A YNAB alternative with a free plan
YNAB asks you to plan every dollar before you spend it. Spendee shows you where your money went, sorted for you, and what is left for today. Here is how the two compare.
| What | Spendee | YNAB |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free. Plus $3.99 a month or $27.99 a year; Premium $7.99 a month or $44.99 a year (US App Store) | $14.99 a month, or $109 a year, in US dollars plus tax |
| Free plan | Yes, with no time limit: manual entries, backup and sync across devices, one cash wallet and a total budget | No free plan |
| Free trial | Offered with some paid plans; the app shows the number of free days before you pay | 34 days free, no credit card. College students get 365 days. |
| Where it runs | iPhone, iPad, Android and the web, on one account | Computer, phone and tablet: iOS, Android, web and watchOS |
| Bank connection | On Premium: read-only, through Salt Edge and Plaid, with bank lists for 36 countries | Direct import from select US, Canadian, UK and EU banks; file import elsewhere |
| Sharing | Shared wallets on Plus and Premium; only the wallet’s owner needs a paid plan | One subscription shared by a group of up to six people |
| Currencies | A currency for each wallet; totals are converted into your main currency | One currency per spending plan; currencies cannot be mixed in one plan |
| The idea | See where your money went, sorted for you, and what is left for today | Decide what your money is for before you spend it |
YNAB details from ynab.com/pricing, ynab.com/features, ynab.com, read on November 11, 2026. Spendee prices are the US App Store’s; your country’s are on the pricing page.
Choose Spendee if
- You want to start free and pay only if you need more wallets, budgets or your bank connected.
- You would rather see where your money goes than assign every dollar in advance.
- You keep money in more than one currency and want one total.
- You share a wallet with a partner, family or housemates.
Stay with YNAB if
- Planning every dollar before you spend it is what keeps you on track. That method is what YNAB is built around.
- You want your budget on an Apple Watch. Spendee has no Apple Watch app.
Questions
Is there a free alternative to YNAB?
Spendee has a free plan with no time limit: you add payments by hand, keep one cash wallet and a total budget, and your data syncs across your devices. YNAB has no free plan; it offers a 34-day free trial.
How much does Spendee cost compared with YNAB?
YNAB costs $14.99 a month or $109 a year. Spendee Plus is $3.99 a month or $27.99 a year, and Spendee Premium, which adds bank connection, is $7.99 a month or $44.99 a year on the US App Store. Prices differ by country and store.
Does Spendee connect to my bank like YNAB does?
Yes, on the Premium plan. Spendee connects read-only through licensed open-banking partners (Salt Edge and Plaid), with bank lists for 36 countries. YNAB imports directly from select US, Canadian, UK and EU banks.
Can I use Spendee with my partner?
Yes. A shared wallet lets several people add payments and see the same numbers; only the owner of the wallet needs Plus or Premium. YNAB lets a group of up to six people share one subscription.