Actual Budget vs SmartFolio
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Actual Budget is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 8.5. Actual Budget wins on 3 of the 5 scores, SmartFolio on 0, with 2 tied.
Hands-on budgeters who want YNAB-style envelopes without a subscription
Dividend and long-term investors who want a private, free portfolio view
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Actual Budget | SmartFolio |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Money & Investing | Money & Investing |
| Category rank | #4 of 12 | #6 of 12 |
| Developer | Actual Budget community | The Big Head |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | — | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | — |
| Windows | ✓ | — |
| Linux | ✓ | — |
| Web | ✓ | — |
Common questions
Is Actual Budget better than SmartFolio?
Actual Budget is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 8.5. Actual Budget wins on 3 of the 5 scores, SmartFolio on 0, with 2 tied.
Which is cheaper, Actual Budget or SmartFolio?
Actual Budget: Free and open source; syncing needs a server you host or rent, such as PikaPods. SmartFolio: Free, no subscription, no ads, no in-app purchases. On value for money, Actual Budget scores higher.
Do Actual Budget and SmartFolio work on the same devices?
Only Actual Budget runs on Web, Mac, Windows, Linux. Only SmartFolio runs on iPhone & iPad.
Which is more private, Actual Budget or SmartFolio?
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
SmartFolio
- Free with no ads, no account and no in-app purchases
- Portfolio data stays on your iPhone or iPad
- Clear history of every trade, even after you sell
- No automatic broker sync, so updates mean re-importing
- iPhone and iPad only, and it needs iOS 26.2 or later
SmartFolio is a portfolio tracker that keeps everything on your device. You import your history using guides for 19 brokers or any CSV or Excel file, then see every buy, sale and dividend per holding, time-weighted returns against the S&P 500 and what your holdings should pay over the next 12 months. There is no account and no brokerage login, which is great for privacy but means updates are manual. For dividend investors who want a free, private overview, it is a strong pick.
Full SmartFolio review
