Simple billing with connected books
Dukanam, Vyapar, myBillBook and Swipe
Best starting set for a single shop that wants billing, stock, dues and reports without an ERP project.
Independent feature review · Updated 24 August 2026
Billing software in India, compared properly.
Eleven alternatives compared on public pricing, counter billing, GST, stock, purchases, accounting, offline use and growth. No invented scores and no hidden “best overall” winner.
Quick shortlist
Choose the category before the brand.
These products overlap, but they begin from different problems. A digital khata is not a retail ERP, and a full accounting system is not automatically a fast POS.
Accounting and GST depth
TallyPrime, BUSY and Zoho Books
Shortlist these when the accountant, bank reconciliation, direct filing or formal books drive the decision.
Retail and multi-store operations
Marg ERP, GOFRUGAL and Zoho POS
Start here for batches, expiry, complex promotions, specialist hardware, warehouses or multiple locations.
Udhaar before full billing
Khatabook and OkCredit
Useful when replacing the paper ledger and improving collections is the immediate job.
Public price snapshot
Compare the usable plan, not the cheapest headline.
A free ledger, one-device licence and multi-counter POS solve different jobs. Prices below preserve the vendor’s billing basis so an annual effective price is not mistaken for a monthly contract.
DukanamCloud shop software
Free Essentials: ₹0.00
Smart Books: ₹99.00/month or ₹999.00/year
Business: ₹299.00/month or ₹2,999.00/year
Simple counter work with connected stock, cash, GST preparation and books.
Official plans →VyaparSmall-business billing, inventory and accounting
Free Android plan; retail/POS plans advertised from ₹308/month when billed annually, plus GST
Promotional prices and plan names vary by device and term.Owners who want a mature mobile-and-desktop product with broad everyday business features.
Official source ↗myBillBookCloud and mobile GST billing for Indian SMBs
Diamond ₹349/month or ₹3,490/year; Platinum ₹399/month or ₹3,990/year; Enterprise from ₹570/month billed annually
Taxes and offer terms should be confirmed at checkout.Small businesses prioritising easy invoicing, mobile access, barcode inventory and an online store.
Official source ↗BUSYDesktop-first accounting and GST software
Free Express; START ₹5,000/360 days; SMART ₹8,000/360 days; POWER ₹12,000/360 days, plus GST
BUSY also lists perpetual desktop editions and higher enterprise tiers.GST-registered trading businesses that want stronger accounting, inventory and compliance depth.
Official source ↗TallyPrimeEstablished accounting and business-management software
Single-PC Silver: ₹750/month, ₹8,100/year or ₹22,500 lifetime, plus GST
Multi-user Gold costs more; connected services and renewal terms should be checked.Businesses whose accountant, staff or existing records already revolve around Tally.
Official source ↗Marg ERPVertical retail, distribution and pharmacy ERP
Listed licence prices: Nano ₹5,550; Basic ₹10,300; Silver ₹13,900; Gold ₹26,000, plus GST
Cloud access, extra users, renewals and implementation can add cost.Pharmacy, FMCG, distribution and retail businesses needing batch, expiry and scheme depth.
Official source ↗GOFRUGALRetail ERP and multi-store POS
Contact sales for a current quote
Deployment, outlets, users, modules and implementation affect the quote.Retailers with specialised inventory, procurement, loyalty or multi-outlet requirements.
Official source ↗Zoho POSCloud POS for modern retail
Free for 50 POS transactions/month; Standard ₹649/location/month billed annually; Professional ₹1,299; Premium ₹2,099, plus tax
Registers, users and storage locations have plan limits and add-on prices.Retailers wanting polished cross-platform POS and a path into the wider Zoho ecosystem.
Official source ↗SwipeSimple cloud GST invoicing and inventory
Free plan; base plan advertised at ₹250/month including tax
Feature entitlements and current checkout offers should be confirmed.Small businesses wanting fast cloud invoicing and direct GST document tools.
Official source ↗KhatabookDigital khata and collections
Core apps advertised as free; current paid-product pricing is not clearly published on the public homepage
Confirm any billing, device or service charges inside the relevant product.Merchants whose main problem is recording udhaar and collecting outstanding balances.
Official source ↗OkCreditUdhaar ledger and payment reminders
Free Basic; Unlimited Transactions ₹30/30 days; Ads Free++ ₹75/30 days; Premium ₹99/30 days
GST billing, stock and desktop access are listed under Ads Free++ and Premium benefits.Very small merchants replacing a paper credit register before adopting full billing software.
Official source ↗Zoho BooksCloud accounting and GST compliance
Free plan available; Standard ₹749/organisation/month billed annually or ₹899 monthly, plus tax
Inventory, users, warehouses and automation depth increase by tier.Service and trading businesses prioritising cloud books, banking, GST filing and automation over counter POS.
Official source ↗Prices are a dated research snapshot, not a quotation. GST, offers, renewals, hardware, implementation, add-ons, transaction limits and extra users can change the total.
Detailed capability matrix
Compare the workflow, not just the checkbox.
The matrix groups everyday billing, GST, inventory, accounting and operating controls. “Limited” means plan-dependent or narrower than the row label. “Add-on” requires another connected product. “Check” means the reviewed public material did not support a dependable claim.
