Actual Budget vs Wise
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Actual Budget is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 8.6. Actual Budget wins on 2 of the 5 scores, Wise on 3.
Hands-on budgeters who want YNAB-style envelopes without a subscription
Travelers, expats and freelancers who send or receive money across borders
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Actual Budget | Wise |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Money & Investing | Money & Investing |
| Category rank | #4 of 12 | #5 of 12 |
| Developer | Actual Budget community | Wise Payments Ltd |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | — | ✓ |
| Android | — | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | — |
| Windows | ✓ | — |
| Linux | ✓ | — |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Actual Budget better than Wise?
Actual Budget is the better app overall, scoring 8.9 to 8.6. Actual Budget wins on 2 of the 5 scores, Wise on 3.
Which is cheaper, Actual Budget or Wise?
Actual Budget: Free and open source; syncing needs a server you host or rent, such as PikaPods. Wise: No monthly fee; pay per conversion or transfer, from 0.23%; US card costs $9 once. On value for money, Actual Budget scores higher.
Do Actual Budget and Wise work on the same devices?
Only Actual Budget runs on Mac, Windows, Linux. Only Wise runs on iPhone & iPad, Android.
Which is more private, Actual Budget or Wise?
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
Wise
- Fees and exchange rate shown before you send
- Hold, convert and spend many currencies in one account
- Wise says 77% of transfers now arrive instantly
- Not a full bank, so no loans or overdrafts
- Card, interest and account features vary by country
- App Store label shows data used for tracking
Wise is the easiest way to move money across borders without losing a chunk to poor exchange rates. It uses the mid-market rate and shows its fee upfront, so you know exactly what arrives. The multi-currency account, debit card and jars make travel and freelancing simpler, and in some countries your balance can now earn interest. It is not a full bank, though, and fees on less common routes add up.
Full Wise review
