# YNAB vs NerdWallet

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: NerdWallet at none against YNAB's 4. NerdWallet also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). YNAB's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (51% vs 34%). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. YNAB sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. NerdWallet asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for YNAB against 4.8 for NerdWallet. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 62K and 125K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 51% of YNAB's written reviews are positive against 34% of NerdWallet's.

YNAB ships an update weekly, NerdWallet fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | YNAB | NerdWallet |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (62K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ynab/id1010865877/reviews) | **[4.8 (125K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nerdwallet-smart-money-app/id1174471607/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 62K | **125K** |
| Positive reviews | **51.0% of reviews** | 33.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#6** | — |
| Size | 157 MB | 104 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [You Need A Budget LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1226490621) | [NerdWallet](https://appshunter.io/developer/578853412) |

## What reviewers say

### YNAB

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ynab/id1010865877)

**Currently charting:** #6 Top Grossing · Finance (US App Store)

This app helps users gain control of their finances by creating flexible spending plans, tracking expenses, and managing debt. It aims to reduce financial stress and empower users to reach their goals. Features include account linking, manual transaction entry, and collaborative planning for multiple users.

**Highlights:** Create and share unlimited spending plans, Automatically import transactions, Manually add transactions, Loan Planner for debt paydown, Visualize progress towards goals, Real-time updates for shared plans

**Features:** Apple Watch app, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| YNAB Subscription | $14.99 | per month |
| YNAB Subscription | $14.99 | per month |
| YNAB Subscription | $109.00 | per year |
| YNAB Subscription | $109.00 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 💰 Helps save money
- 👍 Intuitive and easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient budgeting system
- 🤝 Helpful for couples/families
- 🧠 Changes financial mindset

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Steep learning curve
- 🔌 Connectivity issues with some banks
- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🕰️ Reconciliation process could be improved
- 📱 Mobile app lacks some features of web version

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent disconnections from bank accounts
- Syncing issues between mobile and web versions

**Requested features**

- Fortnightly budgeting options
- Improved reporting and analytics
- Ability to upload files/documents
- Undo/redo functionality
- Biometric login for mobile app


### NerdWallet

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nerdwallet-smart-money-app/id1174471607)

This app helps you manage your finances by tracking spending, monitoring bills, and providing insights into your credit score and cash flow. It also offers opportunities to earn interest on cash, invest in Treasury Bills, and automate investments.

**Highlights:** Track cash, investments, credit cards, loans, and property, Monitor and cancel recurring bills and subscriptions, Actionable financial insights on credit score and cash flow, Earn APY on cash accounts, Invest in U.S. Treasury Bills, Automated investing with direct indexing, Learn about financial news and its impact

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Helpful financial insights
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🚀 Comprehensive account tracking
- 💡 Personalized recommendations

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent connection issues
- 🐛 Inaccurate account balances
- 🐛 Unreliable account linking
- 🐛 Inconsistent transaction categorization

**Reported bugs**

- Accounts randomly unlinking
- Incorrect credit score reporting
- Delayed transaction updates

**Requested features**

- Custom spending categories
- Manual transaction entry
- Detailed budgeting tools
- Improved account synchronization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is YNAB free?

YNAB is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is NerdWallet free?

NerdWallet is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, YNAB or NerdWallet?

NerdWallet is rated higher. YNAB averages 4.8 out of 5 from 62K ratings, while NerdWallet averages 4.8 from 125K ratings.

### Do YNAB or NerdWallet have ads?

NerdWallet shows ads; YNAB does not.

### Which is updated more often, YNAB or NerdWallet?

YNAB ships an update weekly, and NerdWallet fortnightly. Most recently, YNAB was updated on November 1, 2026 and NerdWallet on November 1, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*