Software · head to head
YNAB vs Apple Pay
The short version
- Only Apple Pay has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: YNAB subscription priced exclusively in US dollars; international customers face unfavourable exchange rates; Apple Pay apple Pay works only in countries and regions that support contactless payments and is not available in all markets
- They diverge on capability: YNAB covers Zero-based budgeting, Apple Pay covers Digital wallet.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which YNAB and Apple Pay actually diverge.
Identical on both: 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 YNAB
- Zero-based budgeting
- Bank sync
- Goal tracking
- Reports
- Multi-device sync
- Bank connections
- Plaid
- Bank-level encryption
Only in Apple Pay
- Digital wallet
- Secure payments
- Contactless transactions
- P2P money transfers
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- Bank accounts
- IOS support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
YNAB
- Individual budget tracking with 34-day free trial before subscription commitmentnot Apple Pay
- Household budget management with wife-on-plan sharing for up to 6 household membersnot Apple Pay
- Manual transaction entry for banks outside the supported import listnot Apple Pay
Apple Pay
- Contactless in store payment from iPhone and Apple Watchnot YNAB
- Paying in apps and on the web without entering card detailsnot YNAB
- Sending money between Apple users with Apple Cash and Tap to Cashnot YNAB
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Apple Pay
- Apple Pay works only in countries and regions that support contactless payments and is not available in all markets
- Apple Cash is available only in the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico
- Apple Cash Family accounts and Tap to Cash transactions are each capped at 2000 USD within a rolling seven day period
- Mac support requires a Touch ID equipped model
- A card works only if the issuing bank supports Apple Pay, and banks may charge their own overseas usage fees
Pricing, plan by plan
YNAB
$14.99/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the YNAB review.
Apple Pay
Free- FreeFree
- Secure payments
- P2P transfers
- Transit passes
Which should you pick?
Choose YNAB if
- You need zero-based budgeting.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want bank sync.
Choose Apple Pay if
- You need digital wallet.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on IOS, WatchOS, MacOS.
- You also want secure payments.
Questions people ask
- Is YNAB or Apple Pay better?
- Neither clearly leads. YNAB starts at $14.99/month and Apple Pay at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, YNAB or Apple Pay?
- Apple Pay has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $14.99/month for YNAB and Free for Apple Pay.
- Does YNAB or Apple Pay run on more platforms?
- YNAB runs on Web, iOS, Android. Apple Pay runs on IOS, WatchOS, MacOS.
- Can I use Apple Pay for free?
- Yes. Apple Pay has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. YNAB starts at $14.99/month.
- What is YNAB best used for?
- YNAB is most often used for individual budget tracking with 34-day free trial before subscription commitment, household budget management with wife-on-plan sharing for up to 6 household members, manual transaction entry for banks outside the supported import list. Of those, individual budget tracking with 34-day free trial before subscription commitment and household budget management with wife-on-plan sharing for up to 6 household members are not what Apple Pay is typically brought in for.
- What can YNAB do that Apple Pay cannot?
- YNAB covers Zero-based budgeting, Bank sync, Goal tracking, Reports. Apple Pay covers Digital wallet, Secure payments, Contactless transactions, P2P money transfers.