eGigFree accounting software like Tally
No free tool is a drop-in replacement for Tally in India: ERPNext comes closest, but it takes setup, and GnuCash is simple but has no GST returns built in. Licences and dates read from each project’s public code page on 31 Oct 2026.
Free and open source
| Software | Good for | Licence | Last code change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERPNext | Accounts, GST billing, stock and sales. Has an India compliance add-on, so check it covers your returns | GPL-3.0 | 31 Oct 2026 |
| Odoo Community | Business apps with a community edition. Check which India features need a paid plan | LGPL-3.0 | 31 Oct 2026 |
| GnuCash | Simple double-entry books, without GST filing | GPL-2.0 or 3.0 | 29 Oct 2026 |
Before you switch
- Ask your accountant first. Many Indian accountants work in Tally, so moving away can make their work slower or cost more.
- Test a full month: a GST invoice, a purchase, a bank entry and your GSTR-1 and GSTR-3B figures.
- Keep your old books. Tax records must be available for years, in a form you can open.
- We left out Frappe Books: its GitHub project was archived when we checked on 31 Oct 2026, so it may no longer get fixes.
Free on eGig
For small needs, the free invoice generator, quotation generator and GST calculator may be enough. Rebota, eGig’s sister product, does GST billing and payroll. It is not open source.
Questions people ask
Is there a free version of Tally?
Tally has an educational mode that limits dates for practice, and a paid licence for real use. Check Tally’s own site for the current terms.
Which free accounting software is best for a small business in India?
If you only need invoices and a simple record, a free invoice tool and a good spreadsheet may do for now. If you need stock, GST and accounts together, try ERPNext or Odoo, ideally with someone who has set them up before.
Can GnuCash do GST?
You can record tax amounts, but it is not built for Indian GST invoices and returns, so it suits personal books or a very small business with an accountant handling GST.
How we check this page
eGig has no paid placements here and does not make these products. A licence shown as “mixed” means the project’s licence file puts parts of it under different terms, so read that file before you rely on it, especially for business use. Check each project’s own site before you install anything, and download only from there. How we check facts.