Actual Budget vs Firefly III
Self-host pick — both replace Mint (Personal finance / budget tracking).
Both Actual Budget and Firefly III self-host as a replacement for Mint (Personal finance / budget tracking). Pick Actual Budget if you want the lighter footprint — 10min docker run (sync server) + desktop app, $3-5/mo vps for the sync server; desktop and mobile apps are free. Pick Firefly III if you need users who want full double-entry accuracy and reporting depth (Sankey diagrams, expense-by-category, multi-currency) — 30min docker-compose (PHP + MariaDB + cron + data importer) and $5-10/mo vps.
| Actual Budgetopen-source | Firefly IIIopen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Setup time | 10min docker run (sync server) + desktop app | 30min docker-compose (PHP + MariaDB + cron + data importer) |
| Monthly cost | $3-5/mo VPS for the sync server; desktop and mobile apps are free. | $5-10/mo VPS. |
| GitHub | actualbudget/actual | firefly-iii/firefly-iii |
| Replaces | Mint | Mint |
Good fit for
Actual Budget
Users who want a YNAB-style budget engine with self-hosted sync and a polished modern UI.
Weak at:Bank aggregation isn't free — SimpleFIN ($15/yr) or Plaid (free for small volumes) is mandatory for hands-off use.
Firefly III
Users who want full double-entry accuracy and reporting depth (Sankey diagrams, expense-by-category, multi-currency).
Weak at:Steeper learning curve than Actual or Maybe — double-entry concepts can frustrate Mint refugees.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli mint prints Mint's self-host options including both —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which is easier to self-host, Actual Budget or Firefly III?
Actual Budget: 10min docker run (sync server) + desktop app. Firefly III: 30min docker-compose (PHP + MariaDB + cron + data importer).
What does each cost to run?
Actual Budget: $3-5/mo VPS for the sync server; desktop and mobile apps are free.. Firefly III: $5-10/mo VPS.. Both projects are free and open source.
Do Actual Budget and Firefly III replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to Mint.