How to Self-Host Actual Budget with Docker

What Is Actual Budget?

Actual Budget is a self-hosted personal finance and budgeting app. It uses envelope budgeting (like YNAB) — assign every dollar a job, track spending by category, and see where your money goes. Actual is fast, works offline, supports bank syncing (via GoCardless/SimpleFIN), and runs as a local-first web app that syncs between devices through your own server. It’s the best self-hosted alternative to YNAB and Mint.

Prerequisites

• A Linux server (Ubuntu 22.04+ recommended)
• Docker and Docker Compose installed (guide)
• 256 MB of free RAM
• 500 MB of free disk space
• A domain name (recommended for multi-device sync)

Docker Compose Configuration

Create a docker-compose.yml file:

services:
  actual:
    image: actualbudget/actual-server:25.2.1
    container_name: actual
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "5006:5006"
    volumes:
      - actual_data:/data
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD", "wget", "-qO-", "http://localhost:5006/"]
      interval: 30s
      timeout: 10s
      retries: 3

volumes:
  actual_data:

Start the stack:

docker compose up -d

Initial Setup

1. Open http://your-server-ip:5006 in your browser
2. Set a server password — this protects access to your financial data
3. Create your first budget file
4. Start adding accounts and budget categories

Actual is a local-first app — the server syncs data between your devices, but the app works entirely offline. All budget operations happen in the browser.

Configuration

Bank Syncing

Actual supports automatic bank transaction imports:

• GoCardless (Europe): Free via open banking APIs for European banks
• SimpleFIN ($1.50/month): US bank connection service

Configure under Settings → Linked Accounts in the Actual web app.

Multi-Device Sync

The server handles sync between devices:

1. Open Actual on a second device
2. Enter the same server URL and password
3. Download your budget file
4. Changes sync automatically

Budget Categories

Set up envelope-style budgeting:

1. Create categories (Rent, Groceries, Entertainment, etc.)
2. Assign available income to categories each month
3. Track spending against budget — overspending in one category takes from another

Transaction Import

Import from banks via:

• OFX/QFX files: Download from your bank’s website
• CSV import: Map columns to Actual’s fields
• Bank sync: Automatic via GoCardless or SimpleFIN

Reverse Proxy

Nginx Proxy Manager config:

• Scheme: http
• Forward Hostname: actual
• Forward Port: 5006
• Enable WebSocket Support: Yes (for sync)

HTTPS is strongly recommended since financial data is being transmitted.

See Reverse Proxy Setup for full configuration.

Backup

Actual stores everything in the /data volume:

docker run --rm -v actual_data:/data -v $(pwd):/backup alpine \
  tar czf /backup/actual-backup-$(date +%Y%m%d).tar.gz /data

You can also export budget files from within the Actual web app.

See Backup Strategy for a complete backup approach.

Troubleshooting

Sync Not Working Between Devices

Symptom: Changes on one device don’t appear on another. Fix: Ensure both devices connect to the same server URL and use the same budget file. Check WebSocket connectivity — sync relies on WebSockets. If behind a reverse proxy, ensure WebSocket support is enabled.

Bank Sync Errors

Symptom: GoCardless or SimpleFIN connection fails or returns errors. Fix: Re-authenticate the bank connection. Bank APIs occasionally require re-authorization. Check Actual’s sync logs in the web app under the linked account settings.

Budget File Won’t Open

Symptom: Server starts but budget file fails to load. Fix: Check the /data volume for corruption. Actual keeps backups — look for .backup files in the data directory. Restore from the most recent backup.

Resource Requirements

• RAM: ~50-100 MB
• CPU: Negligible — all heavy work happens client-side in the browser
• Disk: ~50 MB for the application, budget files are small (kilobytes to low megabytes)

Verdict

Actual Budget is the best self-hosted budgeting app. The envelope budgeting approach works, the UI is fast and clean, and the local-first architecture means it works even when your server is down. Bank syncing via GoCardless (Europe) or SimpleFIN (US, $1.50/month) automates transaction imports. If you need more traditional accounting (double-entry, invoicing, tax tracking), look at Firefly III. But for personal budgeting, Actual is the clear winner.

Related

• Best Self-Hosted Personal Finance Apps
• Actual Budget vs Firefly III
• Replace YNAB with Self-Hosted Budget
• Replace Mint with Self-Hosted Finance
• Docker Compose Basics
• Reverse Proxy Setup
• Backup Strategy