actual vs firefly-iii
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Actual is a local‑first personal finance manager that stores all data on your own device, keeping your financial information private and under your control. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and via a web interface, giving you seamless access wherever you work. Designed for individuals and small households, Actual offers robust budgeting, expense tracking, and reporting tools without any subscription fees. With open‑source transparency and community‑driven support, you can trust the app to evolve while staying completely free.
Firefly III is a self‑hosted web application that helps individuals and small business owners track income, expenses, budgets, and assets. It offers a clean interface and powerful reporting tools while keeping all data under your control. The platform is completely free, open source, and can be installed on any server that supports PHP and a MySQL/MariaDB database. Community support is available through the official forum and the project's GitHub repository.
- Completely free and open source
- Data stays on your device for maximum privacy
- Works offline and syncs locally across platforms
- Highly customizable budgeting and reporting
- Completely free and open source
- Self‑hosted gives full data control
- Rich budgeting and reporting features
- Supports multiple currencies and import formats
- No built‑in cloud backup; users must set up their own sync solution
- Steeper learning curve compared to simple expense apps
- Limited mobile app functionality (web version only)
- Requires technical setup and server maintenance
- Limited native integrations with banks
- No official mobile app, only responsive web UI
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to actual
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Alternatives to firefly-iii
View all →The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataBoth tools are free and open‑source, but firefly‑iii offers richer budgeting/reporting and an API at the cost of self‑hosting complexity, while actual prioritises local‑only privacy with a desktop‑first experience.
Key differences
- •Deployment model: firefly‑iii is self‑hosted web app; actual is a desktop app with optional self‑hosted sync server.
- •API availability: firefly‑iii provides an API for extensions; actual does not.
- •Platform focus: firefly‑iii runs in a browser (responsive UI); actual runs as native desktop apps on Windows, macOS, Linux.
- •Multi‑currency support: firefly‑iii handles multiple currencies and auto‑exchange rates; actual does not mention this.
- •Community support channels: firefly‑iii uses Forum and GitHub Issues; actual adds a Discord community.
Pricing & value
Both are free, open‑source tools with community support, offering comparable value.
Ease of use / learning curve
Actual is a native desktop app with drag‑and‑drop budgeting, generally easier than firefly‑iii's self‑hosted web setup.
Features & depth
firefly‑iii includes multi‑currency handling, extensive import formats, and an API, giving deeper financial management.
Integrations & ecosystem
firefly‑iii offers an API for custom extensions; actual lacks an API.
Collaboration
Actual can run a self‑hosted sync server for multi‑device sharing; firefly‑iii is single‑user web app.
Scalability
Self‑hosted firefly‑iii can be scaled on any server infrastructure; actual is limited to desktop sync.
Support
Actual provides GitHub Issues plus a Discord community, offering more real‑time interaction than firefly‑iii's forum.
Security & privacy
Actual encrypts all data locally and never requires cloud; firefly‑iii relies on web hosting security.
Migration / lock‑in
Both use standard CSV/OFX/QIF imports, making data export/import comparable.
Choose actual if…
Privacy‑focused households needing offline desktop budgeting with simple local sync.
Choose firefly-iii if…
Tech‑savvy individuals or small businesses wanting deep budgeting, multi‑currency, and API extensions.
Common questions
Is there any cost to use either tool?
Both firefly‑iii and actual are free and open‑source.
Can I access my budget on mobile devices?
Neither provides a native mobile app; both rely on responsive web interfaces.
Which tool offers more automation for recurring transactions?
Both support recurring transactions, but firefly‑iii also offers scheduled transfers and an API for further automation.