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GnuCash vs PayPal

GnuCash logo

GnuCash

Software

Personal finance and accounting software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PayPal logo

PayPal

Software

The simpler, safer way to pay and get paid

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

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; PayPal currency conversion on international purchases and sends carries a 4.00 percent fee, and 3.00 percent in other conversion scenarios
  • They diverge on capability: GnuCash covers Double-entry bookkeeping, PayPal covers Payment processing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which GnuCash and PayPal actually diverge.

Attributes where GnuCash and PayPal differ
AttributeGnuCashPayPal
Starting priceFree$29/month
Pricing modelopen-sourceusage-based
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWindows, Mac, LinuxWeb, Ios, Android, Api
Founded19971998

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 PayPal

  • Payment processing
  • PayPal Checkout
  • Invoicing
  • Business debit card
  • Working capital loans
  • Shopify
  • WooCommerce
  • BigCommerce

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 PayPal
  • Double-entry bookkeeping for a small businessnot PayPal
  • Tracking stocks, bonds and mutual fund accountsnot PayPal
  • Importing transactions via QIF, OFX or HBCInot PayPal
  • Scheduled recurring transactions and financial reportsnot PayPal

PayPal

  • Paying online merchants without sharing card detailsnot GnuCash
  • Sending money to friends and family domestically and internationallynot GnuCash
  • Holding balances in multiple currencies for cross border purchasesnot 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

PayPal

  • Currency conversion on international purchases and sends carries a 4.00 percent fee, and 3.00 percent in other conversion scenarios
  • Instant transfer to a bank or debit card costs 1.75 percent of the amount, with a minimum of 0.25 USD and a maximum of 25.00 USD
  • International personal transactions carry a 5.00 percent fee regardless of payment method, with a minimum of 0.99 USD and a maximum of 4.99 USD
  • Sending domestic personal payments funded by a credit card costs 2.90 percent plus a fixed fee of 0.49 USD
  • Instant transfers are capped at 25,000.00 USD per transaction

Pricing, plan by plan

GnuCash

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

PayPal

$29/month
  • Standard$2.99/transaction
    • Card payments
    • PayPal checkout
    • Invoice payments

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 PayPal if

  • You need payment processing.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
  • You also want paypal checkout.
PayPal review

Questions people ask

Is GnuCash or PayPal better?
Neither clearly leads. GnuCash starts at Free and PayPal at $29/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, GnuCash or PayPal?
GnuCash has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for GnuCash and $29/month for PayPal.
Does GnuCash or PayPal run on more platforms?
GnuCash runs on Windows, Mac, Linux. PayPal runs on Web, Ios, Android, Api.
Can I use GnuCash for free?
Yes. GnuCash has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. PayPal starts at $29/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 PayPal is typically brought in for.
What can GnuCash do that PayPal cannot?
GnuCash covers Double-entry bookkeeping, Multi-currency support, Reports and graphs, Budget tracking. PayPal covers Payment processing, PayPal Checkout, Invoicing, Business debit card.
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