Comparison
InvoiceScript
vs Akaunting.
Focused invoicing tool vs full accounting platform.
One-time purchase vs freemium with paid modules.
InvoiceScript
Self-hosted invoicing tool. PDF invoices with EPC payment QR codes, automated reminders, recurring invoices, credit notes, and UBL XML export. One-time purchase. All features included. Invoicing only, not accounting.
Akaunting
Open-source accounting platform built on Laravel. Invoicing, expenses, double-entry accounting, bank connections, and a paid app marketplace. Free core with paid modules for advanced features. Also available as a hosted SaaS.
Features
Feature by feature.
| Feature | InvoiceScript | Akaunting |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | One-time purchase, all features | Free core + paid modules ($50-$200 each) |
| Scope | Invoicing only | Full accounting + invoicing |
| Source code | Full PHP source, modify freely | Open-source (GPL-3.0) |
| Hosting | Self-hosted only | Self-hosted or hosted SaaS |
| PDF invoices | Three branded templates | Customizable templates |
| Payment QR codes | EPC QR on every EUR invoice | Not built-in |
| Automated reminders | Configurable schedules, per-customer overrides | Available (paid module) |
| Recurring invoices | Built-in with auto-generation | Built-in |
| Quotes / estimates | Full workflow with customer approval | Estimates (paid module) |
| Credit notes | Linked to original invoice | Credit notes available |
| E-invoicing (UBL) | UBL 2.1 XML export | Not available |
| Double-entry accounting | Not available (invoicing only) | Built-in chart of accounts |
| Expense tracking | Not available | Built-in with categories |
| Bank connections | Not available | Bank feeds via Plaid (paid) |
| Data ownership | Your server, your database | Self-hosted: yours / Cloud: their servers |
| Multi-user roles | Owner, admin, accountant, employee | Role-based permissions |
| Shared hosting | PHP + SQLite or MySQL, no Redis | Requires PHP, MySQL, queue workers |
| Multi-company | Single-tenant (one business per install) | Multi-company support |
Their strengths
Where Akaunting wins.
Full accounting suite
Akaunting includes double-entry accounting with a chart of accounts, journal entries, profit and loss reports, and balance sheets. InvoiceScript focuses on invoicing and does not replace accounting software.
Expense tracking and bank feeds
Akaunting tracks expenses, supports bank connections via Plaid, and can categorize transactions. InvoiceScript does not track business expenses or connect to bank accounts.
Multi-company support
Akaunting can manage multiple companies from a single installation. InvoiceScript is single-tenant by design: one installation serves one business.
Free to start
Akaunting's core is free and open-source. You can run basic invoicing and accounting without paying anything. Advanced features require paid modules, but the entry cost is zero.
Our strengths
Where InvoiceScript wins.
EPC payment QR codes
Every EUR invoice includes an EPC QR code. The customer scans with their bank app and gets a pre-filled SEPA transfer. No payment processor, no fees, no paid module required. Akaunting does not offer payment QR codes.
All features included, one price
InvoiceScript is a single purchase with every feature included. No paid modules, no per-feature pricing. Akaunting's paid modules can add up: estimates, reminders, inventory, and payment gateways are each separate purchases.
E-invoicing compliance
UBL 2.1 XML export for every finalized invoice. EN 16931 compatible data mapping. Akaunting does not currently support structured e-invoicing formats.
Shared hosting compatible
InvoiceScript runs on PHP and SQLite or MySQL. No Redis, no queue workers, no Node.js. Deploy on any cPanel shared hosting. Akaunting has heavier server requirements for its full feature set.
Summary
The verdict.
Choose Akaunting if you need a full accounting platform with double-entry bookkeeping, expense tracking, bank feeds, and multi-company management. Akaunting covers more ground, though many features require paid modules.
Choose InvoiceScript if you want a focused invoicing tool with EU features (EPC QR codes, UBL XML export, multi-rate VAT), all features in one purchase, shared hosting compatibility, and a simpler product that does invoicing well without the overhead of a full accounting suite.
Get started
Own your invoicing.
One-time purchase. Self-hosted. Full source code. Your data, your server.