Firefly III Firefly III has a different feel from most budget tools. It isn’t a small desktop app that you just install and forget — it’s a self-hosted system, something that runs on a server or in a container, and you reach it through a browser. At first this may sound like overkill for personal finance, but that’s exactly why it appeals to people who want to keep all their money data under their own control. How it tends to be used

KMyMoney KMyMoney has been part of the open-source world for a long time. It comes from the KDE community, and in many ways it feels like the classic desktop finance programs that people used before the rise of cloud apps. That’s not a drawback — on the contrary, its familiar layout and steady design are what many users actually look for. It works like a traditional personal accounting tool, only here it’s free and open-source. How it’s used day to day

Beancount Beancount is not a typical finance app with windows, menus, and dashboards. It’s a text-based accounting system: instead of clicking through forms, users write their accounts and transactions in plain text files. At first this approach can feel unusual, but many finance enthusiasts like the transparency and control it brings. How it works in practice

GnuCash GnuCash is one of those programs that has quietly stayed around for decades. It was built as an open-source project and, unlike many modern apps, it hasn’t tried to reinvent itself with glossy design. Instead, it holds on to what accountants and finance-savvy people value: a proper double-entry system, detailed reports, and the ability to scale from a simple household budget to small business bookkeeping. How it works in practice

HomeBank HomeBank is one of the most popular free tools for personal finance management. First released more than two decades ago, it has stayed relevant thanks to its lightweight design and clear focus on household budgeting. It doesn’t try to compete with corporate accounting suites; instead, it provides exactly what individuals and families usually need — expense tracking, budgeting, and reporting that makes sense at a glance. How it works in practice

AceMoney Lite AceMoney Lite is the free cut-down edition of the AceMoney finance manager. It doesn’t try to be a full accounting package — instead, it’s meant for everyday users who just want to keep one account in order. Think of it as a digital version of a checkbook: simple, direct, and without extras that might get in the way. How it feels in use