Firefly III vs YNAB
Thinking of swapping YNAB for the open-source Firefly III? Here’s the honest trade-off.
24k PHP AGPL-3.0 today
What you give up vs YNAB
- Bank import requires a separate importer container and CSV/OFX manipulation; no one-click bank sync
- UI can feel complex and verbose for casual users compared to Mint's simplicity
- No built-in mobile app; third-party apps exist but vary in quality
- Investment and brokerage account tracking is limited compared to dedicated wealth tools
What you gain
- • Full data ownership — self-host Firefly III on your own infrastructure.
- • No per-seat SaaS bill (YNAB: a yearly subscription that keeps climbing).
- • Open-source code you can audit and extend (AGPL-3.0).