Invoice Ninja if the pain is sending invoices. Akaunting if you need a general ledger. Do not run both on day one.

Easy

Akaunting / Invoice Ninja

Invoices and books you host. Akaunting is the open-source accounting app; Invoice Ninja is the source-available invoicing suite.

The problem

QuickBooks Simple Start lists at $38/month. FreshBooks Lite lists at $23/month. Akaunting is the PHP accounting app you can self-host. Invoice Ninja is source-available invoicing, quotes, and time tracking.

Replaces

QuickBooks / FreshBooks

Replace QuickBooks Replace FreshBooks

Estimated SaaS saved

$1,200

per year, small team, before lock-in

Start on Railway

Sponsor this stack Tip jar

Placeholder: Invoice Ninja or Akaunting + MySQL and a volume. SMTP via Resend. Lock the admin.

The stack

Akaunting
Open-source online accounting
Invoice Ninja
Source-available invoices, quotes, and time tracking

Cost table

You stop paying	Typical / year	Self-host instead
QuickBooks Simple Start	$456	Akaunting + MySQL
FreshBooks Lite / Plus	$1,200	Invoice Ninja

Agent setup prompt

Replace QuickBooks or FreshBooks with Akaunting (accounting) or Invoice Ninja (invoices first).

- MySQL + a volume. Bind HTTP to 0.0.0.0:$PORT. Send invoices through Resend.
- Import a CSV of clients and one product. Complete a test invoice.
- Write AGENT_PROMPT.md. Invoice Ninja is source-available — read the license before you assume GPL.

Also as markdown: /stacks/invoice-ninja-books.md

FAQ

Which one first?: Invoice Ninja if the pain is sending invoices. Akaunting if you need a general ledger. Do not run both on day one.