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GnuCash vs Goodbudget

GnuCash logo

GnuCash

Software

Personal finance and accounting software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Goodbudget logo

Goodbudget

Software

Digital envelope budgeting app

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: GnuCash desktop only, with no mobile application; Goodbudget free plan is capped at 10 regular envelopes, 10 more envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices and 1 year of history
  • They diverge on capability: GnuCash covers Double-entry bookkeeping, Goodbudget covers Envelope budgeting.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GnuCash and Goodbudget actually diverge.

Attributes where GnuCash and Goodbudget differ
AttributeGnuCashGoodbudget
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
PlatformsWindows, Mac, LinuxWeb, IOS, Android
Founded19972012

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Goodbudget

  • Envelope budgeting
  • Shared budgets
  • Receipt scanning
  • Expense tracking
  • Bank accounts
  • Web support
  • IOS support
  • Android 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 Goodbudget
  • Double-entry bookkeeping for a small businessnot Goodbudget
  • Tracking stocks, bonds and mutual fund accountsnot Goodbudget
  • Importing transactions via QIF, OFX or HBCInot Goodbudget
  • Scheduled recurring transactions and financial reportsnot Goodbudget

Goodbudget

  • Envelope method budgetingnot GnuCash
  • Sharing a household budget across a couple's devicesnot GnuCash
  • Tracking debt payoff alongside envelopesnot 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

Goodbudget

  • Free plan is capped at 10 regular envelopes, 10 more envelopes, 1 account, 2 devices and 1 year of history
  • Automatic bank sync is Premium only and works with US banks only
  • Premium is limited to 5 devices and 7 years of history
  • Free plan gets community support only; email support requires Premium
  • Premium costs $10 per month or $80 per year

Pricing, plan by plan

GnuCash

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Double-entry bookkeeping
    • Multi-currency support
    • Reports and graphs

Goodbudget

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 10 envelopes
    • Basic tracking
  • Plus$5.99/month
    • Unlimited envelopes
    • Advanced reports
    • Receipt capture

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.
GnuCash review

Choose Goodbudget if

  • You need envelope budgeting.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, IOS, Android.
  • You also want shared budgets.
Goodbudget review

Questions people ask

Is GnuCash or Goodbudget better?
Neither clearly leads. GnuCash starts at Free and Goodbudget at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GnuCash or Goodbudget?
GnuCash starts at Free and Goodbudget at Free.
Does GnuCash or Goodbudget run on more platforms?
GnuCash runs on Windows, Mac, Linux. Goodbudget runs on Web, IOS, Android.
Can I use GnuCash for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Goodbudget is typically brought in for.
What can GnuCash do that Goodbudget cannot?
GnuCash covers Double-entry bookkeeping, Multi-currency support, Reports and graphs, Budget tracking. Goodbudget covers Envelope budgeting, Shared budgets, Receipt scanning, Expense tracking.
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