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Actual Budget

Free, open-source envelope budgeting app that keeps your data on your device, with optional self-hosted sync and bank sync.

Our take: Actual Budget gives you envelope budgeting with no subscription, and your data stays on your machine unless you choose otherwise.

Best forFree envelope budgeting
ReviewedPricing: Free
7.3 out of 105 criteria · see breakdown
Try ActualFree; optional hosting from about $1.50/mo

Actual Budget is a free, open-source envelope budgeting app that stores your budget on your own device. It costs nothing to use; you only pay if you rent a host for the optional sync server or use a paid bank-sync provider.

The bottom line

The best free option for envelope budgeting if you can handle a little setup.

Our score

Reviewed by the Conversion Gems editorial team. Hover a facet to focus it; click to pin.Tap a facet to focus it.

What it is, and why we rate it

One line each. Open a row for detail.

What it really isA free, open-source, local-first envelope budgeting app you run yourself.
Our takeActual Budget gives you envelope budgeting with no subscription, and your data stays on your machine unless you choose otherwise.
That freedom has a price in effort: sync across devices needs a server, bank sync runs through third-party providers you trigger by hand, and phones use the web app. For people who enjoy a bit of setup, it is hard to beat on cost.
Why we rate itIt delivers full envelope budgeting, encryption and multi-device sync without a subscription.
The catchNo native phone app, and sync and bank feeds need a server you host or rent.

Best / not good for

Best for
  • Envelope budgeters leaving YNAB
  • Privacy-minded users who want data on their own device
  • Self-hosters already running Docker
Not good for
  • People who want automatic bank feeds with zero setup
  • Users who need a native iOS or Android app
  • Anyone unwilling to manage backups or a server
Trade-offs

Friction report

Trade-offs to know before signing up.

  1. Time to value
    Low for the desktop app; moderate if you set up sync and bank feeds.
  2. Scale breakpoint
    Second device or bank sync means running a server.
  3. Walled garden
    Low: open source, local data, and imports and exports are documented.
Still a fit?
If none of these block you, start on the free plan.
Try Actual

What Actual Budget costs

Way to run itCostSync between devices
Desktop app (Windows, macOS, Linux) or local browserFreeNo
Self-hosted server (Docker or CLI)Free software; you supply the machineYes, plus bank sync
PikaPodsAbout $2 a month, paid to PikaPodsYes, plus bank sync
Fly.ioAbout $1.50 a month, paid to Fly.ioYes, plus bank sync

From Actual Budget's install docs and GitHub README, checked 4 October 2026. Hosting prices are the README's estimates for third-party services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Actual Budget free?

Yes. The app is free and open source under the MIT license. You only pay if you choose a host for the sync server; the project's README lists PikaPods at about $2 a month and Fly.io at about $1.50 a month (checked 4 October 2026).

Is Actual Budget safe?

Your budget is stored locally on your device, and you can turn on end-to-end encryption so the sync server cannot read it. The code is public on GitHub. Safety of a self-hosted server depends on how you set it up.

Does Actual Budget have a mobile app?

There is no native iOS or Android app on actualbudget.org. With a sync server, the web app works in a phone browser and can be installed as a web page. An App Store app called 'Actual Budget Spending Tracker' is a different product.

Actual Budget or YNAB: which is better?

Both use envelope budgeting. Actual is free and keeps data on your device but needs some setup for sync and bank feeds. YNAB is a paid hosted service with less setup. Actual's own site has a comparison page.

Does Actual Budget connect to my bank?

Optionally. It supports SimpleFIN Bridge in North America, Enable Banking in Europe, Akahu in New Zealand and Pluggy.ai in Brazil. You need a sync server, and you trigger each sync yourself.

Actual Budget alternatives

Other budgeting apps in our directory:

Showing 1–3 of 4
Sources checked October 4, 2026: Actual Budget homepage, Actual Budget downloads, Actual Budget install docs, Actual Budget bank sync docs, Actual Budget on GitHub.

Conversion Gems independently reviews every tool.

Tags

#Budgeting#OpenSource#EnvelopeBudgeting

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