The best YNAB alternative
at half the price
\n CountAbout supports zero-based budgeting just like YNAB, but at $54.99/year instead of $109. Plus your budget tracks progress all year instead of resetting monthly, and you get features YNAB doesn’t have: Projected Register Balance, Quicken import, and FIRE planning.
\n \nYNAB is great, but it’s not the only option
\nYNAB (You Need A Budget) popularized zero-based budgeting and built a loyal following. But at $109/year with no free tier, many users are looking for an alternative that delivers the same budgeting power without the premium price tag.
\nCountAbout offers flexible budgeting, automatic transaction sync, and features YNAB doesn’t have, like Quicken/Simplifi import, projected register balances, and Schedule C & E tracking, starting at just $19.99/year.
\n6 reasons people switch from YNAB to CountAbout
\nSave $50+/year
\nCountAbout Premium costs $54.99/year with automatic bank sync vs YNAB’s $109/year. That’s real money back in your budget every year.
\nImport from Quicken & Simplifi
\nSwitching from Quicken? CountAbout is the only budgeting app that imports your full Quicken and Simplifi transaction history. YNAB can’t do this.
\nTrue privacy: your data stays yours
\nCountAbout is a small, independent company, subscription-supported and ad-free. Your financial data stays private and is never shared with third parties.
\nProjected Register Balance
\nSee your future account balance on any date based on scheduled transactions. YNAB doesn’t offer this. CountAbout does.
\nReceipt attachments
\nAttach receipts and documents directly to transactions for taxes, warranties, and records. Both CountAbout and YNAB support this. Budgeters love it.
\nSchedule C & E tracking
\nFreelancers, landlords, and small business owners get IRS-aligned category tracking built in. YNAB is personal-only.
\nCountAbout vs YNAB: Feature Comparison
\nSee exactly what you get with each app.
\n| Feature | \nCountAbout | \nYNAB | \n
|---|---|---|
| Annual Price (with bank sync) | $54.99 | $109 |
| Basic Plan (manual entry) | $19.99/yr | N/A |
| Free Trial | 45 days | 34 days |
| Zero-Based Budgeting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automatic Bank Sync | ✓ | ✓ |
| Import from Quicken | ✓ | ✗ |
| Import from Simplifi | ✓ | ✗ |
| Projected Register Balance | ✓ | ✗ |
| Receipt Attachments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Schedule C & E Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Small-Business Invoicing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Investment Balance Tracking | ✓ | Tracking accounts only |
| Custom Categories | ✓ | ✓ |
| Split Transactions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ad-Free | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free for Active Military | ✓ | ✓ (1 year free) |
| Mobile Apps (iOS & Android) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Loan Amortization Schedule | ✓ | ✗ |
| Auto Loan Payment Splitting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Smart Auto-Categorization | ✓ (3-layer) | Partial |
| Net Worth Tracking | ✓ | ✓ |
| Customizable Dashboard Widgets | ✓ | ✗ |
| FIRE Planning Widget | ✓ | ✗ |
| Multiple Data Aggregators | ✓ (3: MX, Plaid, Yodlee) | 1 |
| Budget Year-to-Date Tracking | ✓ | Monthly resets |
Switching from YNAB: What to Know
\nCan I import my YNAB data into CountAbout?
\nYNAB allows you to export transactions as CSV files. You can then import those into CountAbout to preserve your history. If you’re coming from Quicken or Simplifi, CountAbout offers direct import.
\nDoes CountAbout support zero-based budgeting like YNAB?
\nYes. CountAbout’s spending plan tools let you review all income and expenses, track by category, and adjust your behavior as your month progresses.
\nIs CountAbout really ad-free?
\nYes. CountAbout is 100% subscription-supported. There are no ads and no affiliate offers. As an independent company, we answer only to our subscribers, not advertisers or data brokers.
\nWhat if I need help switching?
\nOur dedicated customer support team can help you get set up. We’re known for fast, friendly responses. We’re real people, not bots.
\nCan couples or families use CountAbout together?
\nYes. Many couples and families use CountAbout to manage their finances together. You can track joint and individual accounts in one place, set savings goals, monitor debt payoff progress, and get a complete picture of your household finances, with total privacy.
\nTry CountAbout free
for 45 days
\n All features included. No credit card required. See why people are switching from YNAB to CountAbout.
\n Start Your Free Trial\nNo credit card required · Cancel anytime · Active military always free
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