hledger

Overview

hledger is accounting software built around editable plain-text files, with command-line, terminal, and web interfaces. It suits people who want local control of their records and flexible reporting; its main limitation is the lack of invoice creation.

It handles multi-currency double-entry accounting and can track investments, cryptocurrencies, time, and other countable items alongside money. That breadth makes it useful beyond household bookkeeping, though the file-based workflow will appeal most to readers comfortable working with text.

Key features

hledger produces balance sheets, income statements, cashflow reports, and reports spanning multiple periods. CSV import supports bringing in transaction data, while exports to text, HTML, CSV, JSON, and SQL give users several ways to process or share results. Compatibility with Ledger and Beancount formats is a practical advantage for people moving between plain-text accounting tools.

The command-line and terminal interfaces suit keyboard-driven work and scripts. The web interface offers another way to work with records and can serve a JSON API. Bank feeds, automated reconciliation, and inventory tracking extend its bookkeeping scope, but the absence of invoice creation rules it out for workflows that need invoices produced inside the accounting software.

hledger runs locally and offline, keeping its plain-text data under the user's control. Its web interface normally runs as a local app accessible only from the user's machine, which favors private, single-machine use over remote access by default. The project describes combining it with version control, scripts, text editors, LLMs, and bank data imports, so technical users can fit it into a broader workflow.

Pricing

hledger costs nothing. The Free Software release is licensed under GNU GPLv3+ and has no purchase price or monthly fees. There is no free trial because the software is free to use. With no paid tier, users do not have to weigh a cheaper plan against higher-tier limits; they do need to be comfortable using software whose records are managed as plain-text files.

Platforms

hledger supports Linux, macOS, Windows, web, self-hosted use, and an API. Official release binaries cover Linux x64, Mac x64 and arm64, and Windows x64; Linux ARM users do not have an official binary. Mobile support is through the web platform only, so it is less suited to readers seeking a dedicated mobile app. hledger-web normally serves the local machine, which also means remote access is not its default setup.

Who it's for

hledger aims to serve technical and non-technical users, from personal finance to business and institutional accounting. It is the better fit for people who value local, offline records, want multi-currency accounting and detailed reports, or plan to connect their books with scripts and version control. Readers who need invoice creation, a dedicated mobile platform, or an official Linux ARM binary should consider another option. The project has been supported and continuously improved since its first release in 2007, and it points users to Matrix chat for quick help, as well as IRC, a mailing list, and issue trackers.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Multi-currency double-entry accounting and reporting across multiple periods cover more than basic transaction tracking.
• Pros: Plain-text records stay local and under the user's control, with CSV import, several export formats, and Ledger and Beancount compatibility.
• Pros: Command-line, terminal, web, and API interfaces support different ways to work with or process the same accounting data.
• Cons: There is no invoice creation, so businesses that generate invoices in their accounting app need a different tool.
• Cons: Mobile access is web-only, and Linux ARM has no official release binary.

Alternatives

Pick Frappe Books if you want a free, open-source option that can be installed on your own Frappe site and spans mobile, desktop, and web platforms. Beancount is another free, open-source bookkeeping option across Linux, macOS, web, and self-hosted environments. Choose Ledger for free BSD-licensed command-line accounting on Linux, macOS, or Windows.

BUSY offers a free billing and accounting plan with multiple companies and financial years. GnuCash is free desktop software for personal and small-business accounting. GNUKhata is a free, open-source alternative whose current v8.0 supports Docker installation. FrontAccounting is free accounting software released under the GNU General Public License. LedgerSMB is free open-source software for self-hosted installation.

For more options, browse General Ledger Software and Bookkeeping Software.

Verdict

Choose hledger if you want multi-currency accounting, broad reporting, and local control through plain-text records, and are comfortable building your workflow around files. Its no-cost license and multiple interfaces make it a capable choice for personal and organizational bookkeeping. Look elsewhere if invoice creation is central to your work, or if you need a dedicated mobile app or official Linux ARM binaries.