Square vs Actual Budget
Detailed comparison to help you choose the right tool for your needs
A
Actual Budget
Open-source envelope budgeting app
4.4
Editorial RatingQuick Comparison
Rating
4.6
vs4.4
Starting Price
Free
vsFree
Pricing Model
freemium
vsfree
Feature
Square
Actual Budget
POS System
Payment Processing
Online Store
Invoicing
Inventory Management
Team Management
Envelope budgeting
Bank sync (SimpleFIN)
End-to-end encryption
Multi-device sync
Transaction import (QIF/OFX/CSV)
Self-hosted sync server
Square Pros
- Free POS system with no monthly fees
- Excellent hardware options for in-person payments
- Integrated online and offline selling
- Fast next-day deposits as standard
- Easy to set up and start accepting payments
- Growing ecosystem with payroll, banking, and loans
Square Cons
- Processing fees are higher than negotiated merchant accounts
- Limited customization on the free tier
- Account stability issues reported by some merchants
- International availability is limited
- Advanced features require paid add-ons
- Not ideal for high-volume or enterprise businesses
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