# YNAB vs Budget Bestie

The clearest difference is monetization model: Budget Bestie at free with in-app purchases against YNAB's subscription. Budget Bestie also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). YNAB's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (51% vs 31%). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. YNAB sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and Budget Bestie sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for YNAB against 4.7 for Budget Bestie. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: YNAB has 62K ratings behind it against 3.2K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 51% of YNAB's written reviews are positive against 31% of Budget Bestie's.

YNAB ships an update weekly, Budget Bestie fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | YNAB | Budget Bestie |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (62K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ynab/id1010865877/reviews)** | [4.7 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/budget-bestie/id6460258044/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **62K** | 3.2K |
| Positive reviews | **51.0% of reviews** | 30.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#4** | #52 |
| Size | 157 MB | 125 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [You Need A Budget LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1226490621) | [Budget Bestie Corp.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1702068834) |

## What reviewers say

### YNAB

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

**Currently charting:** #4 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


### Budget Bestie

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/budget-bestie/id6460258044)

**Currently charting:** #52 Top Grossing · Finance (US App Store)

This app helps you manage your money using the cash stuffing method, digitally. It guides you through creating expense envelopes, allocating funds, and tracking spending to meet savings goals. Get reminders for bills and budget according to your pay schedule.

**Highlights:** Digital cash stuffing method, Customizable expense envelopes, Automated spending tracking, Bill payment reminders, Savings goal management, Budgeting by pay schedule

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $8.99 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $49.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription | $59.99 | per year |
| Annual Subscription | $69.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 💻 Customizable budgeting
- 📊 Helps track spending
- 🎨 Aesthetically pleasing design
- 🤝 Useful for couples/families
- 🧠 Helpful for those with ADHD

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription-based, not free
- 🔒 Lack of transparency about paid features
- 🕰️ Lengthy setup process before payment required
- 💸 Expensive subscription cost
- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy at times

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing/crashing on certain screens
- Inability to type zeros
- Transactions not updating in real-time
- Difficulty navigating/accessing certain features

**Requested features**

- Debt tracking section
- Ability to edit/delete past transactions
- Flexible pay schedule options
- Sharing/collaboration features
- Free basic version


## Frequently asked questions

### Is YNAB free?

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

### Is Budget Bestie free?

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

### Which has better reviews, YNAB or Budget Bestie?

YNAB is rated higher. YNAB averages 4.8 out of 5 from 62K ratings, while Budget Bestie averages 4.7 from 3.2K ratings.

### Do YNAB or Budget Bestie have ads?

Budget Bestie shows ads; YNAB does not.

### Which is updated more often, YNAB or Budget Bestie?

YNAB ships an update weekly, and Budget Bestie fortnightly. Most recently, YNAB was updated on November 3, 2026 and Budget Bestie on November 3, 2026.

### Which is more popular, YNAB or Budget Bestie?

YNAB currently peaks at #4 in the App Store charts, and Budget Bestie at #52. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

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