# YNAB vs Zerosum

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Zerosum at 92% against YNAB's 51%. Zerosum also leads on monetization model (freemium vs subscription) and update cadence (every 2 days vs weekly). YNAB's advantage is ratings volume (62K vs 24) and chart position (#5 vs unranked). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. YNAB sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and Zerosum sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Zerosum holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: YNAB has 62K ratings behind it against 24, 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 92% of Zerosum's.

YNAB ships an update weekly, Zerosum every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 18, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | YNAB | Zerosum |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (62K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ynab/id1010865877/reviews) | **[5.0 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zerosum-zero-based-budgeting/id6784319439/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **62K** | 24 |
| Positive reviews | 50.9% of reviews | **91.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Freemium** |
| Best chart rank | **#5** | — |
| Size | 156 MB | 11 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [You Need A Budget LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1226490621) | [Pedro Fidalgo](https://appshunter.io/developer/6784319441) |

## 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


### Zerosum

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zerosum-zero-based-budgeting/id6784319439)

This app helps you meticulously plan your finances using a zero-based budgeting approach. It allows you to allocate every dollar before spending, track savings goals, and gain insights through detailed analytics and forecasts. You can choose between automatic bank syncing or manual entry, and even share your budget with family.

**Highlights:** Zero-based budgeting, Savings goal tracking, Financial analytics and forecasts, Recurring transaction scheduling, Bank sync or manual entry, Family budget sharing

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Zerosum Basic (Monthly) | $5.99 | per month |
| Zerosum Plus (Monthly) | $8.99 | per month |
| Zerosum Pro (Monthly) | $12.99 | per month |
| Zerosum Basic (Annual) | $39.99 | per year |
| Zerosum Plus | $59.99 | per year |
| Zerosum Pro (Annual) | $89.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is YNAB free?

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

### Is Zerosum free?

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

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

Zerosum is rated higher. YNAB averages 4.8 out of 5 from 62K ratings, while Zerosum averages 5.0 from 24 ratings.

### Do YNAB or Zerosum have ads?

Neither YNAB nor Zerosum shows ads.

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

YNAB ships an update weekly, and Zerosum every 2 days. Most recently, YNAB was updated on October 18, 2026 and Zerosum on October 16, 2026.

---

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