LedgerSMB vs QuickBooks Time
LedgerSMB
ledgersmb.orgQuickBooks Time
quickbooks.intuit.comSide by side
| Figure | LedgerSMB | QuickBooks Time |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $20/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 3 |
| Spec score · Financial Management | 8.7 (#6) | 8.6 (#9) |
| Spec score · Bookkeeping Software | 8.8 (#18) | 8.3 (#29) |
| Spec score · Gym Accounting Software | 8.8 (#8) | 8.6 (#12) |
| Spec score · Core Financial Management | 8.8 (#7) | 8.7 (#10) |
| Spec score · Bookkeeper Software | 8.8 (#7) | 8.7 (#9) |
| API | LedgerSMB exposes a language-independent web-services API documented with versioned OpenAPI files. | The product offers an open REST API covering users, jobcodes, timesheets, GPS points, custom fields and account metadata. |
| Founded | 2006 | 1983 |
| Support | Free community help is offered through mailing lists and Matrix, while paid providers offer hosting, installation, training and customization. | Paid Premium and Elite subscriptions include unlimited phone and chat support, subject to stated support hours and limits. |
| System requirements | The documented server stack uses PostgreSQL, Perl, a PSGI server such as Starman and a reverse proxy such as Apache or Nginx; LaTeX is used for PDF output. | Supported use requires an internet-connected computer or device with a supported browser; mobile apps support iPhone, iPad and Android phones or tablets. |
| What it does | LedgerSMB is a web-based, open-source ERP and accounting system for small and midsize businesses. | QuickBooks Time tracks employee hours, schedules, locations and project labor for payroll, invoicing and job costing. |
Plans
QuickBooks Time
- 30-day trialFree
- Time Premium$20 a month
- Time Elite$40 a month
In their own words
LedgerSMB
LedgerSMB is free, open-source ERP and accounting software for small and mid-size businesses. It combines double-entry general ledger functions with quotations, sales and purchase orders, invoices, receivables, payables, and cash management. The application also supports inventory, light manufacturing, and fixed-asset depreciation and disposal. Transactions can use multiple currencies, while budgets can be tracked by project or department with variance reports. LedgerSMB produces PDF, HTML, CSV, and Office documents, can email documents from inside the application, and includes 45 languages. A web services API enables programmatic interaction; connecting an online store is not available out of the box and requires custom integration. The web application is intended for installation on the user’s own infrastructure, with Linux installers and production Docker images available. Official release tarballs are GPG signed. Free volunteer support is available through a users mailing list and Matrix, with paid professional support also offered. The project began in 2006 as a fork of SQL-Ledger.
QuickBooks Time
QuickBooks Time is paid time-tracking software for recording work against projects and billable time. It supports timesheet approvals and data export, covering time entry, review, and moving data out of the service. The product is available on the web and through iOS and Android mobile apps; there is no desktop app. QuickBooks Time offers Time Premium and Time Elite, and each plan includes one admin. A 30-day trial is available, but there is no free plan. The maker is QuickBooks Time, headquartered in Mountain View, California, United States, and founded in 1983. The listed features give teams a defined set of tracking and approval functions, along with browser and mobile access. Buyers can use the trial before choosing between the two plans, though the plan details provided do not include their prices.