YNAB Alternative for Freelancers
Tired of paying $14.99/month for YNAB? You're not alone. YNAB's price increases have pushed many freelancers to look for alternatives that won't break the bank.
Cash Flow Forecaster is 47% cheaper and takes a different approach: instead of tracking where your money went, we show you where it will be. For freelancers with irregular income, that forward-looking view is often more valuable.
YNAB
$14.99/mo
or $109/year
Cash Flow Forecaster
$7.99/mo
or $79/year
Your Savings
$7/mo
47% less than YNAB
Feature comparison
YNAB excels at envelope budgeting and tracking past spending. But if you need to see your future cash flow—especially with irregular income—here's how we compare.
| Feature | Cash Flow Forecaster | YNAB |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Forward-looking (shows future balance) | Backward-looking (tracks past spending) |
| Monthly price | $7.99/mo (47% cheaper) | $14.99/mo |
| Yearly price | $79/year | $109/year |
| Lifetime option | $99 one-time | Not available |
| Free tier | Yes (10 bills, 10 income, 90-day forecast) | 34-day trial only |
| Irregular income support | Built for it | Requires workarounds |
| Daily balance forecast | See balance on any future day | Monthly view only |
| Forecast length | Up to 365 days | Current month focus |
| "Safe to Spend" indicator | Always visible | "Age of Money" (different concept) |
| Credit card forecasting | Utilization tracking + payment simulator | No |
| Debt payoff planner | Snowball vs Avalanche comparison | No |
| Bill collision alerts | Yes | No |
| Built-in invoicing | Runway Collect | No |
| Invoice → forecast sync | Automatic | Not applicable |
| Excel import | CSV & Excel (.xlsx, .xls) | CSV only |
| Reports & Export | Monthly Summary, Category, Excel/JSON | Basic reports |
| Auto-detect recurring | Import creates recurring entries | Manual only |
| Bank sync | Optional (coming soon) | Yes (Plaid) |
| Learning curve | Simple calendar view | Steep (envelope method) |
| YNAB data migration | Dedicated importer (auto-detects format) | Export only |
| Mobile app | PWA (works on mobile) | Native iOS/Android |
Why freelancers switch from YNAB
YNAB is a great tool for W-2 employees with predictable paychecks. But freelancers often need something different.
Forward-looking, not backward-looking
YNAB tells you where your money went. We show you where it will be—on any day up to a year ahead. When clients pay erratically, that visibility is essential.
No envelope complexity
YNAB's envelope method has a steep learning curve. Our calendar view is intuitive: see income, see bills, see your balance. That's it.
Built-in invoicing
Send invoices, collect payments via Stripe, and watch expected income appear in your forecast automatically. YNAB doesn't help you get paid.
47% cheaper
$7.99/mo vs $14.99/mo. Or save even more with our $99 lifetime deal—pay once, use forever. No more subscription fatigue.
Already have YNAB data? Import it in minutes.
Our dedicated YNAB importer auto-detects your export format (basic or register). Just upload your CSV or Excel file—we'll convert your transactions into bills and income sources automatically.
Ready to try a YNAB alternative?
Start with our free tier—no credit card required. See your cash flow calendar in action, then decide if it's right for you.
FAQ
Why is YNAB so expensive?
YNAB has raised prices multiple times, frustrating users. At $14.99/mo, it's one of the priciest budget apps. Cash Flow Forecaster costs 47% less.
Is Cash Flow Forecaster better than YNAB?
It depends on your needs. YNAB excels at envelope budgeting. We excel at forward-looking cash flow for irregular income. If you're a freelancer, we're likely a better fit.
Can I import from YNAB?
Yes! We have a dedicated YNAB importer that auto-detects your export format. Just upload your CSV and we handle the rest—no manual column mapping required.
Does Cash Flow Forecaster have bank sync?
Not yet—bank sync is on our roadmap. Many users prefer manual entry for privacy and control. Our CSV import makes it easy to get started.