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GNUKhata

gnukhata.org

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Spec score 8.8 #5 of 29 in Financial Management

What it is

GNUKhata is free, open-source financial accounting and inventory software for SMEs, traders, startups, and NGOs, with a focus on Indian GST requirements. It handles sales and purchase invoices, point-of-sale entries, delivery notes, debit and credit notes, payments, and receipts. Accounting tools include a customizable chart of accounts, journal and other vouchers, and year-end book closing and rollover. Inventory records cover products and services, tax details, HSN search, and stock across multiple godowns. Reports include Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, and stock summaries. GNUKhata can prepare GSTR-1 reports as JSON for upload to the GST portal, and it has multiple user roles, including Admin, Manager, Operator, Internal Auditor, and Godown In charge. Version 8.0 is distributed as Docker images; Windows installation is possible, but the project says it is not well tested. The project reports fixed SQL injection issues, while also noting that the code has not had a security audit and recommending use in a private environment. It does not currently support online e-way billing or e-invoicing, or GST-2A/GSTR-2B reconciliation. The listed plan is GNUKhata at free.

Spec sheet

What it does
GNUKhata provides accounting and inventory management for small and medium-sized businesses, traders, startups and NGOs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org
Intended users
GNUKhata was initiated in India in 2009 for SMEs, traders, startups, and NGOs, with a focus on Indian GST requirements.Read 29 Sep 2026 · gnukhata.org
Free plan
YesRead 21 Sep 2026 · gnukhata.org
API
gkcore is GNUKhata's REST API server and exposes Swagger documentation locally at /docs/.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Security
The project says SQL injection issues are fixed, but its code has not had a security audit and it recommends use in a private environment.Read 29 Sep 2026 · gnukhata.org
Support
User support is offered through community discussions, documentation and video tutorials.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org
License
The gkcore repository identifies the software as licensed under GNU AGPL-3.0.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Founded
2009Read 28 Sep 2026 · gnukhata.org
Access controls
It supports multiple user roles, including Admin, Manager, Operator, Internal Auditor, and Godown In charge.Read 29 Sep 2026 · gnukhata.org
Accounting and inventory
GNUKhata is free and open source financial accounting and inventory software for SMEs, traders, startups, and NGOs.Read 29 Sep 2026 · gnukhata.org
Accounting tools
It includes a customizable chart of accounts, journal, payment, receipt, and contra vouchers, and year-end book closing and rollover.Read 29 Sep 2026 · gnukhata.org
Architecture
The current system uses a Pyramid Python backend and a Vue.js 2 frontend in a REST architecture.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org
Banking
It supports multiple bank accounts, IFSC lookup and bank reconciliation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org
Company founding
LinkedIn lists Digital Freedom Foundation as founded in 2013, while GNUKhata's own history says the project began in India in 2009.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Company headquarters
LinkedIn lists Digital Freedom Foundation headquarters in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Company size
LinkedIn lists Digital Freedom Foundation as a nonprofit with 2–10 employees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Dashboard
The dashboard summarizes sales, payments, stock and other business metrics.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org
Educational adoption
A Maharashtra state information-technology textbook teaches GNUKhata as free open-source accounting software with reports, inventory, spreadsheet exchange and GST functions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · ksedtech.com
Financial reports
Reports include profit and loss, balance sheet, cash flow, ledger, trial balance, product and stock registers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org
Government support
ICFOSS says it provided technical and financial support for GNUKhata and subsidized half of installation costs for startups adopting it.Read 15 Oct 2026 · icfoss.in
GST
GNUKhata can prepare and export GSTR-1 data as JSON for GST filing.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org
GST export
GNUKhata can generate GSTR-1 reports and export them as JSON for upload to the GST portal.Read 29 Sep 2026 · gnukhata.org
