The Expensive Irony of Budgeting Apps
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: YNAB costs $99 per year.
Think about that for a second. You’re trying to save money, get out of debt, and build financial stability—and the tool that’s supposed to help you charges the equivalent of two weeks’ groceries for many families. It’s like paying a personal trainer to teach you how to cancel gym memberships.
Don’t get me wrong. YNAB is brilliant. The zero-based budgeting methodology (giving every dollar a job before you spend it) has transformed millions of lives. The envelope budgeting system works. But here’s my radical question: Why should life-changing financial education cost money you don’t have?
If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, $99 isn’t just expensive—it’s another bill competing with rent, groceries, and keeping the lights on. That’s why I’ve spent weeks testing every zero-based budgeting app free option available in 2026. The good news? You can absolutely master your money without a subscription fee.
This guide reveals 5 legitimate YNAB alternatives that use the same proven methodology—envelope budgeting, zero-based allocation, intentional spending—for free or a fraction of the cost. I’ll show you exactly what each app offers, where the free versions fall short, and which one fits your specific situation.
Let’s save that $99 and put it toward your emergency fund instead.
Quick Comparison: Top YNAB Alternatives
| App Name | Cost | Best Feature | Platform |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goodbudget | Free (Premium $10/mo) | Envelope budgeting for couples | iOS, Android, Web |
| EveryDollar | Free (Premium $17.99/mo) | Dave Ramsey integration | iOS, Android, Web |
| Mint (Credit Karma) | 100% Free | Automatic transaction import | iOS, Android, Web |
| Empower (Personal Capital) | 100% Free | Investment tracking included | iOS, Android, Web |
| PocketGuard | Free (Premium $12.99/mo) | “In My Pocket” spending meter | iOS, Android, Web |
The 5 Best Free YNAB Alternatives (Detailed Reviews)
1. Goodbudget: The Envelope Method Champion
What is it?
Goodbudget is a pure envelope budgeting app based on the same cash-envelope system your grandmother probably used. Instead of physical envelopes stuffed with bills, you allocate digital funds across virtual envelopes (categories) like groceries, rent, entertainment, and debt payments.
How is it like YNAB?
Goodbudget uses the identical philosophy: allocate every dollar before the month begins. You manually enter income, then “fill” envelopes with specific amounts. When you spend $50 on groceries, you subtract it from your Groceries envelope. This is zero-based budgeting in its purest form.
The best budget app for couples feature stands out here. Goodbudget syncs across unlimited devices, so you and your partner can both log expenses in real-time. No more “Did you already pay the electric bill?” arguments.
The “Free” Limits
Here’s the catch: The free version caps you at 10 envelopes and 1 account. For most people, that’s tight. Think about it—Rent, Utilities, Groceries, Gas, Insurance, Debt, Savings, Entertainment, Clothing, Miscellaneous. That’s already 10 categories, and you might need more granularity.
You also can’t link bank accounts automatically. Every transaction is manual entry only (which some people prefer for mindfulness, others find tedious). The Premium version ($10/month or $80/year) unlocks unlimited envelopes, 5 accounts, and historical data beyond one year.
Who is it for?
Choose Goodbudget if: You want the purest YNAB experience without algorithms or automation. You’re okay with manual tracking (it builds awareness). You’re budgeting with a partner and need shared access. You can work within 10 categories or justify the $80 annual upgrade (still cheaper than YNAB).
2. EveryDollar: The Dave Ramsey Disciple
What is it?
EveryDollar is Dave Ramsey’s official budgeting tool, and it shows. The interface screams “Baby Steps” and “debt snowball.” If you’ve ever listened to The Ramsey Show, this app speaks your language.
How is it like YNAB?
EveryDollar is a zero-based budgeting app free in its basic form. You give every dollar a name (category) before the month starts—Income minus Expenses must equal zero. Sound familiar? It’s YNAB’s philosophy with Ramsey’s branding.
