A YNAB alternative with no subscription
YNAB is excellent software, but it costs $109 a year. Here is an honest comparison with Sealed, a private envelope budget with no bank login.
The short version
YNAB is a mature, well-supported budgeting product with automatic bank import and multi-device sync. It is also a subscription. Sealed makes a different trade: no bank connection, no account, one-time purchase planned. If privacy or price matters more than automation, Sealed is worth a look. If automation matters most, stay with YNAB.
Five-year cost
| YNAB | Sealed (planned) | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing | $14.99 a month or $109 a year | Free up to 7 envelopes; Plus $29.99 once or $14.99 a year |
| 1 year | $109 | $0 free, or $14.99 on yearly Plus |
| 5 years | $545 on the yearly plan | $0 free, $29.99 lifetime, or $74.95 yearly |
Prices checked 2026-11-07 on the vendors' own pricing pages. Plans change, so confirm before you buy. Sealed store prices are planned, not final.
Feature comparison
| Feature | YNAB | Sealed web build |
|---|---|---|
| Method | Zero-based, give every dollar a job | Envelopes with payday ritual; every dollar gets a job |
| Bank connection | Yes (optional) | None by design |
| Statement import | Yes | CSV, OFX, QIF with review and undo |
| Sync across devices | Yes | No; manual JSON backup and restore |
| Accounts needed | Yes | No |
| Works offline | Limited | Fully |
| Reports and goals | Extensive | Envelope pace, sinking funds; no reports suite |
| Data location | Vendor servers | Your device |
Who should pick which
Choose YNAB if you want transactions to arrive automatically, share a budget between devices or partners today, and are happy to pay for a polished, supported product.
Choose Sealed if you do not want to link your bank, you are fine spending a minute a day logging, and you would rather pay once or not at all.
Still deciding? Read how budgeting without bank login works in practice, or try the paycheck splitter to see whether envelopes suit you.
FAQ
Is there a free version of YNAB?
YNAB offers a free trial (34 days according to its pricing page, checked 2026-11-07). After that it is a paid subscription.
Can Sealed replace YNAB?
If you want zero-based, envelope-style planning without bank sync, yes. If you rely on automatic transaction import from your bank or sync across several devices and people, YNAB does that today and Sealed does not.
Does Sealed import bank transactions?
Not through a bank connection. You can import CSV, OFX or QIF files you download from your bank, and review each row before it is added.