Budgeting and managing money is crucial to everyone’s life. However, finding a tool or platform that fits your needs and works for your bank account without breaking the bank can be daunting. That’s where YNAB (You Need a Budget) comes in. While the new subscription fees may put some people off, there are many YNAB alternative free options available. In this blog post, we will be sharing six of the best free budgeting alternatives you can try out today.
1. Mint
Mint is one of the most popular YNAB alternative free apps out there. It’s a free and easy to use tool that helps you track and categorize your expenses. You can link your bank accounts, credit cards, and other financial institutions to your Mint account, where you can see your balances, transactions, and other financial information. It’s a great option for those who want a basic but effective budget management system.
2. Personal Capital
Personal Capital is another YNAB alternative free, but it is geared more towards investors. However, it still offers a variety of features for budget tracking and management. You can link all of your accounts (checking, savings, investments) to Personal Capital and view your net worth, spending, and investment performance in one place. This app also offers a free financial advisory tool that can help you optimize your investments.
3. PocketGuard
PocketGuard is an excellent app for those who want to keep their budget on track without too much input. The app links to your bank accounts and automatically categorizes your expenses. It presents your budget as a “spendable” amount, with a number showing you how much money you have left to spend in various categories. You can set goals, analyze your spending habits, and compare your spending to others in your area. Best of all, it’s a completely YNAB alternative-free solution.
4. Goodbudget
Goodbudget is an envelope budgeting YNAB alternative free app that helps you stick to a budget by creating virtual envelopes for different categories of expenses. You can fund each envelope with an amount of money each month and track your spending as you go. Goodbudget is particularly helpful for those who tend to overspend in certain categories or who need a visual representation of their budget.
5. Every Dollar
Every Dollar is another envelope-budgeting style YNAB alternative free app. It’s very similar to Goodbudget, but there’s an added feature of creating and tracking your financial goals. You can link your bank accounts, manage your expenses with the app’s envelopes, and track your spending towards your goals all in one place. However, note that Every Dollar doesn’t permit withdrawals, which can be a downside for those who need physical access to their funds.
6. Wally
Wally is a great YNAB Alternative Free app that provides a simple and sleek interface for budget tracking. You can manually enter expenses or link accounts for automatic tracking. The app also offers a range of features, including bill reminders, income tracking, and multiple currency support.
In Short:
Budgeting is never an easy task, but these six YNAB alternative free apps make it easier and more manageable. They all offer unique features and can adapt to your financial needs regardless of your bank account balance. By giving them a try, you may find that one of these free apps is just what you need to achieve your financial goals. Don’t let subscription fees deter you from managing your finances. With a little research, you can easily find a YNAB alternative-free solution to fit your needs.