Accounting & GST
Best accounting software for small businesses in India
Desktop or cloud, one-time licence or subscription: how to choose accounting software, with current prices in rupees.
Updated 2 Oct 2026 · By the Software Today team · How we evaluate software
The best accounting software for your business is usually the one your accountant is comfortable with. After that, it comes down to two choices: desktop or cloud, and one-time licence or subscription.
| Tool | Starting price | Free plan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| StatementDock | ₹249/mo | Yes | |
| ERPNext | ₹410/mo | Yes | Small manufacturers with some technical help who want a full ERP without licence fees |
| BUSY Accounting Software | ₹417/mo | Yes | Traders and manufacturers who need stock and accounts in one program |
| Zoho Books | ₹749/mo | Yes | Small businesses that want cloud accounting they can share with their accountant |
| TallyPrime | ₹750/mo | No | Traders, distributors and small manufacturers whose accountant already works in Tally |
Starting prices are monthly equivalents in rupees, before GST. Open a tool for plan details and the date we last checked.
Desktop or cloud
- Desktop software is installed on your computer. It works without internet and is often sold as a one-time licence. Sharing with your accountant means sending files or giving remote access.
- Cloud software runs in a browser. You and your accountant see the same books at the same time, and you pay monthly or yearly.
One-time licence or subscription
A one-time licence costs more on day one and less over several years. A subscription is easier on cash flow and includes updates. On this site we convert both to a monthly figure so you can compare them, and each tool page shows the original price.
Do you need stock as well?
If you buy and sell goods, choose software that handles inventory with the accounts. Running stock in a separate system is the commonest cause of books that do not match the godown.
Two common comparisons
All accounting and GST software