1. Getting started
Why self-host it, how to install or update it, and how accounts, confirmed balances, and recurring items should be set up first.
Find the FinanceTracking.app guide for what you want to do next.
Evaluating the app? Start with why to use it. Installing it? Start with self-hosting. Already using it? Jump into setup, planning, daily activity, reporting, month close, or recovery.
2. Monthly workflow
Plan the month, record what happened, review the numbers, and close it when everything looks right.
3. Reference
Find your way around, read charts and exact values, follow background backup status, restore safely, and update the app.
Choose the guide that matches what you are trying to do.
Choose what you want to do.
Follow the shortest path to evaluate the app, install it, set up accounts, build a month, protect your data, or update safely.
Deciding whether to use it
FinanceTracking.app is best when you want reusable monthly planning, manual account tracking, CSV imports, and self-hosted backups instead of a hosted bank-sync account.
Self-hosting the app
Follow the Docker setup in Getting Started before creating your first account or budget.
Updating an install
Go to Getting Started to back up your data, install an update, and confirm everything still works.
New setup
Go to Getting Started first if you are installing the app, adding accounts, learning Home, or connecting recurring items to account tracking.
Planning the next month
Go to Monthly Workflow for the complete Plan, Activity, Accounts, Reports, close, and reopen routine.
Looking up details later
Go to Reference for reading charts, protecting backups, restoring data, updating safely, or finding in-app help.
How the app fits together
Move through the app in the order your budgeting work happens.
The navigation mirrors the work: set up, plan, track, understand, close, and recover. Each total links back to the transactions behind it.
1
Set up and find the next useful action
Home shows onboarding progress, the current financial position, and the records that need attention next.
Learn Home
2
Plan the month from reusable structure
Plan is the month library. Create a clean period, clone useful structure, and compare planned, actual, remaining, and forecast values.
Plan the month
3
Track what actually happened
Activity keeps real transactions separate from the plan while letting you match, unmatch, correct, import, or reverse them deliberately.
Work with Activity
4
Understand where your money went
Accounts explains balances; Reports explains trends and categories. Open exact values or the transactions behind any total when you want to check it.
Read accounts and reports
5
Close the month when the numbers look right
Close checks what still needs attention and saves the totals you reviewed. Reopen the month if you later need to correct a transaction.
Close or reopen a month
6
Restore your budget safely
Backup & Restore keeps months, accounts, and transactions connected. Confirm a preview, let the restore continue in the background, and use the temporary encrypted safety copy if you need to undo it.
Review recoveryRead setup, monthly workflow, and backup guidance in order.
First-time users
Keep nearby later
- Home guidance helps you restart quickly.
- Navigation and themes explains how to move around the app and change its appearance.
- Backup and restore is worth reading before updates, server moves, or restoring data.
- Help and Documentation explains where in-app guidance now lives.
Jump directly to common setup and workflow questions.
If you are asking...
- How do I set up accounts, snapshots, or payoff progress? Start with Accounts & Net Worth.
- Which Docker image should I use? Start with Self-hosting with Docker.
- How do I update a self-hosted install? Start with Keeping it updated.
- How do I build the month from recurring items? Go to Plan the month and Recurring transactions.
- How do I match imported records? Open Activity matching.
- How do I verify or freeze a report? Read Reports and close.
- How do I back up or restore my budget? Jump to Backup & Restore.
If you are sharing the app
- Send new users to Getting Started.
- Send active users to Monthly Workflow.
- If you manage the server, use Reference for updates and backups.
- Review the trust center and support options before making the app available to others.