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Personal Finance · head to head

Moneydance vs YNAB

Moneydance logo

Moneydance

Personal Finance

Cross-platform personal finance management

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: Moneydance the free trial is limited to 100 manually entered transactions; YNAB subscription priced exclusively in US dollars; international customers face unfavourable exchange rates
  • They diverge on capability: Moneydance covers Bill 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 Moneydance and YNAB actually diverge.

Attributes where Moneydance and YNAB differ
AttributeMoneydanceYNAB
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelone-timesubscription
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWindows, Mac, Linux, IOS, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20012004

Identical on both: 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 Moneydance

  • Bill tracking
  • Investment monitoring
  • Budget tracking
  • Financial forecasting
  • Bank accounts
  • Investment accounts
  • OFX import
  • Windows 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.

Moneydance

  • Desktop personal finance management on macOS, Windows and Linuxnot YNAB
  • Importing and reconciling bank and credit card transactions locallynot YNAB
  • Tracking investments and budgets without a cloud-only servicenot YNAB

YNAB

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

Where each one falls short

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

Moneydance

  • The free trial is limited to 100 manually entered transactions
  • A one-time Buy Once purchase covers Moneydance 2024 plus one free upgrade to the next major release, not all future versions
  • Bank connection features are sold separately as the Moneydance Plus subscription rather than included in the one-time purchase
  • Business use requires one licence per computer, while the household licence covers personal use only

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

Moneydance

On request
  • Perpetual License$59.99/month
    • Full feature set
    • Free updates

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 Moneydance if

  • You need bill tracking.
  • You work on Windows, Mac, Linux, IOS, Android.
  • You also want investment monitoring.
Moneydance 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 Moneydance or YNAB better?
Neither clearly leads. Moneydance 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, Moneydance or YNAB?
YNAB has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Moneydance and Free for YNAB.
Does Moneydance or YNAB run on more platforms?
Moneydance runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, 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. Moneydance starts at On request.
What is Moneydance best used for?
Moneydance is most often used for desktop personal finance management on macos, windows and linux, importing and reconciling bank and credit card transactions locally, tracking investments and budgets without a cloud-only service. Of those, desktop personal finance management on macos, windows and linux and importing and reconciling bank and credit card transactions locally are not what YNAB is typically brought in for.
What can Moneydance do that YNAB cannot?
Moneydance covers Bill tracking, Investment monitoring, Budget tracking, Financial forecasting. YNAB covers Zero-based budgeting, Bank sync, Goal tracking, Reports. Both handle Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Moneydance: How much does Moneydance cost?

Moneydance pricing is not disclosed on the main website; customers must visit the purchase page to view rates. The software includes a 90-day money back guarantee.

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
Moneydance: Is there a free trial?

Yes, Moneydance offers a free trial that is fully functional but limited to entering up to 100 manually entered transactions.

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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