What is this?
Actual Budget is a local-first personal finance app built around envelope budgeting. It is 100% free and open-source, written in NodeJS, and syncs your changes between devices.
Actual Budget is a local-first personal finance app built around envelope budgeting. It is 100% free and open-source, written in NodeJS, and syncs your changes between devices.Is this a desktop app I install, or a server I run somewhere?It is both: downloadable local-only apps for Windows, Mac and Linux, plus a sync server component so the same budget follows you across devices.
It is both: downloadable local-only apps for Windows, Mac and Linux, plus a sync server component so the same budget follows you across devices.How do I get it running?Four ways to deploy: one-click on PikaPods (recommended for non-technical users), managed hosting on Fly.io, self-hosting via the Docker image, or downloading a local desktop app.
Four ways to deploy: one-click on PikaPods (recommended for non-technical users), managed hosting on Fly.io, self-hosting via the Docker image, or downloading a local desktop app.Do I need to install anything before using it?Nothing for normal use — the local apps are self-contained, and self-hosting just needs Docker. Contributing to development requires NodeJS 22.18+ with Yarn 4.
Nothing for normal use — the local apps are self-contained, and self-hosting just needs Docker. Contributing to development requires NodeJS 22.18+ with Yarn 4.What does it cost — is the hosting part paid?The app itself is 100% free and open-source with no subscriptions. Only managed hosting costs money: about $2/month on PikaPods and $1.50/month on Fly.io — Docker self-hosting and the local apps are free.
The app itself is 100% free and open-source with no subscriptions. Only managed hosting costs money: about $2/month on PikaPods and $1.50/month on Fly.io — Docker self-hosting and the local apps are free.Where does my financial data actually live?On your own device first — the app is local-first, and the sync element only moves changes between devices, so self-hosting keeps everything on infrastructure you control.
On your own device first — the app is local-first, and the sync element only moves changes between devices, so self-hosting keeps everything on infrastructure you control.What is envelope budgeting, the method Actual is built around?Actual is designed around the envelope budgeting approach. The README points to a doc explaining the idea behind it, and the community offers a Starting Fresh guide for people new to budgeting.
Actual is designed around the envelope budgeting approach. The README points to a doc explaining the idea behind it, and the community offers a Starting Fresh guide for people new to budgeting.I use another budgeting app — can I switch and keep my data?Yes — the community maintains a Migration guide specifically for people moving over from other budgeting apps, alongside the Starting Fresh guide if you would rather begin from zero.
Yes — the community maintains a Migration guide specifically for people moving over from other budgeting apps, alongside the Starting Fresh guide if you would rather begin from zero.Do I need the server if I only use one device?No — the local-only apps run entirely on your device, and the sync server exists to move changes between devices when you use more than one.
No — the local-only apps run entirely on your device, and the sync server exists to move changes between devices when you use more than one.What is Actual built with under the hood?NodeJS with a TypeScript frontend. The repo splits into loot-core (the core application that runs on any platform), desktop-client (the desktop UI) and desktop-electron (the desktop app).
NodeJS with a TypeScript frontend. The repo splits into loot-core (the core application that runs on any platform), desktop-client (the desktop UI) and desktop-electron (the desktop app).What are similar projects?aurelio-finance, Aurum, firefly-iii, sure, trade-journal, bankmcp, Termix, spacedrive
aurelio-finance, Aurum, firefly-iii, sure, trade-journal, bankmcp, Termix, spacedriveWhich topics is it in?money, budgeting, personal-finance, sync, self-hosting, finance, electron, local-first, desktop, gui, privacy, server
money, budgeting, personal-finance, sync, self-hosting, finance, electron, local-first, desktop, gui, privacy, server