GNUKhata review
A free general ledger with GST, inventory, banking, and self-hosted deployment.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
GNUKhata is free, open-source accounting software for small and medium-sized businesses, traders, startups, and NGOs. Its scope covers core general ledger work through double-entry accounting, a chart of accounts, journal, payment, receipt, and contra vouchers, plus sales and purchase invoices. Indian organizations can also manage GST reporting, inventory across multiple godowns, bank accounts, and financial reports such as profit and loss, cash flow, trial balance, ledger, and balance sheet.
The product’s strongest fit is its coverage of Indian accounting requirements without a paid plan structure. GST reporting includes GSTR-1 JSON export, while bank reconciliation supports multiple bank accounts. Inventory management extends beyond basic stock records by supporting multiple godowns. Role-based access control, multi-organisation access, and audit log tracking add administrative controls for organizations that need more than single-user bookkeeping. JSON import and export also support data movement between systems.
Deployment is a key consideration. GNUKhata supports web, Windows, Linux, and self-hosted environments, while the current v8.0 release is primarily distributed through Docker, with a browser-based frontend and a PostgreSQL-connected backend. That approach suits organizations with the technical capacity to manage self-hosted software or Docker-based deployment. Windows users should approach installation carefully because the Windows installation is described as not well tested. GNUKhata is a strong choice for Indian organizations that prioritize free, open-source accounting with GST, inventory, banking, and multi-organisation capabilities. Organizations needing multi-currency accounting, AI features, or a more conventional Windows installation path should consider alternatives.
GNUKhata pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Double-entry accounting with vouchers and core financial reports
- GST reporting with GSTR-1 JSON export
- Free, open-source deployment across web, desktop, and self-hosted environments
- Where it doesn't
- Windows installation is described as not well tested
- No multi-currency support
- No AI features
GNUKhata fact sheet, pricing and score →
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