Actual

Open source alternative to YNAB, Monarch Money, Goodbudget and EveryDollar

29.7K stars
MIT
Active this week
Last commit today

Last verified Oct 25, 2026

Manage your personal finances with envelope budgeting, local-first storage, optional end-to-end encryption, and bank sync for US, EU, and UK accounts.

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Read the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs and the FAQ

who it's for

Who Actual is for#

Households leaving YNAB after subscription increases

Actual's YNAB importers preserve full transaction history, categories, and budget structure during the move. Envelope budgeting works the same way in both apps, so the workflow is familiar. Ongoing cost drops from around $109 per year to nothing for self-hosters or around $24 per year on PikaPods.

Skip if:

You rely on YNAB's native mobile apps as your primary entry point or need YNAB's specific loan amortization features, which Actual does not currently replicate.

Privacy-focused individuals avoiding third-party data storage

All budget data stays on your own devices. End-to-end encryption means not even the sync server operator can read your transactions. This is a concrete difference from Monarch Money, EveryDollar, and other cloud-first tools that store and may process your financial data server-side.

Skip if:

You want a zero-maintenance experience and are comfortable with cloud storage. Self-hosting adds operational overhead that cloud tools eliminate entirely.

Developers building on their own budget data

Actual exposes a fully featured API that runs against your local data file. You can write custom importers, build reporting views, or connect your budget to external tools. The API accesses the same SQLite-based data structure the app itself uses.

Skip if:

You want out-of-the-box integrations with no-code automation tools like Zapier. Actual's API is a developer surface aimed at custom code, not a no-code automation layer.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Personal finance software typically stores your data on the vendor's servers, requires an ongoing subscription to access your own history, and can lock you out the moment billing lapses. YNAB, one of the most recommended budgeting apps, costs around $109 per year and has raised its price significantly, pushing many users to look for alternatives.

Beyond cost, data portability is a real constraint. Switching apps often means losing transaction history, categories, and years of carefully maintained budgets. Most cloud-based tools make export inconvenient by design, because friction keeps subscribers paying. A budgeting app that runs locally, syncs via a server you control, and exports your data freely avoids all of those constraints.

how Actual solves it

How it solves it#

Envelope budgeting based on real income

You assign every dollar you currently have to a spending category before spending it. Budget amounts reflect your actual cash on hand, not projected future income, so the monthly review shows your real spending position. The methodology is the same proven zero-based approach behind YNAB.

Bank sync via GoCardless and SimpleFIN

GoCardless covers EU and UK bank connections; SimpleFIN handles US and Canadian accounts. Once connected, new transactions import automatically into the correct account. Bank sync is optional, and Actual runs fully on manual entry or file imports if you prefer.

Local-first architecture with optional end-to-end encryption

Your budget file lives on your device and works fully offline. The sync server coordinates changes across devices without storing a readable copy of your data. Enabling end-to-end encryption ensures the server holds only ciphertext, so even a compromised sync host cannot read your financial data.

Transaction import from QIF, OFX, QFX, CAMT.053, and CSV

Beyond bank sync, Actual accepts the major financial export formats supported by most banks and accounting tools. This covers legacy file exports from Quicken (QIF, OFX), European banking formats (CAMT.053), and generic CSV for any source that produces tabular transaction data.

YNAB4 and nYNAB importers for migration

Migrating from YNAB preserves your full transaction history, categories, and budget structure through the built-in importers for both YNAB4 (the older desktop app) and nYNAB (the current subscription version). Community-built importers extend coverage to other budgeting apps.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

MIT license with no mandatory subscriptionThe entire codebase is MIT licensed. Self-hosting costs nothing beyond server time, and the PikaPods option runs around $2 per month. YNAB charges $109 per year; Actual self-hosted costs nothing in license fees.
Works fully offlineThe local-first design means Actual loads and operates without any network connection. You can enter transactions, adjust budgets, and review reports whether or not the sync server is reachable. No internet connection is required for the core app.
YNAB migration with full history preservedThe built-in YNAB4 and nYNAB importers carry over transaction history, categories, and payees so your historical budget data survives the move. Most competing tools require re-entering data from scratch or accept only recent exports.
Active community with 29,700+ GitHub starsThe project has over 29,700 stars and 3,200 forks on GitHub, with active development and code pushed as recently as October 2026. Community documentation, Discord support, and Weblate-based translations reflect an engaged contributor base.

