YNAB vs. Monarch: Which Budgeting App is Right for You (2025)?

When you’re trying to get your financial life in order, the internet will happily throw a million budgeting apps at you. Two names that pop up a lot right now are YNAB (You Need a Budget) and Monarch Money.

But what’s the difference between them? And which one will actually help you stop stressing about money? Let’s break it down in plain English, so even if you’ve never used a budgeting app before, you’ll walk away knowing which one’s worth your time.

First, Meet the Contenders

What is YNAB?

YNAB (short for “You Need a Budget”) is all about proactive budgeting. That means instead of tracking where your money went after you spend it, YNAB helps you decide what each dollar will do before you spend it.

Think of it like assigning jobs: “Okay paycheck, you’re paying the rent, covering groceries, and setting aside a bit for car repairs.” Every single dollar gets a plan.

YNAB is built around four simple rules:

1. Give every dollar a job

2. Embrace true expenses (plan for bigger, less frequent bills like holidays or car insurance)

3. Roll with the punches (budgets aren’t perfect—you can adjust when life happens)

4. Age your money (the goal is to get ahead so you’re using “last month’s money” to pay this month’s bills)

It’s less about tracking and more about building habits that reduce money stress over time.

What is Monarch?

Monarch Money is more of an all-in-one financial dashboard. It lets you see your spending, bills, bank accounts, investments, debts, and even your net worth all in one place.

It does include budgeting features, but they’re not as detailed as YNAB’s. Monarch is more about giving you a big-picture overview:

• How much you’re spending each month

• What subscriptions you’re paying for

• How your investments are doing

• How your net worth changes over time

If YNAB is like hiring a tough but kind personal trainer for your money, Monarch is like hiring a life coach who checks in on all areas of your financial health.

Cost Comparison

YNAB 34 days free trial (no credit card required) $14.99/month or $109/year after that.

Monarch 7 days trial $14.99/month or $99.99/year after that.

Both cost about the same, but notice:

• YNAB gives you a full 34-day free trial, which is long enough to get through an entire month’s budget cycle.

• Monarch only gives you a week, which isn't much time to decide if it fits your style.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

YNAB Pros

• Teaches you how to budget (not just track spending)

• Great educational resources (workshops, guides, a huge supportive community, and even coaches!)

• Encourages intentional money habits that break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle

YNAB Cons

• Requires a little hands-on work (checking in regularly)

• Focused mainly on budgeting (but you're also able to track your investments and net worth in the software and app)

Monarch Pros

• Tracks everything—budgets, accounts, investments, and net worth

• Great for couples or families who want to collaborate on money

Monarch Cons

• Budgeting features are more “loose” (easy to overspend without noticing)

• Shorter free trial

• Can feel overwhelming if you only care about day-to-day budgeting

Which one should you choose?

• If your main goal is to get in control of your spending, stop living paycheck to paycheck, and finally feel calm about money → YNAB is the clear winner. It’s a budgeting tool first and foremost, and it will literally change how you think about money.

• If you already feel okay about budgeting but want one app to track your investments, savings, debts, and net worth in one place → Monarch could be a fit.

But here’s the thing: most people searching for budgeting apps don’t need a dashboard of everything they own. They need help making sure the money they do have actually lasts the month. That’s where YNAB shines.

Try It Yourself

If you’re curious, the best way to know is to test drive. The good news? YNAB gives you a full 34 days free—no credit card required. That’s plenty of time to actually see if it helps you feel more in control.

👉 Start your free 34-day YNAB trial here

And if you want more help with a YNAB Certified Coach like me, you can get an additional 2 free months of YNAB.

Final Thought

Both YNAB and Monarch want to help you manage your money. The difference is in their focus:

• Monarch = big-picture financial snapshot

• YNAB = practical, everyday budgeting system that teaches you lasting habits

You’ve got this—one job for every dollar at a time.