actual vs Taxumo
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.
Taxumo is an accredited online platform that automates Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax filing and e-invoicing for freelancers, self-employed professionals, small businesses, and corporations in the Philippines. It has served the market for over a decade and reports more than 144,000 users, offering real-time tax computation and auto-generated forms so users can file and pay taxes without manual paperwork. Beyond core tax filing, Taxumo offers EIS-ready e-invoicing that automatically transmits sales data to the BIR and archives records for 5+ years, plus add-on services such as Taxumo Timeout for dormant-business zero filing, Taxumo Collect for payment collection, business registration and incorporation assistance, and retainer access to a certified accountant. Payments for subscriptions and taxes can be made via GCash, Maya, Dragonpay, Visa, Mastercard, or Billease installments.
- 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
- Long track record (over a decade) and a large user base of 144,000+ in the Philippines
- Automates BIR-specific forms and computations that are otherwise manually intensive
- Tiered plans matched to tax registration type (8%, graduated/Micro, VAT/SMB) rather than one-size-fits-all
- Multiple local payment options (GCash, Maya, Dragonpay) alongside cards
- 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)
- Built specifically around Philippine BIR tax rules, so it has no relevance outside the Philippines
- The Free plan only tracks income/expenses and does not actually file or pay taxes, which could confuse first-time users
- Users must correctly pick a plan matching their tax registration type (8%, graduated, or VAT), and the differing form sets between tiers can be confusing to newcomers
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataTaxumo is the go‑to solution for Philippine businesses needing automated BIR tax filing, while actual is a free, open‑source budgeting app for privacy‑focused individuals.
Key differences
- •Target audience: Philippine businesses vs. individual households.
- •Core function: tax compliance and e‑invoicing vs. personal budgeting and financial tracking.
- •Pricing model: freemium with paid tiers vs. completely free and open source.
- •Platform & deployment: web‑based SaaS with payment integrations vs. desktop app with optional self‑hosted sync.
- •Support & ecosystem: email/social media support vs. community GitHub/Discord support.
Pricing & value
actual is fully free and open source; Taxumo offers only a limited free tier and paid plans for filing.
Ease of use / learning curve
Taxumo automates BIR forms for users; actual requires manual data import and setup of sync, a steeper learning curve.
Features & depth
Taxumo covers income tax, VAT, withholding, e‑invoicing, and business registration; actual focuses on budgeting only.
Integrations & ecosystem
Taxumo integrates with GCash, Maya, Dragonpay, Visa, Mastercard, BIR EIS; actual has no built‑in payment integrations.
Support
Taxumo provides email and social media support; actual relies on community GitHub issues and Discord.
Security & privacy
actual stores all data locally with encryption and no cloud backup; Taxumo stores data on its SaaS platform.
Scalability / business fit
Taxumo serves 144,000+ Philippine businesses and handles official BIR filings; actual is for personal use only.
Choose actual if…
Privacy‑concerned individuals or households wanting free, self‑hosted budgeting.
Choose Taxumo if…
Philippine freelancers, SMBs, or corporations needing automated BIR tax filing.
Common questions
Can Taxumo be used outside the Philippines?
No, Taxumo is built specifically around Philippine BIR tax rules and has no relevance outside the Philippines.
Is there any cost to use actual for budgeting?
No, actual is completely free and open source; there are no paid tiers.
Does either tool offer a certified accountant or tax professional support?
Taxumo offers a retainer service giving access to a certified accountant; actual provides no professional tax support.