LedgerSMB is free, open-source, browser-based accounting and ERP software for small and midsize businesses. It combines double-entry accounting with sales, purchasing, inventory, and project functions.
The product includes accounting, invoicing, purchasing, inventory, reporting, and an API. It is self-hosted, so organizations must assess setup and administration requirements. No verified third-party review ratings were found.
This profile combines documented product information and independent evidence where available. It is not a hands-on test unless TechZella explicitly identifies one.
A quick way to understand who this product may suit, where its limits matter, and which facts are most relevant before you compare alternatives.
Small and midsize businesses seeking self-hosted, open-source accounting with purchasing, sales, inventory, and project accounting in one application.
Organizations seeking vendor-managed SaaS, built-in bank-feed automation, or an accounting product that requires little technical administration may find the self-hosting model unsuitable, and should evaluate alternatives such as ERPNext instead.
Docker, Linux, macOS, Web, Windows
7.5/10
These are the product-specific differences that may matter when deciding whether the software fits your workflow. They are based on documented evidence rather than a universal ranking.
These are documented constraints or practical friction points that may matter before you adopt the product.
Buyers need to budget for deployment, backups, upgrades, and technical administration in addition to the free software license.
Evidence source ↗Retailers needing ecommerce order synchronization should validate a custom integration before choosing the product.
Evidence source ↗Mobile access may be possible through a browser, but the project does not describe a native mobile app as the primary interface.
Evidence source ↗LedgerSMB software is available under GPLv2. Hosting, implementation, and service provider costs are separate; no official trial or subscription plan was found.
Check current pricing →Pricing may change. Verify current plans on the vendor's website.
Compare the product with documented alternatives across the factors that can change a buying decision. Each row is evidence-backed rather than a generic feature checklist.
| Decision factor | LedgerSMB | ERPNext |
|---|---|---|
| Core scope | Accounting and ERP functions include general ledger, sales, purchasing, inventory, fixed assets, and project or department reporting. | A broader ERP suite documents accounting, manufacturing, HR, CRM, order management, and asset management modules. Source ↗ |
| Deployment model | Self-hosted web application with official Docker images and Linux/Unix server requirements. | ERPNext is open source and can be used with hosted services; Frappe documents cloud subscriptions and support services. Source ↗ |
| Pricing model | GPLv2 software available without a software purchase price; hosting and service rates are separate and not listed by the LedgerSMB project. | ERPNext core is open source; Frappe separately publishes paid support and warranty options for some deployments. Source ↗ |
| Decision factor | LedgerSMB | GnuCash |
|---|---|---|
| Core scope | Business accounting is combined with purchasing, sales orders, inventory, time tracking, and other ERP functions. | Personal and small-business financial accounting software centered on double-entry bookkeeping and financial tracking. Source ↗ |
| Deployment model | Browser-based client-server software that the buyer installs and hosts with PostgreSQL. | Locally installed desktop software available for GNU/Linux, BSD, macOS, and Windows. Source ↗ |
| Pricing model | GPLv2 software with no published software purchase fee; hosting and administration are separate costs. | Freely licensed under the GNU GPL and available to download for desktop platforms. Source ↗ |
Only factors supported by the available research are shown. The comparison is descriptive, not a ranking.
Compare similar products directly, then see which alternatives may make more sense when your requirements differ.
| Decision factor | LedgerSMB | ERPNext | GnuCash |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core scope | Accounting and ERP functions include general ledger, sales, purchasing, inventory, fixed assets, and project or department reporting. | A broader ERP suite documents accounting, manufacturing, HR, CRM, order management, and asset management modules. Source ↗ | Personal and small-business financial accounting software centered on double-entry bookkeeping and financial tracking. Source ↗ |
| Deployment model | Self-hosted web application with official Docker images and Linux/Unix server requirements. | ERPNext is open source and can be used with hosted services; Frappe documents cloud subscriptions and support services. Source ↗ | Locally installed desktop software available for GNU/Linux, BSD, macOS, and Windows. Source ↗ |
| Pricing model | GPLv2 software available without a software purchase price; hosting and service rates are separate and not listed by the LedgerSMB project. | ERPNext core is open source; Frappe separately publishes paid support and warranty options for some deployments. Source ↗ | Freely licensed under the GNU GPL and available to download for desktop platforms. Source ↗ |
Only factors supported by the available research are shown. The comparison is descriptive, not a ranking.
