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Xero vs Akaunting
Xero vs Akaunting
A side-by-side look at Xero (the paid SaaS) and Akaunting (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.
| Xero | Akaunting | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Cloud accounting for small businesses. | Online accounting software for small businesses. |
| License | Proprietary SaaS | GPL-3.0 |
| Pricing | Starter from $15/month. | Free to self-host · optional paid hosted plan |
| Self-host option | No | Yes — difficulty 2/5 |
| Hosted cloud available | Yes (only option) | Yes |
| Desktop apps | Varies by product | Web only |
| Mobile apps | Official apps typically available | iOS, Android |
Ad slot — between tables
Best for
Small businesses that want clean cloud-style accounting, self-hosted.
Akaunting strengths
- Approachable for non-accountants.
- Paid app store for advanced modules.
- Decent docker self-host.
Akaunting weaknesses
- Some advanced features behind paid apps.
- Smaller accountant community than QuickBooks.
- Multi-currency handling can lag in edge cases.
What's the catch with Xero?
- Subscription-only — no one-time purchase.
- Data lives in Xero cloud.
- Multi-currency restricted to higher plans.
Still unsure?
Check the full list of alternatives to Xero: see Xero alternatives, or learn more about Akaunting on its project page.