Software · head to head
GnuCash vs Betterment
The short version
- Only GnuCash has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: GnuCash desktop only, with no mobile application; Betterment digital automated investing charges $5 per month fee for accounts under $24,000 balance
- They diverge on capability: GnuCash covers Double-entry bookkeeping, Betterment covers Automated investing.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which GnuCash and Betterment actually diverge.
| Attribute | GnuCash | Betterment |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | $5/month |
| Pricing model | open-source | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, Linux | Web, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 1997 | 2008 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in GnuCash
- Double-entry bookkeeping
- Multi-currency support
- Reports and graphs
- Budget tracking
- Import/Export
- OFX format
- Windows support
- Mac support
Only in Betterment
- Automated investing
- Retirement planning
- Financial advisory
- Goal tracking
- Bank accounts
- Investment accounts
- Web support
- IOS support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
GnuCash
- Personal finance tracking with a checkbook register interfacenot Betterment
- Double-entry bookkeeping for a small businessnot Betterment
- Tracking stocks, bonds and mutual fund accountsnot Betterment
- Importing transactions via QIF, OFX or HBCInot Betterment
- Scheduled recurring transactions and financial reportsnot Betterment
Betterment
- Small investors starting with automated investing at no minimum balancenot GnuCash
- Fee-only digital wealth management for accounts under $24,000 via $5/month flat feenot GnuCash
- Premium advisory access for high-net-worth individuals with $100,000+ balancenot GnuCash
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
GnuCash
- Desktop only, with no mobile application
- Version 3.11 is the last release supporting Windows 7 and macOS 10.12 and earlier
- Uses strict double-entry accounting, so every transaction needs two sides
Betterment
- Digital automated investing charges $5 per month fee for accounts under $24,000 balance
- Premium advisory service requires minimum balance of $100,000 in eligible investments
- Foreign transaction fees apply to checking account (though reimbursed after the fact)
- High-balance fee discounts only available above $1,000,000 account balance
Pricing, plan by plan
GnuCash
Free- Open SourceFree
- Double-entry bookkeeping
- Multi-currency support
- Reports and graphs
Betterment
$5/monthNo published plan breakdown. See the Betterment review.
Which should you pick?
Choose GnuCash if
- You need double-entry bookkeeping.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Mac, Linux.
- You also want multi-currency support.
Choose Betterment if
- You need automated investing.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want retirement planning.
Questions people ask
- Is GnuCash or Betterment better?
- Neither clearly leads. GnuCash starts at Free and Betterment at $5/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, GnuCash or Betterment?
- GnuCash has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for GnuCash and $5/month for Betterment.
- Does GnuCash or Betterment run on more platforms?
- GnuCash runs on Windows, Mac, Linux. Betterment runs on Web, iOS, Android.
- Can I use GnuCash for free?
- Yes. GnuCash has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Betterment starts at $5/month.
- What is GnuCash best used for?
- GnuCash is most often used for personal finance tracking with a checkbook register interface, double-entry bookkeeping for a small business, tracking stocks, bonds and mutual fund accounts, importing transactions via qif, ofx or hbci. Of those, personal finance tracking with a checkbook register interface and double-entry bookkeeping for a small business are not what Betterment is typically brought in for.
- What can GnuCash do that Betterment cannot?
- GnuCash covers Double-entry bookkeeping, Multi-currency support, Reports and graphs, Budget tracking. Betterment covers Automated investing, Retirement planning, Financial advisory, Goal tracking.