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Actual Budget

A super fast, privacy-focused, and local-first app for managing your finances with envelope budgeting.

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Overview

Actual Budget is an open-source personal finance application built around the popular Envelope Budgeting system. It stands out by prioritizing user privacy and data ownership, operating as a local-first application where your data resides on your device, with optional end-to-end encrypted syncing across multiple devices. The tool is meticulously designed for speed and efficiency, allowing users to quickly manage transactions and gain insights into their finances.

The core value proposition of Actual Budget lies in empowering users to take control of their financial decisions. It offers features like comprehensive transaction management, powerful reporting tools including custom reports, and bank syncing capabilities to automate data entry. While it provides a robust set of features, it maintains a philosophy of user control rather than automation dictation, making it ideal for those who want an active role in understanding and managing their money.

Best For

Personal financial management and budgeting
Tracking spending and saving goals
Gaining insights into cash flow and net worth
Users who prioritize data privacy and ownership
Individuals looking for an alternative to subscription-based budgeting tools

Key Features

Envelope Style Budgeting
Multi-device sync
Optional end-to-end encryption
Local-first software architecture
Fast transaction management
Intuitive financial reports (Net Worth, Cash Flow)
Custom report engine
Bank syncing (goCardless for EU/UK, SimpleFIN for US/Canada)
Self-hostable syncing service
All accounts in one place

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Strong emphasis on privacy and data ownership (local-first, E2E encryption)
  • Utilizes the effective Envelope Budgeting method
  • Designed for speed and a streamlined user experience
  • Offers bank syncing for automated transaction import
  • Self-hostable for full control over data and syncing
  • Powerful custom reporting capabilities
  • Works offline due to local-first design

Cons

  • Requires self-hosting for syncing, which can be a barrier for non-technical users
  • Bank syncing relies on third-party services (goCardless, SimpleFIN) which may have their own fees or limitations
  • Learning curve for those unfamiliar with envelope budgeting
  • No direct mobile app mentioned, likely web-based or self-hosted mobile access
  • Community support might be less extensive than commercial alternatives

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