Import and export
The FAQ says accounting data can be imported from CSV, TSV and Excel, while reports can be exported as PDF, CSV or Excel.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org
Independent installation limit
SourceForge's listing presents GNUKhata as free Indian accounting software but notes setup is more technical than commercial alternatives.Read 15 Oct 2026 · sourceforge.net
Independent limit: global use
OpenSourceForU identified India-specific design and lack of multiple currencies as barriers to wider international adoption.Read 15 Oct 2026 · opensourceforu.com
Independent praise: India focus
OpenSourceForU praised GST-ready invoices, spreadsheet import, POS, godown stock reporting and drill-down accounting reports.Read 15 Oct 2026 · opensourceforu.com
Independent review
ITSFOSS described GNUKhata as free, open source and versatile for personal finance through larger businesses, with inventory and tax functions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · itsfoss.com
Installation
The v8.0 beta officially supports Docker installations; older Linux and Windows v7 installers are no longer maintained.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org
Inventory
Inventory can be tracked across multiple godowns with HSN-coded products.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org
Invoices and documents
It creates sales and purchase invoices, delivery notes and purchase orders.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org
Known GST limits
The project says it does not currently support online e-way billing or e-invoicing, GST-2A/GSTR-2B reconciliation, and several other advanced GST features.Read 29 Sep 2026 · gnukhata.org
Limit: API documentation
The project acknowledges incomplete or incorrect Swagger descriptions, undocumented legacy APIs and only partial request validation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org
Limit: GST coverage
The limitations page says GSTR-1 is supported but online e-way billing, e-invoicing, IMS, GST reconciliation and several advanced GST cases are not supported.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org
Limit: installation
Docker packaging and poorly tested Windows installation can make deployment difficult for nontechnical users.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org
Limit: integrations
SoftwareFinder says third-party integrations are limited and no dedicated mobile app is available.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softwarefinder.com
Limit: international use
Rupee values are hard-coded in places, there is no multi-currency support and the product is designed primarily around Indian requirements.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org
Limit: scale
GNUKhata warns that organizations with more than 1,000 invoices may encounter performance problems.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org
Limit: security assurance
The project says SQL injection fixes exist but no code security audit has been completed and recommends private deployment.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org
No mobile app
SoftwareFinder's FAQ states that GNUKhata has no dedicated mobile application.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softwarefinder.com
Praise: usability
SoftwareFinder describes the interface as lightweight, easy to use and customizable.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softwarefinder.com
Public API instance
The project lists api-dev.gnukhata.org as a development API hosted by the GNUKhata team.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Rating on G2
0 out of 5 from 0 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on SoftwareFinder
0 out of 5 from 0 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · softwarefinder.com
Release
GNUKhata v8.0 was announced on August 19, 2025 with a rewritten interface and reliability improvements.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org
Reporting
The product provides financial and stock reports, including Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, and stock summaries.Read 29 Sep 2026 · gnukhata.org
Sales and purchases
It supports sales and purchase invoices, point-of-sale entry, delivery notes, debit and credit notes, payments, and receipts.Read 29 Sep 2026 · gnukhata.org
Self-hosting requirements
The backend setup documents Python 3.8 or newer, PostgreSQL and Poetry, with Docker and docker-compose as an alternative.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
User controls
Administrators can manage users, roles and permissions.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org
Voucher entry
The software supports journal, payment, receipt and contra vouchers.Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org

