Free Personal Finances software?

[mercmobily]

Hi,

What's a good piece of software to manage my personal finances or small business?
I hear about Luca, what do you think?
My only requirement is that it does double entry bookkeeping...

Thanks a million!

Merc.

[Natobasso]

You're probably going to have a hard time finding good, free business class finance management software.

Most of the time folks start with excel spreadsheets and then move up through MYOB or use an online app like Mint or Xero. Though I recommend using a database-based system right away instead of spreadsheets.

[Randy Singer]

A number of years ago I got tired of idiots saying that "there is no accounting software for the Macintosh." So I started keeping a list. It is now huge. Here it is. Personal accounting programs are listed separately near the end:

GENERAL ACCOUNTING PROGRAMS

- MacFreelance
$40
http://www.macxware.com/site/product.../overview.html

- Accounted
$70
http://www.oranged.net/accounted/

- T_ACCOUNTING
$175
http://www.double-entry-accounting-software.com/

- Vision X
http://www.logisoftinc.com/products.html

- PowerEasy ERP (for Mac OS X Server)
http://www.effigent.com/html/product...enterprise.htm

- Connected Accounting $589 and up
http://www.goconnected.com/
http://www.accountek.com/index.html

- FileClerk
http://www.landrumsoftware.com/

- Genesis Accounting
http://www.newmillennium.com/index.p...iness_Software

- MultiLedger from CheckMark Software, Inc.
http://www.checkmark.com

- MoneyWorks (4 different versions are available for different sizes and types of organizations)
http://cognito.co.nz/product.range.php
http://www.cognito.co.nz/index.php

- Aatrix Accounting
<http://www.aatrix.com/>

- MacMoney and InvoicIt
http://www.survivorsoftware.com/

- Big Business
http://www.bigbusiness.com/

- FlexWare Accounting
http://www.flexware.com/

- Accounts from Nano Software
http://www.nano.com.au

- Business Accounts
http://accountz.com/

- AcctVantage
http://www.acctvantage.com/

- 4th QuarterAccounting.
http://www.4thquarter.com

- JobOrder
http://www.JobOrder.com

- MYOB's AccountEdge
http://www.myob-us.com

- MYOB FirstEdge $99 (for small businesses)
http://www.myob-us.com/firstedge/

- Appgen's MyBooks
http://www.unrealstudio.com/appgen/index.html

- Microphage/TRT (in French)
http://www.microphage.qc.ca/

- Intuit's Quickbooks Pro for the Macintosh
http://quickbooks.intuit.com/product...software.jhtml

- Hold-up
http://www.pol-online.net/hold_up/
made in Switzerland.

- TinyBooks is a simple, flexible, non-bloated, single-entry bookkeeping and accounting system for the Macintosh. TinyBooks is designed for Sole Proprietors, home and other small businesses, and family finances.
http://www.winograd.com

- Corona $65
http://www.designersdomain.com/corona/

- Clients & Profits X (agency management software)
job production and accounting software designed especially for creative
businesses such as ad agencies, graphic design firms, and corporate marketing departments
http://www.cnp-x.com

- FinanceToGo $45
http://www.fastforwardsw.com/products/financetogo/

- Business Accountz (Basic, Professional and Enterprise editions available)
http://www.accountz.com/business.html

- Luca
http://cutedgesystems.com/software/Luca/

- Loops (in German)
http://www.computerworks.ch/Loops-Bu...ps.0.html?&L=1

- XTuple
http://www.xtuple.com/

- BusinessAccountingX (in Spanish)
http://www.elsoldata.com/Software/Software.html

- Light2 and 3 (for government contractors)
http://www.ccas.com/page5/csware.htm



PERSONAL FINANCE PROGRAMS

iCompta (FREE, donations welcome) (I highly recommend that you have a look at this one)
http://angeman7.free.fr/iCompta/?language=en

iCompta Mobile for iPhone $6
http://angeman7.free.fr/iComptaMobile/?language=en
Syncs with Macintosh version of iCompta.

iBank $40 (I highly recommend that you have a look at this one)
http://www.iggsoftware.com/ibank/

MoneyDance $40 (I highly recommend that you have a look at this one)
http://www.moneydance.com/

