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Actual Budget alternatives: 9 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Nov 1, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Actual Budget: sync, mobile and bank sync need a server you run or rent, and no native phone app; mobile use is in the browser. We ranked 9 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Actual Budget, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. YNAB currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Goodbudget logoGoodbudgetFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android5 of 575.5
2Hunter Vault logoHunter VaultFree plan + paidNoiOS, Android6 of 671.8
3EveryDollar logoEveryDollarFree plan + paidNoWeb, iOS, Android5 of 571.3
4Firefly III logoFirefly IIIOpen sourceNoWeb, Self-hosted3 of 353.6
5Money Manager Ex logoMoney Manager ExOpen sourceYesWindows, macOS, Linux +25 of 540.0
6HomeBank logoHomeBankOpen sourceNoWindows, Linux, macOS4 of 440.0
7Skrooge logoSkroogeOpen sourceNoLinux, Windows, macOS5 of 540.0
  1. Goodbudget logo

    1. GoodbudgetTop pick

    Best for: Households who like envelope budgeting and want a shared budget on everyone's phone

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    75.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Actual Budget

    Hosted envelope budgeting with a free plan and phone apps, no self-hosting needed.

    Pros

    • Permanent free plan, not a time-limited trial
    • Shared budget syncs across a household's devices
    • Envelope method makes spending limits concrete
    • Debt tracking and saving ahead for big expenses

    Cons

    • Free plan limits envelopes, accounts, devices and history
    • Bank sync is Premium only and US banks only
    • Mostly manual entry, which takes regular effort
    Visit Goodbudget Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.1571
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Goodbudget a good Actual Budget alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    10 regular + 10 more envelopes, 1 account
    Checked Oct 29, 2026goodbudget.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free plan limits
    2 devices, 1 year of history
    Checked Oct 29, 2026goodbudget.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Premium price
    $10/month or $80/year
    Checked Oct 29, 2026goodbudget.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Bank sync
    Premium only, US banks only
    Checked Oct 29, 2026goodbudget.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Web, Android and iPhone
    Checked Oct 29, 2026goodbudget.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Hunter Vault logo

    2. Hunter Vault

    Best for: People who like games and want a private, offline budget without linking a bank account

    Free plan + paidiOS, Android

    71.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Actual Budget

    Also keeps data on your device, but as a phone app with a free core and no server to set up.

    Pros

    • Core budgeting is free, with a one-time upgrade instead of a subscription
    • No account, no bank login and no ads; works fully offline
    • Quests, XP and ranks reward logging and debt payments
    • Safe to Spend, bills, debt payoff and savings goals in one app
    • Leaderboard is opt-in and never shows amounts

    Cons

    • No bank sync: every transaction is entered or imported by hand
    • The anime and RPG framing won't suit everyone
    • AI coach, statement import and cloud backup are extra subscriptions
    • Phone only; there's no web or desktop version
    Visit Hunter Vault Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.1583
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Hunter Vault a good Actual Budget alternative?

    Verified facts

    6 of 6 verified
    Price
    Free; optional $15.99 one-time upgrade
    Checked Oct 29, 2026huntervault.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Bank connection
    None; you enter or import transactions
    Checked Oct 29, 2026huntervault.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Account
    Not needed to start
    Checked Oct 29, 2026huntervault.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Hunter Pass
    Optional subscription with 100 Hunter Credits a month
    Checked Oct 29, 2026huntervault.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Ranks
    E-Rank to S-Rank
    Checked Oct 29, 2026huntervault.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Leaderboard
    Opt-in; scored on habits, never amounts
    Checked Oct 29, 2026huntervault.app(opens source in a new tab)
  3. EveryDollar logo

    3. EveryDollar

    Best for: People following the Ramsey debt snowball who want a simple monthly zero-based plan

    Free plan + paidWeb, iOS, Android

    71.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Actual Budget

    Zero-based monthly budget with a simple mobile app, if you'd rather not host anything yourself.

    Pros

    • Free version can be used indefinitely
    • Simple zero-based monthly plan with unlimited categories
    • Shared household budget with separate logins
    • Premium includes coaching and a debt snowball tracker

    Cons

    • Free version has no bank import; all entry is manual
    • $17.99 a month if not paying yearly
    • Tied to the Ramsey approach and its other products
    Visit EveryDollar Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.1592
    Freshness ×0.15100
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is EveryDollar a good Actual Budget alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free version
    Free with no time limit
    Checked Oct 29, 2026ramseysolutions.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Premium price
    $79.99/year or $17.99/month
    Checked Oct 29, 2026ramseysolutions.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    14 days of premium, new users only
    Checked Oct 29, 2026ramseysolutions.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Bank connect
    Premium only, via Mastercard Connect and Plaid
    Checked Oct 29, 2026ramseysolutions.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Method
    Zero-based budgeting
    Checked Oct 29, 2026ramseysolutions.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. Firefly III logo

    4. Firefly III

    Best for: Privacy-minded people comfortable self-hosting who want detailed, rule-driven money tracking

    Open sourceWeb, Self-hosted

    53.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Actual Budget

    Another free self-hosted money manager, with double-entry accounts, rules and an API for automation.

    Pros

    • Free and open source, with data kept on your own server
    • Double-entry accounts plus budgets, bills and savings goals
    • Rules categorise transactions automatically
    • REST API and a separate data importer for CSV and bank feeds

    Cons

    • You must host, update and back it up yourself
    • No official mobile app
    • More complex to learn than envelope-style budgeting apps
    Visit Firefly III Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.357
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Firefly III a good Actual Budget alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    AGPL-3.0
    Checked Oct 30, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Type
    Personal finance manager
    Checked Oct 30, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Data importer
    Separate open-source tool
    Checked Oct 30, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Money Manager Ex logo

    5. Money Manager Ex

    Best for: People who want a free, offline money tracker with budgets and investments and no bank-login cloud.

