Open-source BILL alternatives

Odoo is a bundle of browser-based, open-source business applications. Apps cover sales (CRM and eCommerce), a website builder, inventory and manufacturing, projects, invoicing and accounting, point of sale, human resources and marketing. It is written in Python, and GitHub lists the license as 'Other', so check the repository for the exact terms.

Each app can be used as a stand-alone application, but they are designed to work together, so installing several apps gives you a full-featured ERP system. This lets a business start with a single function, such as sales or invoicing, and add modules as its needs grow without changing platforms.

The README points to setup instructions for a standard installation, an eLearning course and a business game called Scale-up for learning the software, and developer tutorials for extending it. Odoo can be run on your own infrastructure, and the vendor's website offers commercial services. It suits small and mid-sized companies looking for an integrated business suite.

This entry points to ERPNext, the open-source enterprise resource planning system developed in the frappe/erpnext repository on top of the Frappe framework. It aims to replace the patchwork of separate programs a business often uses for invoices, stock, personnel and daily operations with a single integrated product.

Its modules include accounting for cash flow, transactions and financial reports; order management for inventory levels, replenishment, sales orders, customers, suppliers and shipments; manufacturing for production cycles, material consumption, capacity planning and subcontracting; asset management from purchase to disposal; and project delivery. Topics also list HR, CRM, procurement, retail, distribution, healthcare and support functions. It is written in Python, and a live demo is available.

ERPNext is GPL-3.0 licensed and can be self-hosted. The Frappe team also offers managed hosting, which suits companies that want the software without running servers. It is aimed at small and mid-size organizations that want an alternative to proprietary ERP suites.

Akaunting is an accounting application delivered over the web and aimed at small businesses and freelancers. It is built with Laravel, Vue, Tailwind and a RESTful API, and its modular structure supports an app store where users and developers can extend the core product with additional features.

The topics show its scope: invoicing, billing, payments, expenses, budgets, bookkeeping and balances, with further hints at payroll, CRM and ERP use. It installs with Composer and npm, needs PHP 8.1 or higher and Node.js 18 or 20, and works with MariaDB, MySQL, PostgreSQL or SQLite behind Apache, Nginx or IIS. An optional command seeds sample data for trying it.

The project offers a forum for support, documentation, a developer portal and the app store. The repository lists the license as Other, so check the licence file for terms. Because it is PHP and Laravel based, it suits teams that want to run and customize their own accounting system on a standard web hosting stack.

Invoice Ninja is a source-available application for invoices, quotes, projects and time tracking, built with Laravel and Flutter. Freelancers and small businesses use it to bill clients, record expenses and tasks, and take payments. Topics in the repository include expenses, kanban task boards and electronic invoicing.

Two setups are offered. The hosted version is a software-as-a-service product that is ready in minutes with no server to manage, while the self-hosted version gives full control over hosting and infrastructure. According to the README, all Pro and Enterprise features of the hosted app are included in the source code, and self-hosted installs work with the desktop and mobile apps.

Apps exist for iPhone, Android, F-Droid, macOS, Windows and Linux via Snap or Flatpak. Self-hosted options include a server or VM, Docker, Cloudron, Softaculous, Elestio and YunoHost, with Stripe and Postmark suggested as providers. A Go SDK and an API are available. The license is listed as a custom source-available one, with a white-label license for removing branding.

Dolibarr is an open-source ERP and CRM package for managing an organization's activity: contacts, suppliers, quotes, invoices, orders, stock, agenda, accounting, human resources, document management and manufacturing. It targets small, medium and large companies, foundations and freelancers.

It is a PHP web application with JavaScript enhancements, released under the GPL, version 3 or later, and can be used as a standalone application or as a web app reached over the internet or a LAN. Installation options include DoliWamp for Windows, DoliDeb for Debian and Ubuntu, DoliRpm for Red Hat family distributions, a Docker image, or a manual setup on Apache or Nginx with MariaDB, MySQL or PostgreSQL.

The project has a large community with free forums, and preferred partners offer commercial support if needed. Because it is modular, organizations switch on only the features they need. It suits small businesses and associations that want an integrated business suite they can host themselves.

Bigcapital is accounting and inventory software for small and medium businesses. It aims to keep business finances in one place and automate accounting processes, producing financial statements and reports to support decisions. The project is positioned as an independent alternative to QuickBooks, Xero and Wave.

Repository topics cover double-entry accounting, invoicing, bills, expenses, payments and inventory management. The README describes multiple ways to get started: use Bigcapital Cloud, or self-host the open-source edition on your own servers with Docker. It is written in TypeScript and gives teams the ability to inspect and adapt the code.

Bigcapital is available under the AGPL license for self-hosting, while the vendor runs the managed cloud version. It suits freelancers, small companies and bookkeepers who want accounting control without per-user subscriptions to a closed platform.