How to Install Actual Budget on Ubuntu 24.04

Actual Budget is an open-source personal finance application aimed at helping users monitor their income, expenditures, and overall financial well-being.

The app is designed to be simple, allowing anyone with limited financial knowledge to manage their finances effectively. Using a local application gives users greater control over their financial data than cloud-based services.

Users can customize the application to meet their budgeting needs for personal or business finances.

The steps below walk you through installing the app on Ubuntu 24.04.

Install Node.js

The Actual Budget app is a Node.js application and requires it. NPM will also be installed and used to install yarn.

Run the command below to install Node and NPM.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install nodejs npm git

More about installing Node.js and Yarn is below.

Install Node and npm on Ubuntu

After installing Node and NPM, run the command below to install Yarn.

sudo npm install --global yarn

At this stage, Node.js, npm, and Yarn should be successfully installed on Ubuntu

Download Actual Budget files

After setting up your Ubuntu system, run the command below to clone the Actual Budget file. You may choose to save it to your home directory if you prefer.

git clone https://github.com/actualbudget/actual-server.git

Next, change into the clone file and install.

cd actual-server
yarn install

Configure Actual Budget.

To begin using Actual Budget, open its configuration file by executing the command below.

nano config.json

Next, specify the IP address of the machine and the port number you want to use for listening.

{
 "hostname": "127.0.0.1",
 "port": 5006
}

Save and exit.

Finally, run the command below to start the app.

yarn start

You can access the app using the IP address and port number specified in the configuration file.

http://localhost:5006

Conclusion:

Installing the Actual Budget app on Ubuntu 24.04 allows users to manage their finances efficiently. Here are the key takeaways:

• Simple Installation: The process involves installing Node.js, npm, and Yarn before downloading the Actual Budget app.
• Custom Configuration: Users can easily configure the app by modifying the config.json file to suit their preferences.
• Systemd Service: Creating a systemd service facilitates more straightforward management of the app’s start-up and shutdown processes.
• Local Data Control: Actual Budget provides enhanced control over personal financial data compared to cloud-based options as a locally hosted solution.
• User-Friendly Interface: The app’s intuitive design makes it accessible for users with all levels of financial knowledge.