Beancount Import vs MyFin
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted budgeting & finance options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Beancount Import | MyFin |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 60 · Good | 77 · Good |
| Category | Budgeting & Finance | Budgeting & Finance |
| License | GPL-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | source, binary | docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 471 | ★ 312 |
| First released | 2018 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Mint | YNAB, Mint |
What are Beancount Import and MyFin?
Beancount Import
Beancount Import is a tool for semi-automatically importing transactions from financial institutions into Beancount plain-text accounting files. It provides a web interface to review, classify, and reconcile imported entries.
- Semi-automated import
- Web review interface
- Transaction classification
- Reconciliation support
MyFin
MyFin is a self-hosted personal finance platform for tracking accounts, budgets, and transactions. It provides reports and forecasting to help understand spending patterns over time.
- Account and budget tracking
- Spending forecasts
- Transaction categorization
- Self-hosted finance reports
Beancount Import vs MyFin: key differences
Beancount Import is written in Python, while MyFin is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Beancount Import versus GPL-3.0 for MyFin. Beancount Import is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for MyFin. Beancount Import is the more established project (first released 2018), while MyFin arrived in 2022. MyFin lists first-class Docker deployment; Beancount Import does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Beancount Import if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Written in Python
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Watch out for
- Requires Beancount knowledge
- Per-institution configuration
Choose MyFin if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in TypeScript
- Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Beancount Import or MyFin better?
Neither is universally better. Beancount Import has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Beancount Import and MyFin free and open-source?
Yes. Beancount Import is licensed under GPL-2.0 and MyFin under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Beancount Import and MyFin with Docker?
Beancount Import: check the project docs for container support. MyFin: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Beancount Import or MyFin?
Beancount Import has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for MyFin. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.