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Best Free & Open Source Alternatives to Xero

Compare 1 open-source Xero alternative including Bigcapital

If you're looking for the best open-source alternative to Xero; Bigcapital is a strong place to start.

#1Bigcapital

Bigcapital

Open-source double-entry accounting and inventory platform for small businesses, with invoicing, bank feeds, and reports.

Bigcapital is an open-source accounting and inventory platform for small and medium businesses. It implements double-entry bookkeeping and connects sales invoicing, bills, expenses, inventory, banking, taxes, and multi-currency accounting so every transaction lands in a shared general ledger and the financial statements stay current.

Feature coverage includes customizable invoices with PDF templates, estimates, sale receipts, credit notes, vendor credits, manual journals, inventory adjustments and warehouse transfers, bank feeds through Plaid, bank reconciliation rules, transaction locking, role-based permissions, and multiple branches. Reporting covers balance sheet, profit and loss, cash flow, trial balance, general ledger, receivable and payable aging, sales and purchases by item, inventory valuation, and sales tax liability summaries.

It is AGPL-3.0 and designed to be self-hosted with Docker Compose, which runs the web app, API server, MySQL/MariaDB, MongoDB, Redis, and an Nginx gateway. A managed Bigcapital Cloud is announced as coming soon. The public REST API supports headless accounting, with API keys for integrations. Compared with QuickBooks, Xero, and Wave, a self-hosted Bigcapital has no per-seat subscription and keeps the books on your own infrastructure; the trade-off is that you run upgrades, mail configuration, and backups yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are there any open source alternatives to Xero?

Yes, there are 1 open source alternatives to Xero. Popular options include Bigcapital. These alternatives are free to use and many offer self-hosting options.

What is the best free alternative to Xero?

The best free alternative to Xero depends on your specific needs. Bigcapital is a popular choice with self-hosting capabilities. All alternatives listed here are open source and free to use.

Can I self-host an alternative to Xero?

Yes, 1 of the alternatives listed here can be self-hosted, giving you complete control over your data and privacy.

Why should I switch from Xero to an open source alternative?

Open source alternatives to Xero offer several advantages: no vendor lock-in, complete data ownership, no subscription fees, the ability to self-host for privacy and security, and active community support. You can also customize the software to fit your specific needs.

Xero

Xero

Xero is a cloud accounting platform for small businesses and their advisors, offering bank feeds, invoicing, bills, payroll, and a large third-party app marketplace on monthly subscription plans.

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