Savly vs YNAB

YNAB (You Need A Budget) is one of the most well-known budgeting apps on the market. But at $14.99 per month with no free tier, it isn't the right fit for everyone. Here's how Savly compares as a more affordable, flexible alternative.

Feature	Savly	YNAB
Free tier	Yes (generous, forever)	No (34-day trial only)
Monthly price	£5.99	$14.99 (approx. £12)
Annual price	£59.99	$109 (approx. £87)
Bank connection	Not required	Core feature
Multi-currency (per budget)	20+ currencies	One currency only
CSV/Excel import	Yes	Yes (also QFX, OFX)
AI Financial Assistant	Yes (Premium)	No
Budgeting style	Flexible categories	Zero-based envelopes
Household sharing	Unlimited members (Premium)	Up to 6 people
Mobile experience	Responsive web app	Native iOS + Android
Learning curve	Low	Medium to high

Pricing Comparison

The most significant difference between Savly and YNAB is price. Savly offers a generous free tier that includes unlimited transactions, multiple accounts, and full budget tracking. There's no trial period and no credit card required to get started.

YNAB, by contrast, has no free plan at all. After a 34-day trial, you'll pay $14.99 per month or $109 per year. For users outside the US, that works out to roughly double what Savly Premium costs.

If you do want premium features like AI financial insights and household sharing, Savly Premium is £5.99 per month or £59.99 per year — approximately half of what YNAB charges.

Multi-Currency Support

If you earn, spend, or save in more than one currency, this is where Savly truly stands out. Savly lets you track 20+ currencies within a single budget. You can log a transaction in euros, another in dollars, and another in pounds — all in one place with automatic conversion.

YNAB only supports one currency per budget. If you deal with multiple currencies, you'd need to create separate budgets and manually track conversions between them. For expats, freelancers working with international clients, or anyone who travels frequently, this is a major limitation.

Privacy and Data Control

YNAB is built around direct bank connections. While this provides convenience, it also means sharing your banking credentials with a third-party provider. Some users, particularly those outside North America where bank syncing is less reliable, find this unnecessary or uncomfortable.

Savly takes a different approach entirely. There is no bank linking at all. You import transactions via CSV or Excel files exported from your bank, or enter them manually. Your banking credentials stay with your bank, and Savly never has access to your accounts.

For people who value data privacy or whose banks don't support third-party connections, Savly offers a straightforward, no-compromise solution.

Getting Started

Getting started with Savly takes under five minutes. Create an account, set your primary currency, and import a CSV export from your bank. Savly's auto-categorisation handles most of the sorting for you, so you can see a clear picture of your finances almost immediately.

YNAB requires more upfront investment. You'll need to connect your bank accounts (or set up manual entry), learn the zero-based envelope methodology, and allocate every dollar or pound to a specific category. While many users find this methodology powerful once learned, the learning curve can be steep for newcomers.

If you want to start tracking your money today without committing to a new budgeting philosophy, Savly lets you do exactly that.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Savly a good alternative to YNAB?

Yes. Savly offers a generous free tier (YNAB has no free plan), costs roughly half the price on a paid plan, supports 20+ currencies in a single budget, and doesn't require bank linking. It's an excellent choice for anyone who finds YNAB too expensive or too complex.

Can I switch from YNAB to Savly?

Yes. Export your YNAB transactions as a CSV file, then import them directly into Savly. The process takes just a few minutes and you'll keep your full transaction history.

Is Savly cheaper than YNAB?

Yes. Savly has a generous free tier with unlimited transactions, while YNAB offers only a 34-day trial. Savly Premium costs £5.99/month or £59.99/year, compared to YNAB's $14.99/month or $109/year (approximately £12/month or £87/year).