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Software · head to head

Square Cash vs GnuCash

S

Square Cash

Software

Send money easily with Square Cash

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
GnuCash logo

GnuCash

Software

Personal finance and accounting software

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Square Cash cash App Green status (higher savings rate, free in-network ATM withdrawals, overdraft coverage) requires spending $500 or depositing $300 in Qualifying purchases/deposits per month, per the App Store listing; GnuCash desktop only, with no mobile application
  • They diverge on capability: Square Cash covers Money transfers, GnuCash covers Double-entry bookkeeping.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Square Cash and GnuCash actually diverge.

Attributes where Square Cash and GnuCash differ
AttributeSquare CashGnuCash
Pricing modelfreeopen-source
PlatformsIOS, AndroidWindows, Mac, Linux
Founded20141997

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 Square Cash

  • Money transfers
  • Instant deposits
  • Transaction history
  • Customer support
  • Bank accounts
  • IOS support
  • Android support

Only in GnuCash

  • Double-entry bookkeeping
  • Multi-currency support
  • Reports and graphs
  • Budget tracking
  • Import/Export
  • OFX format
  • Windows support
  • Mac support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Square Cash

  • Budget Managementnot GnuCash
  • Expense Trackingnot GnuCash
  • Investment Trackingnot GnuCash

GnuCash

  • Personal finance tracking with a checkbook register interfacenot Square Cash
  • Double-entry bookkeeping for a small businessnot Square Cash
  • Tracking stocks, bonds and mutual fund accountsnot Square Cash
  • Importing transactions via QIF, OFX or HBCInot Square Cash
  • Scheduled recurring transactions and financial reportsnot Square Cash

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Square Cash

  • Cash App Green status (higher savings rate, free in-network ATM withdrawals, overdraft coverage) requires spending $500 or depositing $300 in Qualifying purchases/deposits per month, per the App Store listing

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Square Cash

Free
  • FreeFree
    • P2P transfers
    • Instant deposits
    • Mobile app

GnuCash

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Square Cash if

  • You need money transfers.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on IOS, Android.
  • You also want instant deposits.
Square Cash review

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

Questions people ask

Is Square Cash or GnuCash better?
Neither clearly leads. Square Cash starts at Free and GnuCash at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Square Cash or GnuCash?
Square Cash starts at Free and GnuCash at Free.
Does Square Cash or GnuCash run on more platforms?
Square Cash runs on IOS, Android. GnuCash runs on Windows, Mac, Linux.
Can I use Square Cash for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Square Cash best used for?
Square Cash is most often used for budget management, expense tracking, investment tracking. Of those, budget management and expense tracking are not what GnuCash is typically brought in for.
What can Square Cash do that GnuCash cannot?
Square Cash covers Money transfers, Instant deposits, Transaction history, Customer support. GnuCash covers Double-entry bookkeeping, Multi-currency support, Reports and graphs, Budget tracking.
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Related pages

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