Overview

Frappe Books is free, open-source accounting software for small businesses that want bookkeeping, sales documents and inventory in one system. It is best suited to teams prepared to run it on their own Frappe site. Its range is unusually broad for a free product, but the self-hosted setup and unsupported desktop app narrow its appeal.

Key features

Books handles quotes, invoices, payments, bills, supplier payments and returns, covering routine sales and purchasing alongside accounting. Businesses selling physical goods can track stock across locations, batches, expiry dates and serial numbers, and record point-of-sale transactions. That breadth can reduce the need to split core workflows across separate tools; the trade-off is that the business runs the product on its own server.

The accounting foundation includes double-entry books, a country-specific chart of accounts, journal entries and financial reports. Businesses in India also have GSTR-1 and GSTR-2 reports for GST returns. These country-aware features make Books more relevant to operational accounting than a basic invoicing tool, though the stated GST reports are specific to India.

Books User, Books Manager and System Manager roles control access to records, reports and settings. That gives teams a way to separate routine work from management and system administration. Company data remains in the Frappe site's database on the customer's server, favoring organizations that want control of where their data is held and can manage a self-hosted deployment.

Books works in a phone browser and can be added to the home screen, but requires an internet connection. The older desktop app is no longer supported, so it is not a good fit for someone specifically seeking a maintained, standalone desktop program.

Pricing

Frappe Books is free and open source under the AGPL-3.0 license. Its Free plan is free, has no subscription, and is installed on the customer's own Frappe site. There is no free trial because the software is free; the practical cost is taking responsibility for running it on a server rather than subscribing to a hosted service.

Platforms

Frappe Books supports Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, Windows, web and self-hosted use. On phones, access is through a browser and requires an internet connection. The discontinued desktop app is a limitation for users who want that particular experience.

Who it's for

Books is a sensible choice for small businesses that need double-entry accounting plus sales, purchasing and inventory workflows, especially those able to operate their own Frappe site. Its stock details and point-of-sale support suit businesses handling physical goods, while its role controls can help teams divide access. Businesses seeking a ready-to-use hosted product or a supported desktop app should look elsewhere.

Pros and cons

Pros: The free, open-source product combines double-entry accounting with quotes, invoices, purchasing, returns and detailed inventory tracking.
Pros: Country-specific charts of accounts and, for India, GSTR-1 and GSTR-2 reports provide relevant accounting structure.
Pros: Three access roles and data stored on the customer's own Frappe site offer control over permissions and data location.
Cons: Self-hosting means the customer must run the Frappe site and server.
Cons: The old desktop app is no longer supported, and phone-browser use requires an internet connection.

Alternatives

For a ready-made bookkeeping shortlist, browse Bookkeeping Software or General Ledger Software.

BUSY is worth considering for a free billing and accounting plan that supports multiple companies and financial years; it also offers a free trial.
Beancount is another free, open-source bookkeeping option for users who do not need Frappe Books' stated sales and inventory range.
GNUKhata is a free, open-source alternative whose current v8.0 supports Docker installation.
FrontAccounting is free, self-hosted accounting software released under the GNU General Public License.
hledger is free software with no purchase price or monthly fees.
Ledger is a free, BSD-licensed command-line accounting option.
LedgerSMB is a free, open-source option with self-hosted installation.
GnuCash is free desktop software for personal and small-business accounting.

Verdict

Choose Frappe Books if your small business wants free, open-source accounting alongside sales, purchasing and inventory, and you are prepared to run it on your own Frappe site. Its breadth and data control are compelling; look elsewhere if you need hosted convenience or a supported desktop app.

	Bizuno	Frappe Books
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Free trial		No
Paid from	Free	Free
Platforms	api, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, Web, Windows	Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, Web, Windows
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Invoice creation		Yes
Inventory tracking		Yes

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Frappe Books