Softwr

Personal Finance · head to head

Banktivity vs YNAB

Banktivity logo

Banktivity

Personal Finance

Personal finance for Mac and iOS

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
YNAB logo

YNAB

Personal Finance

You Need A Budget

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only YNAB has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Banktivity runs on macOS, iPhone and iPad only, with no Windows, Android or web version; YNAB subscription priced exclusively in US dollars; international customers face unfavourable exchange rates
  • They diverge on capability: Banktivity covers Account tracking, YNAB covers Zero-based budgeting.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Banktivity and YNAB actually diverge.

Attributes where Banktivity and YNAB differ
AttributeBanktivityYNAB
Starting priceOn requestFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsMac, IOSWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20072004

Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Personal Finance).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Banktivity

  • Account tracking
  • Bill management
  • Investment tracking
  • Budget forecasting
  • Bank accounts
  • Investment accounts
  • Mac support
  • IOS support

Only in YNAB

  • Zero-based budgeting
  • Bank sync
  • Goal tracking
  • Reports
  • Multi-device sync
  • Bank connections
  • Plaid
  • Bank-level encryption

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Banktivity

  • Personal budgeting and money management on a Macnot YNAB
  • Investment and net worth trackingnot YNAB
  • Retirement planning projectionsnot YNAB
  • Connecting to over 14,000 financial institutionsnot YNAB

YNAB

  • Personal and household budget trackingnot Banktivity
  • Debt management and repayment planningnot Banktivity
  • Family financial planning with multiple usersnot Banktivity

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Banktivity

  • Runs on macOS, iPhone and iPad only, with no Windows, Android or web version
  • Pricing is not shown on the product page and sits behind a separate plans page

YNAB

  • Subscription priced exclusively in US dollars; international customers face unfavourable exchange rates
  • Multi-currency support restricted to one currency per spending plan
  • Bank import limited to select institutions in US, Canada, UK, and EU only
  • Household plan can only be shared with up to 6 people; additional members cannot access shared plan

Pricing, plan by plan

Banktivity

On request
  • Monthly$4.99/month
    • Full feature access
    • Cloud sync
  • Annual$39.99/month
    • All monthly features
    • Discounted rate

YNAB

Free
  • Annual Subscription$109/year
    • 34-day free trial with no credit card required
    • No credit card required to start
    • Share access with up to 6 people at no additional cost
  • Monthly Subscription$14.99/month
    • Share access with up to 6 people at no additional cost
    • Real-time account syncing
    • Bank connection and transaction tracking

Which should you pick?

Choose Banktivity if

  • You need account tracking.
  • You work on Mac, IOS.
  • You also want bill management.
Banktivity review

Choose YNAB if

  • You need zero-based budgeting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want bank sync.
YNAB review

Questions people ask

Is Banktivity or YNAB better?
Neither clearly leads. Banktivity starts at On request and YNAB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Banktivity or YNAB?
YNAB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Banktivity and Free for YNAB.
Does Banktivity or YNAB run on more platforms?
Banktivity runs on Mac, IOS. YNAB runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use YNAB for free?
Yes. YNAB has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Banktivity starts at On request.
What is Banktivity best used for?
Banktivity is most often used for personal budgeting and money management on a mac, investment and net worth tracking, retirement planning projections, connecting to over 14,000 financial institutions. Of those, personal budgeting and money management on a mac and investment and net worth tracking are not what YNAB is typically brought in for.
What can Banktivity do that YNAB cannot?
Banktivity covers Account tracking, Bill management, Investment tracking, Budget forecasting. YNAB covers Zero-based budgeting, Bank sync, Goal tracking, Reports.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Banktivity: Does Banktivity offer a free trial?

Yes. Banktivity offers a 30-day free trial at any subscription level with no credit card required. This allows you to test the platform before committing.

Source
YNAB: How much does YNAB cost per month?

YNAB costs $14.99 USD per month on a month-to-month basis, or $9.08 per month when paid annually as a $109 per year subscription. Both plans come with a 34-day free trial and no credit card required to start. Source: https://www.ynab.com/pricing

Source
Banktivity: What devices does Banktivity support?

Banktivity is available on Mac, iPhone, and iPad with cross-device sync. Data is encrypted end-to-end across all devices.

Source
YNAB: Can I share YNAB access with my family?

Yes, both annual and monthly YNAB plans include the ability to share access with up to 6 people at no additional cost, making it suitable for family budget management. Source: https://www.ynab.com/pricing

Source
Banktivity: How many banks does Banktivity connect to?

Banktivity connects to 14,000+ banks, allowing direct connections to most major financial institutions.

Source
YNAB: Does YNAB offer a free trial?

Yes, YNAB provides a 34-day free trial with no credit card required to sign up. This trial gives full access to all budgeting features including account syncing, transaction tracking, goal-setting, and debt management tools. Source: https://www.ynab.com/pricing

Source
Banktivity: What financial planning tools does Banktivity include?

Banktivity includes budgeting, financial reporting, investment portfolio tracking, retirement planning tools, and net worth tracking across all your accounts.

Source
YNAB: Do students get a discount on YNAB?

Yes, verified college students receive a full year of YNAB access for free through YNAB's College Program. This allows eligible students to use all features at no cost for 12 months. Source: https://www.ynab.com/pricing

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Banktivity

More on YNAB

Keep looking

Other head to heads