# YNAB vs My Budget Assistant

The clearest difference is review sentiment: My Budget Assistant at 100% against YNAB's 51%. My Budget Assistant also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). YNAB's advantage is chart position (#5 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads 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 My Budget Assistant sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

YNAB ships an update weekly, My Budget Assistant every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | YNAB | My Budget Assistant |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (62K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ynab/id1010865877/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **62K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 51.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#5** | — |
| Size | 157 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | +4 | 4+ |
| Developer | [You Need A Budget LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1226490621) | [BRUXKEY PRIVATE LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1725934723) |

## What reviewers say

### YNAB

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

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Grossing · Finance (US App Store)

This app helps you gain control over your finances by creating a proactive spending plan, paying down debt, and reaching your financial goals. It offers real-time updates for shared plans and securely links to financial accounts for automatic transaction import.

**Highlights:** Proactive spending plan creation, Debt paydown planning, Automatic transaction import, Real-time updates for shared plans, Goal tracking and visualization, Manual transaction entry, Siri integration

**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


### My Budget Assistant

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-budget-assistant/id6476128111)

Take control of your finances with this app that uses the envelope method to help you plan every dollar. Track spending, visualize trends with charts, and gain confidence in your financial future. It offers a free trial and aims to help users save money and reduce financial stress.

**Highlights:** Envelope-style budgeting categories, Real-time spending trend charts, Debt and investment tracking, Cash-flow forecasting, Secure one-tap sign-in, Ad-free experience

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Plan | $1.99 | per month |
| Annual Plan | $9.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is YNAB free?

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

### Is My Budget Assistant free?

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

### Do YNAB or My Budget Assistant have ads?

Neither YNAB nor My Budget Assistant shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, YNAB or My Budget Assistant?

YNAB ships an update weekly, and My Budget Assistant every 5 days. Most recently, YNAB was updated on November 8, 2026 and My Budget Assistant on November 4, 2026.

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