Actual Budget vs Robinhood
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Actual Budget is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 8.4. Actual Budget wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Robinhood on 2.
Hands-on budgeters who want YNAB-style envelopes without a subscription
Self-directed investors who want a fast, simple brokerage app
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Actual Budget | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Money & Investing | Money & Investing |
| Category rank | #4 of 12 | #10 of 12 |
| Developer | Actual Budget community | Robinhood Markets, Inc. |
| Pricing | Free | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | — | ✓ |
| Android | — | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | — |
| Windows | ✓ | — |
| Linux | ✓ | — |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Actual Budget better than Robinhood?
Actual Budget is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 8.4. Actual Budget wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Robinhood on 2.
Which is cheaper, Actual Budget or Robinhood?
Actual Budget: Free and open source; syncing needs a server you host or rent, such as PikaPods. Robinhood: Free stock and ETF trades; Gold is $5/month or $50/year after a 30-day trial. On value for money, Actual Budget scores higher.
Do Actual Budget and Robinhood work on the same devices?
Only Actual Budget runs on Mac, Windows, Linux. Only Robinhood runs on iPhone & iPad, Android.
Which is more private, Actual Budget or Robinhood?
Actual Budget scores higher on privacy (9.6/10). Local-first: your budget lives on your device and syncs through a server you control, with optional end-to-end encryption. Bank sync is optional and uses API keys you set up yourself.
Strengths and weaknesses
Actual Budget
- Free and open source, with no ads
- Data stays on your device unless you sync it
- Monthly releases keep adding features
- Sync needs a server you host or rent
- No app in the App Store or Google Play
- Bank sync means setting up your own provider keys
Actual Budget is envelope budgeting built by people who love it, then given away. You assign real income to categories, move money between them quickly, and lean on rules, split transactions and custom reports to keep things tidy. It's local-first and open source, with optional end-to-end encrypted sync and monthly releases. The catch is setup: syncing across devices means running a small server, and there's no app in the phone stores.
Full Actual Budget review
Robinhood
- Clean, fast app that makes trading easy to understand
- No commissions on stock and ETF trades
- Gold's 3% IRA match is a rare perk for $5 a month
- Relies partly on payment for order flow
- Event contracts and quick trades can encourage over-trading
- App Store label shows broad data collection and tracking
Robinhood made investing feel simple, and it is still the slickest way to buy stocks, ETFs, options and crypto from your phone. Stock and ETF trades are commission-free, and the $5-a-month Gold plan adds a higher cash yield, a 3% IRA match and cheaper margin. Prediction markets and AI tools keep arriving. The catch is a design that nudges you toward frequent trading, so treat it as a tool, not a game.
Full Robinhood review
