Actual Budget
Actual Budget: Free, open-source budgeting with local storage, imports, reports, and optional self-hosting. Ranked #16 of 181 in Personal Finance Software by our editors (7.7/10); pricing: Free plan; best for free, private, customizable budgeting.
At a glance
- Editor score7.7 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forFree, private, customizable budgeting
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Net-worth trackingYes
- Facts checked19 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free MIT-licensed software with envelope-style budgeting
- Local-first storage with optional synchronization and encryption
- Supports broad file imports, reports, exports, and an API
Where it doesn't
- Official mobile applications are deprecated
- Bank synchronization must be triggered manually
- Multi-device synchronization requires an Actual server
Our verdict on Actual Budget
Actual Budget is a free, open-source personal finance application for individuals who want envelope-style budgeting with control over how their data is stored. It supports account management, transaction categorization and imports, scheduled bills and subscriptions, net-worth and cash-flow reporting, and custom reports. Desktop clients are available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, alongside a responsive web application and a programmatic API.
Its strongest distinction is the local-first approach. Budget data can remain stored locally, while optional multi-device synchronization can run through a self-hosted server. Optional end-to-end encryption adds another layer for budget data. The software can import CSV, QIF, OFX, QFX, and CAMT files, and it supports bank integration through Akahu, Enable Banking, GoCardless BankAccountData, SimpleFIN Bridge, and Pluggy.ai. These connections require an Actual server, and bank synchronization is manually triggered rather than fetched automatically.
The published plan is Free and open source, with envelope budgeting, desktop and web access, optional self-hosted synchronization, and MIT-licensed software. There is no paid tier to compare, so the main trade-off is operational rather than plan-based: users who want mobile access should rely on the responsive Progressive Web App because the official mobile applications are deprecated. Actual Budget suits people who value privacy, customization, file-based portability, and self-hosting. It is less suitable for anyone who expects a current official mobile app or fully automatic bank updates.
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Actual Budget fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Budgeting tools | Yes |
| Bill tracking | Yes |
| Net-worth tracking | Yes |
| Account sync | Both |
| Report export | Yes |
| Mobile apps | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud, Desktop, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Integrations | 5 integrations: Akahu, Enable Banking, GoCardless BankAccountData, SimpleFIN Bridge, Pluggy.ai |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | actualbudget.org |
| Facts checked | 19 Sep 2026 |
Actual Budget integrations
Actual Budget lists 5 integrations on its own site.
- Akahu
- Enable Banking
- GoCardless BankAccountData
- SimpleFIN Bridge
- Pluggy.ai
Alternatives to Actual Budget
- QuickenA mature all-around finance suite with broad tracking, reporting, and account-update tools.9.3
- SoFiA broad free toolkit for budgeting, account tracking, credit monitoring, and financial guidance.9.2
- GnuCashA capable free desktop ledger for detailed accounting, budgeting, and investments.9.1
See all Actual Budget alternatives →
Also Ranked In
Actual Budget is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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