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GnuCash

gnucash.org

Free plan Open source WindowsmacOSLinuxiOSAndroidAPI
Visit gnucash.org
Spec score 9.1 #5 of 181 in Personal Finance Software

What it is

GnuCash is free personal and small-business accounting software for tracking bank accounts, stocks, income, and expenses. Its double-entry accounting requires every transaction’s debits and credits to balance. Small-business tools cover customers, vendors, jobs, invoicing, bill payment, tax and billing terms, and budgeting. Users can create customizable balance sheets, profit and loss, and portfolio valuation reports, as well as charts. GnuCash imports QIF and OFX files with transaction matching; German users can use HBCI to download statements and initiate transfers and direct debits. Data is stored in XML by default. Support for SQLite3, MySQL, and PostgreSQL databases is experimental, and some reported corner cases can cause data loss. The GNU GPL-licensed software has installation options for Linux and installers for macOS and Windows. The main application is unavailable for iOS and iPadOS, while the separate Android app appears abandoned according to the project FAQ. The project is maintained, documented, and translated by volunteers.

Spec sheet

What it does
GnuCash is free accounting software for personal and small-business finances, including bank accounts, stocks, income and expenses.Read 21 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Purpose
GnuCash is personal and small-business financial-accounting software for tracking bank accounts, stocks, income, and expenses.Read 4 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Free plan
YesRead 19 Sep 2026 · gnucash.org
API
A C API in the libgnucash engine abstracts XML and SQL backends for GUI and plugin programmers.Read 21 Oct 2026 · wiki.gnucash.org
Support
The project points users to public mailing lists, IRC, a wiki, documentation, and bug reports for help.Read 4 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
License
The software is freely licensed under the GNU GPL and is available free of charge.Read 4 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Founded
1997Read 28 Sep 2026 · gnucash.org
Account sync
bothRead 19 Sep 2026 · gnucash.org
Accounting
Its double-entry accounting requires each transaction’s debits and credits to balance.Read 4 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
API documentation limitation
The project says API documentation is split between Doxygen and C headers and lacks one current coherent documentation set.Read 21 Oct 2026 · wiki.gnucash.org
Bank and file imports
GnuCash imports QIF and OFX data and matches duplicate transactions during import.Read 21 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Bill tracking
YesRead 19 Sep 2026 · gnucash.org
Budgeting tools
YesRead 19 Sep 2026 · gnucash.org
Business features
Small-business features include customer and vendor tracking, jobs, invoicing, bill payment, tax and billing terms, and budgeting.Read 4 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Company identity
The product is presented as a community project called The GnuCash Project rather than a conventional vendor company.Read 21 Oct 2026 · github.com
Currencies and investments
Accounts can use multiple currencies, and users can track stock or mutual-fund portfolios with online quote updates.Read 21 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Data storage
GnuCash stores data in XML by default; its SQLite3, MySQL, and PostgreSQL database support is described as experimental, with some reported corner cases causing data loss.Read 4 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Database limitation
The official feature page calls SQL database support experimental and warns that insufficient test coverage may leave data-loss scenarios.Read 21 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Desktop platforms
The current stable release download page lists installers for Windows 8/10/11 and macOS, and installation options for Linux.Read 4 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Developer extensibility
GnuCash embeds Guile Scheme, wraps its C API for Guile with SWIG, and can create Python wrappers through a configure option.Read 21 Oct 2026 · wiki.gnucash.org
Development
GnuCash is developed, maintained, documented, and translated entirely by volunteers.Read 4 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Documentation
The project publishes a reference Manual, an in-depth Tutorial and Concepts Guide, community wiki material, mailing lists and IRC help.Read 21 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Double-entry accounting
Every transaction debits one account and credits others by equal amounts so the books balance.Read 21 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
HBCI banking
The software supports German HBCI statement downloads, bank transfers and direct debits.Read 21 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Imports and banking
It supports QIF and OFX imports with transaction matching, and HBCI support for German users to download statements and initiate transfers and direct debits.Read 4 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Independent editorial assessment
TechRadar recommends GnuCash for home users and small businesses, highlighting imports, payroll and cross-platform support while criticizing its basic interface and few automated options.Read 21 Oct 2026 · techradar.com
Latest release
GnuCash 5.17 was announced on September 27, 2026 as the eighteenth release in the stable 5.x series.Read 21 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Licence
GnuCash is open-source software released under the GNU General Public License.Read 21 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Limit: Apple app reviewers
Apple reviewers report import failures, inability to edit transactions, no clear split-transaction support and confusing account or file handling.Read 21 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Limit: Capterra reviewers