Yes: Included
Limited: Limited or plan-dependent
Add-on: Available through an add-on or connected product
Planned: Announced on the product roadmap
No: Not currently offered
Check: Not confirmed in the reviewed public material
| Capability | Dukanam | Vyapar | myBillBook | BUSY | TallyPrime | Marg ERP | GOFRUGAL | Zoho POS | Swipe | Khatabook | OkCredit | Zoho Books |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public pricing · reviewed 24 August 2026 | ||||||||||||
| Advertised price | Free Essentials: ₹0.00 Smart Books: ₹99.00/month or ₹999.00/year Business: ₹299.00/month or ₹2,999.00/year | Free Android; retail from ₹308/month billed annually, plus GST ↗ | From ₹349/month or ₹3,490/year; Enterprise from ₹570/month ↗ | Free Express; paid editions from ₹5,000/360 days, plus GST ↗ | ₹750/month, ₹8,100/year or ₹22,500 lifetime, plus GST ↗ | Licence prices from ₹5,550, plus GST ↗ | Contact sales for a current quote ↗ | Free for 50 transactions; paid from ₹649/location/month annually, plus tax ↗ | Free plan; paid from ₹250/month including tax ↗ | Core apps are free; paid pricing is not clearly published ↗ | Free; paid plans ₹30 to ₹99 per 30 days ↗ | Free; Standard from ₹749/organisation/month annually, plus tax ↗ |
| Pricing conditions | Free and paid cloud plans with monthly or annual billing. Features and usage limits vary by plan. | Promotional prices and plan names vary by device and term. | Taxes and offer terms should be confirmed at checkout. | BUSY also lists perpetual desktop editions and higher enterprise tiers. | Multi-user Gold costs more; connected services and renewal terms should be checked. | Cloud access, extra users, renewals and implementation can add cost. | Deployment, outlets, users, modules and implementation affect the quote. | Registers, users and storage locations have plan limits and add-on prices. | Feature entitlements and current checkout offers should be confirmed. | Confirm any billing, device or service charges inside the relevant product. | GST billing, stock and desktop access are listed under Ads Free++ and Premium benefits. | Inventory, users, warehouses and automation depth increase by tier. |
| Billing and sales | ||||||||||||
| Counter POS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | No | Add-on |
| Barcode sales and item lookup | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Check | No | Add-on |
| GST invoices | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited | Yes |
| Quotations or estimates | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes | Limited | No | Yes |
| Recurring invoices | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Check | No | Yes |
| Sales returns or credit notes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Check | No | Yes |
| Split or multiple payment modes | Yes | Limited | Limited | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | No | No | Limited |
| Cash counter opening and closing | Yes | Limited | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | No | No | No |
| Customer payment reminders | Limited | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited | Yes | Yes | Add-on | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| GST and compliance | ||||||||||||
| Direct e-invoice, e-way or GST portal connection | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes | Check | No | Yes |
| GST reports or return preparation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes | Check | No | Yes |
| Inventory and purchasing | ||||||||||||
| Inventory tracking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited | Yes |
| Purchases and suppliers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Check | No | Yes |
| Low-stock or reorder alerts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Check | Check | Yes |
| Batch and expiry tracking | No | Limited | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Check | No | No | Yes |
| Serial-number tracking | No | Yes | Check | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Check | No | No | Yes |
| Godown or warehouse stock | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited | No | Limited |
| Accounting and control | ||||||||||||
| Structured accounting and financial reports | Yes | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Add-on | Limited | No | No | Yes |
| Customer balances and receivables | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Add-on | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Expense recording | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Add-on | Yes | Limited | No | Yes |
| Bank reconciliation | Yes | Limited | Check | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Add-on | Check | No | No | Yes |
| Audit trail or edit history | Yes | Limited | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited | Limited | Yes |
| Access and growth | ||||||||||||
| Offline billing | Planned | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Check | Yes | No |
| Native Android and iOS apps | Planned | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| iPad and Android tablet support | Planned | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited | Limited | Yes |
| Multi-location stock or stores | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited | No | Limited |
| Staff roles and permissions | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited | Yes |
| Business data export | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Limited | Yes |
| Online store or ecommerce connection | No | Limited | Yes | Add-on | Add-on | Add-on | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Add-on |
| Customer loyalty or rewards | No | Yes | Limited | Limited | Limited | Yes | Yes | Yes | Check | No | No | Add-on |
WHERE DUKANAM FITS
Simple at the counter. Proper underneath.
Dukanam’s opportunity is the space between a lightweight khata app and a dense accounting system.
It already connects barcode POS, GST-aware documents, purchases, weighted-average stock, cash sessions, payments, double-entry journals, reports, roles, audit history and business export. It should not be chosen today when offline billing, direct GST submission, multi-location retail or specialist batch and expiry controls are mandatory.
Review Dukanam’s implemented features →Product-by-product analysis
What each alternative is genuinely good at.
These are positioning summaries, not endorsements. Confirm any workflow that matters using your own items, GST profile, printer, staff roles and accountant.
