Actual Budget
Goodbudget
| Feature | Actual Budget | Goodbudget |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $0/mo | Free / from $10/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Best For | budget-conscious-individuals, self-hosters, ynab-migrants, privacy-focused-budgeters | couples, families, envelope-budgeters, privacy-focused-users |
| Founded | 2019 | 2006 |
| Envelope Budgeting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bank Sync | ✓ | ✗ |
| Reports | ✓ | ✓ |
| Goal Tracking | ✓ | ✗ |
| Rules | ✓ | ✗ |
| Scheduled Transactions | ✓ | ✓ |
| Self Hostable | ✓ | ✗ |
| Shared Budgets | ✗ | ✓ |
| Debt Tracking | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multi Device Sync | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Actual Budget Pros
- Open-source with no subscription fees
- Local-first with optional sync
- Beautiful and fast interface
- Bank sync via SimpleFIN/GoCardless
✗ Actual Budget Cons
- Self-hosting required for sync features
- Smaller community than YNAB
- Mobile experience less polished than native apps
✓ Goodbudget Pros
- Based on proven envelope method
- Great for couples/shared budgeting
- Works on web and mobile
- No bank connection required (privacy)
✗ Goodbudget Cons
- Manual transaction entry by default
- Limited reporting in free version
- Dated interface design
The Verdict
Actual Budget is built for budget conscious individuals and self hosters, with a focus on envelope-budgeting and bank-sync. Goodbudget targets couples and families and leads with envelope-budgeting and shared-budgets.
On pricing, Actual Budget is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $0/mo compared to $10/mo for Goodbudget. That $10/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
Actual Budget edges out on user ratings (4.5 vs 4.1). While both are well-regarded, that gap reflects real differences in user satisfaction worth considering.
Feature-wise, Actual Budget offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Goodbudget takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Bottom line: Actual Budget has a slight overall edge — but if based on proven envelope method matters most to you, Goodbudget may still be the right call.