Pro tip: I compared Mint and YNAB for my budget and the difference is real

I used Mint for a year (it's free, right?) and just felt lost in all the automatic categories. Switched to YNAB last month and the 'give every dollar a job' rule, even though it costs $99 a year, actually made me plan for my car insurance bill in Boston. Has anyone else felt like one app just clicked for them when another didn't?

3 comments

3 Comments

bell.felix2d ago

Totally agree with @blair_martin. YNAB makes you think ahead, while Mint just shows you the wreckage.

wendysanchez2d ago

Yeah, that "shows you the wreckage" line from bell.felix is exactly it. I read a blog post that called Mint a rearview mirror and YNAB a windshield, which makes total sense. I mean, seeing where I overspent last month never stopped me from doing it again.

blair_martin2d agoTop Commenter

Yeah, that forced planning in YNAB is the whole point. Mint just tracks where your money went, which never changed my habits.