Is mPiggy or Actual Budget better for privacy?

Both are local-first, so both are strong on privacy. The difference is where data lives: mPiggy keeps it on your phone with no setup, while Actual Budget keeps it in a file you control or on a server you run. Actual offers optional end-to-end encryption for its sync; mPiggy avoids the cloud for core use entirely.

Is Actual Budget really free?

Yes—Actual Budget is 100% free and open-source (MIT). If you want multi-device sync you either self-host the server or use managed hosting like PikaPods or Fly.io for roughly $1.40–$1.50/month. mPiggy's mobile app is free with no hosting required.

Does mPiggy have a desktop or self-hosted version?

No. mPiggy is a native mobile app for iOS and Android. If you specifically want a desktop budget with a file you self-host, Actual Budget is the better fit. If you want budgeting that lives on your phone with zero server setup, choose mPiggy.

Many privacy-minded people do. They share the same 'my data stays mine' philosophy—mPiggy for fast on-the-go logging, Actual for deep desktop envelope budgeting. They are allies, not duplicates.

mPiggy vs Actual Budget

Feature	mPiggy	Actual Budget
Core price	Free (mobile app)	Free, open-source (MIT)
Primary platform	Native mobile (iOS / Android)	Desktop + self-hosted sync
Data ownership	On your phone (offline-first)	Your file / your server
Setup effort	Install and start	Self-host or run local app
Budgeting method	Category budgets + goals	Envelope (YNAB 4 lineage)
Bank sync	Optional (Bank Connect add-on)	SimpleFIN / GoCardless (setup)
Multi-currency	Yes (historical rates)	Yes
Mobile sync hosting cost	None	~$1.40–1.50/mo (PikaPods / Fly) or self-host

The short version: Actual Budget and mPiggy both keep your data out of a corporate cloud, but they solve different problems. Actual is an open-source desktop envelope budget you self-host; mPiggy is a free native mobile app that lives on your phone with no setup. Pick by where you want to budget—and how much infrastructure you want to run.

What is mPiggy?

mPiggy holds your ledger on your phone, with wallets, transactions, budgets, goals, liabilities, and statistics. There is no server to set up and no account to create. The core is free; AI receipt scanning and Bank Connect are optional add-ons.

What is Actual Budget?

Actual Budget is a respected local-first, open-source (MIT) envelope budget—a spiritual successor to YNAB 4. It runs on the desktop (with optional sync to other clients), stores the budget file with you or on your own server, and offers optional end-to-end encryption. Bank data arrives via SimpleFIN or GoCardless, which take some setup and vary by region. It is free; multi-device sync means either self-hosting or ~$1.40–$1.50/month managed hosting.

mPiggy vs Actual Budget by category

Platform and setup. This is the real split. mPiggy is mobile-first and works the moment you install it. Actual shines on a large screen and rewards people who are happy to run (or pay a little to host) a sync server.

Data ownership. Both keep data local. mPiggy stores it on the device; Actual stores a file you own and can self-host. If you want full file portability and infrastructure control, Actual wins; if you want zero-setup ownership, mPiggy wins.

Budgeting method. Actual is purist envelope budgeting in the YNAB 4 tradition. mPiggy offers category budgets and goals that build the same discipline with a lighter touch.

Bank sync. Actual’s bank connections are powerful but require configuration and depend on SimpleFIN/GoCardless coverage. mPiggy keeps bank sync optional via Bank Connect, with fast manual entry as the default.

Extras. mPiggy adds a wishlist and mindful-spending flows plus accounting-correct multi-currency with historical rates, all in one mobile app.

Who mPiggy is best for

You want budgeting that lives on your phone with no server setup.
You log spending at the moment of purchase.
You want a free app plus optional add-ons instead of running infrastructure.

Who Actual Budget is best for

You want full file control and the option to self-host.
You prefer desktop, large-screen envelope budgeting.
You are comfortable configuring a sync server and bank connections.

Getting started with mPiggy

Install the free app, create wallets, and import history from a file (CSV, OFX, QFX, QIF) if you are coming from another tool. No server, no account, no card.

Summary

Actual and mPiggy share the same core value—“my data stays mine”—so they are allies, not rivals. Choose mPiggy for mobile, offline, zero-setup budgeting; choose Actual for desktop envelopes on your own server.