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Finance

Actual Budget: A New Era in Personal Finance

Unlock unprecedented control over your money with Actual Budget — a lightning-fast, privacy-focused, envelope-budgeting app that works entirely on your terms.

Open Source Daily
· 3 min read
Actual Budget: A New Era in Personal Finance
Actual Budget: A New Era in Personal Finance

Imagine a budgeting tool that feels like it was built just for you: no lock-in, no opaque data silos, no compromises. Actual Budget brings that vision to life. It combines the time-tested Envelope Budgeting method with a modern, open-source, local-first architecture—empowering you to take the reins of your financial journey.

Website: https://actualbudget.org/
GitHub - actualbudget/actual: A local-first personal finance app
A local-first personal finance app. Contribute to actualbudget/actual development by creating an account on GitHub.
GitHubactualbudget

Why Actual Budget?

In today’s world, where every click seems to generate yet another piece of personal data, privacy and control matter more than ever. Here’s why Actual Budget stands apart:

  1. Local-First Architecture
    Your budget lives on your device. Work offline, review your transactions on the train, or at a cabin in the woods—no internet, no problem.
  2. Optional End-to-End Encryption
    When you do sync, your data is scrambled into an unreadable vault. Even the server can’t peek inside.
  3. Open-Source Transparency
    Every line of code is public. Audit, extend, or fork—no surprises, no hidden tracking.
  4. Envelope Budgeting Made Intuitive
    Allocate real income into digital “envelopes.” Only spend what you’ve budgeted. No guesswork, no “I’ll think about it.”
  5. Lightning-Fast, Keyboard-First Design
    From categorizing transactions to running reports, every interaction is optimized to minimize clicks and keystrokes.

Spotlight on Key Features

1. Universal Account Aggregation

Add all your checking, savings, investment, and crypto wallets—view your net worth at a glance.
• One dashboard, total clarity.

2. Powerful Import & Sync

• Bank Sync via SimpleFIN (US/CA) or goCardless (EU/UK).
• File Imports: QIF, OFX/QFX, CAMT.053, CSV.
• Custom Importers: Leverage the JSON-based local API to connect any data source.

3. Robust Transaction Management

• Split Entries: One click to divide a transaction across envelopes.
• Transfers: Link related deposits and withdrawals.
• Quick-Edit: Bulk categorize, tag, or memo dozens of transactions in seconds.

4. Instant Undo & Redo

Worried about a slip-up? Fear not—every action can be undone or redone, so you can experiment with confidence.

5. Deep, Customizable Reporting

• Built-In Reports: Net worth, cash flow, spending trends.
• Custom Report Engine: Filter by envelope, date range, tags, or even custom fields.

Getting Started in Minutes

Actual Budget offers multiple deployment paths—pick what suits you:

  1. Local-Only Desktop Apps (Windows/macOS/Linux)
    Download a native installer and start budgeting in a minute.
  2. Managed Hosting
    • PikaPods: Launch a server in 2 minutes (20% of fees go to Actual’s Open Collective).
    • Fly.io: Global, multi-region sync for ~$1.50/month.

From Source

git clone https://github.com/actualbudget/actual.git
cd actual
yarn install
yarn start

Perfect for contributors or those who want full flexibility.

Self-Hosted Docker

docker run --rm -v $PWD/data:/data actualbudget/actual:latest

Works offline and syncs when you’re ready.

Actual Budget
Actual Budget

Real-World Scenarios

Freelancer Finances

Track irregular income, set aside tax envelopes, and view your net worth across multiple client accounts—all in one place.

Family Budgeting

Allocate allowances for kids, mortgage, groceries, and “fun money.” Share a sync-server with your partner (E2EE ensures only you two see the data).

Side-Hustle Management

Selling on Etsy? Driving for rideshare? Import your sales or tips and instantly see how much you can reinvest or take home.

Join the Community & Contribute

Actual Budget thrives on an engaged, passionate community:

  • Discord Chat: Get support, share tips, show off custom reports.
  • GitHub Issues & PRs: Report bugs, request features, submit code.
  • Translations: Help localize into new languages via Weblate.
  • Custom Plugins: Write your own data importer or report generator against the local JSON API.

Start here: CONTRIBUTING.md

Final Thoughts

Actual Budget isn’t just another fintech app—it’s a statement that you own your financial data and the tools you use to manage it. Whether you’re new to envelope budgeting or a spreadsheet veteran, Actual offers the speed, security, and simplicity you need to build healthier money habits.

Ready to take control? Explore more at actualbudget.org or dive into the source code on GitHub.