Who FlyBudget is for#
Households switching from a paid budgeting subscription
Zero-based category planning, bank sync through SimpleFIN or Plaid, recurring transaction tracking, and carry-over work identically to what YNAB or Monarch Money offer. The data file stays local, so there is nothing to export or lose if your priorities change.
Skip if:
You have an existing YNAB budget to import; YNAB import is on FlyBudget's roadmap but not yet available, and historical data would need to be re-entered manually.
Privacy-focused individuals running their own infrastructure
The Docker path encrypts bank credentials under the OS keychain, runs the container read-only and unprivileged, and exposes no FlyBudget telemetry or crash reporting. Bank credentials are only transmitted directly to SimpleFIN or Plaid when you trigger a sync.
Skip if:
You need a managed service that handles updates, backups, and uptime. The self-hosted path requires you to maintain the container and its host.
Budget-conscious users who want zero entry cost
The AGPL-3.0 license means the full desktop app and self-hosted server are free with no paid tier or trial period. Bank sync through SimpleFIN and Plaid is included; there is no FlyBudget subscription regardless of which features you use.
Skip if:
You want a native iOS or Android app. FlyBudget's mobile interface is browser-based; there is no native mobile app.
Developers evaluating local-first app architecture
The codebase uses React 19, Vite, Tailwind CSS, TanStack Query, Express 5, SQLite with Drizzle ORM, and Electron for the desktop shell. It includes property-based tests for budget math and Playwright end-to-end tests covering the desktop app, self-hosted server, phone layout, and browser demo.
Skip if:
You need a mature reference codebase. FlyBudget is six months old with 131 stars and is still in early development.
The problem it solves#
Most personal finance apps that offer zero-based budgeting are subscription services. YNAB, Monarch Money, and similar tools require trusting a third party with your financial data and paying a monthly or yearly fee indefinitely. Canceling the subscription means losing convenient access to your transaction history and bank connections.
Free alternatives cut corners. EveryDollar offers manual transaction entry for free but charges for the automatic bank sync that makes the methodology practical. Many other free apps limit features behind a paywall or depend on third-party aggregators. The missing option is a tool that combines zero-based budgeting with automatic bank sync and keeps your data entirely on your own machine.
How it solves it#
Zero-based budget planning
Every dollar of income is assigned to a category before you spend it. Color-coded bars track planned, actual, and remaining amounts; bars turn amber near the plan and red when you go over. Unspent amounts carry over to the next month automatically.
Automatic transaction rules
Write a rule in plain words using conditions on payee, amount, date, and account. A live preview shows which past transactions it matches as you type. Rules rename, categorize, add notes, or split every matching transaction that arrives after you save them.
Bank sync via SimpleFIN and Plaid
Connect checking, savings, and credit card accounts through SimpleFIN or Plaid for automatic import. CSV import with duplicate detection handles banks outside those networks. Bank credentials are encrypted with AES-256-GCM and stored under your OS keychain, not on any FlyBudget server.
17 account types and multi-currency support
Track checking, credit cards, loans, investments, property, and more in a single view. Net worth is calculated across all accounts. Multiple currencies are supported: accounts hold their own currency and convert to your budget's currency at the daily ECB rate or a rate you enter manually.
Custom reports and cash-flow view
Dashboard widgets cover net worth, spending trends, income vs. expenses, and a transaction calendar. A custom report builder handles analysis the preset dashboards do not cover. A cash-flow diagram shows income sources on one side, spending categories on the other, and what remains in between.
Recurring transaction tracking
Bills, subscriptions, and paychecks are tracked by month or calendar view. FlyBudget can detect recurring transactions from your past history and create entries automatically when their expected date arrives.
Strengths and trade-offs#
Strengths
- No data leaves your device by defaultThere are no FlyBudget servers. Transactions, balances, and budget history live in a SQLite file on your machine or Docker container. Bank credentials only leave your device when SimpleFIN or Plaid is queried directly on your behalf; FlyBudget itself never receives or stores them.
- No subscription, no paywallThe full feature set, including bank sync, is included under an AGPL-3.0 license at no cost. YNAB and Monarch Money both charge monthly or yearly fees; FlyBudget has no subscription and no paid tier separating any feature from free use.
- Security-hardened architectureBank credentials are encrypted with AES-256-GCM under the OS keychain (Windows DPAPI, macOS Keychain, Linux secret service). Every release carries signed build provenance from GitHub Actions, verifiable independently. The server container runs read-only and unprivileged. Rate-limited sign-in and a one-time setup code protect the self-hosted path.
- Offline-capable across all form factorsTransactions added without a connection are queued and synced when connectivity returns. The self-hosted server provides a phone-optimized layout at every page. A live browser demo at flybudget.org lets you explore a sample budget before installing anything.
