The full commitments are in the privacy policy, not just on this page.
What privacy-first actually means here
How Cadence Compares
| Cadence | YNAB | Monarch Money | Copilot Money | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $2.49/m | ~$12.98/m | ~$11.90/m | ~$11.33/m |
| Available in Canada & USA | Yes | Yes | Yes | USA only |
| iOS, Android & Web apps | Yes | Yes | Yes | No Android |
| Multi-currency support | Yes | One per budget | No | No |
| TFSA, RRSP, FHSA tracking | Yes | Yes | Limited | N/A |
| AI training on your data | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Official MCP integration | Yes | No | Beta | Beta |
| Passkey sign-in (all devices) | Yes | No | No | No |
| Works without bank syncing | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Bank syncing | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Budget & transaction tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Net worth tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Financial goals | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Reporting | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Insights & suggestions | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Automations | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Cadence
YNAB
Monarch Money
Copilot Money
Competitor prices are approximate conversions. Pricing reflects annual plans billed yearly. Based on publicly available data as of March 2026.
Fully Featured Plans - Just Pick Syncing
Frequently asked questions
Which budgeting apps train AI on your financial data?
Among the major apps, Monarch Money, Copilot Money and Piere all use customer data for AI features and model improvement. YNAB and Lunch Money do not, and neither does Cadence. It is worth checking the current privacy policy of any app you are considering, since these terms change.
Does Cadence train AI on my data?
No. Cadence does not use your financial data to train artificial-intelligence models, and does not sell or rent your data to anyone. That is a commitment in the privacy policy, not a setting you have to find and switch off.
Can I use Cadence without connecting my bank at all?
Yes, on every plan including the entry plan and the one-time Lifetime option. Every feature works with manually entered transactions - budgets, net worth, goals, bills, reporting and insights. Bank syncing is an option you can take or leave, not the price of entry.
How is that different from a “free” budgeting app?
A budgeting app with no subscription has to make money somewhere, and financial data is unusually valuable. Cadence is a paid subscription precisely so the business model is you paying for software, rather than your spending history being the product. There is no free tier for that reason.
You support AI assistants. Isn’t that a contradiction?
No, because the direction matters. Cadence never hands your data to a model for training. The optional MCP server works the other way: you choose to connect your own assistant, it can only read, and you can disconnect at any time. Nothing is shared unless you set it up and ask a question.
What happens to my data if I leave?
You can export your transaction data at any time, and you can delete your account and its data whenever you want. Neither is buried behind a support request.
Is Cadence free?
No, and deliberately so - see above. Cadence is a paid subscription with a 14-day free trial (a card is required). Plans start at $2.49 CAD / $1.99 USD per month billed annually, plus a one-time Lifetime option.