YNAB is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 8.7. YNAB wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Wise on 1.
People who want to break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle with a hands-on method
Travelers, expats and freelancers who send or receive money across borders
Score by score
The details
| Feature | YNAB | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Money & Investing | Money & Investing |
| Category rank | #2 of 10 | #4 of 10 |
| Developer | You Need A Budget LLC | Wise plc |
| Pricing | Subscription | Free |
| Usable for free | No | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Strengths and weaknesses
YNAB
- Changes how you think about spending, not just tracks it
- Subscription model with no ads in the app
- Excellent education through free workshops and guides
- Steep learning curve for the first month
- No free tier, and investment tracking is basic
YNAB is a budgeting method as much as an app. You give every dollar a job before you spend it, and the app makes overspending obvious right away. Free workshops and guides help the habit stick. The learning curve is real and there is no free plan, but if you want to break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle, no app teaches it better.
Full YNAB review
Wise
- Fees and exchange rate shown before you send
- Hold and convert dozens of currencies
- Fast transfers on most popular routes
- Not a bank, so it lacks loans and overdrafts
- Card and account features vary by country
Wise is the easiest way to move money across borders without losing a chunk to poor exchange rates. It uses the mid-market rate and shows its fee upfront, so you know exactly what arrives. The multi-currency account and debit card make travel and freelancing simpler. It is not a bank, though, and fees on large or unusual currency routes can add up.
Full Wise review
