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firefly-iii vs Cashew

Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.

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firefly-iii
firefly-iiiOpen‑source web app for personal and small‑business finance management
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Cashew
CashewSimple budgeting and expense tracking for individuals and small businesses
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Overview
Description

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.

Cashew is a lightweight budgeting app that helps users monitor income, expenses, and cash flow across devices. Its clean interface makes it easy to categorize spending and set financial goals without a steep learning curve. Designed for both personal finance enthusiasts and small business owners, Cashew syncs data across Android, iOS, and the web, ensuring you stay on top of your money wherever you are.

Pricing
Free
Free
Category
Accounting & Finance
Personal Finance
Best for
Individuals and small business owners
Individuals and small businesses
Specifications
Spec source
AI-estimated
AI-estimated
deployment
Self-hosted
Mobile App
open source
Yes
Yes
github stars
24,134+436%
4,499
api available
Yes
No
support options
Community Forum, GitHub Issues
GitHub Issues
primary language
PHP
Dart
Pros & Cons
Pros
  • Completely free and open source
  • Self‑hosted gives full data control
  • Rich budgeting and reporting features
  • Supports multiple currencies and import formats
  • Free to use with no hidden fees
  • Cross‑platform availability ensures data is always up‑to‑date
  • Simple, intuitive UI requires minimal onboarding
  • Customizable categories fit both personal and business needs
Cons
  • Requires technical setup and server maintenance
  • Limited native integrations with banks
  • No official mobile app, only responsive web UI
  • Limited advanced analytics compared to premium competitors
  • No built‑in automatic bank syncing; transactions must be added manually or via notifications
  • Export formats are basic and lack direct integration with accounting software
Community & Metrics
Upvotes
0
0
User rating
Not enough data
Not enough data

More alternatives & similar tools

Alternatives to firefly-iii

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Cashew
Cashew

Simple budgeting and expense tracking for individuals and small businesses

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actual
actual

Secure, private budgeting for individuals and households

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Wallos
Wallos

Self‑hosted subscription tracker to monitor and manage all your recurring expenses

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Akaunting
Akaunting

Free, open‑source accounting software for small businesses and freelancers

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Alternatives to Cashew

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actual
actual

Secure, private budgeting for individuals and households

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firefly-iii
firefly-iii

Open‑source web app for personal and small‑business finance management

Compare
Wallos
Wallos

Self‑hosted subscription tracker to monitor and manage all your recurring expenses

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Akaunting
Akaunting

Free, open‑source accounting software for small businesses and freelancers

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The Verdict

AI-generated from listing data

Cashew offers a ready‑to‑use mobile app for free with simple budgeting, while firefly‑iii provides deeper reporting and self‑hosting at the cost of setup complexity.

Key differences

  • •Cashew is a cross‑platform mobile app with built‑in sync; firefly‑iii is a self‑hosted web app with no official mobile client.
  • •firefly‑iii supports CSV/OFX/QIF imports and detailed financial reports; Cashew relies on manual entry or bank notifications only.
  • •firefly‑iii offers an API for extensions; Cashew has no API.
  • •Data ownership: firefly‑iii is self‑hosted giving full control; Cashew stores data via the app’s cloud sync (unspecified hosting).
  • •Support: firefly‑iii has community forum plus GitHub; Cashew only provides GitHub Issues.
DimensionWinner

Pricing & value

Both are free with no hidden fees; value differs by feature depth and hosting requirements.

Tie

Ease of use / learning curve

Cashew is a ready‑made mobile app with intuitive UI; firefly‑iii needs self‑hosting and configuration.

Cashew

Features & depth

firefly‑iii provides multi‑format imports, detailed reports, recurring transactions, and API; Cashew lacks these advanced tools.

firefly-iii

Integrations & ecosystem

firefly‑iii has an API and supports many import file types; Cashew has no API and limited bank notification sync.

firefly-iii

Collaboration

Cashew’s cloud sync lets multiple devices see the same data instantly; firefly‑iii requires manual server sharing.

Cashew

Scalability

Self‑hosted firefly‑iii can scale with server resources; Cashew is limited to mobile/web client performance.

firefly-iii

Support

firefly‑iii offers both community forum and GitHub Issues; Cashew only provides GitHub Issues.

firefly-iii

Security & privacy

firefly‑iii’s self‑hosting gives full data control; Cashew’s storage details are not specified.

firefly-iii

Migration / lock‑in

firefly‑iii exports via standard formats and can be moved between servers; Cashew only exports CSV/PDF, no direct accounting integration.

firefly-iii

Choose firefly-iii if…

Tech‑savvy users or small businesses needing detailed reports, multi‑currency handling, and full data control.

Choose Cashew if…

Individuals or freelancers who want a hassle‑free mobile budgeting app with no setup.

Common questions

Is there any cost to use either tool?

Both Cashew and firefly‑iii are free with no hidden fees.

Can I automatically import bank transactions?

Cashew relies on device bank notifications; firefly‑iii imports CSV/OFX/QIF files but has no live bank sync.

Do I need technical skills to start?

Cashew works out‑of‑the‑box on mobile; firefly‑iii requires self‑hosting and basic server setup.