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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

YNAB vs Copilot

YNAB 4.8★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner YNAB
Copilot 4.8★ · Free + IAP 65

YNAB is better for dedicated zero-based budgeting with strong educational resources, while Copilot offers a more modern, visually appealing interface for general money tracking and forecasting.

Full reviews: YNAB · Copilot

YNAB excels in teaching and implementing its zero-based budgeting method, leading to significant financial transformation for many users, despite recent app updates causing usability frustrations. Copilot offers a sleek interface for tracking and forecasting finances, but users report frequent syncing issues and slow feature development.

Head to head

Budgeting Approach & Effectiveness edge: YNABR2R5R11R20
YNAB YNAB's zero-based budgeting method is highly praised for its effectiveness in changing financial habits, helping users save money, pay off debt, and gain financial clarity R2R5R11R20. It teaches users to be intentional with every dollar, preventing overspending .
Copilot Copilot is described as a strong personal finance tracker and good for goal setting and planning ahead, helping users see where money went and manage expenses . However, some note it's not a strict zero-based budgeting app .
Ease of Use & User Interface edge: CopilotR1R4R6R9
YNAB YNAB has a significant learning curve for new users due to its unique budgeting concept, with some finding it complicated and wishing for more tutorials R4R36. Recent UI updates have been a major source of frustration, adding extra clicks and making previously simple functions more difficult, leading to a perception of the app getting worse R1R6R9R12.
Copilot Copilot is generally praised for its intuitive setup, clean design, and polished mobile app . However, some users find its interface non-intuitive and that it prioritizes aesthetics over function .
Reliability & Account Syncing edge: YNABR1R3R5R16
YNAB YNAB users report issues with transaction syncing, inaccurate balances, and difficulty connecting to certain banks or cards R1R3R5R16. Some attribute these problems to reliance on third-party connectors .
Copilot Copilot frequently experiences syncing issues, with accounts not updating, transactions missing, or being double-counted . Many users blame the app's heavy reliance on Plaid services for these connectivity problems R81.
Price & Value tieR2R9R10R12
YNAB YNAB is perceived as expensive, with users noting increasing subscription prices over the years R9R12. However, many long-term users feel the value, in terms of money saved, far exceeds the cost R2. Some users are frustrated by being automatically signed up for a free trial R10.
Copilot Copilot is also considered expensive, with a yearly subscription costing around $95 R81R88R94R97. While some find it worth the price for its features and service , others feel it's too costly given the slow updates and persistent bugs R88R94.
Customer Support & Development edge: YNABR6R15R16R32
YNAB YNAB's customer support is praised by some as excellent and helpful, with good educational resources R32. However, recent reviews mention difficulty getting human support and ineffective AI support R16. Users are frustrated by constant, often unwanted, UI changes and a lack of stability R6R15.
Copilot Copilot's support is described as responsive and helpful by some . However, many users report slow, unhelpful, or inaccessible customer service, often relying on chat bots that cannot solve problems R88. There are also complaints about slow bug fixes and new feature development R94.
Pick YNAB if

you are committed to learning and implementing a zero-based budgeting system to fundamentally change your financial habits, and you value a robust methodology over a constantly polished interface R2R5R11R20.

Pick Copilot if

you prefer a visually appealing, native iOS app for tracking and forecasting your finances, and you are comfortable with potential syncing issues and a less strict budgeting approach .

Evidence note: Both apps have a mix of positive and negative recent reviews. YNAB's recent negative reviews heavily focus on UI changes, while Copilot's focus on syncing and crashing issues. The lifetime ratings are very similar, suggesting that despite recent frustrations, both apps have a strong core user base.

Frequently asked

Is YNAB easy to use for beginners?
YNAB has a learning curve for beginners due to its unique zero-based budgeting concept, with many users recommending tutorials and educational resources to understand it R4R32R36R56.
How much does Copilot cost?
Copilot costs around $95 per year for its subscription R81R88R94R97.
Do these apps connect to all banks?
Both apps experience connectivity issues with various financial institutions; YNAB users report problems with Fidelity, Sam's Club Mastercard, Amex, and Chase UK R3R5R57R60, while Copilot users mention issues with Robinhood, Wells Fargo, TD Bank, Upgrade, Prosper, Webull, and other institutions, often attributing problems to their reliance on Plaid R81.
Are there issues with recent updates for either app?
Yes, YNAB users frequently complain about recent UI updates making the app more complicated and requiring extra clicks for common actions R1R6R12R15, while Copilot users report that recent updates have caused the app to crash on opening for many .

