Miyo vs YNAB for couples
YNAB is a zero-based budgeting app that lets the subscriber share it with up to five people. If you want a YNAB alternative for couples, this page compares it with Miyo row by row, using only what YNAB says on its own site.
Miyo is for
Miyo fits couples who want each account set to Private, Shared or Balance only on the Couple plan, a Free plan to start on, and a view of what's safe to spend until payday.
YNAB is for
YNAB fits people who want a zero-based method, free live workshops, native phone apps, and one shared plan for the whole household.
| Feature | Miyo | YNAB |
|---|---|---|
| Price source | Free plan; paid plans and prices are on the pricing page | Listed at $14.99/month or $109/year on October 2, 2026 (USD) |
| Free trial source | 14-day trial, no card; falls back to Free | Listed as a 34-day free trial, no credit card required for direct sign-ups, on October 2, 2026 |
| Free plan source | Yes, a Free plan | No free tier listed on their pricing page as of October 2, 2026; college students can get a free 365-day trial through the College Program |
| Sharing with a partner source | Add a partner on the Couple plan | YNAB Together: the subscriber can add up to five people to a group at no added cost |
| Privacy between partners source | Set per account on the Couple plan: Private, Shared or Balance only (name and balance, never transactions) | Set per plan, not per account; the group manager can access plans that members create |
| Budgeting method source | Budgets with rollover | Zero-based budgeting: give every dollar a job |
| Safe to spend until payday source | Forecast shows what's safe to spend until payday | Not advertised on their site as of October 2, 2026; their irregular-income guide warns against budgeting income before it arrives |
| Paycheck calculator source | Paycheck calculator gives a take-home estimate | Not advertised on their site as of October 2, 2026; they publish irregular-income guidance instead |
| Native iOS and Android apps source | No | Yes Miyo is a web app that runs in any browser, on a computer or a phone. YNAB lists computer, phone and tablet access. |
| Free live workshops source | Not offered | Free live workshops, including the Payday Hangout |
Where YNAB is the better pick
- Method depth: YNAB's zero-based approach (give every dollar a job) comes with guides, and Miyo doesn't teach a method that thorough.
- Workshops and community: YNAB runs free live workshops, including the Payday Hangout, plus a loan planner tool.
- Native apps: YNAB has iOS and Android apps alongside the web; Miyo runs in the browser, on a computer or a phone.
- Sharing cost: YNAB Together lets the subscriber add up to five people at no added cost.
Who each app suits
YNAB is built around one idea: give every dollar a job before you spend it. If that method already works for you, there may be no reason to switch. Its free workshops and guides help people learn the method, and its phone apps make it easy to log spending on the go.
The difference for couples is where privacy lives. On YNAB, sharing happens at the level of a plan, and the person who manages a YNAB Together group can open the plans that members create. That suits households that want one fully shared budget.
Miyo starts from accounts instead. On the Couple plan, each account is set to Private, Shared or Balance only, and Balance only shows your partner the account name and balance, never the transactions. The Mine / Yours / Ours view on the Couple plan keeps personal and joint money side by side without merging them.
Miyo also leans on paydays. Forecast shows what's safe to spend until your next payday, and the paycheck calculator gives an estimate of take-home pay. Both are aimed at people who budget paycheck to paycheck.
Switching from YNAB
If you decide to try Miyo, you don't have to start from a blank slate. Miyo can import your YNAB export, and it also takes CSV files from other tools. The switch-from-YNAB page walks through the steps.
- Export your plan from YNAB; the switch-from-YNAB page shows how.
- Start on the Free plan in Miyo and import the YNAB export.
- Connect accounts with read-only bank sync through Plaid, or keep importing CSV files.
- On the Couple plan, invite your partner and choose Private, Shared or Balance only for each account.
Miyo's 14-day trial needs no card and falls back to the Free plan when it ends, so you can run both apps side by side for a while before deciding. Paid plans and prices are on the pricing page.
If you like YNAB's habit of planning each dollar, budgets with rollover in Miyo carry unspent money into the next month.
Common questions
Is Miyo cheaper than YNAB?
It depends on the plan you need. Miyo has a Free plan. Paid plans and prices are on the pricing page. YNAB's listed prices, checked on October 2, 2026, are in the table above.
Can I bring my YNAB data into Miyo?
Yes. Miyo can import your YNAB export, plus CSV files from other tools. The switch-from-YNAB page has the steps.
On the Miyo Couple plan, can my partner and I keep some accounts private?
Yes. On the Couple plan, each account is Private, Shared or Balance only; Balance only shows the name and balance, never the transactions.
YNAB is a trademark of its owner. Miyo is not affiliated with YNAB. Features and prices change; if something here is out of date, tell us.
Try Miyo alongside YNAB
Start on the Free plan, or take the 14-day trial with no card. It falls back to Free when it ends.