3 Best Akaunting Alternatives in 2025
Last updated: February 2026 • 10 min read
Akaunting is a popular tool for small businesses wanting free, self-hosted accounting. While it offers a free tier (Free (self-hosted)), its paid plans start at Free. Whether you're looking for a cheaper option, better features, or an open-source solution, we've compiled the 3 best Akaunting alternatives to help you find the right fit.
📋 Quick Summary
- Total alternatives: 3
- Free alternatives: 2 (Wave, GnuCash)
- Open-source options: GnuCash
- Best overall: QuickBooks
- Best free: Wave
Why Look for Akaunting Alternatives?
People commonly look for Akaunting alternatives for several reasons:
- Cost: While Akaunting has a free tier, its paid plans starting at Free can add up quickly for growing teams.
- Feature gaps: Limited features vs paid tools and requires hosting are common complaints.
- Simplicity: Some users find Akaunting overly complex for their needs and prefer simpler solutions.
- Better fit: Different tools excel at different use cases — you may find a tool that's specifically built for your workflow.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Rating | Open Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Akaunting | ✓ Free (self-hosted) | Free | ⭐ 3.9 | ✓ Yes | Small businesses wanting free, self-hosted accounting |
| QuickBooks | ✗ No | $30/mo | ⭐ 4.2 | No | Small businesses needing comprehensive accounting |
| Wave | ✓ Free accounting and invoicing | Free | ⭐ 4 | No | Freelancers and micro-businesses wanting free accounting |
| GnuCash | ✓ Completely free | Free | ⭐ 3.8 | ✓ Yes | Users wanting free desktop accounting software |
Detailed Reviews of Each Alternative
QuickBooks
Leading small business accounting software by Intuit.
QuickBooks by Intuit is the most popular accounting software for small and medium businesses. It offers invoicing, expense tracking, tax preparation, payroll, and financial reporting. Available in both online and desktop versions, QuickBooks serves millions of businesses worldwide.
Pros
- ✓ Industry standard
- ✓ Comprehensive features
- ✓ Great for taxes
- ✓ Large ecosystem
Cons
- ✗ Expensive
- ✗ Can be complex
- ✗ Price increases
- ✗ Subscription only
Wave
Free accounting software for small businesses and freelancers.
Wave is a free accounting platform that offers invoicing, accounting, and receipt scanning at no cost. It makes money through payment processing and payroll services. Wave is ideal for freelancers and very small businesses who need basic accounting without the cost.
Pros
- ✓ Completely free
- ✓ Easy to use
- ✓ Good for basics
- ✓ Receipt scanning
Cons
- ✗ Limited features
- ✗ No inventory
- ✗ No time tracking
- ✗ Basic reporting
GnuCash
Free, open-source personal and small business accounting software.
GnuCash is a free, open-source accounting application suitable for personal finance and small business accounting. It uses double-entry bookkeeping and supports multiple currencies, making it a solid choice for users who want powerful accounting without any cost.
Pros
- ✓ Completely free
- ✓ Open source
- ✓ Double-entry
- ✓ Multi-currency support
Cons
- ✗ Dated interface
- ✗ Steep learning curve
- ✗ No cloud sync
- ✗ Desktop only
🏆 Our Recommendations
Best Overall Alternative:
QuickBooks — Small businesses needing comprehensive accounting
Best Free Alternative:
Wave — Free accounting and invoicing
Best Open-Source Alternative:
GnuCash — Users wanting free desktop accounting software
❓ FAQ
What is the best free alternative to Akaunting?
The best free alternative to Akaunting is Wave, which offers Free accounting and invoicing.
Is there an open-source alternative to Akaunting?
Yes! GnuCash is open-source alternative to Akaunting that you can self-host for free.
What is the cheapest alternative to Akaunting?
The cheapest alternatives are the free options: Wave, GnuCash. For paid alternatives, prices start from as low as $30/mo.
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