Actual Budget vs Maybe Finance
Self-host pick — both replace Mint (Personal finance / budget tracking).
Both Actual Budget and Maybe Finance self-host as a replacement for Mint (Personal finance / budget tracking). Pick Actual Budget if you want the lighter footprint — 10min docker run (sync server) + desktop app, $3-5/mo vps for the sync server; desktop and mobile apps are free. Pick Maybe Finance if you need mint refugees who want the closest visual + functional one-for-one replacement, including the net-worth dashboard — 30min docker-compose (Rails + Postgres + Redis + Sidekiq) and $10/mo vps.
| Actual Budgetopen-source | Maybe Financeopen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| License | MIT | AGPL-3.0 |
| Setup time | 10min docker run (sync server) + desktop app | 30min docker-compose (Rails + Postgres + Redis + Sidekiq) |
| Monthly cost | $3-5/mo VPS for the sync server; desktop and mobile apps are free. | $10/mo VPS. |
| GitHub | actualbudget/actual | maybe-finance/maybe |
| Replaces | Mint | Mint |
Good fit for
Actual Budget
Users who want a YNAB-style budget engine with self-hosted sync and a polished modern UI.
Weak at:Bank aggregation isn't free — SimpleFIN ($15/yr) or Plaid (free for small volumes) is mandatory for hands-off use.
Maybe Finance
Mint refugees who want the closest visual + functional one-for-one replacement, including the net-worth dashboard.
Weak at:Project recently went community-led — release cadence and Plaid maintenance are uncertain.
In a terminal? npx -y github:SolvoHQ/os-alt-cli mint prints Mint's self-host options including both —
how the CLI works →
FAQ
Which is easier to self-host, Actual Budget or Maybe Finance?
Actual Budget: 10min docker run (sync server) + desktop app. Maybe Finance: 30min docker-compose (Rails + Postgres + Redis + Sidekiq).
What does each cost to run?
Actual Budget: $3-5/mo VPS for the sync server; desktop and mobile apps are free.. Maybe Finance: $10/mo VPS.. Both projects are free and open source.
Do Actual Budget and Maybe Finance replace the same SaaS?
Yes — both are open-source alternatives to Mint.