GnuCash
Desktop double-entry accounting for households and small businesses, free forever.
Quick facts
- Price model
- Open source
- Starting price
- Free
- Best for
- Side hustle income and expenses · Households who want detailed records · Small business books on a budget
- Replaces
- QuickBooks Simple Start, Paid personal finance apps
- Platforms
- MacWindowsLinux
- Last verified
- 2026-06-22
Why it's listed
Accounting-grade tracking that outlives every finance app that shuts down.
GnuCash handles checkbook-style registers, investments, and small-business books with reporting built in. Steeper learning curve, but no subscription for serious accounting on your own machine.
The catch
Jump to setup guide ↓UI feels dated; not the friendliest option for casual monthly budgeting.
How to set up GnuCash
Double-entry books on your desktop, serious household or side-hustle accounting without QuickBooks rent.
- Time
- 45–75 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Verified
- 2026-06-22
Before you start
- Opening balances for checking, savings, credit cards
- Decide cash vs accrual (most households: cash)
- Patience for accounting terminology
Install and create file
Install from gnucash.org for your OS. File → New → New File → save as Household-2026.gnucash in backed-up folder.
Run new file wizard
Choose currency, accounts template (Common Accounts is fine). Set opening balances on checking/savings/credit card accounts.
Record recent transactions
Enter last month of expenses/income manually or import OFX/QFX if your bank exports them.
Categorize with splits
Assign groceries, rent, subscriptions to expense accounts. Split one transaction across categories when needed.
Run first reports
Reports → Income & Expense → last month. Confirm subscription totals match your audit checklist.
Backup the .gnucash file
File → Backup, schedule weekly copy to second drive. File contains everything.
Troubleshooting
- Accounts don't balance
- Every transaction must balance to zero. Check missing transfer side.
- Too complex for envelope budgeting
- Try Actual Budget (see our guide) for YNAB-style envelopes.
- Import duplicates
- Match transactions before import; use Tools → Check & Repair.
Keep it working
- Reconcile accounts monthly against bank statements
- Upgrade GnuCash yearly for security fixes
- Keep separate file per tax year if side income grows
Official docs: wiki.gnucash.org/wiki/GnuCash_3
Good fit for
- Households with side income
- Anyone who outgrew simple budget apps
- People who want detailed money records
Not ideal for
- People wanting mobile-first envelope budgeting
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