Can I open-source Lunch Money?
YES · mature open-source replacementYes. Actual Budget (28k stars), Firefly III (24k stars), Wealthfolio (9k stars) are mature open-source replacements for Lunch Money — self-host in one command and stop paying $10/mo.
People still pay for Lunch Money because people pay because accurate money records and dependable institution connections are worth more than the visible charts. The recurring cost buys import normalization, reconciliation, rule drift, exchange rates, backups, audit trails, tax changes, bank APIs, and support, not just the visible interface.
xbank sync, multi-currency support, API, community, and hosted convenience
xdirect bank feeds
xtax filing guarantees
xpayroll and payments
xaccountant ecosystem and support
These projects already replace it, free.
AActual BudgetA transparent ledger with imports, rules and reports on your own disk; automatic bank sync is optional.open source↗FFirefly IIIA meticulous imported ledger with rules and reports in Docker; powerful, private and willing to teach accounting words.open source↗WWealthfolioTransactions, rules, spending reports and net worth on your device; automatic account sync is paid.open source↗What each one is, in full: Actual Budget · Firefly III
all 4 open-source alternatives to Lunch Money →· no votes, no pay-to-list · just what's real
Lunch Money pricing
| plan | monthly | annual (per mo) | what you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| monthly subscription | $10 | — | All product features; 30-day trial; price locked for life |
| annual subscription | — | $8.33 | All product features; user can set annual price, displayed default $100/year; 30-day trial |
free tierno free tier; 30-day trial with no credit card
billingmonthly + annual (annual price is user-set; displayed default $100/year)
hidden costsAnnual customers can choose their own price; organization pricing is separate. Pausing converts unused time into account credit.
verified 2026-08-13 · source ↗
Can I open-source Lunch Money?
Yes. Actual Budget replaces Lunch Money today — self-host it on your own server or machine with no subscription. The full list of open-source alternatives is on this page.
How much does Lunch Money cost?
Lunch Money costs about $10/month (Lunch Money, checked 2026-07-31), which is $120 per year. That's what you save by replacing it with open source.
What do I lose by replacing Lunch Money?
Honestly: bank sync, multi-currency support, API, community, and hosted convenience; direct bank feeds; tax filing guarantees; payroll and payments; accountant ecosystem and support. If any of those are load-bearing for you, keep paying.
Is there an open-source alternative to Lunch Money?
Yes: Actual Budget (A transparent ledger with imports, rules and reports on your own disk; automatic bank sync is optional.) Firefly III (A meticulous imported ledger with rules and reports in Docker; powerful, private and willing to teach accounting words.) Wealthfolio (Transactions, rules, spending reports and net worth on your device; automatic account sync is paid.) All 4 curated open-source alternatives are at caniopensourceit.online/lunch-money/alternatives.