# MoneyMatter

> Free, open-source budget tracking and personal finance app. Self-host for full data ownership or use the cloud version. Supports AI integration via MCP (Model Context Protocol) for querying your finances with Claude, ChatGPT, or any MCP-compatible client.

## About

MoneyMatter is a privacy-first alternative to apps like Mint, YNAB, and other commercial budget trackers. Unlike those services, MoneyMatter is:

- **Free forever** — no subscription fees, no premium tiers
- **Open source** — MIT-licensed, fully auditable code
- **Self-hostable** — run on your own server with Docker, or use the hosted cloud version
- **Privacy-first** — your data is never sold, shared, or used for advertising

The app is built with a Node.js/Express backend, Vue.js frontend, PostgreSQL database, and Redis for job queues. It deploys as a set of Docker containers.

Website: https://moneymatter.app
Source code: https://github.com/letehaha/budget-tracker
License: MIT

## Features

### Bank Account Synchronization

Connect bank accounts to automatically sync transactions. Currently supports Monobank, EnableBanking, and LunchFlow, with more banking integrations planned. Transactions are pulled automatically so you always have an up-to-date view of your finances.

### AI-Powered Transaction Categorization

MoneyMatter uses AI to learn your spending patterns. Categorize a transaction once, and the AI will automatically categorize similar future transactions. No more manual sorting of every purchase.

### Budget Tracking

Set budgets by category and track your progress with visual indicators. See at a glance whether you're on track, approaching your limit, or over budget. Budgets support custom time periods and flexible category groupings.

### Investment Portfolio Tracking (Beta)

Track investment portfolios alongside your regular budget. Monitor performance, gains/losses, and asset allocation in one place. Supports real-time market data for securities pricing.

### Multi-Currency Support

Track accounts in any currency with automatic exchange rate conversion. Ideal for travelers, expats, freelancers with international clients, or anyone managing money across borders.

### Transaction Import

Import transactions from CSV files and bank statements. An AI-assisted parser can handle various formats, making it easy to migrate from other apps or import historical data without losing your financial history.

### Custom Categories and Tags

Organize spending with unlimited custom categories — no forced structure. Add tags and notes to individual transactions for detailed tracking. Build your own organizational system that matches how you think about money.

### Recurring Transactions

Track recurring expenses and income. See subscriptions and regular payments in one view so nothing slips through the cracks.

### Analytics and Reports

Detailed spending analytics with breakdowns by category, time period, and account. Visualize trends, compare periods, and understand where your money goes.

### Data Export

Export all your data at any time. You are never locked in — your financial data belongs to you.

### Progressive Web App (PWA)

MoneyMatter works as a PWA, meaning you can install it on your phone's home screen for a native-app experience. It is fully responsive and mobile-friendly.

## AI Integration via MCP (Model Context Protocol)

MoneyMatter exposes a remote MCP server that provides AI assistants with read-only, OAuth-secured access to your financial data. This is one of MoneyMatter's most distinctive features — you can have a natural-language conversation with an AI about your finances.

### What you can do

Ask complex questions that go beyond what any dashboard can show:

- "Compare my dining out spending this month to my 3-month average"
- "Which of my subscriptions have increased in price over the past 6 months?"
- "I want to save $500/month — analyze my spending and suggest where to realistically cut"
- "What's my average weekly grocery spend and how has it trended?"
- "Show me all transactions over $100 in the last quarter that weren't recurring"

### Automation with AI agents

Use AI agent frameworks (OpenClaw, Claude, ChatGPT) to automate financial analysis:

- **Weekly spending digest** — get a breakdown of your week's spending every Monday
- **Anomaly detection** — automatically flag unusual transactions or spending spikes
- **Monthly budget health check** — automated review with saving recommendations and goal tracking

### Security and privacy

- **Read-only access** — AI can query your data but cannot modify it
- **OAuth secured** — standard OAuth 2.0 authentication flow
- **Revoke anytime** — disconnect AI access instantly from your account settings
- **No data sharing** — your financial data stays between you and your chosen AI client

### Compatible AI clients

- Claude (Anthropic)
- ChatGPT (OpenAI)
- OpenClaw
- Any MCP-compatible client or agent framework

## Deployment

### Cloud (Hosted)

Sign up at https://moneymatter.app — no setup required. The hosted version is free, your data is never sold, and you can export everything or switch to self-hosting at any time.

### Self-Hosted (Docker)

Deploy MoneyMatter on your own server for maximum privacy and control:

- Your data never leaves your server
- Deploy with Docker in minutes
- Full control over backups, updates, and configuration
- Audit the open-source code yourself

Setup guide and Docker configuration: https://github.com/letehaha/budget-tracker

## Comparison with Alternatives

| Feature | Mint & others | YNAB | MoneyMatter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free (you're the product) | $99/year | Free forever |
| Open Source | No | No | Yes (MIT) |
| Self-Hostable | No | No | Yes |
| Data Privacy | Sells data | Stored on their servers | You own it 100% |
| Investment Tracking | No | No | Yes |
| AI Categorization | No | No | Yes |
| AI Integration (MCP) | No | No | Yes |
| Custom Categories | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Data Export | Limited | Yes | Yes |

## Technology Stack

- **Backend**: Node.js, Express, TypeScript
- **Frontend**: Vue.js 3, TypeScript, Vite
- **Database**: PostgreSQL with Sequelize ORM
- **Job Queue**: BullMQ with Redis
- **Landing Page**: Astro (Static Site Generation)
- **Deployment**: Docker, nginx
- **Analytics**: PostHog (privacy-focused, self-hostable)

## Links

- [Homepage](https://moneymatter.app/): Landing page with feature overview and sign-up
- [GitHub Repository](https://github.com/letehaha/budget-tracker): Source code, Docker setup guide, and issue tracker
- [Privacy Policy](https://moneymatter.app/privacy-policy): Data handling and privacy practices
- [Terms of Use](https://moneymatter.app/terms-of-use): Terms of service
- [Try Demo](https://moneymatter.app): Create a free account or try the demo