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Personal Finance · head to head

Actual Budget vs Divvy

Actual Budget logo

Actual Budget

Personal Finance

Free, open source, local-first envelope budgeting with optional self-hosted sync

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Divvy logo

Divvy

Accounting

Free expense management and corporate cards

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Actual Budget self-hosting the sync server requires basic comfort with running and updating a small application, which is a real barrier for non-technical users.; Divvy divvy is now sold as BILL Spend & Expense and getdivvy.com redirects to bill.com
  • They diverge on capability: Actual Budget covers Envelope budgeting, Divvy covers Corporate cards.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Actual Budget and Divvy actually diverge.

Attributes where Actual Budget and Divvy differ
AttributeActual BudgetDivvy
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence fee; optional paid hosted sync and subscription tierfree
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryPersonal FinanceAccounting
FoundedUnknown2016

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Actual Budget

  • Envelope budgeting
  • Local-first data
  • Self-hosted sync
  • Bank sync via SimpleFIN or GoCardless
  • Rules engine
  • Reports

Only in Divvy

  • Corporate cards
  • Budget management
  • Expense tracking
  • Real-time visibility
  • Accounting sync
  • QuickBooks
  • NetSuite
  • Oracle

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Actual Budget

  • A former YNAB user who wants the same envelope method without an ongoing subscriptionnot Divvy
  • Someone who wants their financial data to stay on hardware they control, using a home server for syncnot Divvy
  • A technically comfortable household running a small self-hosted stack who wants budgeting alongside itnot Divvy
  • A user who is fine paying a small hosted fee for sync convenience without wanting a full YNAB-style subscriptionnot Divvy

Divvy

  • Issuing corporate cards with pre-set budgets to employeesnot Actual Budget
  • Automating expense reports and receipt capturenot Actual Budget
  • Syncing card spend into accounting softwarenot Actual Budget

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Actual Budget

  • Self-hosting the sync server requires basic comfort with running and updating a small application, which is a real barrier for non-technical users.
  • Bank sync depends on SimpleFIN or GoCardless connectors rather than a broad built-in aggregator network, so coverage of smaller banks varies by region.
  • There is no dedicated customer support line, only community Discord and GitHub issues, which suits technical users but frustrates people expecting vendor support.
  • The mobile apps are less mature than the web and desktop experience, and some budgeting workflows are easier on desktop.
  • Because it is a smaller open source project, feature development depends on maintainer time and community contribution rather than a funded product roadmap.

Divvy

  • Divvy is now sold as BILL Spend & Expense and getdivvy.com redirects to bill.com
  • No standalone pricing is published for the spend and expense product; the site routes to a trial signup and sales contact
  • Signup is gated behind selecting a business type and accounting software rather than being open self-serve

Pricing, plan by plan

Actual Budget

Free
  • Actual BudgetFree
    • Full budgeting features
    • Self-hosted sync server
    • Community support only
  • Actual Budget$7.99/month
    • Managed hosted sync
    • Mobile app access
    • No server to maintain

Divvy

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited cards
    • Expense management
    • Budget controls

Which should you pick?

Choose Actual Budget if

  • You need envelope budgeting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android.
  • You also want local-first data.
Actual Budget review

Choose Divvy if

  • You need corporate cards.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want budget management.
Divvy review

Questions people ask

Is Actual Budget or Divvy better?
Neither clearly leads. Actual Budget starts at Free and Divvy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Actual Budget or Divvy?
Actual Budget starts at Free and Divvy at Free.
Does Actual Budget or Divvy run on more platforms?
Actual Budget runs on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android. Divvy runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Actual Budget for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Actual Budget best used for?
Actual Budget is most often used for a former ynab user who wants the same envelope method without an ongoing subscription, someone who wants their financial data to stay on hardware they control, using a home server for sync, a technically comfortable household running a small self-hosted stack who wants budgeting alongside it, a user who is fine paying a small hosted fee for sync convenience without wanting a full ynab-style subscription. Of those, a former ynab user who wants the same envelope method without an ongoing subscription and someone who wants their financial data to stay on hardware they control, using a home server for sync are not what Divvy is typically brought in for.
What can Actual Budget do that Divvy cannot?
Actual Budget covers Envelope budgeting, Local-first data, Self-hosted sync, Bank sync via SimpleFIN or GoCardless. Divvy covers Corporate cards, Budget management, Expense tracking, Real-time visibility.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Actual Budget: Is Actual Budget really free?

The core app and self-hosted sync are free and open source; there is also an optional paid hosted sync subscription if you do not want to run a server.

Divvy: What is the cheapest way to get started with spend and expense management?

BILL's Spend & Expense plan has a free tier with no per-user subscription fee, including corporate cards, budget management, and AI receipt capture. You only pay transaction fees for ACH ($0.59), checks ($1.99), or instant payments (1%).

Source
Actual Budget: Do I need a server to use it?

Only if you want to sync a budget across multiple devices; a single-device budget works without any server at all.

Divvy: What transaction costs apply when paying vendors?

ACH payments cost $0.59 per transaction, checks cost $1.99, virtual cards are free, and same-day ACH costs $11.99. International wire transfers cost $19.99. Card payments are 2.9%.

Source
Actual Budget: Does it connect to my bank automatically?

Yes, through SimpleFIN or GoCardless connectors, though coverage is narrower than commercial aggregators used by YNAB or Lunch Money.

Divvy: Does the free spend and expense tier include business credit lines?

The free Spend & Expense plan includes access to business credit lines ranging from $1,000 to $5 million, but credit lines are not guaranteed and eligibility is determined upon application approval.

Source
Divvy: What is the pricing for accounts payable if I need more than the free tier?

AP plans range from $49/user/month (Essentials) to $89/user/month (Corporate, most popular), with Enterprise at custom pricing. Higher tiers add accounting software integrations, procurement features, and approval controls.

Source
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