    Open sourceWindows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

    40.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from Actual Budget

    Free offline desktop finance app that also tracks stocks and assets alongside budgets.

    Pros

    • Free and open source with no ads or subscription
    • Tracks stocks, shares and assets alongside everyday spending
    • Local database file with optional encryption
    • Custom reports with SQL, Lua and HTML for power users

    Cons

    • No automatic bank connections; imports are QIF or CSV files
    • Desktop interface feels dated next to modern budgeting apps
    • Syncing between devices means managing the database file yourself
    Visit Money Manager Ex Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Money Manager Ex a good Actual Budget alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    GPL-2.0
    Checked Oct 29, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Price
    Free, no ads
    Checked Oct 29, 2026moneymanagerex.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, macOS, Linux, Android
    Checked Oct 29, 2026moneymanagerex.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Encryption
    AES-256
    Checked Oct 29, 2026moneymanagerex.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Import formats
    QIF and CSV
    Checked Oct 29, 2026moneymanagerex.org(opens source in a new tab)
  6. HomeBank logo

    6. HomeBank

    Best for: People who want free, offline budgeting and expense tracking on a desktop computer

    Open sourceWindows, Linux, macOS

    40.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from Actual Budget

    Free desktop finance app that keeps everything offline, with detailed reports and charts.

    Pros

    • Free and open source, with data kept on your computer
    • Rule-based categorisation and duplicate detection on import
    • Mature, with decades of development and many translations

    Cons

    • No official mobile app
    • No direct bank connections; you import statement files
    • macOS builds come only from third-party package managers
    Visit HomeBank Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is HomeBank a good Actual Budget alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    GPL v2 or later
    Checked Nov 1, 2026gethomebank.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, macOS (third-party)
    Checked Nov 1, 2026gethomebank.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Mobile app
    None official
    Checked Nov 1, 2026gethomebank.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Duplicate detection
    Yes
    Checked Nov 1, 2026gethomebank.org(opens source in a new tab)
  7. Skrooge logo

    7. Skrooge

    Best for: Linux and KDE users who want a free, local finance tracker with strong import options

    Open sourceLinux, Windows, macOS

    40.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from Actual Budget

    Free desktop app that keeps data in a local file and imports from many formats.

    Pros

    • Imports from many formats and other finance apps
    • Free and open source, with data kept in a local file
    • Unlimited category levels, budgets and graphical reports
    • Undo history that persists after closing the file

    Cons

    • Direct bank import relies on the third-party woob tool and doesn't cover every bank
    • No mobile app
    • Windows and macOS builds are less polished than the Linux version
    Visit Skrooge Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.312
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Skrooge a good Actual Budget alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    GPL v3
    Checked Nov 1, 2026skrooge.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Import from other apps
    KMyMoney, Microsoft Money, GnuCash, Grisbi, HomeBank, Money Manager Ex
    Checked Nov 1, 2026skrooge.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Bank import
    Via woob
    Checked Nov 1, 2026skrooge.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Multiple currencies
    Yes
    Checked Nov 1, 2026skrooge.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Linux, BSD, macOS, Windows
    Checked Nov 1, 2026skrooge.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best Actual Budget alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

YNAB logo

Best Actual Budget alternative for most people

YNAB

The hosted, supported version of the same envelope approach, with native apps and no server to run.

Firefly III logo

Best Actual Budget alternative for a free option

Firefly III

Another free self-hosted money manager, with double-entry accounts, rules and an API for automation.

Goodbudget logo

Best Actual Budget alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Goodbudget

Hosted envelope budgeting with a free plan and phone apps, no self-hosting needed.

Money Manager Ex logo

Best Actual Budget alternative for open source

Money Manager Ex

Free offline desktop finance app that also tracks stocks and assets alongside budgets.

HomeBank logo

Best Actual Budget alternative for Mac

HomeBank

Free desktop finance app that keeps everything offline, with detailed reports and charts.

Skrooge logo

Best Actual Budget alternative for Windows

Skrooge

Free desktop app that keeps data in a local file and imports from many formats.

Money Manager Ex logo

Best Actual Budget alternative for Linux

Money Manager Ex

Free offline desktop finance app that also tracks stocks and assets alongside budgets.

Hunter Vault logo

Best Actual Budget alternative for iPhone and Android

Hunter Vault

Also keeps data on your device, but as a phone app with a free core and no server to set up.

EveryDollar logo

Best Actual Budget alternative for working in the browser

EveryDollar

Zero-based monthly budget with a simple mobile app, if you'd rather not host anything yourself.

Actual Budget alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Actual Budget?

YNAB ranks first right now. The hosted, supported version of the same envelope approach, with native apps and no server to run. Goodbudget and Hunter Vault follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Actual Budget?

Yes. Goodbudget (free plan + paid), Hunter Vault (free plan + paid), EveryDollar (free plan + paid) and Firefly III (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Actual Budget?

Yes: Money Manager Ex.

Which Actual Budget alternatives work on Linux?

Money Manager Ex, HomeBank and Skrooge run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Actual Budget?

The complaints we hear most: sync, mobile and bank sync need a server you run or rent; no native phone app; mobile use is in the browser; support is through community channels.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Actual Budget, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.