Side by side
Ledger vs Pilot
Both stand on bookkeeping software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Ledger provides command-line double-entry accounting with reports, reconciliation and multi-currency support. Its text-file workflow and strict balance requirement are central considerations before choosing it.
Visit Ledger
Free plan Web
Visit Pilot The facts
| Ledger | Pilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Starter (tax): $750 a year |
| Plans published | 1 | 11 |
| Maker | Ledger | Pilot |
| Website | ledger-cli.org | pilot.com |
| On bookkeeping software | #25 of 75 | #21 of 75 |
Ledger: what it does well
- Free plan costs nothing.
- Supports multiple currencies and conversion.
- Commands can reconcile accounts and check balances.
- Accepts UTF-8 and US or European decimal formats.
- Downloads listed for GNU/Linux, Windows, Mac OS X and BSD.
What to know first
- Access is through the UNIX command line.
- No graphical interface is offered.
- Unbalanced entries prevent report generation.
- Users must maintain their own transaction files.