Trade-offs

-Multi-device sync requires running a serverSyncing across more than one device works only when you run the Actual sync server, either on your own hardware, a VPS, Fly.io (~$1.50/month), or a PikaPods instance (~$2/month). There is no official managed cloud tier from the Actual team itself.
-Bank sync coverage limited by region and bankGoCardless covers EU and UK banks; SimpleFIN handles US and Canadian accounts. Banks outside those regions have no automatic sync option and require manual entry or file imports. Within supported regions, coverage varies by bank and depends on each bank's participation in Open Banking or SimpleFIN.
-No first-party mobile appThe official apps are desktop-only for Windows, macOS, and Linux. The web interface is accessible through the sync server on mobile browsers, and the community maintains some companion apps for mobile platforms, but there is no first-party iOS or Android app from the Actual project.

versus alternatives

Actual vs alternatives#

Actual vs YNAB

YNAB and Actual share the envelope budgeting methodology, making them direct alternatives for zero-based budgeting. The key differences are data ownership and cost. YNAB is a subscription service that stores your budget on its own servers; Actual is MIT-licensed software you run yourself.

Feature	Actual	YNAB
License	MIT	Proprietary
Self-hosting	Yes	No
Data storage	Local device	YNAB servers
Annual cost	$0 (self-hosted)	~$109/year
Bank sync	GoCardless (EU/UK), SimpleFIN (US/CA)	Direct bank connections
Mobile app	Web interface + community apps	iOS and Android native
YNAB import	Built-in for YNAB4 and nYNAB	N/A

Actual is the better choice when you want to eliminate subscription costs, keep financial data off third-party servers, or migrate from YNAB without losing transaction history. Developers also benefit from Actual's API for custom integrations.

YNAB is still worth choosing when a native mobile app is essential for your workflow, when you want a fully managed service with no infrastructure responsibility, or when you need features like loan amortization calculators that Actual does not yet replicate. YNAB's bank sync also covers more institutions and more countries out of the box.

Actual vs Monarch Money

Monarch Money is a cloud-first budgeting tool that emphasizes household collaboration, flexible budgeting, and net worth tracking. Unlike Actual, it has no self-hosting option and stores all data server-side.

Feature	Actual	Monarch Money
License	MIT	Proprietary
Self-hosting	Yes	No
Budgeting style	Envelope (zero-based)	Flexible
Annual cost	$0 (self-hosted)	~$99/year
Data ownership	Local device	Monarch servers

Actual is the stronger choice for users committed to zero-based envelope budgeting and full data ownership. Monarch Money suits users who prefer a polished cloud product with built-in household finance collaboration and do not want to manage any hosting.

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages: JavaScriptTypeScript

frequently asked

FAQ#

Is Actual Budget free to use?

Yes. The codebase is MIT licensed and free to self-host. Running it on your own hardware or a VPS has no license cost. PikaPods offers managed hosting for around $2 per month, and Fly.io hosting runs around $1.50 per month. There is no official paid plan from the Actual project.

Does Actual Budget work offline?

Yes. Actual is local-first, meaning the app loads and operates from your local device without any network connection. You can enter transactions, update budgets, and view reports offline. Changes sync to other devices the next time both connect to the sync server.

Can I import my history from YNAB?

Yes. Actual includes built-in importers for both YNAB4 (the older desktop version) and nYNAB (the current subscription version). The importer preserves your transaction history, categories, and payees. Community-built importers are also available for other budgeting apps through the Actual community documentation.

Which banks does Actual support for automatic sync?

Bank sync uses GoCardless for EU and UK banks, and SimpleFIN for US and Canadian accounts. Support depends on your bank's participation in Open Banking (EU and UK) or SimpleFIN (North America). Banks outside these regions or that do not participate require manual transaction entry or file import.

Does Actual Budget have a mobile app?

The core Actual project ships desktop apps for Windows, macOS, and Linux, plus a web interface accessible through the sync server. There is no first-party mobile app. The web interface works on mobile browsers, and some community-maintained companion apps exist for certain platforms.

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Find open source alternatives to paid software

Actual vs YNAB

Feature	Actual	YNAB
License	MIT	Proprietary
Self-hosting	Yes	No
Data storage	Local device	YNAB servers
Annual cost	$0 (self-hosted)	~$109/year
Bank sync	GoCardless (EU/UK), SimpleFIN (US/CA)	Direct bank connections
Mobile app	Web interface + community apps	iOS and Android native
YNAB import	Built-in for YNAB4 and nYNAB	N/A

Actual vs Monarch Money

Feature	Actual	Monarch Money
License	MIT	Proprietary
Self-hosting	Yes	No
Budgeting style	Envelope (zero-based)	Flexible
Annual cost	$0 (self-hosted)	~$99/year
Data ownership	Local device	Monarch servers