00
Cloud billing and bookkeeping for small Indian shops
Dukanam
A web-first product that connects POS, invoices, purchases, stock, payments, cash control, double-entry books, GST preparation and team permissions without exposing accounting complexity during a routine sale.
See Dukanam pricing →Strongest when
- Consumer and B2B billing use progressive disclosure instead of one dense form.
- POS, stock, payments, cash movements and balanced journals post as one connected record.
- Full-business export, audit events, reversals and historical document snapshots protect ownership and traceability.
Check before choosing
- No direct GST portal filing, IRP submission or e-way submission yet.
- Native mobile and tablet apps with offline billing are planned, not currently available.
- No multi-outlet stock operation, loyalty engine or batch and expiry workflow yet.
01
Small-business billing, inventory and accounting
Vyapar
The closest overall competitor to Dukanam. Vyapar spans GST billing, inventory, POS, expenses, reports, multi-device sync, godowns and premium compliance tools.
Vyapar retail product and pricing ↗Strongest when
- Native mobile and desktop options
- Offline-capable local applications
- Broader retail hardware, loyalty and multi-godown support
Check before choosing
- Feature availability varies considerably by device and plan
- The public pricing pages show changing promotional structures
- Broader configuration can mean more setup than a focused shop workflow
02
Cloud and mobile GST billing for Indian SMBs
myBillBook
A very close usability and price competitor with web, desktop and mobile access, inventory, POS, barcode printing and higher-tier e-invoice and e-way capabilities.
myBillBook features and pricing ↗Strongest when
- Android, iOS, web and desktop access
- Published low-cost plans
- POS, godowns, barcode labels and online-store tools
Check before choosing
- POS and direct compliance sit in higher tiers
- Deeper accounting controls are less prominent than billing features
- Business and user allowances vary sharply by plan
03
Desktop-first accounting and GST software
BUSY
An accounting-first competitor with fast billing, financial statements, detailed inventory, user controls and direct compliance workflows.
BUSY plans and pricing ↗Strongest when
- Deep GST reconciliation and direct compliance tooling
- Batch, serial, warehouse and multi-unit inventory
- Strong financial reports and user controls
Check before choosing
- Desktop heritage can feel heavier for non-accountants
- Mobile access is a companion rather than the primary workflow
- Advanced capability requires configuration and the right edition
04
Established accounting and business-management software
TallyPrime
The trust and ecosystem benchmark in Indian accounting, with offline operation, POS billing, inventory, banking, GST and extensive reports.
TallyPrime official pricing ↗Strongest when
- Large accountant and implementation ecosystem
- Works fully offline
- Deep accounting, inventory, compliance and audit capability
Check before choosing
- A voucher-led mental model can be demanding for first-time shop owners
- Single-PC and multi-user licences differ substantially
- Transactional mobile experience is not its primary strength
05
Vertical retail, distribution and pharmacy ERP
Marg ERP
A retail-specialist competitor with touchscreen POS, accounting, direct GST workflows, connected banking, reordering, batch and expiry controls and extensive reports.
Marg ERP product and licence prices ↗Strongest when
- Strong vertical workflows for pharmacy, FMCG and distribution
- Deep stock, expiry, scheme and reorder controls
- Wide implementation and support footprint
Check before choosing
- Pricing has licence, renewal, cloud and add-user components
- The broad ERP surface can require training
- Cloud access is an additional commercial layer
06
Retail ERP and multi-store POS
GOFRUGAL
A retail-operations benchmark covering fast billing, offline POS, integrated accounts, GST, procurement, loyalty, warehouses and central multi-store control.
GOFRUGAL retail product ↗Strongest when
- Strong category-specific retail workflows
- Offline POS with hardware and mobile options
- Multi-outlet pricing, stock transfer and replenishment
Check before choosing
- No simple public price makes early comparison harder
- Implementation scope can exceed what a single small shop needs
- Greater operational depth brings more setup and training
07
Cloud POS for modern retail
Zoho POS
A cloud retail competitor with offline billing apps, barcode and printer support, inventory, purchases, multi-location operation, online orders and higher-tier cash sessions.
Zoho POS official pricing ↗Strongest when
- Windows, macOS, Android and iOS billing apps
- Clear per-location public pricing
- Multi-location, marketplace and automation path
Check before choosing
- Full accounting relies on connection with Zoho Books
- Cash sessions begin in the Professional tier
- Per-location, register and user charges matter as a shop grows
08
Simple cloud GST invoicing and inventory
Swipe
A lightweight billing competitor with invoices, POS, inventory, purchases, payment reminders, e-invoices and e-way bills across mobile and desktop.
Swipe product and pricing comparison ↗Strongest when
- Low entry price and free plan
- Direct e-invoice and e-way tooling
- Mobile, web and broad document coverage
Check before choosing
- Accounting depth is lighter than accounting-first products
- Offline capability is limited
- Its own comparison page mixes product claims and competitor estimates, so checkout verification matters
09
Digital khata and collections
Khatabook
A substitute more than a full operational match. Its strongest public proposition is simple digital ledgers, reminders and mobile access, with invoices and inventory also advertised.
Khatabook official product page ