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Personal Finance · head to head

Money Manager vs YNAB

Money Manager logo

Money Manager

Personal Finance

Personal and household finance tracker

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
YNAB logo

YNAB

Personal Finance

You Need A Budget

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Money Manager databases created by version 1.4.x are not readable by current releases and produce the error MMEX database version 13 doesn't work with this MMEX version, requiring a manual conversion procedure; YNAB subscription priced exclusively in US dollars; international customers face unfavourable exchange rates
  • They diverge on capability: Money Manager covers Expense 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 Money Manager and YNAB actually diverge.

Attributes where Money Manager and YNAB differ
AttributeMoney ManagerYNAB
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
PlatformsWindows, Mac, Linux, IOS, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20052004

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Money Manager

  • Expense tracking
  • Budget tracking
  • Reporting
  • Multi-currency support
  • Import/Export
  • CSV
  • Windows support
  • Mac support

Only in YNAB

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

Both cover

  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Money Manager

  • Free desktop personal finance tracking on Windows, macOS and Linuxnot YNAB
  • Running a portable personal accounts file from removable media on Windowsnot YNAB
  • Categorising spending and reporting on personal accounts without a subscriptionnot YNAB

YNAB

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

Where each one falls short

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

Money Manager

  • Databases created by version 1.4.x are not readable by current releases and produce the error MMEX database version 13 doesn't work with this MMEX version, requiring a manual conversion procedure
  • Linux is supported only through Flatpak builds for aarch64 and x86_64
  • The download page states no system requirements, deferring them to a separate compatibility page
  • There is no vendor support contract; the project is distributed as open source with no paid tier

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

Money Manager

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Expense tracking
    • Budget management
    • Reports

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 Money Manager if

  • You need expense tracking.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, IOS, Android.
  • You also want budget tracking.
Money Manager 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 Money Manager or YNAB better?
Neither clearly leads. Money Manager starts at Free and YNAB at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Money Manager or YNAB?
Money Manager starts at Free and YNAB at Free.
Does Money Manager or YNAB run on more platforms?
Money Manager runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, IOS, Android. YNAB runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Money Manager for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Money Manager best used for?
Money Manager is most often used for free desktop personal finance tracking on windows, macos and linux, running a portable personal accounts file from removable media on windows, categorising spending and reporting on personal accounts without a subscription. Of those, free desktop personal finance tracking on windows, macos and linux and running a portable personal accounts file from removable media on windows are not what YNAB is typically brought in for.
What can Money Manager do that YNAB cannot?
Money Manager covers Expense tracking, Budget tracking, Reporting, Multi-currency support. YNAB covers Zero-based budgeting, Bank sync, Goal tracking, Reports. Both handle Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Money Manager: How much does MoneyManager Ex cost?

MoneyManager Ex is completely free and open source software with no charges, subscriptions, or hidden fees of any kind.

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
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
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
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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