rotki vs CoinTracker: keep your portfolio data on your own machine
CoinTracker is a hosted portfolio tracker and crypto tax tool with web and mobile apps that sync your data to its cloud. rotki is the open-source, local-first alternative that keeps your portfolio and transaction history encrypted on your own computer, querying exchanges and chains with your own keys and endpoints.
Updated June 2026Key takeaways
- CoinTracker is a cloud portfolio tracker with web and mobile apps; rotki keeps your portfolio on your own machine.
- rotki is open source and self-custodied; CoinTracker is a closed-source hosted service.
- CoinTracker shines at mobile, always-synced tracking; rotki shines at privacy and auditability.
- rotki has a free local tier and integrates with 180+ exchanges, blockchains, and DeFi protocols.
The verdict
CoinTracker gives you a convenient cloud dashboard with mobile access, but only by storing your data on its servers. rotki delivers portfolio tracking, accounting, and tax reporting on your own machine, as open-source software you can audit. If privacy and self-custody matter to you, rotki is the one to choose.
rotki vs CoinTracker: side by side
| rotki | CoinTracker | |
|---|---|---|
| Data storage | Local and encrypted on your own machine | Uploaded to and stored on the vendor cloud |
| Open source | Yes, fully auditable on GitHub | Closed-source |
| Data custody | Self-custodied; you keep your data | You hand your full history to the vendor |
| Breach blast radius | Your device only | Centralized; one vendor breach can affect many users |
| API keys and RPC | Your own read-only keys and endpoints, used locally | Keys and data processed on the vendor servers |
| Deployment | Desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux, or self-hosted via Docker | Hosted web app with a mobile app |
| Mobile access | Desktop-focused; no first-party mobile app | Native mobile apps with cloud sync |
| Free tier | Free local tier covers core tracking, accounting, and reporting (with limits) | Free portfolio tracking (transaction-capped); a paid plan is needed for tax reports |
| Pricing model | Free, plus an optional subscription (Basic, Advanced, Custom) | Tiered plans, typically priced by transaction volume |
| On-chain decoding | Decodes on-chain activity into readable events with full PnL accounting | Cloud import and categorization; coverage varies |
What sets rotki apart
- Your transaction history never leaves your computer; rotki reads exchanges and chains directly with your own keys and endpoints.
- The entire application is open source and auditable, so you can verify exactly how your data is handled.
- Self-custodied data: there is no vendor account holding your full financial history.
- A free local tier covers core portfolio tracking, accounting, and tax reporting.
- On-chain activity is decoded into readable events, so your DeFi and wallet history is accounted for transparently.
Trade-offs
Running locally comes with real trade-offs. Here is what to know, and why we think it is worth it.
- rotki is a desktop app you run yourself rather than a hosted service you reach from any browser. That is what keeps your data on your own machine instead of in a vendor's cloud, and it is worth running an app for.
- Your data lives on the device where you run rotki, so you handle your own backups. Premium adds optional zero-knowledge sync, and either way your history stays encrypted and under your control.
- rotki is desktop-first, without a mobile-first cloud dashboard. That is the deliberate cost of keeping your full history local and private rather than syncing it through someone else's servers.
Who rotki is for
Choose rotki if
- You want your portfolio and transaction history to stay on your own computer.
- You value open-source software you can audit and self-host.
- You would rather own your data than trade it for cloud convenience.
rotki vs CoinTracker in depth
CoinTracker and rotki both track your crypto portfolio and prepare tax reports, but they make a very different promise about where your data lives. CoinTracker is a cloud service built around convenience and mobile access. rotki is a local-first desktop application built around privacy and ownership.
How CoinTracker works
CoinTracker is designed to be always on and always synced. You connect your exchanges and wallets, and your data is stored in CoinTracker's cloud so you can open the web or mobile app from any device and see an up-to-date view. The trade-off is that your full transaction history is held on the vendor's servers.
How rotki works
rotki runs on your computer and stores your data in an encrypted local database. It connects to exchanges with read-only API keys and reads on-chain activity through RPC endpoints you choose. Nothing is uploaded to rotki-operated servers, and the code is open source so you can verify how it behaves. The result is a portfolio tracker and tax tool where you, not a vendor, hold the data.
Privacy and ownership
If you would rather not place your entire financial history in a third-party cloud, this is the deciding factor. rotki keeps that history local and self-custodied. There is no vendor account that could be breached, sold, or mined, and you are not relying on someone else's retention policy.
The trade-off
rotki is desktop-first and does not chase the mobile, always-synced cloud experience. It asks you to run a desktop app and keep your own backups. In exchange you get privacy, self-custody, and open-source software you can audit, with your data on your machine rather than a vendor's. For anyone who values owning their financial data, that is a trade worth making, and the reason to choose rotki.
Related rotki integrations
rotki integrates with 180+ exchanges, blockchains, and DeFi protocols. A few that are relevant here:
Frequently asked questions
Is CoinTracker open source?
No. CoinTracker is a closed-source, hosted service. rotki is open source and its code can be audited on GitHub.
Does CoinTracker store my data in the cloud?
Yes. CoinTracker syncs and stores your portfolio and transaction data on its servers. rotki keeps your data encrypted on your own machine.
Does rotki have a mobile app like CoinTracker?
No. rotki is a desktop application for Windows, macOS, and Linux. This is a deliberate trade-off: your data stays on your own machine rather than syncing through a cloud account.
Is rotki a good alternative to CoinTracker?
If privacy, self-custody, and open source matter to you, yes. rotki covers portfolio tracking, accounting, and tax reporting locally, with a free tier and an optional subscription for more.
Is rotki free?
rotki has a free local tier that covers core functionality with some limits. A premium subscription unlocks higher limits and additional features.
Try the private, open-source alternative
Download rotki for free. Your keys and data never leave your machine.