Plans and prices

GNUKhata Free Free and open source; current v8.0 supports Docker installation Read 29 Sep 2026 · gnukhata.org
GNUKhata free/open-source software Free Accounting and inventory software for SMEs, traders, startups and NGOs · Docker installation for v8.0 beta Read 15 Oct 2026 · gnukhata.org

Every GNUKhata plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free and open source
  • Tracks stock across multiple godowns
  • Exports GSTR-1 reports as JSON
  • Includes multiple user roles

Limits

  • Code has not had a security audit
  • Windows installation is not well tested
  • No online e-way billing or e-invoicing
  • No GST-2A/GSTR-2B reconciliation

Who it suits

GNUKhata suits Indian SMEs, traders, startups, and NGOs needing accounting and inventory tools with GST-oriented reporting. Its deployment and security caveats matter for organizations considering Windows installation or use outside a private environment.

GNUKhata in depth

Read the full write-up

Overview

GNUKhata is free, open-source accounting and inventory software built around the needs of Indian SMEs, traders, startups, and NGOs. It is best for organizations that want bookkeeping, stock control, and basic GST reporting without a software fee. Its transaction and inventory coverage is substantial, but advanced GST workflows and deployment constraints make it a poor fit for some businesses.

Key features

Transactions and accounting

Sales and purchase invoices, point-of-sale entries, delivery notes, debit and credit notes, payments, and receipts cover a broad day-to-day transaction cycle. A customizable chart of accounts, journal and contra vouchers, and year-end closing and rollover support structured bookkeeping. Multiple entities and an audit trail are useful for organizations managing separate businesses or needing transaction traceability.

Stock and reporting

GNUKhata tracks stock across multiple godowns and records products and services, tax details, and HSN information. Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, and stock-summary reports connect financial results with inventory activity. This makes the package more relevant to traders and stock-holding businesses than a bookkeeping tool focused only on accounts. It does not support multi-currency, so organizations keeping books in multiple currencies should choose another product.

GST and access controls

GSTR-1 reports can be exported as JSON for upload to the GST portal, and roles include Admin, Manager, Operator, Internal Auditor, and Godown In charge. That combination can support routine reporting and differentiated access, but GNUKhata does not handle online e-way billing or e-invoicing, GST-2A/GSTR-2B reconciliation, and other advanced GST functions. Businesses that depend on those workflows will need a more complete GST system.

Security and installation

The project says SQL injection issues have been fixed, but the code has not had a security audit and it recommends using GNUKhata in a private environment. That caveat matters for organizations considering internet-facing deployment. Version 8.0 is distributed as Docker images; Windows installation is possible but not well tested. Linux, web, and self-hosted use are supported, but teams should be comfortable with the deployment approach before choosing it.

Pricing

GNUKhata: free. The free and open-source plan includes the current v8.0 release with Docker installation. There are no paid tiers or stated usage caps; the trade-off is that organizations must accept the installation and security considerations rather than buying a hosted or audited edition.

Platforms

GNUKhata supports Linux, web, Windows, and self-hosted use. The current Docker distribution makes self-managed deployment central to the product, while Windows installation carries an explicit testing caveat. Choose it only if the organization can accommodate that setup.

Who it's for

GNUKhata is a strong candidate for Indian small and midsize businesses, traders, startups, and NGOs that need everyday accounting, stock tracking across godowns, and GSTR-1 export at no software cost. It is less suitable for organizations needing multi-currency accounting, advanced GST processing, or a security-audited deployment.

Pros and cons

Pros

No software charge: the free, open-source plan avoids subscription costs.

Accounts and stock in one system: transaction entry, financial statements, and multi-godown stock tracking serve businesses with both bookkeeping and inventory needs.

Indian GST starting point: GSTR-1 JSON export and HSN search support routine GST-related work.

Multiple entities and an audit trail: useful for organizations that need separation and transaction traceability.

Cons

Advanced GST gaps: no online e-way billing, e-invoicing, or GST-2A/GSTR-2B reconciliation.

Security caveat: the code has not been audited, and the project recommends private-environment use.

Deployment burden: v8.0 is distributed as Docker images, and Windows installation is not well tested.

No multi-currency: it does not suit organizations that need books across currencies.

Alternatives

Choose BUSY if a free billing and accounting plan with multiple companies and financial years is a better fit; its Express plan is free. Consider Frappe Books for free, open-source accounting installed on your own Frappe site, with support across mobile, desktop, web, and self-hosted platforms. Beancount is another free, open-source bookkeeping option. hledger is free software with no purchase price or monthly fees. Pick GnuCash for personal and small-business accounting as desktop software on Linux, macOS, or Windows. FrontAccounting is free accounting software for self-hosted or web use. Infor Public Sector is an alternative with custom pricing. Adagio Accounting offers Adagio for Accountants at $100 a month, billed monthly.

Browse General Ledger Software and Bookkeeping Software for more options.

Verdict

Choose GNUKhata if you are an Indian SME, trader, startup, or NGO seeking free accounting with inventory and GSTR-1 export. Its breadth across transactions, stock, and financial reporting is the main reason to adopt it. Look elsewhere if advanced GST processing, multi-currency books, audited security, or a more straightforward deployment is essential.

Verdict

GNUKhata brings accounting, inventory, and GST-related reporting together at no charge. Its missing advanced GST functions and stated security and installation caveats are important constraints.

Where Specifiction places it

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