Side by side
Actual Budget vs PocketGuard
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 WebiPhoneAndroid
PocketGuard combines core personal-finance tracking with web and mobile access, a free plan, and several paid billing choices. Readers can choose annual, monthly, or one-time payment arrangements.
Visit PocketGuardThe facts
| Actual Budget | PocketGuard | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | Web, iPhone, Android |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | PocketGuard Plus Annual: $6.25 a month |
| Plans published | 1 | 3 |
| Maker | Not published | PocketGuard |
| Website | actualbudget.org | pocketguard.com |
| On personal finance software | #5 of 181 | #9 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.
PocketGuard: what it does well
- Free plan available
- Web, iOS, and Android access
- Bill and net-worth tracking
- Report export
- 7-day trial
What to know first
- Paid plans differ by billing commitment
- Lifetime option costs $149.99
Alternatives to Actual Budget Alternatives to PocketGuard The whole list

