HomeBank Review (2026)
HomeBank is a free, open-source desktop app for tracking spending and setting monthly budgets by category, built by one developer over 28 years. It suits people on Windows or Linux who download bank files and want quick charts of where money goes. It has no bank sync, no phone app and no official Mac build.
By Wealthy Pot Editorial · Facts checked October 18, 2026
Facts checked October 18, 2026 against HomeBank's own pricing, help and policy pages (5 sources, listed below). We re-check prices about once a month. We do not earn a commission from HomeBank.
HomeBank at a glance
| Price | Free software [1] |
|---|---|
| License | GNU GPL version 2 or later [2] |
| Latest release | 5.10.3, September 14, 2026 [3] |
| Developer | Maxime Doyen, France; the project is funded mainly by ads on its website [3] |
| Platforms | Windows 10/11 (installer and portable), Linux, FreeBSD; macOS only through third-party Homebrew or MacPorts [1] |
| Phone app | None; the site says there is no official Android version [3] |
| Bank connections | None [4] |
| File import | QIF, OFX, QFX and CSV, with duplicate detection [4] |
| Export | Accounts to QIF; parts of your data to CSV [4] |
| Budgets | Per category, same or different amount each month, with a budget report [4] |
| Forecast | Cash flow forecast based on scheduled transactions [4] |
| Data file | A single XML file [4] |
What HomeBank costs
| Plan | Paying monthly, 1 year | Annual plan, 1 year | 3 years (cheapest way) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | - | $0 |
Our arithmetic from the listed prices, before sales tax, assuming today's prices hold; subscriptions can renew at a different rate. HomeBank has no paid version. The developer says the project is supported mainly by advertising on the HomeBank website.
How HomeBank works
You set up accounts by type (bank, cash, asset, credit card, liability), then bring in transactions by importing a QIF, OFX, QFX or CSV file from your bank. HomeBank flags likely duplicates, and automatic assignment rules fill in the category, payee, payment type or tags on import or later.
A hypothetical month: you set a $400 Dining budget and a $250 Fuel budget. You import your card's OFX file, a rule assigns every charge containing "SHELL" to Fuel, and the budget report shows Fuel at $180 of $250.
Reports use bar, line and donut charts that you can drill into. Scheduled transactions handle repeating bills, and they also drive a cash flow forecast in some reports. A separate vehicle cost feature tracks car costs and fuel consumption.
Pros
- Imports all four common bank formats: QIF, OFX, QFX and CSV
- Rules assign categories, payees and tags automatically
- Monthly budgets per category with a budget report
- Built-in car cost and fuel tracking
- Steady releases from a long-running project
Cons
- No bank sync
- No phone app of any kind
- macOS only through third-party packages
- One maintainer, with development code not public until release candidates
Who HomeBank fits, and who should skip it
A good fit if
- You use Windows or Linux and want a free, lightweight spending tracker.
- You download OFX, QFX, QIF or CSV files from your bank and want them categorized for you.
- You want monthly category budgets and charts, not double-entry accounting.
Look elsewhere if
- You use a Mac and want an official build, or need a phone app: Money Manager Ex has macOS, Android and iPhone versions.
- You need investment tracking or small-business books: GnuCash covers both.
- You want bank sync and a household view: Monarch Money does it automatically.
Limitations to know
- There is no official Android or iPhone app; store apps using the HomeBank name are unrelated. [3]
- There is no official macOS build; Mac users rely on third-party Homebrew or MacPorts packages. [1]
- There is no bank connection; every transaction comes from a file import or manual entry. [4]
- The public code trunk follows the stable release; development code is not public until a release candidate. [5]
HomeBank compared with alternatives
| App | Price | Free plan | Bank sync | Platforms | Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HomeBank | Free | Yes | Bank file import only (OFX/QFX/QIF/CSV) | Desktop | Category + reports |
| Money Manager Ex | Free | Yes | Bank file import only (QIF/CSV/OFX) | Desktop, iOS, Android | Category budgets |
| GnuCash | Free | Yes | OFX Direct Connect only where the bank offers it | Desktop | Double-entry + investments |
| Actual Budget | Free (self-host); hosting about $1.50/mo (PikaPods); US bank sync needs SimpleFIN ($15/yr) | Yes | Via SimpleFIN ($15/yr), US | Web, Desktop, Self-host | Envelope / zero-based, local-first |
| Goodbudget | Free (10 regular + 10 annual envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices); Premium $10/mo · $80/yr | Yes | Premium only (Plaid), US banks | iOS, Android, Web | Digital envelope (manual) |
- Pick Money Manager Ex if you want a similar free tracker that also runs on Mac, Android and iPhone.
- Pick GnuCash if you want double-entry accounting with investments.
- Pick Actual Budget if you want envelope budgeting in a browser with optional US bank sync.
- Pick Goodbudget if you want a free envelope budget on your phone.
Security and privacy
- Your data is a single XML file on your computer, so there is no account or vendor server; backups and disk encryption are up to you. [4]
- HomeBank is open source under the GNU GPL version 2 or later, with source code on Launchpad. [2]
- HomeBank never connects to your bank, so no bank login is stored anywhere. [4]
Recent changes
| Date | What changed |
|---|---|
| Sep 14, 2026 | HomeBank 5.10.3 released. [3] |
HomeBank FAQ
Is HomeBank free?
Yes. It is free software under the GNU GPL version 2 or later. The project is funded mainly by ads on its website.
Does HomeBank run on a Mac?
Only through third-party packages such as Homebrew or MacPorts. The developer publishes official builds for Windows, and it is packaged for Linux and FreeBSD.
Is there a HomeBank app for Android or iPhone?
No. The developer says there is no official Android version, and apps in the stores with the name are unrelated.
Can HomeBank import my bank statements?
Yes. It imports QIF, OFX, QFX and CSV files and detects duplicates. It does not connect to banks directly.
How we researched this review
We did not get paid or receive a free account for this page. We read HomeBank's own pricing page, help center, security and privacy pages and app-store listing on October 18, 2026, quoted each fact from those pages, and link every one below. We did not run a long-term hands-on test, so we do not score the app; where a point rests on what the company says rather than something we can check, we attribute it to HomeBank. Cost figures are our own arithmetic. We re-check prices and plans about once a month and log changes in the table above.
Sources
- HomeBank, Homepage, checked October 18, 2026.
- HomeBank, About, checked October 18, 2026.
- HomeBank, Downloads, checked October 18, 2026.
- HomeBank, Features, checked October 18, 2026.
- HomeBank, Development, checked October 18, 2026.
See every option in our budgeting apps comparison, and set your category targets with the free budget calculator.
This review is for general information, not financial advice. Prices and features change; check the vendor's site before you subscribe.