Actual Budget vs Firefly III
Detailed comparison to help you choose the right tool for your needs
A
Actual Budget
Open-source envelope budgeting app
4.4
Editorial RatingF
Firefly III
Self-hosted personal finance manager with double-entry bookkeeping
4.5
Editorial RatingQuick Comparison
Rating
4.4
vs4.5
Starting Price
Free
vsFree
Pricing Model
free
vsfree
Feature
Actual Budget
Firefly III
Envelope budgeting
Bank sync (SimpleFIN)
End-to-end encryption
Multi-device sync
Transaction import (QIF/OFX/CSV)
Self-hosted sync server
Double-entry bookkeeping
Budget tracking
Bank import
Recurring transactions
Reports and charts
Multi-currency support
Actual Budget Pros
- Completely free with all features
- Local-first — fast and responsive
- End-to-end encrypted sync
- Dead simple self-hosting (single container)
- Active community development (MIT license)
- 70% cheaper than YNAB even with add-ons
Actual Budget Cons
- Mobile apps deprecated (web app only)
- Bank sync US/Canada only
- No investment tracking
- No REST API for automation
- Credit card handling assumes full payoff
- Plugin system not yet shipped
Firefly III Pros
- Double-entry bookkeeping keeps financial records accurate and auditable
- Completely free — all financial data stays on your server
- Bank import via Spectre API and GoCardless for European banks
- Rule engine automatically categorizes transactions by description patterns
- Multi-currency support handles international accounts correctly
- Comprehensive reporting: income vs expense, budgets, net worth over time
Firefly III Cons
- Bank import setup is complex and varies significantly by country
- No native mobile app — web UI works on mobile but not optimized for small screens
- PHP/Laravel stack requires more server resources than lighter alternatives
- Steeper learning curve than commercial apps like YNAB
- Community support smaller than commercial personal finance tools
- GoCardless integration has transaction limits and potential costs