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Accounting · head to head

Empower vs YNAB

Empower logo

Empower

Accounting

All your finances. One app.

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: Empower specific advisory fees not published; Form ADV consultation required; YNAB subscription priced exclusively in US dollars; international customers face unfavourable exchange rates
  • They diverge on capability: Empower covers Net worth 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 Empower and YNAB actually diverge.

Attributes where Empower and YNAB differ
AttributeEmpowerYNAB
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquotesubscription
Free tierNoYes
CategoryAccountingPersonal Finance
Founded20092004

Identical on both: platforms (Web, Ios, Android), user rating (Not yet rated).

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 Empower

  • Net worth tracking
  • Investment tracking
  • Retirement planner
  • Cash flow
  • 401k fee analyzer
  • Brokerage accounts
  • SOC 2

Only in YNAB

  • Zero-based budgeting
  • Bank sync
  • Goal tracking
  • Reports
  • Multi-device sync
  • Plaid
  • Read-only access

Both cover

  • Bank connections
  • Bank-level encryption
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Empower

  • Wealth trackingnot YNAB
  • Retirement planningnot YNAB
  • Investment analysisnot YNAB

YNAB

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

Where each one falls short

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

Empower

  • Specific advisory fees not published; Form ADV consultation required
  • High minimum investment thresholds ($100,000 for Personal Strategy)
  • Detailed fee structure available only in Form ADV documents

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

Empower

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Empower review.

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 Empower if

  • You need net worth tracking.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want investment tracking.
Empower 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 Empower or YNAB better?
Neither clearly leads. Empower 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, Empower or YNAB?
YNAB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Empower and Free for YNAB.
Does Empower or YNAB run on more platforms?
Empower runs on Web, Ios, Android. 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. Empower starts at On request.
What is Empower best used for?
Empower is most often used for wealth tracking, retirement planning, investment analysis. Of those, wealth tracking and retirement planning are not what YNAB is typically brought in for.
What can Empower do that YNAB cannot?
Empower covers Net worth tracking, Investment tracking, Retirement planner, Cash flow. YNAB covers Zero-based budgeting, Bank sync, Goal tracking, Reports. Both handle Bank connections, Bank-level encryption, Web support, Ios support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Empower: Does Empower have a minimum investment requirement?

Empower's advisory services require different minimums based on service level. Personal Strategy advisory requires a minimum of $100,000 in investable assets. Private Client services require $1,000,000 or more.

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
Empower: How are Empower's advisory fees calculated?

Advisory fees are calculated based on the amount of assets being managed under advice. Specific fee rates are not disclosed on the homepage.

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
Empower: Is the high-yield cash account free?

Yes. Empower's high-yield cash account has no account fees and no minimum balance required.

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
Empower: Are there fees for stock and ETF trading?

Empower offers commission-free trading for stocks and ETFs with low fees.

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
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