These products address broadly similar requirements. The descriptions focus on documented reasons a buyer might compare them with LedgerSMB.
LedgerSMB is an open-source accounting and ERP application for small and midsize businesses. The project began in 2006 as a fork of SQL-Ledger. It combines double-entry accounting with sales, purchasing, inventory, and related business functions.
Unlike a vendor-hosted accounting subscription, LedgerSMB is installed on infrastructure managed by the user or a service provider. PostgreSQL and server administration are part of the deployment decision.
| License | GPLv2 |
|---|---|
| Deployment | Self-hosted web application |
| Server operating systems | Linux/Unix; installer supports Debian derivatives and Fedora derivatives |
| Client access | Compatible web browser on supported desktop platforms |
| Database | PostgreSQL |
| Container support | Official Docker images |
| API | Web services API; versioned OpenAPI documentation |
| Latest verified release | 1.13.8, released September 11, 2026 |
Verified installation, hosting, administration, or environment details that can affect implementation.
| Installation or hosting | Self-hosted web application. Official installation routes include a maintained installer and production Docker images; a PostgreSQL database is required. Source ↗ |
|---|---|
| Client access | Users access the server through a compatible web browser. The project lists Linux/Unix servers and browser clients on platforms including Windows and macOS. Source ↗ |
Documented portability, standards, export, or switching considerations. No switching-cost score is shown unless the evidence supports one.
The project documents migration paths from SQL-Ledger and older LedgerSMB versions; confirm the source version and migration steps against the release-specific instructions.
Evidence source ↗A proprietary editorial score based on product capabilities, usability, value, performance, support and user sentiment evidence.
The product includes accounting, invoicing, purchasing, inventory, reporting, and an API. It is self-hosted, so organizations must assess setup and administration requirements. No verified third-party review ratings were found.
Methodology v1.0. The assessment weighs feature coverage (25%), ease of use (15%), value for money (20%), performance (15%), support (10%) and user sentiment (15%), using researched product evidence and verified review evidence where available. It is a TechZella editorial assessment, not a direct user-review average.
Key claims are linked to the sources used to verify them. This evidence record is separate from third-party user ratings.
TechZella evaluates software using documented product capabilities, pricing information, usability and value considerations, independent user evidence where available, and competitive context. The assessment is an editorial review, not a hands-on test unless one is explicitly identified. Our editorial assessment is based on 5 documented sources.
The project history identifies 2006 as the year LedgerSMB began as a fork of SQL-Ledger.
View source ↗Verified 2026-10-18The official download page identifies the maintained stable and old-stable release series.
View source ↗Verified 2026-10-18The official feature page lists general ledger, sales, purchasing, multiple currencies, contacts, cash management, time tracking, fixed assets, inventory, reporting, and budgeting.
View source ↗Verified 2026-10-18The official integration FAQ describes programmatic web services and points to OpenAPI documentation by version.
View source ↗Verified 2026-10-18The project documentation and repository license identify GPLv2.
View source ↗Verified 2026-10-18Official release and system requirement pages document Docker distribution, Linux/Unix servers, and compatible browsers on desktop client platforms.
View source ↗Verified 2026-10-18The project FAQ says store attachment is not available out of the box and describes a community custom integration.
View source ↗Verified 2026-10-18Is LedgerSMB free? The software is distributed under GPLv2. Hosting, implementation, and third-party services may have separate costs.
Does LedgerSMB have an API? Yes. The project documents web services and publishes OpenAPI documentation by version.
Does it have a free trial? No official trial offer was found. The software is downloadable for self-hosted installation.
Can it connect to an online store? The project FAQ says this is not available out of the box; custom integration may be possible.
What does it run on? The server runs on Linux/Unix environments and clients access it through compatible web browsers. The project also distributes Docker images.
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