# YNAB vs Budget Planner App

The clearest difference is rating: YNAB at 4.8 against Budget Planner App's 3.9. YNAB also leads on review sentiment (51% vs 17%) and ratings volume (62K vs 179). Budget Planner App's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription). 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 Budget Planner App sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

YNAB holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: YNAB has 62K ratings behind it against 179, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of YNAB's written reviews are positive against 17% of Budget Planner App's.

YNAB ships an update weekly, Budget Planner App every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | YNAB | Budget Planner App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (62K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ynab/id1010865877/reviews)** | [3.9 (179 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/budget-planner-app-zero/id6749040657/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **62K** | 179 |
| Positive reviews | **50.9% of reviews** | 16.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 11 days |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#5** | — |
| Size | 155 MB | 58 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [You Need A Budget LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1226490621) | [Dishith Dhanani](https://appshunter.io/developer/1828598857) |

## 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 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

**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 Planner App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/budget-planner-app-zero/id6749040657)

Organize your finances with an AI-powered budgeting tool. Easily track expenses and income using voice input, create budgets, and monitor savings and debt. Gain insights into spending habits with clear charts and history.

**Highlights:** AI-powered expense categorization, Voice input for transactions, Monthly budget creation, Savings and debt tracking, Multi-currency support, Spending insights and charts, Recurring transaction management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly Subscription | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly Subscription | $3.99 | per month |
| Monthly Subscription | $7.99 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $47.99 | per year |
| Zero Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $29.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is YNAB free?

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

### Is Budget Planner App free?

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

### Which has better reviews, YNAB or Budget Planner App?

YNAB is rated higher. YNAB averages 4.8 out of 5 from 62K ratings, while Budget Planner App averages 3.9 from 179 ratings.

### Do YNAB or Budget Planner App have ads?

Neither YNAB nor Budget Planner App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, YNAB or Budget Planner App?

YNAB ships an update weekly, and Budget Planner App every 11 days. Most recently, YNAB was updated on September 25, 2026 and Budget Planner App on September 22, 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.*