MeJu vs YNAB: which budgeting app to choose
Updated on 9 October 2026
Who each app is for
YNAB (You Need A Budget) is an American budgeting app built around its own method, where every unit of money gets a job before you spend it. It has apps for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Android, a web version, and plenty of teaching material around the method. The app is English only.
MeJu is for people who want to see their month without building a budget from scratch, especially people living between Brazil and Europe. It is available in Portuguese and English, keeps reais and euros in the same space, each balance in its own currency, and reads statements from Brazilian, Irish and European banks.
Where YNAB is stronger
- A complete budgeting method with a lot of material to learn it.
- Long trial with no card: 34 days free on the website, and 365 days for college students with proof of enrollment.
- Automatic connections to selected banks in the US, Canada, the UK and the EU. MeJu has no automatic bank connection.
- Bigger sharing: a group of up to 6 people on one subscription, at no extra cost and without sharing a password. MeJu's shared space holds 2.
- Native apps, including Apple Watch. MeJu runs in the browser and installs as a PWA.
Where MeJu is stronger
- Portuguese: the app and support speak the language. YNAB is English only.
- Reais and euros together: YNAB does not let you use multiple currencies in one plan and recommends a separate budget per currency. In MeJu, both live in the same space.
- Brazilian banks: MeJu reads PDF and CSV files from Nubank, Inter, XP, C6 Bank, Banco do Brasil and Bradesco, plus AIB, Bank of Ireland, Revolut and Wise.
- WhatsApp assistant to log spending and check your month by text or voice note.
- Data in the European Union (Ireland). YNAB says it operates from the United States and that data from users elsewhere is transferred and stored there.
- Billing in reais or euros. YNAB charges in US dollars, and exchange rates are not reflected in the price.
Differences you feel day to day
YNAB asks you to plan before you spend and to revisit the budget often. If you like that rhythm, it is powerful. MeJu starts from what already happened: you import the statement or send the expense on WhatsApp, and it shows where the month is heading on a status card.
For couples, both apps give each person their own login. MeJu shows both of you the same month, but it does not calculate who owes whom.
Pricing model
YNAB, in October 2026: US$ 14.99 per month or US$ 109 per year, plus tax where applicable, charged in US dollars. 34-day trial with no card on the website; app stores may ask for a card.
MeJu: € 8,99 per month for the app and the WhatsApp assistant, or a yearly plan where 12 months cost the same as 10. There is also a one-time purchase of the app, with no monthly fee and without the assistant. The trial lasts 14 days, with a card required at the start and nothing charged during it, and MeJu has no free plan.
Privacy and data location
YNAB operates from the United States, and its privacy policy says data from users based elsewhere is transferred, processed and stored there.
MeJu stores data in the European Union (Ireland), follows GDPR and LGPD, does not sell data and discards the statement file after reading it. AI features can be turned off in settings.
How to move from YNAB to MeJu
- Before you end your subscription, save the history you want to keep from YNAB.
- If you kept one budget per currency in YNAB, in MeJu they become a single space with reais and euros side by side.
- Download the last few months of statements as PDF or CSV from your bank and import them. Duplicates are skipped.
- If you shared YNAB with someone, invite them to your MeJu shared space, which holds up to 2 people.
- Use the 14-day trial to check that your banks are read correctly before the first charge.
| Criteria | MeJu | YNAB |
|---|---|---|
| App language | Portuguese and English | English only |
| Currencies | Reais and euros in one space, each balance in its own currency | One currency per plan; separate budget per currency |
| Shared account | Up to 2 people, each with their own login | Group of up to 6 people, no extra cost |
| Bank import | PDF or CSV files from 10 banks in Brazil, Ireland and Europe | Automatic connection to selected US, Canada, UK and EU banks; file import elsewhere |
| Assistant to log and check spending by text or voice | Not mentioned on the site | |
| Platforms | Browser and installable PWA, no native app | iOS, Android, web and Apple Watch |
| Data location | European Union (Ireland) | United States |
| Price model | € 8,99 per month, yearly plan or one-time app purchase | US$ 14.99 per month or US$ 109 per year, in USD |
| Free trial | 14 days, card required, nothing charged | 34 days with no card on the website |
Frequently asked questions
Which is better for Brazilians living in Europe, MeJu or YNAB?
If you want Portuguese, reais and euros in one place and Brazilian bank statements, MeJu. If you read English comfortably, use one currency and want to learn a detailed budgeting method, YNAB is a reference.
Is YNAB available in Portuguese?
No. The YNAB app is English only, according to its App Store listing. MeJu is available in Portuguese and English.
Can YNAB track reais and euros in the same budget?
No. YNAB says you cannot use multiple currencies together in one plan and recommends a separate budget per currency. In MeJu, reais and euros live in the same space, each with its own balance.
Is there a YNAB alternative that reads Nubank statements?
Yes. MeJu imports Nubank statements and card bills as PDF or CSV, as well as Inter, XP, C6 Bank, Banco do Brasil, Bradesco, AIB, Bank of Ireland, Revolut and Wise. The file is discarded after it is read.
Does MeJu connect to banks automatically like YNAB?
No. MeJu has no automatic bank connection and no Open Finance. You import the statement file or log the expense on WhatsApp.
How much does MeJu cost compared with YNAB?
MeJu costs € 8,99 per month, billed in reais or euros, with a 14-day trial. YNAB cost US$ 14.99 per month or US$ 109 per year in October 2026, billed in US dollars.
Sources
Try MeJu
Try it free. After the trial, the subscription costs € 8,99 per month.
Start free trial