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Self-host Actual Budget

updated Jul 2026prices checked · Aug 2026Install verified on Ubuntu 26.04 · Jul 2026 · how we test

A fast, local-first envelope-budgeting app with optional self-hosted sync. Most people are up and budgeting in minutes — privacy without the spreadsheet.

YNAB / yr$180
Self-hosted / yr~$55
You keep$125/yr
Pocket the difference — spin it up on a cheap VPS in minutes.Start free on Kamatera → (opens in new tab)

Key facts

CategoryPersonal finance
LicenseMIT
StackJavaScript, Node.js
Min RAM512 MB
Dockeryes
Difficulty

What you need

  • Any VPS with at least 512 MB of RAM
  • A domain you control — most self-hosted setups need HTTPS in front of them
  • Under an hour if you've used Docker before

Install

Run these commands on your server:

# Actual Budget — sync server
docker run -d --name actual \
  -p 5006:5006 -v actual-data:/data \
  actualbudget/actual-server:latest
# open http://SERVER_IP:5006
vps picksBest VPS for self-hostingbenchmarked quarterly · re-priced monthly

An alternative to

YNAB →

Head-to-head

Personal financeJun 2026
Actual Budget
vs
Firefly III

Friendly envelope budgeting vs. full double-entry accounting.

Read the verdict →

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