# Kosh vs YNAB in Canada: Budgeting App or AI CFO? > Kosh vs YNAB for Canadians: how each works, prices as of October 2026, Canadian bank support, tax and RRSP/TFSA planning, and who should pick which. Source: https://trykosh.com/compare/kosh-vs-ynab Compare - Kosh and YNAB # Kosh vs YNAB for Canadians YNAB is one of the best-known budgeting apps, and plenty of Canadians use it. Kosh is an AI CFO that works from your statements and also plans your tax and registered accounts. Here's an honest look at where each one fits. Checked October 31, 2026Written by Kosh, so read with that in mind On this page[In short](#in-short)[Side by side](#side-by-side)[Two different jobs](#two-jobs)[Where YNAB is the better choice](#where-ynab-wins)[Where Kosh is the better choice](#where-kosh-wins)[What each costs](#cost)[Can you use both?](#both)[FAQs](#faq) **In short** - YNAB is a dedicated budgeting app built around giving every dollar a job before you spend it. If you want a hands-on, daily budgeting habit, it's a strong choice. - Kosh is an AI CFO: you upload statements and it maps your money, finds fees and subscriptions to cut, estimates your federal and provincial tax and puts RRSP, TFSA and FHSA room in order. - YNAB can import from select Canadian banks directly or from files. Kosh never connects to your bank; it reads the statements you upload. - As of 31 October 2026, YNAB costs US$14.99 a month or US$109 a year after a 34-day free trial. Kosh Pro costs CA$19 a month or CA$179 a year after a 7-day trial, and Starter is free. - Pick YNAB if budgeting is the job. Pick Kosh if you also want the tax and savings plan. Some people use both. ## Side by side Kosh YNAB What it is An AI CFO for Canadians A budgeting app and method How data gets in You upload bank, card and investment statements (PDF, CSV or photo) Direct import from select US, Canadian, UK and EU banks, or file import Daily effort Low: upload statements, read the plan Higher by design: you assign and categorize money as it arrives Budgeting Spending mapped by category and month, with leaks flagged Its core strength: a zero-based budget you run yourself Canadian tax estimate Federal and provincial, incl. RSUs, side income and capital gains Not what it's built for RRSP, TFSA, FHSA planning Yes, in the right order for your income You can budget for contributions yourself Bank logins Never asked for Needed only if you use direct import Price (as of 31 Oct 2026) Starter free; Pro CA$19 a month or CA$179 a year, with a 7-day free trial US$14.99 a month or US$109 a year; 34-day free trial, no card ## Two different jobs YNAB (You Need A Budget) is a method as much as an app. You give every dollar a job before you spend it, and the app keeps you honest as transactions come in. The trade-off is effort: YNAB works best when you open it often. Kosh is an [AI CFO](/learn/what-is-an-ai-cfo). It's built around three jobs: grow your wealth, save money and save on taxes. You upload statements, and Kosh maps where your money goes, flags subscriptions, bank fees and interest you could cut, estimates your tax for your province and tells you what to do with spare cash, such as which of your RRSP, TFSA or FHSA to fill first. ## Where YNAB is the better choice - **You want to budget actively.** If you like assigning money to categories and checking in every few days, YNAB's method is purpose-built for that. - **You want transactions to flow in automatically.** YNAB's direct import covers select Canadian banks, so you don't have to download statements. - **You share a budget closely with a partner** and want both of you working in the same plan day to day. - **You want a long free trial.** YNAB's trial is 34 days with no card required, as of 31 October 2026. ## Where Kosh is the better choice - **You want the whole picture, not just the budget.** Kosh looks at tax, registered accounts, debt and idle cash as well as spending. - **You'd rather not link your bank.** Kosh works from uploaded statements and never asks for bank logins. It can't move money. - **You want Canadian tax worked out.** Kosh estimates federal and provincial tax, your marginal rate and what an RRSP contribution would save. See [how to pay less tax in Canada](/learn/how-to-pay-less-tax-canada). - **You don't want a daily habit.** Kosh does the sorting; you read the plan and act on the next step. ## What each costs As of 31 October 2026, YNAB's pricing page lists US$14.99 a month or US$109 a year, billed in US dollars, with a 34-day free trial and no credit card required. Because the price is in US dollars, what you pay in Canadian dollars moves with the exchange rate. Kosh Starter is free: one statement a month, a money summary and top recommendation, and 10 questions a month. Kosh Pro is CA$19 a month or CA$179 a year, billed in Canadian dollars, with a 7-day free trial. ## Can you use both? Yes. Some people run their day-to-day budget in YNAB and use Kosh once a month to check tax, registered-account room and the leaks a budget doesn't show, like a bank fee that crept up or a card balance that's started to carry interest. If you only want one tool, decide which job matters more to you: the daily budget, or the plan around it. [Free tool**Income tax calculator**Work out your 2026 federal and provincial income tax, CPP and EI, and what you keep, in any province or territory. Add self-employment income, capital gains and RRSP contributions to see how each one changes the bill.](/tools/income-tax-calculator) **Where Kosh fits** Kosh doesn't replace a budgeting habit if that's what you want; it gives you the plan around it. It reads your statements, never your bank login, and can't move money. ## Free tools to try first [Free tool**Income tax calculator**Work out your 2026 federal and provincial income tax, CPP and EI, and what you keep, in any province or territory. Add self-employment income, capital gains and RRSP contributions to see how each one changes the bill.](/tools/income-tax-calculator) ## Frequently asked questions Does YNAB work in Canada? Yes. As of 31 October 2026, YNAB says its direct import supports select US, Canadian, UK and EU banks, and you can import files from banks it doesn't connect to. Its price is charged in US dollars. How much does YNAB cost in Canada? As of 31 October 2026, YNAB costs US$14.99 a month or US$109 a year, billed in US dollars, after a 34-day free trial. The Canadian-dollar cost depends on the exchange rate. Is Kosh a budgeting app? Partly. Kosh maps your spending by category and month and flags leaks, but it is built as an AI CFO: it also estimates your Canadian tax, plans RRSP, TFSA and FHSA contributions and reminds you before deadlines. Do I have to connect my bank to Kosh? No. Kosh works from statements you upload as PDF, CSV or photo. It never asks for bank logins and cannot move money. Which is better for saving on taxes? YNAB is designed for budgeting rather than tax planning. Kosh estimates your federal and provincial tax and shows what RRSP, FHSA and other moves would save, so it is the better fit if tax is part of what you want help with. ## Sources - [YNAB pricing (checked 31 October 2026)](https://www.ynab.com/pricing) Descriptions and prices of other products come from their public websites as of October 31, 2026 and may have changed since. Kosh is our product. Product names belong to their owners. Kosh is an educational financial planning tool by Primedepth Labs. It is not registered with any Canadian securities regulator as an adviser or dealer, does not recommend specific securities, and does not hold your money or execute trades. Tax figures are estimates; confirm with the CRA or a qualified professional before acting. Investing carries risk. ## See what Kosh finds in your statements. Upload one bank or card statement. Kosh maps your money, estimates your tax and shows the one thing to fix first. It never asks for bank logins and can't move money. [Start free](/signup?via=compare-kosh-vs-ynab)