Software · head to head
Tiller Money vs YNAB
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Tiller Money no native mobile app means mobile access limited to Google Sheets or Excel apps; YNAB subscription priced exclusively in US dollars; international customers face unfavourable exchange rates
- They diverge on capability: Tiller Money covers Auto-populates financial data, YNAB covers Zero-based budgeting.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Tiller Money and YNAB actually diverge.
| Attribute | Tiller Money | YNAB |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $79/year | $14.99/month |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Platforms | Web, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel | Web, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 2015 | 2004 |
Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Tiller Money
- Auto-populates financial data
- Customizable spreadsheets
- Budget tracking
- Financial templates
- Bank accounts
- Google Sheets
- Excel
Only in YNAB
- Zero-based budgeting
- Bank sync
- Goal tracking
- Reports
- Multi-device sync
- Bank connections
- Plaid
- Bank-level encryption
Both cover
- Web support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Tiller Money
- Budget Managementnot YNAB
- Expense Trackingnot YNAB
- Investment Trackingnot YNAB
YNAB
- Individual budget tracking with 34-day free trial before subscription commitmentnot Tiller Money
- Household budget management with wife-on-plan sharing for up to 6 household membersnot Tiller Money
- Manual transaction entry for banks outside the supported import listnot Tiller Money
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Tiller Money
- No native mobile app means mobile access limited to Google Sheets or Excel apps
- Spreadsheet-based interface can be intimidating for non-technical users unfamiliar with formulas
- Requires manual customization and setup of templates and formulas for advanced features
- No built-in investment performance tracking or analysis at the depth some competitors offer
- Customer support is email and community-based, not real-time chat or phone support
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
Tiller Money
$79/year- Annual Subscription$79/year
- Unlimited transaction import
- Up to 5 connected spreadsheets
- AutoCat categorization
YNAB
$14.99/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the YNAB review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Tiller Money if
- You need auto-populates financial data.
- You work on Web, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel.
- You also want customizable spreadsheets.
Choose YNAB if
- You need zero-based budgeting.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want bank sync.
Questions people ask
- Is Tiller Money or YNAB better?
- Neither clearly leads. Tiller Money starts at $79/year and YNAB at $14.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Tiller Money or YNAB?
- Tiller Money starts at $79/year and YNAB at $14.99/month.
- Does Tiller Money or YNAB run on more platforms?
- Tiller Money runs on Web, Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel. YNAB runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- What is Tiller Money best used for?
- Tiller Money is most often used for budget management, expense tracking, investment tracking. Of those, budget management and expense tracking are not what YNAB is typically brought in for.
- What can Tiller Money do that YNAB cannot?
- Tiller Money covers Auto-populates financial data, Customizable spreadsheets, Budget tracking, Financial templates. YNAB covers Zero-based budgeting, Bank sync, Goal tracking, Reports. Both handle Web support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Tiller Money: How much does Tiller Money cost?
Tiller Money costs $79 per year with no free tier. A 30-day free trial is available. The annual subscription includes 5 connected spreadsheets and unlimited categories.
SourceTiller Money: Does Tiller work with Google Sheets and Excel?
Yes. Tiller automatically feeds daily bank transactions and account balances to Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel spreadsheets you own. Your data remains yours permanently.
SourceTiller Money: How many banks and financial institutions does Tiller connect to?
Tiller connects to 21,000+ US banks, credit card accounts, brokerages, and loan servicers via Yodlee and MX data providers. New banks are added weekly.
SourceTiller Money: What is AutoCat in Tiller?
AutoCat is Tiller's 100% customizable automatic categorization feature that learns your spending patterns. You can set rules like 'file all grocery store transactions above $10 as groceries and below $10 as snacks.'
SourceTiller Money: Does Tiller have a mobile app?
Tiller does not have a dedicated mobile app. Instead, it uses Google Sheets and Excel apps on mobile devices to access your spreadsheets. Mobile access is primarily for viewing, not transaction entry.
Source