Akaunting
Free open-source online accounting software for small businesses and freelancers
About Akaunting
Akaunting is a free, open-source online accounting platform built with Laravel and Vue.js that provides small businesses and freelancers with invoicing, expense tracking, financial reporting, and multi-company management. Available as self-hosted or cloud-hosted, it includes a client portal, app store for extensions, and supports multi-currency transactions.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Completely free self-hosted version with full accounting capabilities
- Multi-company management from a single installation
- Modern web interface built with Laravel and Vue.js
- Extensible app store for adding features like inventory and payroll
- Multi-currency and multi-language support out of the box
- Active development with regular updates and large community
Cons
- Premium apps and advanced features require paid plans starting at $239/year
- Self-hosted setup requires PHP server knowledge
- Can feel overwhelming for users who just need simple invoicing
- Some users report bugs in certain app store extensions
- Interface has a learning curve compared to simpler tools like SolidInvoice
Key Features
Invoicing & Billing
Create professional invoices with recurring billing, automatic payment reminders, and customizable templates
Expense Tracking
Track and categorize business expenses with receipt attachments and vendor management
Financial Reporting
Real-time dashboards with profit & loss statements, balance sheets, and cash flow reports
Multi-Currency Support
Handle transactions in multiple currencies with automatic exchange rate updates
Multi-Company Management
Manage multiple businesses from a single installation with separate books for each
Client Portal
Self-service portal where clients can view invoices, make payments, and download documents
Bank Connections
Connect bank accounts for automatic transaction imports and reconciliation
App Store
Extend functionality with apps for inventory management, payroll, point-of-sale, and more
RESTful API
Full API for integrations with other tools and custom automation workflows
Tax Management
Configure multiple tax rates and generate tax-ready financial reports
Pricing
- Full accounting suite
- Invoicing & expenses
- Financial reports
- Multi-currency
- Client portal
- Community support
- Managed hosting
- Automatic backups
- All core features
- Email support
- Self-hosted or cloud
- Premium apps
- Priority support
- Advanced features
- Everything in Plus
- All premium apps
- Dedicated support
- Custom branding
Best For
Freelancer Accounting
Track income, expenses, and generate invoices from a single free platform without paying for QuickBooks
Multi-Business Management
Manage multiple freelance businesses or side projects with separate books in one installation
Small Business Finance
Full accounting suite with profit & loss, balance sheet, and cash flow reporting for growing businesses
Self-Hosted Privacy
Deploy on your own server for complete control over sensitive financial data
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Featured In
7 Best Open-Source Invoicing & Finance Tools for Freelancers (2026)
Best open-source accounting suite for freelancers — choose this when you need proper financial statements and multi-business management, not just invoice generation.
Best Invoicing Tools That Actually Get Freelancers Paid on Time (2026)
Best free accounting + invoicing — Akaunting is ideal for freelancers who need real accounting alongside invoicing, with multi-currency support and full financial reporting at zero cost.
6 Best Accounting Tools for Fast Bank Reconciliation (2026)
Best free accounting tool for bank reconciliation — Akaunting's open-source platform delivers real reconciliation capabilities without the per-seat costs of commercial alternatives.
Invoicing Tools With the Best Multi-Currency Support (2026)
Best for small businesses that need proper multi-currency accounting (not just invoicing) — the only free tool with exchange rate gain/loss tracking.
Best Tools for Solo Bookkeepers Managing 15-30 Clients (2026)
Best for solo bookkeepers serving very small clients in price-sensitive markets who want to deliver accounting services without per-client SaaS fees eating margin.