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Comparison · Budgeting apps

Actual Budget vs Tiller: which is better in 2026?

Actual Budget86.0#3 in best budgeting appsTiller80.0#6 in best budgeting apps

Actual Budget ranks higher in our list of budgeting apps (#3 against #6, score 86.0 against 80.0).

How we rank Share

  • 86.0
    Editorial score
    80.0
  • 5
    Platforms
    1
  • Yes
    Free to use
    No
  • Yes
    Open source
    No

Which should you choose?

Choose Actual Budget if you want

Free self-hosted envelope budgeting.

Free, MIT-licensed envelope budgeting app with desktop apps and a server for syncing and bank connections. It needs a server for full sync, and phone use runs through a browser.

Choose Tiller if you want

Spreadsheet users who want automatic bank data.

Bank transactions sync into spreadsheets you own, with budgeting and net worth templates you can edit freely. It is a yearly subscription after a trial, and the spreadsheet is the interface, which suits spreadsheet users.

The main differences

  • Only Actual Budget runs on Linux.
  • Only Actual Budget runs on Windows.
  • Only Actual Budget runs on macOS.
  • Actual Budget is open source; Tiller is not.
  • Actual Budget can be used for free; Tiller requires payment.

Side by side

Actual BudgetTiller
Score86.080.0
Rank in list#3 of 10#6 of 10
PriceFree and open sourceFree and open source; full sync needs a server you runSubscription30-day free trial, then a yearly subscription
Free to useYesNo
Open sourceYesNo
PlatformsWindowsmacOSLinuxWebSelf-hostedWindows, macOS, Linux, Web, Self-hostedWebWeb
Made byJames Long and contributorsNot stated
Self-hosted optionYesNo
Bank connectionsGoCardless or SimpleFINYes, daily sync to spreadsheets
Budgeting methodEnvelope budgetingSpreadsheet templates
Best forFree self-hosted envelope budgetingSpreadsheet users who want automatic bank data
Strengths
  • MIT-licensed and free to use
  • Desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux
  • Bank syncing through GoCardless or SimpleFIN
  • Data stays in spreadsheets you own
  • Works in Google Sheets and Excel
Limits
  • Full sync needs a server you run
  • No native mobile app listed in its docs
  • Needs a spreadsheet for every view
  • Subscription after a 30-day trial
LinksVisit site Visit site

Questions about Actual Budget vs Tiller

Is Actual Budget better than Tiller?
Actual Budget ranks higher in our list of budgeting apps (#3 against #6, score 86.0 against 80.0). Actual Budget is best for: free self-hosted envelope budgeting. Tiller is best for: spreadsheet users who want automatic bank data.
Which is cheaper, Actual Budget or Tiller?
Actual Budget: Free and open source; full sync needs a server you run. Tiller: 30-day free trial, then a yearly subscription.
Do Actual Budget and Tiller run on the same platforms?
Actual Budget supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Web, Self-hosted. Tiller supports Web.

Choosing between the two

Learning Center
1:17Beginner · 4 min readHow to decide between two good optionsSettle a close call by sorting it by how hard it is to undo, setting a deadline, scoring the criteria as a tie-breaker and writing down why you chose.1:20Beginner · 6 min readHow to compare products fairly: what to keep in mindDefine the job, cap the must-haves, compare like with like, count total cost over one period and weigh the criteria. Includes a worked example.

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