Capterra reviewers repeatedly report an outdated interface, steep learning curve, manual bank-feed work, weak web front end, limited multi-user use and missing payroll or automated invoicing.Read 21 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Limit: G2 reviewers
G2 reviewers repeatedly mention an outdated or clunky interface, a learning curve, weak multi-user synchronization, limited cloud access and difficult report presentation.Read 21 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Limit: Google Play app
The Google Play listing identifies the mobile app as a companion that exports data to desktop GnuCash rather than providing full synchronized desktop functionality.Read 21 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Localization
Menus and dialogs are translated into 61 languages, while documentation is available in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish.Read 21 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Mobile availability
The project FAQ says the main GnuCash application is not available on iOS or iPadOS and describes the Android app as a separate project whose developer appears to have abandoned it.Read 4 Oct 2026 · wiki.gnucash.org
Net-worth tracking
YesRead 19 Sep 2026 · gnucash.org
Praise: Capterra reviewers
Capterra reviewers repeatedly praise the zero price, open-source customization, multiple currencies, detailed ledgers and value for small businesses.Read 21 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Praise: G2 reviewers
G2 reviewers repeatedly praise the free cost, simple navigation, customization, cross-platform use and suitability for personal and small-business accounting.Read 21 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Praise: Google Play reviewers
Google Play reviewers praise the companion app's simple expense entry, desktop-file import, QIF export and practical offline workflow.Read 21 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Project origin
Programming on GnuCash began in 1997 and its first stable release appeared in 1998.Read 21 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Rating on Apple App Store
2.7 out of 5 from 13 ratingsRead 21 Oct 2026 · apps.apple.com
Rating on Capterra
4.5 out of 5 from 53 reviewsRead 21 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Rating on G2
4.2 out of 5 from 23 reviewsRead 21 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on Google Play
4.4 out of 5 from 683 reviewsRead 21 Oct 2026 · play.google.com
Rating on Trustpilot
3.7 out of 5 from 1 reviewRead 21 Oct 2026 · ca.trustpilot.com
Rating on TrustRadius
No overall rating; 1 reviewRead 21 Oct 2026 · trustradius.com
Report export
YesRead 19 Sep 2026 · gnucash.org
Reports
It includes customizable reports such as balance sheets, profit and loss, and portfolio valuation, plus charts.Read 4 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Reports and graphs
Built-in reporting includes balance sheet, profit and loss and portfolio valuation, while graphs include bar, pie and scatter charts.Read 21 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Scheduled transactions
Recurring transactions can use customizable amounts and schedules, with reminders and startup assistance for postponement.Read 21 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Security distribution
Release downloads publish SHA256 hashes for source archives and Windows and macOS installers.Read 21 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Small-business tools
Customer and vendor tracking, jobs, invoicing, bill payment, tax and billing terms, payroll support and budgeting are provided.Read 21 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Source and self-hosting
Source code and binaries are hosted on GitHub and SourceForge, Linux Flatpaks are available, and users can build from source.Read 21 Oct 2026 · github.com
Storage backends
Data is stored by default in XML and can also use SQLite3, MySQL or PostgreSQL databases.Read 21 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Supported desktop systems
The current release provides Windows 10 or later packages, macOS 10.13 or later packages, Linux distribution packages and Flatpak.Read 21 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
System requirements
The 5.17 build requirements include GTK+ 3.22.30, Guile 2.0.9, Boost 1.67, WebKitGTK 2.4, GoogleTest 1.8.0, CMake 3.14.5 and SWIG 3.0.12.Read 21 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
Transaction register
The checkbook-style register supports split transactions, cleared or reconciled status, autofill, multiple accounts and display customization.Read 21 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org

Plans and prices

GnuCash Free Personal and small-business accounting · Desktop software Read 4 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org
GnuCash Free Free accounting software Desktop accounting program · Windows, macOS, Linux and BSD availability · no paid tiers stated Read 21 Oct 2026 · gnucash.org

Every GnuCash plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free under the GNU GPL
  • Double-entry accounting balances debits and credits
  • Includes small-business invoicing and bill payment
  • Customizable reports and charts
  • Imports QIF and OFX files

Limits

  • No main application for iOS or iPadOS
  • Separate Android app appears abandoned
  • Database support is experimental and may risk data loss

Who it suits

It suits individuals and small businesses that want desktop accounting with double-entry records, reports, and transaction imports. Users needing mobile access or a database backend should note the stated platform and storage limitations.

Verdict

GnuCash covers personal and small-business bookkeeping with transaction imports, reports, and business tools at no charge. Its desktop focus and experimental database support are important considerations.

Where Specifiction places it

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