The drag-and-drop interface is beginner-friendly. You create budget lines, set amounts, and track expenses as they happen. The built-in debt payoff tracker uses Ramsey’s snowball method (smallest balance first for psychological wins).
The “Free” Limits
The free version requires 100% manual transaction entry. No bank connections. No automatic imports. You’re typing in every coffee purchase and gas fill-up by hand.
Want automatic transaction syncing? That’s the “Ramsey+” subscription at $17.99/month ($215.88/year). Yes, you read that right—more expensive than YNAB. The Premium tier bundles budgeting with other Ramsey products (financial coaching access, streaming content), but if you just want an expense tracker no subscription, the free manual version works fine.
Who is it for?
Choose EveryDollar if: You’re already following Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps. You prefer manual entry (it forces accountability). You’re debt-focused and want built-in snowball calculators. You absolutely won’t pay for Premium but will tolerate manual work for the free tier.
3. Mint (Now Part of Credit Karma): The Automation King
What is it?
Mint was the OG free budgeting app before Intuit shut it down in 2024 and migrated users to Credit Karma’s budgeting tools. The experience is similar: connect your accounts, watch transactions auto-categorize, and get spending insights.
How is it like YNAB?
Here’s where expectations need adjusting: Mint/Credit Karma is NOT true zero-based budgeting. You don’t allocate funds before spending. Instead, it’s reactive budgeting—you set category limits (spend max $400 on groceries), and the app alerts you when you’re approaching or exceeding those limits.
That said, you can manually adapt it. Set your category budgets to match your expected income, ensure total budgets equal total income, and track rigorously. It requires discipline, but the 100% free price tag and automatic bank syncing make it compelling.
The “Free” Limits
There are essentially no limits. Credit Karma’s budgeting tools are completely free (they monetize through credit card and loan recommendations). Unlimited accounts, unlimited categories, unlimited historical data.
The tradeoff? Ads and product pitches. You’ll see “You’re approved for this credit card!” banners. Some people find this annoying; others ignore it. There’s also less hand-holding on budgeting methodology—it assumes you know what you’re doing.
Who is it for?
Choose Credit Karma/Mint if: You want automation over intentionality. You’re comfortable with reactive budgeting (tracking after spending). You need to monitor credit scores and finances in one place. You don’t mind ads. You want a zero-based budgeting app free of both cost and manual labor (even if it’s not perfectly zero-based by design).
4. Empower (Formerly Personal Capital): The Wealth-Builder’s Budget Tool
What is it?
Empower started as Personal Capital, an investment-tracking platform for people with substantial assets. In 2026, it’s evolved into a full financial dashboard that includes basic budgeting features alongside retirement planning and net worth tracking.
How is it like YNAB?
Honestly? It’s not. Empower doesn’t do envelope budgeting or zero-based allocation. But here’s why it made this list: if your budgeting goal is to build wealth (not just survive paycheck-to-paycheck), Empower’s free tools are unmatched.
You get automatic expense categorization, spending trends, cash flow analysis, and—critically—investment portfolio tracking that shows your full financial picture. You can set savings goals and budget categories, but the interface assumes you’re past the “struggling to make rent” phase.
The “Free” Limits
The basic platform is permanently free with no functional limits. Unlimited accounts, full historical data, net worth dashboards, retirement fee analyzers—all $0.
The catch? Empower makes money by offering wealth management services (financial advisors charge 0.49%-0.89% of assets under management). If you have under $100k invested, you’ll get occasional advisor outreach but can ignore it. Above that threshold, expect more aggressive pitches.
Who is it for?
Choose Empower if: You’ve graduated from basic budgeting and need investment tracking. You have retirement accounts, taxable brokerage accounts, or real estate to monitor. You want an expense tracker no subscription that also calculates your net worth and projects retirement readiness. You’re okay with a less prescriptive budgeting approach.
5. PocketGuard: The “Spending Money” Simplifier
What is it?
