How to Install Actual Budget on Ubuntu 24.04

Install Node.js

Installing Node.js on Ubuntu 24.04 is the first step to get Actual Budget running. You need Node.js, npm, and Git, so we’ll install them all together. After that, we’ll add Yarn, another tool required for the setup process.

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

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.

Configuring Actual Budget means telling it where to listen for connections on your computer. You do this by editing the `config.json` file using the `nano` text editor. Inside this file, you’ll set the specific IP address and port number for the application.

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

Login and start using the app.

To easily manage the app start-up and shutdown, create a systemd service.

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

Copy and paste the content below into the file. Replace the username highlighted with your own.

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

[Service]
User=richard
Group=richard
WorkingDirectory=/home/richard/actual-server/
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/yarn start
Restart=on-watchdog

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Save and exit.

Reload the systemd services and start the app.

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

When you run the service status, you should see the app running.

sudo systemctl status actual.service

The app should be running now.

actual.service - Actual-Server (https://actualbudget.org)
     Loaded: loaded (/etc/systemd/system/actual.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Sun 2025-03-23 14:52:21 CDT; 2s ago
   Main PID: 6204 (node)
      Tasks: 29 (limit: 4551)
     Memory: 189.6M (peak: 189.9M)
        CPU: 1.036s
     CGroup: /system.slice/actual.service
             ├─6204 node /usr/local/bin/yarn start
             ├─6211 /usr/local/lib/node_modules/node/bin/node /home/richard/actual-server/.yarn/releases/ya>
             └─6222 /usr/local/lib/node_modules/node/bin/node app

That should do it!

Conclusion:

Installing Actual Budget on Ubuntu 24.04 helps you manage your finances efficiently. This app, designed for personal finance tracking, offers a clear overview of your spending. You can install Actual Budget by following specific command-line instructions provided in the setup guide to ensure proper integration with your Ubuntu 24.04 system.

• 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.

Users can successfully set up and utilize Actual Budget for financial management by following the outlined steps, ensuring the software is ready for use on Ubuntu 24.04.