# Kosh: A Self-Hosted Personal Finance App Manage your financial data without trusting third parties. - **Source:** [Hacker News: Show HN](https://news.ycombinator.com) - **Published:** 2026-07-16 - **Topic:** [Finance](https://brifing.si/c/finance) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/eb8cc7f6-d534-437f-947a-6bd8218e567c ## What is Kosh? Kosh is a self-hosted personal finance app that allows users to manage their financial data without relying on third-party services. It is designed for basic financial operations like accounts, transactions, budgets, and reports. It's an ideal solution for users who prioritize data privacy. ## Key Features Kosh offers basic financial management tools such as accounts, transactions, transfers, categories, and tags. Advanced features include CSV imports, budgets, bills, and recurring transactions. It uses exact integer money math and avoids invented exchange rates. Optional AI-assisted questions via Google Gemini are also available. ## Technical Infrastructure Kosh is a Next.js-based web app that uses a PostgreSQL database. It works with Drizzle schema and migrations. It can be easily deployed with Docker and Docker Compose. Your data stays only in your PostgreSQL database and is not sent to third-party servers. It uses AES-256-GCM encryption for security. ## Installation and Development To install Kosh, you need Node.js 22.13, pnpm 11, and PostgreSQL 16. For local development, follow simple steps: create the .env file, install dependencies, start the database, and run the app. You can test it immediately with the demo account. ## Security and Privacy Kosh encrypts your financial data and ensures only you have access. Database access is a secure administrative boundary. AI integration and external MCP access are optional and disabled by default. All security measures are in place for data privacy. ## Why Choose Kosh? Kosh is an excellent choice for those who want to keep their financial data under control. Its self-hosted nature ensures your data stays only on your server. With advanced features and strong security measures, it simplifies personal finance management. It's ideal for those concerned about data privacy. ## Sources covering this story - https://github.com/kzekiue/kosh/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._