Side by side

Beancount vs GnuCash

Both stand on general ledger software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

Beancount

Free plan APILinuxMac+3

Beancount provides text-based double-entry bookkeeping with tools for validation, querying, and importing data. Version 3 is current, but some tools are removed or deprecated, so users seeking those functions should account for the stated limits.

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GnuCash

Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+4

GnuCash provides free desktop accounting for personal finances and small-business workflows, with reports, imports, and business tools. Its default XML storage is distinct from experimental database support, so users should account for that limitation.

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The facts

	Beancount	GnuCash
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Not published	Yes
Runs on	API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows	Android, API, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows
Lowest paid plan	Free or on request	Free or on request
Plans published	1	1
Maker	Not published	GnuCash
Website	beancount.github.io	gnucash.org
On general ledger software	#6 of 25	#2 of 25

Beancount: what it does well

Free, open-source software under GNU GPLv2 only.
Supports multiple currencies.
Ledger processing can run offline without automatic price retrieval.
Installation instructions include Windows.

What to know first

No free trial.
`bean-report` and `bean-web` are deprecated in v3.
Some tools were removed in v3.

GnuCash: what it does well

Free under the GNU GPL.
Includes double-entry accounting.
Offers small-business invoicing and bill-payment tools.
Imports QIF and OFX files.
Provides customizable reports and charts.

What to know first

Database support beyond XML is experimental.
Some reported database corner cases involve data loss.
Main application is unavailable for iOS and iPadOS.
Separate Android app appears abandoned.

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