Side by side
Actual Budget vs GnuCash
Both stand on personal finance software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APILinuxMac+3
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.
Visit Actual Budget
Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+4
GnuCash provides free desktop accounting for personal finances and small-business workflows, with reports, imports, and business tools. Its default XML storage is distinct from experimental database support, so users should account for that limitation.
Visit GnuCashThe facts
| Actual Budget | GnuCash | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Yes |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | Android, API, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | GnuCash |
| Website | actualbudget.org | gnucash.org |
| On personal finance software | #5 of 181 | #1 of 181 |
Actual Budget: 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.
GnuCash: what it does well
- Free under the GNU GPL.
- Includes double-entry accounting.
- Offers small-business invoicing and bill-payment tools.
- Imports QIF and OFX files.
- Provides customizable reports and charts.
What to know first
- Database support beyond XML is experimental.
- Some reported database corner cases involve data loss.
- Main application is unavailable for iOS and iPadOS.
- Separate Android app appears abandoned.
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