Trade-offs
- -Desktop installers are not yet code-signedThe Windows and macOS installers lack a paid signing certificate, so the OS prompts you to confirm on first open. The README links to click-through instructions for each platform. Signed build provenance from GitHub Actions is available as an alternative verification path.
- -Cross-device sync requires a running serverSyncing one budget across multiple devices that also work offline is a roadmap item, not a current feature. Using FlyBudget across devices today means running the self-hosted server and accessing it from each device's browser. The desktop app stores data locally and does not sync with other devices.
- -New project with a short track recordFlyBudget was created in April 2026 and has 131 GitHub stars. The core budgeting features are covered by property-based tests and Playwright end-to-end tests, but the project is younger than established alternatives. Advanced features such as YNAB import, investment projections, and SSO are on the roadmap but not yet available.
- -AGPL-3.0 has conditions for network distributionSelf-hosting for personal or internal team use is fully permitted with no obligations. If you modify FlyBudget and let other people use your modified version over a network, AGPL-3.0 requires offering those users your version's source code at no charge. This condition does not apply to private or internal use.
FlyBudget vs alternatives#
FlyBudget vs YNAB
YNAB popularized zero-based budgeting and both tools share the same core methodology: assign every dollar to a category and carry unused amounts forward. The principal difference is where data lives and what it costs.
| Feature | FlyBudget | YNAB |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Proprietary, subscription |
| Data storage | Local or self-hosted | YNAB's cloud |
| Bank sync | SimpleFIN, Plaid | Direct bank connections |
| Mobile app | Browser-based (phone-optimized) | Native iOS and Android |
FlyBudget is the better fit when you want zero-based budgeting with local data ownership and no subscription cost. YNAB is the better choice when native mobile apps, broader bank connection coverage, or dedicated support are priorities.
FlyBudget vs Monarch Money
Monarch Money is a paid household finance tool that emphasizes net-worth tracking and shared budgets across household members. Its budgeting model is more flexible than strict zero-based, and it offers more detailed investment performance data.
| Feature | FlyBudget | Monarch Money |
|---|---|---|
| License | AGPL-3.0 | Proprietary, subscription |
| Data storage | Local or self-hosted | Monarch's cloud |
| Budgeting model | Zero-based | Flexible categories |
| Shared budgets | Not yet (roadmap) | Yes |
| Investment tracking | Account values | Detailed performance data |
FlyBudget suits privacy-minded users who want zero-based budgeting with no cloud storage. Monarch Money is the better pick when shared household budget management or detailed investment tracking is the priority.
FlyBudget vs EveryDollar
EveryDollar also uses zero-based budgeting and offers a free tier, but automatic bank sync requires a paid plan. FlyBudget includes bank sync through SimpleFIN and Plaid at no cost. EveryDollar is worth considering for users in the Ramsey financial ecosystem; FlyBudget fits better when free bank sync and local data storage matter more.
Quick start#
Self-hosting uses Docker Compose with a generated encryption key for bank credentials.
```bash
curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/dtymoszenko/FlyBudget/main/docker-compose.yml
openssl rand -base64 32 > flybudget_data_key.txt
sudo chown 1000:1000 flybudget_data_key.txt && sudo chmod 400 flybudget_data_key.txt
docker compose up -d
docker logs flybudget
```What it's built on#
- Languages
- TypeScript
- Frameworks
- React
- Tooling
- esbuild
FAQ#
Is FlyBudget free to use?
Yes. The desktop app and self-hosted server are both free under an AGPL-3.0 license. There is no paid tier, no premium features, and no subscription. Bank sync requires a SimpleFIN or Plaid account for connecting to your bank; both are separate services with their own terms. FlyBudget itself has no subscription fee.
Does FlyBudget sync with banks automatically?
Yes, through SimpleFIN or Plaid. Both services connect to bank accounts and import transactions automatically. CSV import with duplicate detection is also available for banks not supported by those networks. Bank credentials are encrypted with AES-256-GCM and stored in your OS keychain, not on FlyBudget's servers.
How is FlyBudget different from YNAB?
Both use zero-based budgeting: assign income to categories and carry unused amounts forward. YNAB stores your data in its cloud and requires a paid subscription; FlyBudget stores your data locally and is free. FlyBudget does not yet have YNAB's native mobile apps or third-party integration library. The core budgeting workflow (categories, carry-over, goals, recurring transactions) is comparable.
Can I run FlyBudget on a home server or NAS?
Yes. The self-hosting path uses Docker Compose. Pull the compose file, generate an encryption key for bank credentials, and the container runs on port 3001. Docker images are published for amd64 and arm64. The self-hosting guide at flybudget.org covers HTTPS setup, backups, and updates.
What happens to my data if I stop using FlyBudget?
Your data is a local SQLite file on your machine or container volume. You can download a full backup or export transactions as CSV at any time from within the app. Stopping FlyBudget means stopping the app or container; there is no cloud account to delete and no service to cancel.
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