Actual vs YNAB
Thinking of swapping YNAB for the open-source Actual? Here’s the honest trade-off.
27k Nodejs MIT today
What you give up vs YNAB
- 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
What you gain
- • Full data ownership — self-host Actual on your own infrastructure.
- • No per-seat SaaS bill (YNAB: a yearly subscription that keeps climbing).
- • Open-source code you can audit and extend (MIT).