Accounting software helps businesses manage their financial records, including sales, purchases, inventory, payroll, taxes, and more. One of the most popular accounting software in India is Tally. It is widely used by small to medium-sized businesses and professionals.
But as the accounting software market is growing, various better accounting software have emerged which are easy to use, and get at a cheaper price. Therefore, in this blog, we will look into accounting software other than tally which you can use to grow your business.
What is Tally?
Tally is a well-known accounting software mainly used in India. It’s best for small and medium businesses, accountants, and finance professionals. The latest version is Tally Prime that is more user-friendly and powerful than the older versions. It is a great accounting software which helps you to save your time and reduce errors.
Best for:
- Small and medium-sized businesses.
- Chartered accountants and finance professionals.
- GST and inventory-based businesses.
Key Features of Tally
- Accounting & Invoicing: Tally helps you to create easy bookkeeping and bill generation.
- GST Compliance: Tally has automatically built-in GST features for billing and returns.
- Inventory Management: It helps in tracking stock, reorder levels, and item details.
- Payroll Management: Tally also in managing employee salaries and deductions.
- Multi-user access: Different users can access the software based on their roles, and different locations.
Problems with Tally
1. Not Very User-Friendly for Beginners
Tally can feel difficult for people who are new to accounting or software. The interface is not very modern, and it takes time to understand the commands.
2. Mostly Desktop-Based
Tally works mainly on desktop computers. If you want to access it from your phone or from outside the office, it’s not that easy.
3. Limited Automation
Some tasks like sending automatic reminders for payments or bank syncing are not as advanced or automatic as other modern software.
4. Basic Reporting Design
Though Tally gives detailed reports, the look and design of these reports are not very attractive or customizable.
5. No Free Version
Tally does not offer a free version. You must buy a license even if you are a small business.
5 Alternatives of Tally Accounting Software
Here are 5 popular alternatives to Tally that also offer strong accounting features:
1. Zoho Books
Zoho Books is an Indian-made accounting software. It’s designed keeping Indian GST laws in mind, which makes it super easy if your business.
Pros:
- Very affordable compared to others.
- Excellent GST support and filing features.
- Easy to integrate with other Zoho apps.
Cons:
- Some users say customer support can be slow.
- Fewer features for large businesses.
2. QuickBooks
QuickBooks Online is a very popular cloud accounting software. It’s simple to use and perfect for small businesses. You can manage invoices, track expenses, and see all your financial reports easily on your phone or laptop.
Pros:
- Very user-friendly and clean design.
- Great for creating invoices and tracking payments.
- Helps with GST filing and bank connections.
Cons:
- Can get a little expensive if you need advanced features.
- Some features take time to understand if you are new.
3. Busy Accounting Software
Busy is a popular accounting software made in India, mainly used by retailers, wholesalers, and distributors. It helps manage accounting, inventory, billing, GST, and more. It is known for its affordability and strong reporting features, especially for small and medium-sized businesses.
Pros:
- Affordable and built for Indian businesses.
- Strong inventory and GST features.
- Works well for traders and wholesalers.
Cons:
- The design feels a bit old-fashioned.
- Mobile access and cloud features are limited.
4. Marg ERP
Marg ERP is another Indian software made especially for retail, pharma, and distribution businesses. It is known for its detailed billing, inventory, and barcode scanning features. It also supports GST and e-invoicing for compliance.
Pros:
- Too many features can be confusing for new users.
- Supports barcodes, GST, and e-invoicing.
- Helps manage inventory, sales, and purchases in detail.
Cons:
- Interface is not very beginner-friendly.
- Too many features can be confusing for new users.
5. Wave Accounting
Wave accounting is a free accounting tool perfect for startups and small businesses. It simplifies invoicing, expense tracking, and reporting.
Pros:
- Wave offers advanced features.
- The interface is very straightforward and simple.
Cons:
- Lacks features like inventory management, payroll, or project tracking.
- It doesn’t support Indian tax rules like GST.
- Free users get only basic support.
Conclusion
Tally is a reliable and powerful software that works well for many Indian businesses, especially for those who need GST compliance and inventory tracking, etc. However, depending on your business size, budget, and needs, there are several good alternatives like Zoho Books, QuickBooks, Marg ERP, Busy, and Wave Accounting.
Each has its own strengths, so it’s important to choose what fits your business the best and what fulfils your requirements and also do the comparison by checking their features, price and other methods.
FAQs
1. What is the price of Tally?
Tally Prime starts at around ₹600/month (single user) and goes up for multi-user licenses.
2. Is Tally suitable for beginners?
Yes, Tally Prime is user-friendly and many beginners find it easy to learn with some basic training.
3. Can I use Tally on my phone?
Tally itself is desktop-based, but you can view reports on mobile using Tally’s browser access feature.
4. Which Tally alternative is best for GST filing?
Zoho Books is a good alternative with built-in GST filing and auto calculation features.
5. Does QuickBooks work in India?
QuickBooks stopped operations in India in 2023, but Indian users can still use international versions with limited support.
6. Can I migrate from Tally to another software?
Yes, most modern accounting software allow data import from Tally in Excel or XML format.
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