Actual Budget
Private, local-first envelope budgeting that gives every dollar a job and syncs across your devices.
by Actual
Overview
Actual Budget is a fast, local-first personal finance app built around zero-based (envelope) budgeting: every dollar gets a job, so you always know what your money is for. Budgets, accounts, and transactions live entirely on your home server, and it stays snappy even with years of history.
Features
- Zero-based budgeting with multiple accounts, categories, and goals
- Scheduled and split transactions, plus custom rules to automate entry
- Reports to track spending and net worth over time
- Encrypted sync that keeps phones and laptops current with your server
- Optional automatic bank import so transactions show up on their own
Setting up
On first visit, the server asks you to create a server password, which then protects the whole instance:
- Password: set by you on first visit
Good to know
Core budgeting is fully offline. Automatic bank import is an advanced opt-in that needs internet access and your own account with a bank data service. SimpleFIN is the one to use: it charges a small yearly fee and takes new sign-ups. GoCardless is still supported by the app, but it has stopped taking new sign-ups for this service, so it only helps if you already have credentials.