hledger
hledger: A free open-source accounting system with deep reporting and scripting support. Ranked #48 of 74 in Bookkeeping Software by our editors (4.5/10); pricing: Free plan; best for technical users wanting open-source accounting.
At a glance
- Editor score4.5 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forTechnical users wanting open-source accounting
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Bank feedsYes
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free, open-source double-entry accounting with local and offline use
- Imports bank data and supports reconciliation, assertions, and forecasting
- Includes reports, inventory, multi-currency, APIs, and broad platform coverage
Where it doesn't
- Professional invoice creation relies on manual or external workflows
- No first-party mobile app beyond web access
- Accountant-access features are not included
Our verdict on hledger
hledger is free, open-source bookkeeping software for personal, business, and institutional finances. It uses human-readable plain-text journals and double-entry accounting, making it a strong fit for technical users who value local files, scripting, version control, and offline work. Command-line, terminal, web, and API interfaces support different working styles, while bank-data and CSV importing helps bring existing financial records into the system.
The published capabilities cover more than basic transaction entry. Users can reconcile accounts, apply balance assertions, and produce balance-sheet, income-statement, cash-flow, budget, and other reports. Multi-currency and commodity accounting extend its reach to more involved financial records, while inventory accounting, recurring transactions, and forecasting rules add planning depth. Output in CSV, JSON, SQL, HTML, and text formats, along with a JSON web API, also suits scripted workflows and custom reporting.
Its main trade-off is the workflow around invoicing. hledger supports invoice tracking and accounting entries, but professional invoice creation is manual, semi-manual, or handled through external tools. The mobile experience is web-based, and compatible mobile apps are separate from a first-party hledger mobile client. Choose hledger if transparent files, broad reporting, automation, and open-source control matter more than a polished invoicing workflow or accountant-access features. Businesses centered on professional invoice creation should choose a more specialized alternative.
Your product? Our editors can test hledger in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
hledger pricing
hledger fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Bank feeds | Yes |
| Automated reconciliation | Yes |
| Invoice creation | No |
| Receipt capture | Not verified |
| Inventory tracking | Yes |
| Accountant access | Not verified |
| Mobile platforms | Web only |
| Deployment | Self-hosted, Desktop |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | hledger.org |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to hledger
- Zoho BooksA broad bookkeeping suite with a capable free plan and scalable paid tiers.9.4
- Xero BillsA paid bookkeeping platform with strong bill management, reconciliation, and payment tools.9.3
- QuickBooks Desktop EnterpriseA Windows-based accounting suite built for inventory-heavy, multi-company operations.9.2
See all hledger alternatives →
Also Ranked In
hledger is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
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