QuickBooks Online vs Akaunting
Akaunting is a cheaper, self-hostable alternative to QuickBooks Online, but it is source-available (BSL) rather than open source, and it lacks QuickBooks' mobile apps and integration count.
Pick QuickBooks Online if…
Pick QuickBooks Online if you want a hosted service with mobile apps, accountant access and 800+ integrations, and can pay US$38 to US$340 a month.
Pick Akaunting if…
Pick Akaunting if you can self-host, want a free single-user setup, or want cheaper cloud plans starting at US$8/month on yearly billing.
Price
- Freemium
- Freemium
Starting price
Free plan
Open source
Works on
| Feature | Intuit's cloud accounting software for invoicing, expenses and bookkeeping, with a limited free plan. | Self-hostable online accounting software for freelancers and small businesses, with paid cloud plans. |
|---|---|---|
| Price |
|
|
| Starting price | US$38/month list price (Simple Start); Free plan US$0/month | Free (self-hosted Standard); cloud from US$8/month billed yearly or US$12/month billed monthly |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | No |
| Works on | Web, iOS, Android | Web, API |
| Try QuickBooks Online (opens the QuickBooks Online website in a new tab) | Try Akaunting (opens the Akaunting website in a new tab) |
QuickBooks Online is Intuit's cloud accounting software. It has a limited Free plan (one user, up to two invoices a month, no mobile app) and paid plans listed at US$38, US$85, US$140 and US$340 per month, each shown with 50% off for 3 months. It runs in a browser and as iOS and Android apps.
Akaunting is online accounting software you can self-host or use in the cloud. Its self-hosted Standard plan is free (1 company, 1 user plus 1 accountant, 1,000 invoices). Cloud plans run from US$12/month (US$8 on yearly billing) to US$218/month (US$145 yearly). Extra apps such as Inventory, Payroll and CRM are bought separately.
On licensing, Akaunting's repository uses the Business Source License 1.1, which limits production use beyond two users, one company or 1,000 invoices and converts to GPLv3 after four years. That is source-available, not open source in the OSI sense, even though the website uses the term.
QuickBooks gives you a managed service and a large integration list. Akaunting gives you lower cost and control of your data, in exchange for setup work and fewer ready-made integrations.
One new comparison, every week
Two tools side by side with our verdict, in one short email. Unsubscribe any time.
Last updated 16 October 2026. How we make money