savings

Actual Budget

bolt Auto-install

Free, self-hosted envelope budgeting on your own VPS — the YNAB alternative you own

language Web & CMS

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info Overview

Actual Budget is a self-hosted, open-source budgeting app built around zero-based, envelope-style budgeting — the same 'give every dollar a job' method as YNAB (You Need A Budget), but free and fully under your control. It is local-first: your data lives on your device and syncs through your own server, so the interface is instant and, with optional end-to-end encryption, even the server cannot read your finances. It replaces a $109/year YNAB subscription with software you own outright.

Actual syncs across desktop, web, iOS and Android through your self-hosted server, with automatic bank import via GoCardless (EU/UK) and SimpleFIN (US/Canada), or manual OFX/QFX/CSV and direct YNAB import. Valebyte deploys it in one click on port 5006; on your first visit you set the server password, then create a new budget or import an existing one — and your financial data never leaves your private server.

check_circle Features

check Zero-based envelope budgeting — give every dollar a job, the YNAB method, for free
check Local-first architecture — the UI is instant because your data lives on-device
check Optional end-to-end encryption — even your server can't read your finances
check Syncs across desktop, web, iOS and Android through your own server
check Automatic bank sync via GoCardless (EU/UK) and SimpleFIN (US/Canada)
check Imports from YNAB4, nYNAB and CSV, plus OFX/QFX files
check Rules, scheduled transactions, split transactions and multi-account reports
check Free and open-source — you own your data and only pay for the VPS

quiz Frequently Asked Questions

Is Actual Budget a good YNAB alternative? expand_more

Yes. Actual uses the same zero-based, envelope budgeting method as YNAB, imports your existing YNAB4 or nYNAB data, and adds bank sync and rules. The difference is that it is free and self-hosted, so you own your data instead of paying a ~$109/year subscription.

Can Actual Budget sync with my bank? expand_more

Yes, with a regional caveat. Automatic bank sync works through GoCardless in the EU and UK and through SimpleFIN in the US and Canada; SimpleFIN charges a small fee. Elsewhere you import OFX, QFX or CSV files, which Actual handles cleanly.

Is my financial data private and encrypted? expand_more

Yes. Actual is local-first, so your budget lives on your devices and syncs only through your own server. With optional end-to-end encryption enabled, even the server (and Valebyte) cannot read your transactions.

How much RAM does Actual Budget need? expand_more

Very little. Actual is lightweight and runs comfortably in 1 GB of RAM with 5 GB of storage. The whole app is a single small Node.js server, so a modest VPS is more than enough.

Can I use my own domain? expand_more

Yes. Point your domain at your Valebyte VPS and Actual runs on it over HTTPS on port 5006. A dedicated domain also makes it easy to reach your budget from the mobile apps and any browser.

How much does self-hosting Actual Budget cost? expand_more

Only the price of your VPS. Actual itself is free and open-source, so there is no subscription and no per-user fee — you replace YNAB's ~$109/year with a small monthly server cost and keep full ownership of your data.