THE QBD ALTERNATIVE YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR
LiveBooks is an open source desktop app for Windows and Mac with familiar double-entry bookkeeping. The desktop app is free forever. Optional LiveBooks Pro adds cloud convenience: automated bank feeds, and priority support. Your company file stays yours: no lock-in.
QB DESKTOP IS EXPENSIVE, OUTDATED, AND PUSHING YOU TO THE ONLINE ONLY
QuickBooks Desktop costs $2,210–$5,364/year, looks like it's from 2005, and Intuit keeps pushing you toward online only. There should be a modern, free alternative.
What's broken
- QB Desktop pricing has 4x'd since 2020 — now $2,210–$5,364/year
- The application itself hasn't been meaningfully updated in over a decade
- Intuit is sunsetting perpetual licenses and forcing cloud subscriptions
- Proprietary "Cloud-Only" models mean you never actually own your financial data.
- Free alternatives like GnuCash are powerful but look like 1998
From QB sticker shock to LiveBooks
Illustrative annual desktop license costs (2020 vs 2026) and LiveBooks—figures are representative, not a quote.
Free forever
Offline invoicing, P&L, and ledgers. Community-owned software you can keep running.
~$19/mo
Multi-device sync and automations (e.g. bank feeds) — optional; your desktop books stay local-first.
Quick migration
Bring over lists and opening balances from QuickBooks CSV — pick up where you left off without a drawn-out cutover.
GnuCash Engine + Modern Desktop UI
LiveBooks wraps the battle-tested GnuCash engine in a fast, modern desktop shell—built for daily bookkeeping and accountant handoff.
- 100% local desktop (GPLv3): your company data stays on your machine for the work you do offline.
- Pro cloud optional: unlock sync and automations without us selling your ledger—see cloud privacy.
- Built for bookkeeping: double-entry ledgers, reversals, voids, and reports you can stand behind in a review.
Get started in minutes
- Download the free Win/Mac desktop app
- Create a company file or import your chart of accounts, customers, and vendors from QuickBooks CSV
- Enter transactions, reconcile accounts by uploading bank CSV/OFX/QFX statements
- Review balances and reports — export for your accountant anytime
Built for Solo Operators
Enter your email once. We open a confirmation with the Windows and Mac installer link immediately — no spam,
Download free desktop
Who it is for
- Solo owners who want to stay offline
- Freelancers who need simple invoicing and expenses
- Small shops with 1–5 users, not simultaneous
- Accountant handoff via CSV, XML, or full reports
Free Open Source Desktop App. Pro cloud when you want more.
The desktop app is free forever. LiveBooks Pro is an optional paid tier (~$19/mo) with cloud sync, automated bank feeds, and priority support.
- Full double-entry accounting with a modern, clean interface
- Import chart of accounts, customers, vendors, employees & products from QuickBooks CSV
- Bank reconciliation from your bank's website (no bank login required in the app)
- Invoices, bills, and payments
- Customers, vendors, and employees
- P&L, Balance Sheet, and Trial Balance reports
- We keep building LiveBooks Desktop — expect more free capabilities over time, including products & services, budgets, jobs, and more.
Same open-source desktop app as the free tier.
Included with Pro
- Automated bank feeds (Plaid)
- Priority support
Coming soon in Pro
- Cloud backup for your company file
- Cloud activity audit trail (history for you and support)
- Multi-device sync
COMMON QUESTIONS
Is the desktop really free?
Yes. The desktop app is licensed under the GNU General Public License (GPLv3)—free to run and modify, with no subscription to use the desktop app on your machine. LiveBooks Pro (~$19/mo) is optional cloud convenience (sync, bank feeds, priority support). Stay on the free desktop forever or upgrade anytime.
Why GPLv3 open source?
GPLv3 reduces lock-in: you can keep using and auditing the desktop stack, and the community can improve it. We monetize optional Mencarii-hosted cloud services (billing, Plaid, sync)—not by holding your ledger hostage. Installers for releases are shared in the post-signup confirmation on this site; see desktop notice and cloud privacy for how desktop and cloud differ.
Will the free app keep growing after v1?
Yes. v1 is our first release, not the finish line. We will keep developing LiveBooks Desktop so future updates unlock more bookkeeping and reporting features in the free app — still no subscription required for the desktop app experience.
Is it Win/Mac only?
Yes. It is native on Windows and Mac. Linux is planned later.
Can I import from QuickBooks?
Yes — your structure and contacts. LiveBooks imports your chart of accounts, customers, vendors, employees, and products/services from QuickBooks Desktop or Online CSV exports, plus opening balances. You start fresh books with your existing setup carried over. Transaction history import is not planned for launch — QBD/QBO transaction exports are notoriously inconsistent, and we'd rather give you a clean start than a broken import.
Can multiple people use the same books?
We're exploring multi-user and team access for a future release. At launch, LiveBooks is built for solo owners and their accountants.
Do I have to pay monthly?
No. The desktop app is yours for free — forever, including bank reconciliation from downloaded CSV/OFX/QFX statements. LiveBooks Pro ($19/mo) adds an automated bank connection and priority support and stays optional. Cloud backup and a cloud activity audit trail in Pro are coming soon.
Do I have to connect my bank to reconcile?
No. The free app supports manual bank reconciliation: download a CSV, OFX, or QFX statement from your bank's website, upload it into LiveBooks, match the lines to your ledger, and finalize. No bank login is required for that path — you never enter credentials for manual imports. LiveBooks Pro adds automatic downloads via Plaid; linking happens through Plaid and Mencarii-hosted services, as described in cloud privacy.