Note: Your Mac will need to be Intel-based for this to work!
1. Go to http://virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads and download the “VirtualBox 2.0.2 for OS X hosts” version for Intel Macs
The file is only 35 MB, so it downloads fairly quickly.
2. Unpack the contents of the .dmg file by double-clicking on it.
3. Run the installer:
4. From your Applications folder, click on the VirtualBox icon.
5. Click the New 
button (you don’t have any other options).
6. Follow the Wizard’s steps. I stuck with the recommendations (Base Memory Size of 192 MB):
7. I chose to boot to a 
hard disk.
8. Chose to use a dynamically expanding image for my hard drive:
9. The Image File Name can be the same as the name of the virtual machine you’re making:
10. Once the hard drive disk is created, you’ll see it populate your main Wizard. It has a .vdi extension (VirtualBox Disk Image):
11. Now click the “Finish” button.
12. Everything should be looking good, so go ahead and click Start.
13. You’ll get the Auto capture keyboard notice, just explaining that the keyboard will be sending strokes to VirtualBox unless you click out of it or press the Left Command key (Mac).
14. You’ll now be ready to go with your First Run Wizard. Follow those steps.
MAKE SURE YOUR WINDOWS INSTALLATION CD IS IN YOUR CD/DVD DRIVE
15. Follow the OS Installation Setup (in my case I’m installing Windows XP Home). Don’t worry about creating a hard drive partition (just click through to install) and choose to “Format the partition using the NTFS file system (Quick) option. To use function keys inside Windows (F8 particularly), you’ll need to hold down the Function (fn) key, and then press F8.
.
And I’ve got Windows obviously running now:
16. Start Internet Explorer from within your new installation, and download YNAB Pro.
17. Install the YNAB Pro setup file and you should be all set (you will likely need to download and install .Net 2.0. The installer will detect and do it for you).
18. And voila. I’m running YNAB Pro on my Intel Mac, Mac OS X 10.5.5.
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This is The Wallet. My name is Jesse Mecham, founder of YNAB. Here I focus on the YNAB methodology, software, personal finance, and more.
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troy
October 22, 2008
what is everyone’s opinion of these XP environment emulators…? is there a significant reduction in speed, risk of failure, etc? i’m currently running leopard with bootcamp. i decided to do this so as not to risk corrupting my OSX. but if this thing is free and reliable i’d be willing to give it a shot…
jason
November 8, 2008
@troy. I have (and use daily) VMware Fusion (not free). It works great and I swear by it, but friends of mine use VirtualBox and swear by it. I would have used it if I had know about it before I bought the VMware…
Avatara
November 13, 2008
Hello,
I bought the regular YNAB for the mac, and now I’m going to try this because I really want to run the pro. How can I upgrade from the original version to the pro?
Dave K. Smith
December 7, 2008
Jesse, I presume this means that one could install YNAB Pro on Linux, as well. For example, I succeeded in getting iTunes (Windows version) installed in Kubuntu using VirtualBox, but abandoned the project… I couldn’t force iTunes in WinXP in VirtualBox on Kubuntu to recognize the iPod connected to my machine via USB. This was pretty much a deal breaker.
I’d like to try getting YNAB Pro to run this way on Kubuntu. Is this a test you’d be interested in?
Jean
December 11, 2008
I thought this process was free….do i need to purchase a windows installation cd?
Rachel
January 1, 2009
I got a bit confused too, not being a windows user. Yes you have to purchase windows. I tried to get it cheaper online but with no luck and just thought sod it and bought myself a copy of windows vista home basic. Apparently you can get it cheaper if you get an oem (?) version which I had no luck with either. hope that helps.
Mark
January 3, 2009
Hi, do you have to also install all the XP service packs and antivirus software? Thankyou
Dot
February 14, 2009
Hard copy vs. downloaded copy.
I purchased a hard copy of ynab hoping to download it on my mac following he instructions using virtual box. What do I do now that I cannot eject the windows program disc to insert the ynabpro disc. I’ve tried to put it on an external harddrive and put it on my mac, but that won’t open it in virtualbox-windows.
Suggestions?
Jennifer
March 18, 2009
Will this download/operate on Vista 64bit?
Gesyca13
April 10, 2009
I have pro on my comp now but I am about to buy a mac…do I have to pay for it again? I just got this 2 weeks ago and I dont think I will b able to live without it!
Wayne
April 13, 2009
I have YNAB running on Vista 64 bit on VM Fusion on my MacBook Pro 10.5.6. There are MANY ways to run things on Mac or Linux if you are persistent and don’t mind trial and error. VMware, Crossover, WINE, etc, etc,
Taylor
April 13, 2009
@Jennifer: Sorry for the late comment, but yes, you can certainly run YNAB Pro on Vista 64 bit. (Of course, if you are just running Vista 64 on a normal PC and not a Mac, you don’t have to do any of this VirtualBox stuff. It will just work).
@Gesyca13: You certainly don’t have to purchase again! Our current license lets you install it on multiple computers for your own personal use, so installing it on your new Mac is just fine with us! (Many of our customer use this policy to install YNAB Pro at home and the office and take their budget with them on a USB drive so that they’re always on top of purchases)
@Wayne: VMWare are Parallels are both usable with YNAB Pro, but I don’t think that Crossover and WINE have worked with YNAB Pro. We currently run on .NET, which makes those a bit trickier. Just wanted to mention that to save some folks some effort. Of course, if anyone does get it working with WINE, please let me know! :)
- Taylor (Lead programmer of YNAB Pro)