# Free alternatives to Xero

> Xero (Early) costs $324 a year. Free alternatives: ERPNext, Akaunting and GnuCash. Data checked 2026-10-17.

- Page: https://stoprenting.dev/apps/xero/
- Category: Finance (https://stoprenting.dev/categories/finance/)
- Vendor: Xero
- Plan: Early
- Price: $27/month, $324/year
- Billing: per month (first 3 months discounted 80%); Early is limited to 20 invoices
- Price quote from the vendor's page: "Early $ 5 . 40 per month for the first 3 months Then $27 per month"
- Price source: https://www.xero.com/us/pricing-plans/ (checked 2026-10-17)

## Alternatives

### ERPNext

- Website: https://frappe.io/erpnext
- Repository: https://github.com/frappe/erpnext (40,280 stars, last push 2026-10-17)
- License: GPL-3.0
- Open source: yes, OSI-approved license
- Type: server app
- Linux: self-hosted server; web UI
- Self-hostable: yes
- Note: A heavy ERP to set up, and automatic bank feeds need your own Plaid account.
- More: https://stoprenting.dev/alternatives/erpnext/
- Checked: 2026-10-17

### Akaunting

- Website: https://akaunting.com
- Repository: https://github.com/akaunting/akaunting (10,175 stars, last push 2026-10-08)
- License: BUSL-1.1 (source-available)
- Open source: no, source-available license
- Type: server app
- Linux: self-hosted server; web UI
- Self-hostable: yes
- Note: Source-available: free use is capped at 2 users, 1 company and 1,000 invoices, and double-entry books are a paid add-on.
- More: https://stoprenting.dev/alternatives/akaunting/
- Checked: 2026-10-17

### GnuCash

- Website: https://www.gnucash.org
- Repository: https://github.com/Gnucash/gnucash (4,372 stars, last push 2026-10-17)
- License: GPL-2.0-or-later / GPL-3.0
- Open source: yes, OSI-approved license
- Type: desktop app
- Linux: Arch extra: gnucash; Flathub: org.gnucash.GnuCash
- Self-hostable: no
- Install: `sudo pacman -S gnucash`, `flatpak install flathub org.gnucash.GnuCash`
- Note: Single-user desktop app: no bank feeds for most banks, no online invoices or payments, and no payroll.
- More: https://stoprenting.dev/alternatives/gnucash/
- Checked: 2026-10-17

## FAQ

### Is there a free alternative to Xero?

Yes. The 3 free alternatives are ERPNext (open source, GPL-3.0), Akaunting (source-available, BUSL-1.1) and GnuCash (open source, GPL-2.0-or-later / GPL-3.0).

### How much does Xero cost?

Xero's Early plan costs $27 a month, which is $324 a year (per month (first 3 months discounted 80%); Early is limited to 20 invoices). Source: the official pricing page at xero.com, checked Oct 17, 2026.

### Which Xero alternatives run on Linux?

ERPNext (self-hosted server; web UI), Akaunting (self-hosted server; web UI) and GnuCash (Arch extra: gnucash; Flathub: org.gnucash.GnuCash).

### Can you self-host a Xero alternative?

Yes. ERPNext and Akaunting run on your own server. GnuCash is a desktop app.

### Are these Xero alternatives open source?

Not all of them. Akaunting (BUSL-1.1) is source-available: the code is public, but the license isn't OSI-approved open source. ERPNext (GPL-3.0) and GnuCash (GPL-2.0-or-later / GPL-3.0) are open source.

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Source: Stop Renting (https://stoprenting.dev). Methodology: https://stoprenting.dev/methodology/