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Comparison · Budgeting apps

Firefly III vs YNAB: which is better in 2026?

Firefly III79.0#6 in best budgeting appsYNAB91.0#1 in best budgeting apps

YNAB ranks higher in our list of budgeting apps (#1 against #6, score 91.0 against 79.0).

  • 79.0
    Editorial score
    91.0
  • 2
    Platforms
    4
  • Yes
    Free to use
    No
  • Yes
    Open source
    No

Which should you choose?

Choose Firefly III if you want

Self-hosted double-entry bookkeeping.

A free, open-source double-entry ledger that you run on your own server with Docker or a self-managed install. It rewards accounting-minded users, but setup, backups and upgrades are the owner's job.

Choose YNAB if you want

Envelope budgeting with a hands-on plan.

Zero-based envelope budgeting with bank connections, debt planning and subscription sharing, on web, iOS and Android. It is subscription-only after a 34-day trial, and the method takes time to learn.

The main differences

  • Only YNAB runs on iOS.
  • Only YNAB runs on Android.
  • Firefly III is open source; YNAB is not.
  • Firefly III can be used for free; YNAB requires payment.

Side by side

Firefly IIIYNAB
Score79.091.0
Rank in list#6 of 6#1 of 6
PriceFree and open sourceFree and open source; you host it on your own serverSubscriptionSubscription after a 34-day free trial
Free to useYesNo
Open sourceYesNo
PlatformsWebSelf-hostedWeb, Self-hostedWebiOS, iPadOSAndroidWeb, iOS, iPadOS, Android
Made byNot statedYNAB
Self-hosted optionYesNo
Bank connectionsManual entry and importsYes, linked bank accounts
Budgeting methodDouble-entry ledgerZero-based envelopes
Best forSelf-hosted double-entry bookkeepingEnvelope budgeting with a hands-on plan
Strengths
  • Double-entry bookkeeping for accurate ledgers
  • AGPL-3.0 open-source code
  • Installs with Docker or on a self-managed server
  • Zero-based method with category planning
  • Bank connections match transactions to categories
  • Debt payoff planning and subscription sharing
Limits
  • Owner runs servers, backups and upgrades
  • Setup needs more technical skill than hosted apps
  • No free plan beyond the 34-day trial
  • The method takes time to learn
LinksVisit site Visit site

Questions about Firefly III vs YNAB

Is YNAB better than Firefly III?
YNAB ranks higher in our list of budgeting apps (#1 against #6, score 91.0 against 79.0). Firefly III is best for: self-hosted double-entry bookkeeping. YNAB is best for: envelope budgeting with a hands-on plan.
Which is cheaper, Firefly III or YNAB?
Firefly III: Free and open source; you host it on your own server. YNAB: Subscription after a 34-day free trial.
Do Firefly III and YNAB run on the same platforms?
Firefly III supports Web, Self-hosted. YNAB supports Web, iOS, iPadOS, Android.