Actual Budget vs Rocket Money
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Actual Budget is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 7.8. Actual Budget wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Rocket Money on 1.
Hands-on budgeters who want YNAB-style envelopes without a subscription
People who suspect they are paying for subscriptions they no longer use
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Actual Budget | Rocket Money |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Money & Investing | Money & Investing |
| Category rank | #4 of 12 | #12 of 12 |
| Developer | Actual Budget community | Rocket Money |
| Pricing | Free | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | — | ✓ |
| Android | — | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | — |
| Windows | ✓ | — |
| Linux | ✓ | — |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Actual Budget better than Rocket Money?
Actual Budget is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 7.8. Actual Budget wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Rocket Money on 1.
Which is cheaper, Actual Budget or Rocket Money?
Actual Budget: Free and open source; syncing needs a server you host or rent, such as PikaPods. Rocket Money: Free plan; paid Premium; Premium+ is $15/month and adds Rowan and bill negotiation. On value for money, Actual Budget scores higher.
Do Actual Budget and Rocket Money work on the same devices?
Only Actual Budget runs on Mac, Windows, Linux. Only Rocket Money runs on iPhone & iPad, Android.
Which is more private, Actual Budget or Rocket Money?
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
Rocket Money
- Quickly surfaces forgotten subscriptions
- Cancellation help saves tedious phone calls
- Rowan flags price increases and low balances by text
- Bill negotiation and Rowan need the $15-a-month Premium+ plan
- Free plan lists subscriptions but cannot cancel them
- Purchase and payment data is used for third-party ads
Rocket Money is best at one job: finding the subscriptions and recurring bills you forgot about. It can cancel some for you, handle basic budgeting and credit monitoring, and its new Rowan assistant texts you about price hikes and low balances. The free tier is limited, and from November 2026 bill negotiation needs the $15-a-month Premium+ plan. Check what you actually need before you upgrade.
Full Rocket Money review