PocketGuard answers one question obsessively well: “How much can I safely spend right now?” It calculates your “In My Pocket” number by subtracting bills, goals, and necessities from your income, leaving you with guilt-free spending money.
How is it like YNAB?
PocketGuard uses a simplified zero-based budgeting concept. You allocate funds to bills (recurring expenses), goals (savings targets), and necessities (variable expenses). What remains is yours to spend freely. It’s YNAB’s philosophy compressed into one green number on your home screen.
The automatic transaction categorization works well, and the “bill negotiation” feature (available in Premium) claims to lower your bills by negotiating with providers on your behalf.
The “Free” Limits
The free version allows one budget with basic tracking and the “In My Pocket” calculation. You can connect accounts and see transactions automatically.
Premium ($12.99/month or $74.99/year) unlocks unlimited budgets, debt payoff plans, custom categories, and export features. The annual price is competitive with Goodbudget, but the free tier is genuinely useful for simple budgeting.
Who is it for?
Choose PocketGuard if: You find traditional budgeting overwhelming. You just want to know “Can I afford this?” in real-time. You like automation but want the safety net of zero-based thinking. You’re willing to pay $75/year if the free version feels too limited (still cheaper than YNAB).
The Google Sheets Method (100% Free Forever)
Here’s the wisdom I wish someone had told me years ago: The best budgeting tool is sometimes a blank spreadsheet.
Before apps existed, people budgeted successfully with pen, paper, and calculator discipline. A Google Sheets zero-based budget template costs exactly $0 and never expires. You can find excellent free templates by searching “zero-based budget Google Sheets template” or build your own in 30 minutes.
Why spreadsheets work:
- Total control: Design categories exactly how you want them
- No account linking risks: Your bank data stays private
- Infinite customization: Add debt snowball calculators, net worth trackers, or investment sections
- Manual = mindful: Typing each transaction forces awareness (the YNAB founder started with Excel for this reason)
The downside? No mobile app convenience. No automatic syncing. No AI insights. You’re the algorithm. But for people who value privacy, simplicity, and permanent free access, spreadsheets remain unbeatable.
Pair a Google Sheets budget with free expense tracking via your bank’s app (most banks now categorize transactions automatically), and you’ve built a complete system for $0.
Which YNAB Alternative Should You Choose?
Let me make this decision simple based on your specific situation:
Choose Goodbudget if you’re budgeting with a partner and can live with 10 envelope categories (or justify $80/year for unlimited). The shared sync and pure envelope method nail the YNAB experience.
Choose EveryDollar if you’re following Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps and don’t mind manual entry. The debt focus and zero-based interface align perfectly with Ramsey philosophy.
Choose Credit Karma (Mint) if you value automation over methodology. It’s not true zero-based budgeting, but it’s 100% free with unlimited features and bank connections.
Choose Empower if you’re past survival budgeting and need wealth-building tools. The investment tracking makes it essential for anyone with retirement accounts or significant assets.
Choose PocketGuard if you want simplicity above all else. The “In My Pocket” number reduces decision fatigue while maintaining zero-based principles.
Choose Google Sheets if you’re a privacy advocate, customization lover, or permanent-free-forever purist. It’s the OG budgeting tool for a reason.
The Bottom Line
YNAB’s $99 annual fee isn’t outrageous for what you get—the education, support, and methodology genuinely change lives. But financial tools should lower barriers, not create them. If that subscription fee is the difference between budgeting and not budgeting, these alternatives prove you don’t need to pay to save.
The envelope method works whether you’re using YNAB’s polished interface or Goodbudget’s free tier or a Google Sheet you made at midnight. The system matters more than the software. What changes lives is the discipline of allocating every dollar before spending it, tracking expenses honestly, and adjusting when reality doesn’t match the plan.
Start with any free option above. Master the habits. Build your emergency fund. Then decide if premium features justify the cost. You might discover the free version was perfect all along—and that $99 looks pretty good sitting in your savings account instead.