or JSON files, ensuring you're not locked into the platform.
YNAB's subscription model means no advertisements or financial product recommendations cluttering the experience.
Extended trial period (34 days, one budget cycle) lets you evaluate the methodology before paying.