
There are tons of highly-functional choices that don’t require a monthly subscription fee. If this is your situation, choose a free budgeting app.

For example, investing tools or an investing education center can assist you in opening an IRA after your household budget is under control, and bill pay or credit monitoring services can help you create a plan to finally pay off credit card debt once and for all. Look for an app that offers other types of personal finance services in addition to budgeting to help you get closer to your goals. Access to a more complete suite of tools: While YNAB might be great for helping you create a budget, budgeting is only a small piece of the financial health puzzle.With so many budgeting apps competing for your business, how can you tell if you’re picking the right one for your needs? Some features you can search for when choosing a YNAB alternative include: Without this code, you can’t get into your account. With two-factor authentication, you’ll receive a unique code via text or email whenever you log into your account or use a new device. Two-factor authentication is a type of security system that ensures that only you are able to access your data. If you’re looking for a one-stop shop for your personal financial management, you’ll want to choose another option. While YNAB does budgeting exceptionally well, it’s also all the app does. You Need a Budget, as its name implies, focuses on budgeting and helping you create a budget to follow throughout the month. While this may not seem like a ton of money, it might not be a good idea to spend even that much if your family is on a very tight budget, especially when you can look into free apps that work just as well. You’ll pay $6.99 a month to continue using the app after your trial period has ended. YNAB is not a free app, though you can get a free trial for 34 days.

A few other reasons you might want to make the switch:

If you travel frequently or use unsecured Wi-Fi often, you may be putting your banking information at risk. Unfortunately, YNAB doesn’t currently support two-factor authentication. Our Picks for the Best YNAB Alternatives.
