Conta
Free online invoicing software.
Bigcapital
Smart accounting and inventory software for small businesses
Open-source financial accounting platform with double-entry bookkeeping, intelligent reporting, and inventory management for small and medium businesses.
Overview
Powerful Accounting for Growing Businesses
Bigcapital is a comprehensive accounting and inventory management platform designed for small and medium businesses that need professional-grade financial tools without enterprise complexity. Built on double-entry accounting principles, it automates bookkeeping processes while delivering intelligent financial statements and reports that drive informed decision-making.
Self-Hosted or Cloud
Available under the AGPL-3.0 license, Bigcapital can be self-hosted via Docker for complete data control, or accessed through the managed cloud offering. The platform handles invoicing, bills, expenses, payments, and inventory tracking in a unified interface, keeping all business finances organized and accessible.
Headless API Integration
For teams building custom solutions, Bigcapital offers a headless accounting API that integrates double-entry accounting into existing systems. Whether you're running a standalone deployment or embedding financial capabilities into your product, Bigcapital provides the accounting infrastructure to generate accurate financial reports and maintain compliance.
Highlights
Double-entry accounting system with automated bookkeeping processes
Integrated inventory management alongside financial tracking
Headless API for embedding accounting into custom applications
Self-hosted Docker deployment with full data ownership
Pros
- Comprehensive feature set comparable to commercial alternatives like QuickBooks and Xero
- Self-hosting option provides complete control over financial data
- API-first architecture enables custom integrations and workflows
- Active development with regular updates and community contributions
Considerations
- AGPL-3.0 license requires derivative works to be open-sourced
- Self-hosting requires Docker infrastructure and maintenance expertise
- Smaller ecosystem compared to established commercial platforms
- Documentation and support resources may be less extensive than paid alternatives
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Fit guide
Great for
- Small to medium businesses seeking cost-effective accounting software
- Organizations requiring on-premises financial data storage for compliance
- Development teams building products that need embedded accounting capabilities
- Companies wanting to avoid vendor lock-in with proprietary accounting platforms
Not ideal when
- Enterprises needing extensive third-party integrations and marketplace apps
- Teams without technical resources to manage self-hosted infrastructure
- Organizations requiring immediate phone support and SLA guarantees
- Businesses in highly regulated industries needing certified compliance features
How teams use it
E-commerce Financial Management
Track sales, expenses, and inventory in real-time with automated double-entry bookkeeping that generates accurate profit and loss statements for online retailers.
SaaS Revenue Recognition
Integrate Bigcapital's API into subscription platforms to automate revenue recording, invoice generation, and financial reporting without manual data entry.
Multi-Location Inventory Tracking
Manage stock levels across multiple warehouses while maintaining synchronized financial records that reflect true cost of goods sold and inventory valuation.
Freelance Business Operations
Self-host a complete accounting solution to manage client invoicing, expense tracking, and tax preparation without recurring software subscription costs.
Tech snapshot
TypeScript97%
SCSS2%
Shell1%
HTML1%
JavaScript1%
Dockerfile1%
Frequently asked questions
What license does Bigcapital use?
Bigcapital is licensed under AGPL-3.0, which allows free use and modification but requires any derivative works to also be open-sourced if distributed or offered as a service.
Can I use Bigcapital without self-hosting?
Yes, Bigcapital offers a managed cloud version at bigcapital.app for users who prefer not to manage their own infrastructure.
Does Bigcapital support double-entry accounting?
Yes, Bigcapital is built on double-entry accounting principles, automatically organizing transactions to generate accurate financial statements and reports.
How do I integrate Bigcapital with my existing system?
Bigcapital provides a headless API that allows you to integrate accounting functionality into your applications, with full API reference documentation available.
What deployment options are available?
You can deploy Bigcapital using Docker and Docker Compose for self-hosting, set it up locally for development, or use Gitpod for browser-based development environments.
Project at a glance
Active- Stars
- 3,463
- Watchers
- 3,463
- Forks
- 383
LicenseAGPL-3.0
Repo age4 years old
Last commit6 hours ago
Self-hostingSupported
Primary languageTypeScript
Last synced 4 hours ago