The best YNAB alternative
at half the price
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.
YNAB is great, but it’s not the only option
YNAB (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.
CountAbout 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.
6 reasons people switch from YNAB to CountAbout
Save $50+/year
CountAbout Premium costs $54.99/year with automatic bank sync vs YNAB’s $109/year. That’s real money back in your budget every year.
Import from Quicken & Simplifi
Switching from Quicken? CountAbout is the only budgeting app that imports your full Quicken and Simplifi transaction history. YNAB can’t do this.
True privacy: your data stays yours
CountAbout is a small, independent company, subscription-supported and ad-free. Your financial data stays private and is never shared with third parties.
Projected Register Balance
See your future account balance on any date based on scheduled transactions. YNAB doesn’t offer this. CountAbout does.
Receipt attachments
Attach receipts and documents directly to transactions for taxes, warranties, and records. Both CountAbout and YNAB support this. Budgeters love it.
Schedule C & E tracking
Freelancers, landlords, and small business owners get IRS-aligned category tracking built in. YNAB is personal-only.
CountAbout vs YNAB: Feature Comparison
See exactly what you get with each app.
| Feature | CountAbout | YNAB |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Multi-User Access | ✓ Full & Read Only, unlimited | Partner only |
Switching from YNAB: What to Know
Can I import my YNAB data into CountAbout?
YNAB 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.
Does CountAbout support zero-based budgeting like YNAB?
Yes. CountAbout’s spending plan tools let you review all income and expenses, track by category, and adjust your behavior as your month progresses.
Is CountAbout really ad-free?
Yes. 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.
What if I need help switching?
Our dedicated customer support team can help you get set up. We’re known for fast, friendly responses. We’re real people, not bots.
Can couples or families use CountAbout together?
Yes. CountAbout’s Multi-User Access lets the account owner invite a partner, family member, or bookkeeper by email. Each invited user gets their own secure login with either Full Access (can view and modify) or Read Only (view-only, enforced server-side). It’s included in every plan at no extra cost, with no limit on invited users. Learn more →
Try CountAbout free
for 45 days
All features included. No credit card required. See why people are switching from YNAB to CountAbout.
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