# Actual Budget

> A local-first envelope budgeting app with an optional sync server

Category: Self hosted apps (https://aiarabicdev.com/self-hosted)
Canonical page: https://aiarabicdev.com/self-hosted/actual-budget
Tags: finance, budgeting, personal, local-first, docker

Actual Budget is a personal finance app built on envelope budgeting: every unit of money gets a job before you spend it. It is MIT licensed, keeps your data local first, and syncs between devices through a small server you host.

## Facts

- Licence: MIT
- Language: TypeScript
- Cost: Free and open source
- Self hostable: yes
- Added: 2026-10-25
- Last checked: 2026-10-25

## Links

- Website: https://actualbudget.org
- Source: https://github.com/actualbudget/actual
- Docs: https://actualbudget.org/docs

## Give every unit of money a job

Actual follows the envelope method: you assign income to categories, record transactions, and the budget shows what is left in each envelope. It has rules to categorise transactions automatically, reports, scheduled transactions and fast keyboard driven editing.

It suits people who want to plan spending month by month and are willing to look at their budget regularly. Bank sync is possible through third-party providers in some regions, but many users import bank files or enter transactions by hand.

## What running it costs

The sync server is a small Node.js app storing budget files on disk, and it uses little RAM. The data also lives in each browser or desktop app, and end-to-end encryption is available for the synced copy. Back up the server data folder and export budgets now and then.

Keep the server on a VPN or behind HTTPS with its password. Financial data is sensitive, and the bank sync providers, where you use them, are outside services with their own accounts and terms.

## Reach for it when

- you want to budget with the envelope method
- you want your financial data on your own devices
- you prefer a fast, keyboard friendly interface

## Watch out for

- automatic bank sync relies on third-party providers and is not available everywhere
- envelope budgeting takes a few weeks to get used to
- mobile use is through the web app, there is no official native app

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