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Goodbudget vs YNAB

Goodbudget logo

Goodbudget

Software

Digital envelope budgeting app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
YNAB logo

YNAB

Software

You Need A Budget

From
$14.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Goodbudget has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Goodbudget free plan is capped at 10 regular envelopes, 10 more envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices and 1 year of history; YNAB subscription priced exclusively in US dollars; international customers face unfavourable exchange rates
  • They diverge on capability: Goodbudget covers Envelope budgeting, YNAB covers Zero-based budgeting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Goodbudget and YNAB actually diverge.

Attributes where Goodbudget and YNAB differ
AttributeGoodbudgetYNAB
Starting priceFree$14.99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded20122004

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

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 Goodbudget

  • Envelope budgeting
  • Shared budgets
  • Receipt scanning
  • Expense tracking
  • Bank accounts
  • IOS support

Only in YNAB

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

Both cover

  • Web support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Goodbudget

  • Envelope method budgetingnot YNAB
  • Sharing a household budget across a couple's devicesnot YNAB
  • Tracking debt payoff alongside envelopesnot YNAB

YNAB

  • Individual budget tracking with 34-day free trial before subscription commitmentnot Goodbudget
  • Household budget management with wife-on-plan sharing for up to 6 household membersnot Goodbudget
  • Manual transaction entry for banks outside the supported import listnot Goodbudget

Where each one falls short

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

Goodbudget

  • Free plan is capped at 10 regular envelopes, 10 more envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices and 1 year of history
  • Automatic bank sync is Premium only and works with US banks only
  • Premium is limited to 5 devices and 7 years of history
  • Free plan gets community support only; email support requires Premium
  • Premium costs $10 per month or $80 per year

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

Goodbudget

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 10 envelopes
    • Basic tracking
  • Plus$5.99/month
    • Unlimited envelopes
    • Advanced reports
    • Receipt capture

YNAB

$14.99/month

No published plan breakdown. See the YNAB review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Goodbudget if

  • You need envelope budgeting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want shared budgets.
Goodbudget review

Choose YNAB if

  • You need zero-based budgeting.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want bank sync.
YNAB review

Questions people ask

Is Goodbudget or YNAB better?
Neither clearly leads. Goodbudget starts at Free and YNAB at $14.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Goodbudget or YNAB?
Goodbudget has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Goodbudget and $14.99/month for YNAB.
Does Goodbudget or YNAB run on more platforms?
Goodbudget runs on Web, IOS, Android. YNAB runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Goodbudget for free?
Yes. Goodbudget has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. YNAB starts at $14.99/month.
What is Goodbudget best used for?
Goodbudget is most often used for envelope method budgeting, sharing a household budget across a couple's devices, tracking debt payoff alongside envelopes. Of those, envelope method budgeting and sharing a household budget across a couple's devices are not what YNAB is typically brought in for.
What can Goodbudget do that YNAB cannot?
Goodbudget covers Envelope budgeting, Shared budgets, Receipt scanning, Expense tracking. YNAB covers Zero-based budgeting, Bank sync, Goal tracking, Reports. Both handle Web support, Android support.
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