Pig Money (FREE)
http://homepage.mac.com/sweetcocoa/pigmoney/

Personal Accountz
http://www.accountz.com/household.html

EasyMoney $20
http://www.ttpsoftware.com/Products/easymoney.html

Quicken
http://quicken.intuit.com/quicken-pr...ode=3948500000

BudgetfM $15
http://www.budget-software.de/

Budget $30
http://www.snowmintcs.com/

Finance $20
http://www.yenco.com/
http://www.yenco.com/finance/index.html

iCash $40
http://www.maxprog.com
http://www.maxprog.com/iCash.html

Money $25
http://www.jumsoft.com/money/

My Money Minder $12.50
http://www.geocities.com/ben_blake1/index.html
http://www.geocities.com/ben_blake1/mymoneyminder.html

QuickFinance $24
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/4959
http://quickfinance-mac.com/

Liquid Ledger $45
http://www.liquidledger.com/

Checkbook Rec $9
http://www.cornerstonedesigns.biz/

Finance 101 (part of Small Business Software) - Business & Personal Finance Software $199
http://www.programs101.com/finance-101.html

CheckBook $18
http://www.splasm.com/products/productcheckbook.html

Cocoa Account and Cocoa Account Plus FREE
http://homepage.mac.com/tonyswu/tony...ter/cocoa.html
http://homepage.mac.com/tonyswu/tony...unt/index.html
http://homepage.mac.com/tonyswu/tony...rks/cocoa/cap/

Conto FREE
http://www.dimi.uniud.it/~vitacolo/macosx.html

GnuCash (via Fink and X11) FREE and open source
http://homepage.mac.com/elliottmce/gnucash_guide/
http://www.gnucash.org/
http://svn.gnucash.org/docs/guide/

SpendThrift FREE
http://www.apple.com/downloads/macos...endthrift.html
http://blackllamafaction.org/spendthrift/
http://blackllamafaction.org/archives/cat_software.html

Hold-Up FREE, open source
http://www.pol-online.net/software-archives

QuickFinance $24
http://www.tucows.com/get/204805_87575

Cha-Ching $40
http://www.chachingapp.com/
http://www.midnightapps.com/

Horizon $30
http://lucernesys.com/

jGnash FREE and open source
http://apps.sourceforge.net/mediawik...itle=Main_Page

Cash Forecaster (donations requested)
http://www.object-craft.com.au/proje...orecaster.html

Buddi (donation requested)
http://buddi.thecave.homeunix.org/en

My Checkbook $20
http://www.surprisesoftware.com/mych...FQQIFQodoSxT4g

Bankbook FREE
http://www.silverstreaksoftware.com/bankbook.html

Flowing Pennies $25
http://www.clarkwood.com/flowingpennies/

Fresh Finance $45 for up to three computers
http://www.fortora.com/ffmac/

CashBox (donations requested)
http://www.fadingred.org/cashbox/

MoneyWell $40
http://nothirst.com/moneywell/

Fresh Finance $45
http://www.fortora.com/ffmac/

Personal Accountz
http://accountz.com/

[Natobasso]

Two things:

1. Most of these aren't free
2. How many of the free ones would you trust with your business?

[lbj]

Thanks for the awesome list Randy!

[Randy Singer]

Originally Posted by Natobasso

Two things:

1. Most of these aren't free

There is such a think as being "penny wise and pound foolish." If you are running a business (hopefully a successful one), you shouldn't (IMHO) be looking to save a couple hundred dollars on accounting software. A couple hundred dollars is nothing compared to the amount of money a good accounting program will save you. And the cost of this software is tax deductible.

Originally Posted by Natobasso

2. How many of the free ones would you trust with your business?

I haven't personally reviewed all of this software. But I have briefly looked at most of it. What I've seen looks surprisingly good. Some of the free personal accounting programs (and I've made some notes about which might especially be worth checking out) looks shockingly good.

I would expect that anyone looking for accounting software would have a look at this list and the associated Web sites, narrow their selection down to two or three prime choices based on their individual needs (every business is different), and then they would download the free demos and see which is best.

If you have a business, you have to do your homework. Otherwise your business isn't going to succeed. I can't do your homework for you, I can only point you in the right direction.

[mercmobily]

Hi,

"But I have briefly looked at most of it. What I've seen looks surprisingly good. Some of the free personal accounting programs (and I've made some notes about which might especially be worth checking out) looks shockingly good."

So, which free ones have made your "shockingly good" shortlist? :-D
OK I am being lazy! :-D

Merc.

[Randy Singer]

Look at the list. I've made notations.