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Personal Finance · head to head

Actual Budget vs Quicken

Actual Budget logo

Actual Budget

Personal Finance

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Quicken logo

Quicken

Personal Finance

Take control of your finances

From
$3.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Actual Budget has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • 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.; Quicken promotional pricing available only for annual billing; higher rates apply for monthly billing
  • They diverge on capability: Actual Budget covers Envelope budgeting, Quicken covers Budget creation.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Actual Budget and Quicken differ
AttributeActual BudgetQuicken
Starting priceFree$3.99/month
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence fee; optional paid hosted sync and subscription tiersubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, AndroidWeb, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS
FoundedUnknown1983

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Personal Finance).

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 Quicken

  • Budget creation
  • Bill management
  • Investment tracking
  • Tax planning
  • Bank accounts
  • Investment accounts
  • Credit cards
  • Windows support

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

Quicken

  • Individuals managing personal finances via Quicken Simplifi cloud app for budgeting and savings trackingnot Actual Budget
  • Freelancers and self-employed managing business and personal finances via Quicken Business & Personal plannot Actual Budget
  • Users preferring local data storage via Classic desktop editionsnot 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.

Quicken

  • Promotional pricing available only for annual billing; higher rates apply for monthly billing
  • Subscriptions auto-renew at current rates unless manually cancelled

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

Quicken

$3.99/month
  • Quicken Simplifi$3.99/month
    • Billed annually at promotional rate
    • Regular price $6.99/month
    • Mobile and web access
  • Quicken Business & Personal$4.99/month
    • Billed annually at promotional rate
    • Regular price $8.99/month
    • Mobile and web access

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 Quicken if

  • You need budget creation.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want bill management.
Quicken review

Questions people ask

Is Actual Budget or Quicken better?
Neither clearly leads. Actual Budget starts at Free and Quicken at $3.99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Actual Budget or Quicken?
Actual Budget has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Actual Budget and $3.99/month for Quicken.
Does Actual Budget or Quicken run on more platforms?
Actual Budget runs on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android. Quicken runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, macOS.
Can I use Actual Budget for free?
Yes. Actual Budget has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Quicken starts at $3.99/month.
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 Quicken is typically brought in for.
What can Actual Budget do that Quicken cannot?
Actual Budget covers Envelope budgeting, Local-first data, Self-hosted sync, Bank sync via SimpleFIN or GoCardless. Quicken covers Budget creation, Bill management, Investment tracking, Tax planning.

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.

Quicken: How much does Quicken cost?

Quicken Simplifi starts at $3.99/month (billed annually) or $6.99/month (monthly billing). Quicken Business & Personal costs $4.99/month (annual) or $8.99/month (monthly). Annual billing offers savings versus monthly subscriptions.

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.

Quicken: What is the difference between Quicken Simplifi and Quicken Business & Personal?

Quicken Business & Personal includes the ability to run up to 10 businesses at no extra cost, making it suitable for freelancers and small business owners. Quicken Simplifi is designed for personal finance and couples. Both are available on mobile and web.

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.

Quicken: Can I cancel my Quicken subscription anytime?

Subscriptions auto-renew at then-current rates unless cancelled. The page indicates cancellation is possible but does not specify the cancellation process or any early termination fees.

Source
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