FlashFi vs Wealthfolio: Cloud Convenience vs Local-First Privacy
Disclosure: FlashFi is a competitor to the products mentioned.
Disclosure: FlashFi is a competitor to Wealthfolio. This is our honest assessment based on publicly available information.
TL;DR¶
Choose Wealthfolio if privacy is your top priority and you want your financial data to never leave your own hardware. It is free, open source, and genuinely well-built. You will need to be comfortable with a desktop app and manual CSV imports (or pay for Connect).
Choose FlashFi if you want cloud-based convenience — access from any device, no installation, no syncing headaches — plus personal finance features like cash accounts, debt tracking, and savings alongside your investments.
Quick Comparison¶
| Feature | FlashFi | Wealthfolio |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $12/mo (Operator) | Free (core app) |
| Premium price | $39/mo (Apex) | $7.99–$24.99/mo (Connect) |
| Open source | No | Yes (AGPLv3) |
| Data storage | Cloud (PostgreSQL) | Local (your device) |
| Stocks & ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-currency | Yes (real-time FX) | Yes |
| Cash accounts | Yes | Net worth tracking |
| Debt tracking | Yes | Liabilities tracked |
| Savings goals | Yes | Yes |
| Dividend tracking | No | Yes |
| Benchmark comparison | No | Yes (S&P 500, custom) |
| AI assistant | No | Yes (BYOK or Plus) |
| Bank/brokerage sync | No | Yes (via Connect) |
| CSV import | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web (any browser) | Desktop, iOS, Web (self-hosted) |
| Account required | Yes | No (core app) |
| Multi-device sync | Automatic (cloud) | Connect subscription required |
Pricing Breakdown¶
Wealthfolio’s core app is free. You download it, install it, and track your portfolio without paying anything or even creating an account. That is a genuine advantage and worth acknowledging upfront.
If you want more, Wealthfolio Connect adds brokerage sync, cross-device sync, and household sharing:
- Essentials — $7.99/month ($6.58/mo annual). 1 person, up to 5 brokerage connections.
- Duo — $12.99/month ($10.75/mo annual). 2 people, up to 12 connections.
- Plus — $24.99/month ($20.75/mo annual). 2 people, unlimited connections, licensed market data, AI included.
FlashFi has two tiers:
- Operator — $12/month ($144/year). Full investment tracking, personal finance, multi-currency.
- Apex — $39/month ($468/year). Everything in Operator plus advanced analytics.
If you are a single user happy with manual CSV imports, Wealthfolio is free and FlashFi costs $12/month. That is a clear win for Wealthfolio on price. Once you add Connect for brokerage sync and multi-device access, the cost comparison gets closer: Wealthfolio Essentials at $7.99/month vs FlashFi Operator at $12/month.
Privacy and Data Ownership¶
This is the core philosophical difference, and where Wealthfolio has a genuine structural advantage.
Wealthfolio stores all your data locally. Holdings, transactions, performance history — none of it leaves your hardware unless you opt into Connect, and even then data is end-to-end encrypted before leaving your device. The code is open source, so you can verify these claims yourself.
FlashFi is cloud-based. Your data lives in a hosted PostgreSQL database. This is standard for web apps, but it does mean a third party (us) holds your financial information.
If you believe financial data should never exist on someone else’s server, Wealthfolio is the right call.
Platform and Accessibility¶
Here the trade-off flips. Wealthfolio’s local-first model means your data lives on a specific device. To access it from multiple devices, you need Connect. To check your portfolio from a hotel business center or a borrowed laptop, you are out of luck.
FlashFi is a web app. Open a browser, log in, see your portfolio. It works the same on your laptop, your phone, a tablet at a coworking space, or your partner’s computer. No installation, no syncing, no configuration. For digital nomads who change devices and countries regularly, that is a practical advantage.
Investment Tracking¶
Both tools handle the basics well: stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrency with multi-currency support.
Wealthfolio has a few features FlashFi currently does not:
- Dividend and interest income tracking — Wealthfolio tracks dividend payments and interest income across your portfolio and shows them in dedicated reports.
- Benchmark comparison — Compare your portfolio performance against the S&P 500, any ETF, or a custom benchmark.
- CSV imports — Import transaction history from your broker via CSV. Wealthfolio supports a wide range of broker formats.
- Contribution limit monitoring — Track IRA, 401(k), and TFSA contribution limits.
- AI assistant — Ask questions about your portfolio and get insights. Requires your own API key on lower tiers or comes included with Connect Plus.
FlashFi uses Tiingo for real-time market data and FX rates. Prices update automatically for all publicly traded assets. You add holdings manually (no CSV import yet), but once added, pricing is hands-off.
Personal Finance¶
This is where FlashFi offers more. FlashFi includes dedicated personal finance tools alongside investment tracking:
- Cash accounts — Track bank accounts across multiple currencies, converted to your home currency.
- Debt tracking — Credit cards, loans, mortgages. Balances, interest rates, and payoff progress in any currency.
- Savings tracking — Emergency funds, travel funds, goal-based savings across currencies.
- Net worth — Combines investments, cash, savings, and debt into a single figure with historical tracking.
Wealthfolio tracks net worth and has savings goals, but it is primarily an investment tracker. For someone who wants one app for the complete financial picture, FlashFi covers that. With Wealthfolio, you would likely pair it with a separate personal finance app.
Where Wealthfolio Wins¶
- Privacy — Your data never leaves your device (without Connect). End-to-end encrypted sync if you opt in. Open source for full transparency.
- Price — The core app is free. Even with Connect, the entry tier is cheaper than FlashFi.
- Dividend tracking — Dedicated dividend and interest income reporting.
- Benchmark comparison — Compare your returns against the S&P 500 or custom benchmarks.
- CSV import — Import broker statements directly. No manual entry required.
- Open source — Full code transparency, self-hosting option, community contributions.
Where FlashFi Wins¶
- Cloud convenience — Access from any device, any browser, anywhere. No installation, no syncing.
- Personal finance — Cash accounts, debt tracking, and savings alongside investments. One app for your full financial picture.
- Zero setup — Sign up and start tracking. No downloads, no configuration, no self-hosting.
- Mobile-first design — Built for phone browsers first. Check your portfolio on the go without a dedicated app.
- Multi-currency as a foundation — Every screen and calculation is designed around managing money across currencies, not bolted on as an afterthought.
Who Should Choose Wealthfolio¶
Wealthfolio is the right choice if you:
- Prioritize privacy and want your financial data stored exclusively on your own hardware
- Are comfortable with a desktop app and manual CSV imports (or willing to pay for Connect)
- Want a free, open-source portfolio tracker with no account required
- Value dividend tracking and benchmark comparison
- Primarily use one or two devices and do not need instant access from random browsers
- Prefer open source software you can audit and self-host
Who Should Choose FlashFi¶
FlashFi is the right choice if you:
- Are a digital nomad, expat, or remote worker who needs to check your finances from any device, anywhere
- Want investment tracking and personal finance management (cash, debt, savings) in one app
- Prefer cloud-based convenience over local-first privacy
- Do not want to install or maintain desktop software
- Value a mobile-first web interface designed for on-the-go use
- Need multi-currency support as a core feature, not an add-on
By David Brougham