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YNAB alternatives: 7 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 30, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave YNAB: no free tier once the trial ends, and $109 a year is at the high end of the category. We ranked 7 alternatives by how directly each one replaces YNAB, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Actual Budget currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Actual Budget logoActual BudgetOpen sourceYesWeb, Windows, macOS +26 of 680.4
  1. Actual Budget logo

    1. Actual BudgetTop pick

    Best for: Technically comfortable people who want free envelope budgeting and control of their own data

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, Self-hosted

    80.4

    score / 100

    Why switch from YNAB

    Open-source envelope budgeting in the same spirit as YNAB, free to self-host, with a built-in importer for YNAB data.

    Pros

    • Free and open source, with no subscription
    • Local-first, with optional end-to-end encrypted sync
    • Optional bank sync in the US, Canada, UK and EU
    • Imports full YNAB history and common bank file formats

    Cons

    • Sync, mobile and bank sync need a server you run or rent
    • No native phone app; mobile use is in the browser
    • Support is through community channels
    Visit Actual Budget Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.1577
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Actual Budget a good YNAB alternative?

    Verified facts

    6 of 6 verified
    Method
    Envelope budgeting
    Checked Oct 29, 2026actualbudget.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Bank sync
    GoCardless (EU/UK), SimpleFIN (US/Canada)
    Checked Oct 29, 2026actualbudget.org(opens source in a new tab)
    File import
    QIF, OFX, QFX, CAMT.053 and CSV
    Checked Oct 29, 2026actualbudget.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Migration
    Built-in YNAB4 and nYNAB importers
    Checked Oct 29, 2026actualbudget.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Encryption
    Optional end-to-end encryption
    Checked Oct 29, 2026actualbudget.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Server
    Optional, needed for sync and bank sync
    Checked Oct 29, 2026actualbudget.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best YNAB alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Actual Budget logo

Best YNAB alternative for most people

Actual Budget

Open-source envelope budgeting in the same spirit as YNAB, free to self-host, with a built-in importer for YNAB data.

Firefly III logo

Best YNAB alternative for a free option

Firefly III

Free and self-hosted, so your financial data stays on your own server.

EveryDollar logo

Best YNAB alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

EveryDollar

Also zero-based, with a free manual version you can use indefinitely and bank import on premium.

Actual Budget logo

Best YNAB alternative for open source

Actual Budget

Open-source envelope budgeting in the same spirit as YNAB, free to self-host, with a built-in importer for YNAB data.

Actual Budget logo

Best YNAB alternative for self-hosting

Actual Budget

Open-source envelope budgeting in the same spirit as YNAB, free to self-host, with a built-in importer for YNAB data.

Copilot Money logo

Best YNAB alternative for Mac

Copilot Money

Automatic categorization and a polished Apple-first design, for people who'd rather review than plan every dollar.

Actual Budget logo

Best YNAB alternative for Windows

Actual Budget

Open-source envelope budgeting in the same spirit as YNAB, free to self-host, with a built-in importer for YNAB data.

Actual Budget logo

Best YNAB alternative for Linux

Actual Budget

Open-source envelope budgeting in the same spirit as YNAB, free to self-host, with a built-in importer for YNAB data.

Monarch Money logo

Best YNAB alternative for iPhone and Android

Monarch Money

A full-picture tracker with flexible budgets, investments and partner sharing, for people who want less of a strict method.

Goodbudget logo

Best YNAB alternative for working in the browser

Goodbudget

Envelope budgeting with a free plan, and manual entry that keeps you close to every transaction.

YNAB alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to YNAB?

Actual Budget ranks first right now. Open-source envelope budgeting in the same spirit as YNAB, free to self-host, with a built-in importer for YNAB data. EveryDollar and Monarch Money follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to YNAB?

Yes. Actual Budget (open source), EveryDollar (free plan + paid), Goodbudget (free plan + paid) and Hunter Vault (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to YNAB?

Yes: Actual Budget. Actual Budget can also be self-hosted.

Which YNAB alternatives work on Linux?

Actual Budget runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from YNAB?

The complaints we hear most: no free tier once the trial ends; $109 a year is at the high end of the category; takes time to learn and regular attention to keep up.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces YNAB, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.