actual vs ghostfolio
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Actual is a local‑first personal finance manager that stores all data on your own device, keeping your financial information private and under your control. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux and via a web interface, giving you seamless access wherever you work. Designed for individuals and small households, Actual offers robust budgeting, expense tracking, and reporting tools without any subscription fees. With open‑source transparency and community‑driven support, you can trust the app to evolve while staying completely free.
Ghostfolio is a lightweight, open-source personal finance dashboard designed to help you keep track of your net worth across multiple platforms and asset classes. It offers a clean interface to monitor your cash, stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies, emphasizing privacy and self-hosting.
- Completely free and open source
- Data stays on your device for maximum privacy
- Works offline and syncs locally across platforms
- Highly customizable budgeting and reporting
- Free and open-source, with no hidden costs or fees.
- Self-hosted and private, ensuring maximum security and control over your financial data.
- Customizable dashboard to fit your specific needs and preferences.
- Community-driven approach, with community support via GitHub.
- No built‑in cloud backup; users must set up their own sync solution
- Steeper learning curve compared to simple expense apps
- Limited mobile app functionality (web version only)
- Requires technical expertise to set up and host on your own server.
- Limited support options, relying on community support via GitHub.
- May require additional configuration to integrate with certain financial institutions or services.
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataBoth tools are free and open‑source, but Ghostfolio is geared toward investors needing self‑hosted portfolio dashboards, while Actual focuses on budgeting with local sync and stronger offline usability.
Key differences
- •Ghostfolio tracks multi‑asset net worth and portfolio performance; Actual provides drag‑and‑drop budgeting and cash‑flow reports.
- •Ghostfolio requires self‑hosting on a server; Actual runs as a desktop app with optional local sync.
- •Actual offers built‑in encryption for data at rest; Ghostfolio’s security depends on the host’s setup.
- •Ghostfolio has an API for programmatic access; Actual does not.
Pricing & value
Both are free, open‑source with no licensing fees.
Ease of use / learning curve
Actual is a desktop app with a drag‑and‑drop UI; Ghostfolio needs server setup and technical knowledge.
Features & depth
Ghostfolio offers investment tracking, real‑time market updates, and an API; Actual focuses on budgeting only.
Integrations & ecosystem
Ghostfolio provides an API and community importers; Actual lacks an API.
Security & privacy
Actual encrypts all stored data locally; Ghostfolio’s privacy relies on the user’s self‑hosting environment.
Support
Actual offers GitHub Issues plus a community Discord; Ghostfolio only lists GitHub community support.
Scalability / deployment
Ghostfolio’s self‑hosted server can scale to many users; Actual is limited to desktop sync scenarios.
Choose actual if…
Individuals or households wanting offline budgeting with encrypted local data and minimal setup.
Choose ghostfolio if…
Investors who need a self‑hosted, API‑enabled portfolio dashboard and can manage server setup.
Common questions
Can I use either tool without an internet connection?
Actual works fully offline and syncs locally; Ghostfolio requires a server that may need internet for market data.
Do either of these provide cloud backup?
Neither includes built‑in cloud backup; Actual requires you to set up your own sync solution, Ghostfolio relies on your server.
Which tool supports programmatic access to my data?
Ghostfolio offers an API; Actual does not provide an API.