I’ve been using QuickBooks for managing my accounts, but I’m looking for a free alternative with similar features. What is the best free app that works most like QuickBooks?
Great question! when I started looking for free apps similar to QuickBooks, I found that while “totally free, full-feature” platforms are rare, there are several solid alternatives that offer free tiers or very low cost with the core accounting features. Here are some good ones:
1. Zoho Books:
I found Zoho Books has a clean interface, works well for Indian businesses (GST, invoicing, mobile-friendly), and offers a nice free trial. According to their site it’s positioned as a “best free QuickBooks alternative”.
Highlights:
• End-to-end accounting (income, expenses, reports)
• GST compliance & Indian currency support
• Scalable as your business grows
2. ProfitBooks:
For very small businesses or freelancers on tight budgets, ProfitBooks seems very lightweight and free to start.
Highlights:
• Simple, minimal learning curve
• Lets you create invoices, track expenses, basic tax reports
• Often used by businesses who want to “just do the basics”
3. GnuCash (Open-source):
If cost is truly zero and you’re okay with a more hands-on tool, GnuCash offers double-entry bookkeeping and is open source.
Highlights:
• Free and open source
• Suitable for small business & bookkeeping needs
4. Zoho Books:
If I had to pick one free/low-cost alternative that balances features + usability + Indian business needs, I’d go Zoho Books. It gives you the comfort of an established product, local compliance support, and the flexibility to scale.
