Actual vs Firefly III
| Tagline | Local-first zero-sum budgeting app with optional cross-device sync | Self-hosted personal finance manager with budgets, rules, and bank import |
| Category | Finance & Budgeting | Finance & Budgeting |
| Replaces | YNAB, Mint | Mint, YNAB, QuickBooks |
| GitHub stars | 27k | 24k |
| Language | Nodejs | PHP |
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Self-host difficulty | 2/5 Easy | 3/5 Moderate |
| Deploy options | Docker Docker Compose Manual | Docker Docker Compose Manual |
| Managed hosting | ||
| Last updated | today | today |
| View repo | View repo |
Where each falls short
The honest trade-offs — what you give up with each, versus the proprietary tools they replace.
Actual
- Bank sync coverage is narrower than YNAB's direct connections, especially outside the US/EU
- No mobile native app; the web app is mobile-responsive but not fully optimised for touch
- Investment tracking and net-worth projections are basic compared to Mint/Quicken
- Multi-currency support is limited and requires manual workarounds
Firefly III
- Bank import requires a separate importer container and CSV/OFX manipulation; no one-click bank sync
- UI can feel complex and verbose for casual users compared to Mint's simplicity
- No built-in mobile app; third-party apps exist but vary in quality
- Investment and brokerage account tracking is limited compared to dedicated wealth tools
Bottom line
Choose Actual if you want the lower-effort setup; choose Actual for the larger community and ecosystem. Open each guide below for deploy steps and the full feature gap.
Firefly III
Self-hosted personal finance manager with budgets, rules, and bank import