Actual Budget vs VaultFlow
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 4 of the 5 scores, VaultFlow on 0, with 1 tied.
Hands-on budgeters who want YNAB-style envelopes without a subscription
Budgeters who want a free, private app and don't mind importing statements
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Actual Budget | VaultFlow |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Money & Investing | Money & Investing |
| Category rank | #4 of 12 | #7 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 VaultFlow?
Actual Budget is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 8.4. Actual Budget wins on 4 of the 5 scores, VaultFlow on 0, with 1 tied.
Which is cheaper, Actual Budget or VaultFlow?
Actual Budget: Free and open source; syncing needs a server you host or rent, such as PikaPods. VaultFlow: Free, no subscription, no ads, no in-app purchases. On value for money, Actual Budget scores higher.
Do Actual Budget and VaultFlow work on the same devices?
Only Actual Budget runs on Web, Mac, Windows, Linux. Only VaultFlow runs on iPhone & iPad.
Which is more private, Actual Budget or VaultFlow?
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
VaultFlow
- No bank login, no subscription and no ads
- Bills, budgets and net worth in one place
- Export everything as a spreadsheet any time
- No automatic bank feeds; you import statement files yourself
- No sync between devices yet, and no Android or web app
VaultFlow covers spending, bills and net worth in four simple places, Home, Spending, Bills and Wealth, and it does it without asking for your bank password. You import your bank's statement file (CSV, OFX or QFX) instead, and duplicates are skipped. Bills remind you one to three days before they are due, budgets sit on each category, and the wealth view tracks accounts, cards, investments, property and loans. It needs more manual effort than Monarch and does not sync between devices yet, but it costs nothing and keeps your data on your device.
Full VaultFlow review
