Free desktop accounting software with cloud and server editions available.
Manager.io is a accounting & finance platform founded in 2010 with a hiltonsoftware Score of 70/100. Manager.io pricing starts at $49/yr (cloud)/month with a free plan available. Manager.io serves 200K+ users and competes with QuickBooks Online, Xero, and FreshBooks in the accounting & finance market. Key Manager.io features include Double-entry accounting, Invoicing, and Inventory. hiltonsoftware.co rates Manager.io 4.3/5 based on user ratings (40%), feature depth (25%), value for money (20%), market presence (10%), and growth trajectory (5%).
Small businesses wanting free desktop accounting with optional cloud upgrade.
Complete pricing breakdown for all Manager.io plans. Updated March 2026.
Side-by-side pricing and feature comparison of the top Git hosting platforms.
| Feature | Manager.io | QuickBooks | Wave | Xero | FreshBooks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | ✅ Full Desktop | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Starting Price | Free | $30/mo | Free | $15/mo | $17/mo |
| Invoicing | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Inventory | ✅ | ✅ Plus plan | ❌ | ✅ Add-on | ❌ |
| Payroll | ✅ Built-in | ✅ Add-on $45/mo | ❌ | ✅ Add-on | ❌ |
| Multi-currency | ✅ | ❌ US only | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bank Feeds | Manual import | ✅ Auto | ✅ Auto | ✅ Auto | ✅ Auto |
| CRM | ✅ Built-in | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Self-hosted Option | ✅ Server Edition | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Open API | ✅ | ✅ | Limited | ✅ | ✅ |
Yes, the Desktop Edition is completely free with no limits on transactions, users, or features. You can use it indefinitely without paying anything. The Cloud Edition costs $49/month for hosted access, and the Server Edition is a one-time $499 purchase for self-hosting.
Manager.io is better for budget-conscious businesses since its desktop version is free. QuickBooks offers better bank feed automation and a larger ecosystem of integrations. QuickBooks is subscription-only ($30+/mo) while Manager.io has a free desktop option and a one-time server purchase.
The Desktop Edition runs locally on your computer and is completely free. The Cloud Edition ($49/mo) is hosted by Manager.io — access from any browser, automatic backups, and no installation needed. Both have identical accounting features.
Yes. The Desktop Edition stores data locally on your computer. The Cloud Edition uses SSL encryption and automatic backups. The Server Edition lets you host on your own infrastructure for maximum control. Manager.io has been in active development since 2010 with a strong track record.
Top alternatives include Wave (free, cloud-based), QuickBooks (industry standard, $30+/mo), Xero (cloud accounting, $15+/mo), and FreshBooks (invoicing-focused, $17+/mo). Manager.io stands out with its free desktop edition and self-hosted server option.
Reviewed by Elena Kowalski, Security & Enterprise Editor. Last updated: March 2026. Pricing verified. Methodology