GnuCash vs Pilot

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.

Pilot is web-based accounting software with bank feeds, automated reconciliation, and accountant access. It does not provide inventory tracking, and web is the only listed platform. The free Core plan is listed at free, billed annually, with $0 in monthly expenses and up to 10 vendor bills per month. Essentials costs $99 a month, billed monthly, and supports up to $100,000 in monthly expenses. A Custom plan has no listed price and is described for complex business structures, custom workflows and reporting, full accounts receivable, full accounts payable, payroll administration, and CFO advisory. Pilot’s pricing note states that a 15-day trial is available and paid plans start from $99/mo. The maker is Pilot, founded in 2017, with headquarters in San Francisco, California, and Nashville, Tennessee. Access is through a browser rather than a listed mobile application.