Freedom251 › Personal Finance Software
Actual Budget
What Actual Budget is
Actual Budget is a free budgeting app built around envelope budgeting. Its listed tools include budgeting, bill tracking and net-worth tracking, as well as account sync and report export. The software is available on the web and on Windows, macOS and Linux. Its free plan includes desktop and web access and costs nothing. Actual Budget is open-source software under the MIT license. The plan also includes optional self-hosted synchronization, giving users the option to operate their own sync service. The combination of budget planning, bill tracking and net-worth tracking covers several personal-finance tasks, while report export provides a way to take reports out of the app. With web access and three desktop operating systems listed, users can choose among several supported environments. The listed plan is Free and open source; no paid tier is listed in the provided plan details.
Who it suits
It suits people who want envelope budgeting with bill and net-worth tracking, and who prefer free, open-source software. It may fit users whose device is a web browser or Windows, macOS or Linux desktop.
What it does well
- Free plan includes desktop and web access.
- Supports envelope budgeting.
- Includes bill and net-worth tracking.
- Available on Windows, macOS and Linux.
- Optional self-hosted synchronization is included.
What to know first
- No paid tier is listed in the provided plan details.
- Self-hosted synchronization is optional rather than required.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free and open source | Envelope budgeting · Desktop and web access · Optional self-hosted synchronization · Open-source MIT-licensed software | Free |
As actualbudget.org lists them, read 19 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the Actual Budget website.
- Use it on the web or on Windows, macOS, or Linux.
- Choose whether to use optional self-hosted synchronization.
Verdict
Actual Budget pairs envelope budgeting with bill tracking, net-worth tracking and report export at no listed cost. Its supported platforms and optional self-hosted synchronization are central considerations for choosing it.
Questions
How much does Actual Budget cost?
Its Free and open source plan costs nothing.
Is there a free plan?
Yes. The listed plan is free and includes envelope budgeting, desktop and web access, and optional self-hosted synchronization.
Which platforms does it support?
Actual Budget is available on the web, Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Is Actual Budget open source?
Yes. It is MIT-licensed open-source software.
Can I track bills and net worth?
Yes. Bill tracking and net-worth tracking are listed features.
Facts from Actual Budget's own pages
- Account sync
- both · actualbudget.org, 19 Sept 2026
- Bank integrations
- Documented bank sync providers include Akahu, Enable Banking, GoCardless, SimpleFIN Bridge and Pluggy.ai. · actualbudget.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Bank sync requirements
- Bank integration requires actual-server and credentials from the chosen provider; automatic transaction syncing is off by default. · actualbudget.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Bill tracking
- Yes · actualbudget.org, 19 Sept 2026
- Budgeting
- Envelope budgeting lets users assign only cash they have on hand. · actualbudget.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Budgeting tools
- Yes · actualbudget.org, 19 Sept 2026
- Desktop platforms
- Download pages list desktop clients for Windows, macOS and Linux. · actualbudget.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Encryption
- Optional end-to-end encryption prevents the server from accessing encrypted budget data, but does not cover bank sync tokens. · actualbudget.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Encryption limitation
- If the encryption password is forgotten and no local data copy remains, the encrypted data cannot be recovered. · actualbudget.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · actualbudget.org, 19 Sept 2026
- Imports
- Actual supports importing QIF, OFX, QFX, CAMT.053 and CSV files. · actualbudget.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Local-first
- The app stores data on the local device and selected Actual server, and works without a network connection. · actualbudget.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Net-worth tracking
- Yes · actualbudget.org, 19 Sept 2026
- Purpose
- Actual Budget is a privacy-focused finance app built around envelope budgeting. · actualbudget.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Report export
- Yes · actualbudget.org, 19 Sept 2026
- Reports
- The app includes net worth and cash flow reports, plus a custom report engine. · actualbudget.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Server hosting
- The sync server can be installed through PikaPods, Fly.io, Server CLI, Docker or from source. · actualbudget.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Support
- The documentation directs users to the maintainers and community for help and support. · actualbudget.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Transactions
- Users can manage split transactions and transfers in the transaction editor. · actualbudget.org, 12 Oct 2026
Where Actual Budget stands on Freedom251
- Personal Finance Software#5 of 181
- Budgeting And Expense Tracking#2 of 29