Free Alternatives to QuickBooks Desktop
If you're looking for a long-term solution beyond QuickBooks, several free desktop accounting programs might fit the bill:
- Bigcapital – An open-source, self-hosted accounting platform designed as an alternative to QuickBooks. It supports invoicing, expense tracking, and financial management. Migration requires manually exporting transactions from QuickBooks.
- GnuCash – A free, open-source accounting program suitable for small businesses. It includes double-entry bookkeeping, invoicing, and financial reports.
- Manager.io – A business accounting software available for Windows, macOS, and Linux. It provides invoicing, payroll, and financial reporting features, with an optional cloud version.
- Akaunting – A web-based, open-source accounting tool ideal for freelancers and small businesses. It supports invoicing, expense tracking, and multi-user collaboration.
Final Thoughts
QuickBooks Desktop may be going away, but that doesn’t mean you have to switch to QuickBooks Online. Whether you stick with your old version for now, migrate to Bigcapital, or try one of the other free alternatives, there are plenty of ways to maintain control over your accounting without getting locked into a subscription.
Are you sticking with QuickBooks Desktop, switching to another platform, or moving online? Let’s discuss in the comments!
