How to Install Actual Budget on Ubuntu 24.04 – A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’ve ever found yourself scratching your head over finances, you’re not alone. Managing a budget can be daunting, but with the right tools, it doesn’t have to be. Enter Actual Budget, an intuitive budgeting software designed to help you track your income and expenses effortlessly.

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn:

✅ How to install Actual Budget on Ubuntu 24.04
✅ Configuring it for optimal performance
✅ Setting up auto-start with systemd
✅ Troubleshooting common issues

By the end, you’ll have a fully functional budgeting system running smoothly. Let’s get started!

Why Choose Actual Budget?

Before we dive into installation, let’s understand why Actual Budget stands out:

✅ 100% Free & Open-Source – No paywalls or premium features
✅ Self-Hosted Solution – Your financial data never leaves your control
✅ Simple Yet Powerful – Clean interface with robust budgeting tools
✅ Cross-Device Access – Available anywhere when properly configured
✅ Active Development – Regular updates and strong community support

Now, let’s get your Ubuntu system ready for Actual Budget!

Prerequisites for Installing Actual Budget

Before starting, ensure you have:

✔ Ubuntu 24.04 (Fresh install recommended).
✔ Node.js (v18+) – Required for running Actual.
✔ Yarn – Faster than npm for dependencies.
✔ Git – To download Actual’s source code.
✔ Basic terminal knowledge – You’ll run a few commands.

Got everything? Perfect!

Step 1: Update Your Ubuntu System

First, update your system to avoid conflicts:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This ensures all packages are up-to-date.

Step 2: Install Node.js & npm

Actual Budget needs Node.js v18+. Install it with:

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs

Verify installation:

node -v  # Should show v18+
npm -v   # Should show version

If not, retry the steps.

Step 3: Install Yarn for Faster Setup

Yarn speeds up installations. Install it via npm:

sudo npm install -g yarn

Check if installed:

yarn --version

Great! Now, let’s get Actual Budget.

Step 4: Clone the Actual Budget Repository

Actual’s source is on GitHub. Clone it with:

git clone https://github.com/actualbudget/actual.git
cd actual

This creates an actual folder with all files.

Step 5: Install Dependencies with Yarn

Inside the folder, install dependencies:

yarn install

Wait a few minutes—this sets up everything.

Step 6: Build the Application

Now, compile Actual Budget:

yarn build

If errors appear, check Node.js version and retry.

Step 7: Configure Actual Budget

Before starting, edit the config file:

nano config.json

Set your preferred IP & port (default is localhost:5006):

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

Save (Ctrl+O, then Ctrl+X).

Step 8: Start Actual Budget

Launch the server:

yarn start

You’ll see confirmation that it’s running.

Step 9: Access Actual Budget in Browser

Open your browser and visit:

http://localhost:5006

You’ll see the welcome screen!

Set Up an Admin Password

On the welcome screen:

1. Create an admin password (keep it secure!).
2. Log in and start managing your budget.

Step 10: Auto-Start with systemd (Optional)

Want Actual to start on boot? Use systemd:

1. Create a service file:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/actual.service

2. Paste this (replace linuxpro with your username):

[Unit]
Description=Actual-Server (https://actualbudget.org)
After=network.target

[Service]
User=linuxpro
Group=linuxpro
WorkingDirectory=/home/linuxpro/actual/
ExecStart=/usr/bin/yarn start
Restart=always

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

3. Save & exit (Ctrl+O, Ctrl+X).
4. Enable the service:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable --now actual.service

5. Check status:

sudo systemctl status actual.service

You should see:

● actual.service - Actual-Server
     Loaded: loaded (/etc/systemd/system/actual.service; enabled)
     Active: active (running)

Success! Actual Budget now runs automatically.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. Port 5006 Already in Use

If you get an EADDRINUSE error, free the port:

sudo lsof -i :5006  # Find the process
sudo kill -9 <PID>  # Replace <PID> with the process ID

2. Node.js Version Too Old

Ensure you’re using Node.js v18+:

sudo npm install -g n
sudo n 18

3. Yarn Installation Fails

If yarn doesn’t install, try:

curl -sS https://dl.yarnpkg.com/debian/pubkey.gpg | sudo apt-key add -
echo "deb https://dl.yarnpkg.com/debian/ stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/yarn.list
sudo apt update && sudo apt install yarn

Final Thoughts

Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed Actual Budget on Ubuntu 24.04, unlocking a powerful, self-hosted budgeting tool that puts you in full control of your finances.

With no subscriptions, no ads, and no cloud dependency, Actual Budget offers true financial freedom—right from your own machine. Whether you’re tracking daily coffee runs or planning for big investments, this tool keeps everything simple, secure, and entirely yours.

What You’ve Accomplished

✅ Updated Ubuntu for a smooth setup.
✅ Installed Node.js, Git, and Yarn—the backbone of Actual Budget.
✅ Cloned and built the application from source.
✅ Set up a system service for automatic launches (optional but handy!).

Now that everything’s ready, dive in and explore! Customize categories, import transactions, or tweak budgets to match your spending habits.

Happy budgeting! May your finances be as organized as your Ubuntu setup.