Empower vs YNAB:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, YNAB had more branded searches than Empower among personal budgeting apps worldwide. YNAB had about 131,000 branded searches, while Empower had 5,400. YNAB made up 37.1% of all personal budgeting app searches we track, and Empower accounted for 1.5%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about personal budgeting apps, YNAB appeared in all five answers and Empower in four. YNAB was mentioned before Empower in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
YNAB, about 24 searches for every 1 for Empower
Who does AI mention more?
YNAB, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
YNAB, named ahead of Empower in every answer
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Top personal budgeting apps in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, YNAB appeared in all five answers. Empower was mentioned in four out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in both Google AI Overviews. YNAB was listed before Empower in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Monarch Money1st- YNAB2nd
Quicken Simplifi3rd
Empower4th
Goodbudget5th
PocketGuard6th
Copilot Money7th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- YNAB5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Monarch Money5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Quicken Simplifi4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Goodbudget4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Empower4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- PocketGuard2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Copilot Money1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about personal budgeting apps
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which personal budgeting app should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best personal budgeting apps?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best personal budgeting app for tracking spending?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“best budgeting app”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“budget app”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is Empower or YNAB more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Empower and YNAB by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven personal budgeting apps we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for YNAB, Empower. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | YNAB | Monarch Money | Quicken Simplifi | PocketGuard | Copilot Money | Goodbudget | Empower |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 43% | 24.8% | 12.1% | 8% | 3.5% | 6% | 2.7% |
| Nov 2025 | 45.5% | 22.4% | 12.3% | 8.8% | 3.8% | 5.3% | 1.9% |
| Dec 2025 | 42.8% | 23.6% | 13% | 7.6% | 6% | 5.6% | 1.4% |
| Jan 2026 | 43.9% | 23.4% | 14.6% | 5.3% | 5.9% | 5.5% | 1.4% |
| Feb 2026 | 43.9% | 23.1% | 14.3% | 8.2% | 4.7% | 4.4% | 1.3% |
| Mar 2026 | 42.2% | 22.5% | 14.1% | 9.9% | 5.6% | 4.3% | 1.3% |
| Apr 2026 | 43.2% | 22.4% | 14% | 9.9% | 5.6% | 3.5% | 1.3% |
| May 2026 | 45.3% | 23.9% | 12.9% | 7.5% | 6% | 3.1% | 1.4% |
| Jun 2026 | 47.3% | 24.7% | 13.5% | 5.5% | 5.1% | 2.6% | 1.4% |
| Jul 2026 | 39% | 33.7% | 12.4% | 4.8% | 5.8% | 2.9% | 1.3% |
| Aug 2026 | 37.4% | 33.5% | 14.1% | 4.8% | 5.7% | 2.9% | 1.6% |
| Sep 2026 | 37.1% | 32.3% | 14.5% | 5.6% | 5.5% | 3.4% | 1.5% |
How has the Empower and YNAB comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- YNAB was ahead of Empower in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Empower’s share of searches among personal budgeting apps worldwide moved from 2.7% to 1.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 12.1K to 5.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, YNAB’s share of searches among personal budgeting apps worldwide moved from 43% to 37.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 196K to 131K.
How did search popularity change for personal budgeting apps worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
YNAB’s share of searches among personal budgeting apps worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 47.3% to 37.1% in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Empower worldwide fell 55.4% over 12 measured months, from 12.1K to 5.4K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
5 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Empower’s and YNAB’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Other head-to-heads among personal budgeting apps
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