What it does
Fava provides a web interface for Beancount’s double-entry bookkeeping files. It runs against a specified journal rather than replacing the underlying accounting language.
Already keeping a Beancount journal? Fava opens it in a browser while leaving the underlying text files as the accounting records. The application runs locally, so the standard setup does not require a hosted account.
Install Fava with Python 3 using pip install --upgrade fava. This also installs its dependencies, including Beancount. Start it with fava ledger.beancount, replacing the filename with your journal, then open http://localhost:5000 in a browser. The same setup works on Windows, Mac and Linux.
To export query results for Excel or LibreOffice Calc, install the optional spreadsheet support with pip install --upgrade fava[excel]. Inside the interface, press ? to see keyboard shortcuts. In-app help covers the reporting features, while fava --help lists startup options.
Fava is free under the MIT licence. It suits someone comfortable maintaining Beancount files; learning those accounts and entries is still part of the setup.
Strengths
- Keeps Beancount text files as the underlying accounting records
- Local browser access without a hosted subscription
- Optional spreadsheet export for query results
Watch out for
- Requires Beancount-formatted accounting data
- Installation requires Python and command-line setup
Best for
- Beancount users who want a web interface
Sources
- Fava web interface for Beancount (Oct 27, 2026)
- Fava getting started (Oct 27, 2026)
- Fava official MIT-licensed repository (Oct 27, 2026)