The best Khatabook alternative in 2026: GST invoices and real books, not just a digital ledger
Is 399Apps a good Khatabook alternative? Yes — when you've outgrown a digital ledger. Khatabook is a popular free bahi-khata app for recording credit/debit entries and chasing payments, but it isn't GST accounting software. 399Apps (Nidhi Books) is the upgrade: GST invoices, GSTR-ready books, inventory and full accounting from ₹399/month with unlimited users. We're honest about it — Khatabook is free; our edge is capability, not a cheaper ledger.
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What is a "Khatabook alternative"?
A Khatabook alternative is software a business moves to when a free digital ledger (bahi-khata) app is no longer enough — typically because you now need to raise GST-compliant invoices, keep returns-ready books (GSTR-1/3B), track inventory, or give a team and an accountant access to the same records. Khatabook (by Khatabook/OkCredit-style apps) is excellent for recording who owes you money and sending payment reminders; the common upgrades are full GST accounting tools like 399Apps (Nidhi Books) and Zoho Books, or billing apps like Vyapar.
Who looks for one? Shops and traders who've started issuing GST bills, businesses that need to file returns from their records, and owners who've grown past a personal ledger into real accounting, inventory and multi-user books.
399Apps vs Khatabook — at a glance
| 399Apps | Khatabook | |
|---|---|---|
| Core focus | Full GST accounting + billing + inventory | Digital ledger (bahi-khata) + payment collection |
| GST invoicing | GST-native invoices (HSN/SAC, CGST/SGST/IGST) | Basic bills; not full GST accounting |
| Returns-ready books | GSTR-1 / GSTR-3B-ready exports | No GST returns workflow |
| Accounting depth | Ledgers, P&L, balance sheet, reports | Transaction ledger only |
| Inventory | Yes — stock, items, low-stock alerts | No real inventory management |
| Deployment | Cloud (web) + mobile, multi-device sync | Mobile-first app |
| Users | Unlimited users included — no per-seat fee | Add staff/operators in-app |
| Pricing | From ₹399/mo — first app, unlimited users; +₹99/mo per add-on; prices exclude GST | Free core ledger app |
| Best for | Businesses needing GST invoices, returns & inventory | Tracking dues & collecting payments |
Khatabook is a free digital-ledger app focused on recording transactions and collecting payments (India, verified June 2026). 399Apps Cloud plan: from ₹399/mo for your first app, unlimited users; +₹99/mo per additional app/add-on; prices exclude GST.
Honest note on price: Khatabook's core ledger app is free, and 399Apps is paid (from ₹399/month, prices exclude GST). We're not trying to undercut a free app — the trade is capability. If all you need is to track who owes you and send reminders, stay on Khatabook. The moment you're raising GST invoices, filing returns and managing stock, you need accounting software, and that's where 399Apps earns its price.
Why businesses move from Khatabook to 399Apps
- You've started raising GST invoices. A bahi-khata records dues; it doesn't produce compliant tax invoices. 399Apps gives you GST-native invoices (HSN/SAC, CGST/SGST/IGST, place of supply) out of the box.
- You need returns-ready books. When it's time to file GSTR-1/3B, you need your sales and purchases in accounting form. 399Apps keeps GSTR-ready exports so filing isn't a manual rebuild.
- You're managing stock. 399Apps adds real inventory — items, stock levels and low-stock alerts — which a ledger app doesn't do.
- You want real accounting, not just a ledger. Ledgers, P&L and balance sheet give you the financial view a digital khata can't, with unlimited team access included.
GST & India advantage
Both are India-first tools for small businesses. Where Khatabook is a free ledger, 399Apps is the GST accounting layer you grow into:
- GST-compliant invoices (HSN/SAC, CGST/SGST/IGST, place of supply).
- GSTR-1 / GSTR-3B-ready exports.
- E-invoice & e-way bill support above thresholds.
- Inventory and stock management with low-stock alerts.
- Full accounting — ledgers and financial statements, not just a transaction list.
- Unlimited users included — staff and your accountant in the same cloud books, no per-seat fee.
How to migrate from Khatabook to 399Apps
- Export from Khatabook — your parties (customers & suppliers) and transaction history (Khatabook lets you download reports/statements; use Excel/CSV for import).
- Note opening balances — who owes you and whom you owe, as of your switch date.
- Import into 399Apps — parties and opening balances via CSV/Excel, with guided support available for larger datasets (assisted, not one-click).
- Set GST settings (GSTIN, tax rates, place of supply) and raise a test GST invoice.
- Add items/stock if you're managing inventory, and add your team (unlimited, included).
- Go live in 399Apps; keep Khatabook for a cycle to cross-check outstanding balances before retiring it.
Tip: keep Khatabook open for a billing cycle or two after you switch, so you can reconcile outstanding dues against your old khata before moving fully to 399Apps.
When Khatabook might still be the better fit
Stay on Khatabook if your need is simply tracking credit/debit with customers and sending payment reminders — its free ledger app is hard to beat for that narrow job, and you may not need GST invoicing or accounting yet. Choose 399Apps when you've started issuing GST invoices, need returns-ready books and inventory, and want real accounting with unlimited users at a flat price as you grow.
Khatabook alternative — frequently asked questions
Is 399Apps a good Khatabook alternative? +
Is Khatabook free, and is 399Apps worth paying for? +
Does Khatabook have GST invoicing and full accounting? +
What is the best Khatabook alternative in India for GST billing? +
Can I move my Khatabook data to 399Apps? +
Does 399Apps support GST returns and inventory like a proper accounting tool? +
Upgrade from a free ledger to real GST books
GST invoices, returns-ready accounting and inventory with unlimited users. From ₹399/month for your first app (prices exclude GST).