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] YNAB 5/5 · US Changed our finances: I am a CPA. I am familiar with budgeting in general so I was looking for an app that would meet my high standards in what I think a budget should be. This exceeds expectations! Using this app has allowed us to save enough money to invest in a higher interest savings account. The monthly interest earned exceeds the monthly cost of this app. This app pays for itself!
  2. [R5] YNAB 5/5 · US Fun, Practical, Helpful: I really like this budgeting app. It teaches you a thing or two about budgeting. I am putting into practice zero-cash dollar budgeting. I have found some difficulty connecting to cards using MX, when not supported by plaid (Sam’s Club Mastercard). I love the way I can reflect on the month as a whole and see where I overspent or did very well in. I would request a new fe
  3. [R11] YNAB 5/5 · US Life Changing: The app is fairly simple to use and easy to navigate. It takes discipline as does every budgeting system, but it does its job well. I went from wondering how much disposable income I had at any given point and being stressed about bills, to having 6 months of bills covered, a travel fun, savings, plus disposable income for the random nights out and impulse buys. I finally tapped int
  4. [R20] YNAB 5/5 · US YNAB Saved My Financial Future: This is likely going to be a very long review, but for anyone considering a budgeting app change or even just adopting one altogether, this is for you. 6 months ago I woke up and my bank account was drained to 6 cents. Nothing more. My savings had been completely drained by auto-transfers from my checking account over and over until both were empty. I had already r
  5. [R1] YNAB 2/5 · US Used to be awesome: The idea behind this app was really wonderful and taught me to budget in a way that changed the way I look at my finances forever. Unfortunately, all of the app changes lately get in the way of functionality. Transactions have to get submitted multiple times, balances are somehow inaccurate, color coding is no longer accurate, and month-to-month logic is basically nonexistent.
  6. [R4] YNAB 2/5 · US Not an easy app: This app has a good concept but is unnecessarily complicated to use. Be sure of what you want to achieve here because the concept of “zero based budgeting”, is really not for a basic budgeting app. There should be a class or tutorial on how to use it. Frustrating, and I’ve had it over a year.
  7. [R6] YNAB 3/5 · US Great service, troubling implementation: I love YNAB’s budgeting approach. I love that it is a mobile friendly solution. I don’t love the software updates. It seems they don’t know what they want in an UI and they’re just guessing at where to put things. No matter how they change things, it still feels inconvenient and more difficult. The app also has maddening delays and DRAINS my phone battery.
  8. [R9] YNAB 3/5 · US Used to be the gold standard: The app and platform used to be the be all, end all for budgeting, but over the past few years has gotten progressively more expensive, and even more convoluted. If you are already in the YNAB environment, the app is well made, but if you are looking for a budgeting solution as a new user, I would implore you to look elsewhere, to a company that still cares.
  9. [R3] YNAB 3/5 · US Please allow Fidelity connection: I have multiple accounts that i need to manually add transactions
  10. [R16] YNAB 1/5 · US Initially great- but not functioning in a helpful way anymore: For two years I used YNAB daily with great success. For the last few months my working balance has been wildly inaccurate and I have been unable to edit my budget. An app refresh did not help. I cannot get human support and the AI support doesn’t care.
  11. [R10] YNAB 1/5 · US Disappointed: As soon as I created an account, it automatically signed me up for a free trial WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. Now I have to spend time figuring out how much they charge afterwards how to cancel it. I didn’t even have a chance to see if I like the app and what it has to offer. They literally TRAPPED me into this free trial. They not how a good financial app has to work.
  12. [R12] YNAB 3/5 · US Method works. App is ok.: YNAB Method is still 5/5. The app however, continues to have updates that require more clicks for previously easy to use functions. I don’t think it’s one singular update, but rather the trajectory of the past few updates while of course raising the subscription price in the process. Find myself using the desktop more than the app.
  13. [R15] YNAB 3/5 · US Progressively Worse: While I like YNAB, it has managed to get both worse and more expensive over the years. The UI changes too often and sadly in ways that make it more difficult to use. The “updates” sometimes introduce bugs. I’d rather they keep the application stable and usable than try to justify the price hikes by constantly tweaking the user experience.
  14. [R32] YNAB 5/5 · US A great tool: Once I learned the system and how the app works, I find it very helpful in maintaining my peace around money. The company has a lot of educational resources on their website and YouTube channel to help.
  15. [R36] YNAB 3/5 · US Confusing: I find this app hard to understand. Possibly because I use my credit card for most transactions. I don’t know. I just feel like it could use more hints or tutorials.
  16. [R56] YNAB 5/5 · US Best Budgeting App: Honestly way better than any other budget app I’ve tried. A little bit of a learning curve but worth it in my opinion.
  17. [R81] Copilot 3/5 · US Relies too much on Plaid services: Started a yearly subscription in the beginning of 2026. Halfway through, my accounts stopped syncing and ruined all the tracking of my investments, categories, and cash flow. And they blamed it on Plaid, the company they used to track your accounts. Shouldn’t build an app that relies heavily on another company that they can’t control. Tried to get a refund, but s
  18. [R88] Copilot 1/5 · US Expensive and doesn’t work: They deleted my last review, but for $95 a year the app should actually work 100% of the time. Accounts constantly need reconnection. Their ai support agent hallucinates and I haven’t been able to get in touch with a real person. I will be looking for alternatives.
  19. [R94] Copilot 1/5 · US Only get if you like it as-is: New “features” are developed at a snails pace. They also took away the ability to see and vote on what features we (users) want to see in the app. No way to see the status of bugs and feedback or updates on concerns is nonexistent. 95$ a year is way too expensive for an app that is not improving at all and wishes it is as great as Mint once was.
  20. [R97] Copilot 2/5 · US The app crashed on my iPad.: I downloaded the app on my iPad, paid for the yearly subscription and I couldn’t move further from there . The app keeps asking me to subscribe when I tap the subscribe tab it says that I already have a subscription. I tried restoring the purchase, uninstalling and re installing the app with absolutely no success. Getting help from customer support is a waste of time b
  21. [R57] YNAB 3/5 · GB No support for Amex: Says that American Express is supported, but trying to connect multiple times, same result: failure. Doing a web search, seems it’s a known issue. May be in the Amex side, may not be, but without the bulk of my spending available here, app is worthless.
  22. [R60] YNAB 3/5 · GB Chase UK not supported: Unfortunately Chase UK is not supported.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store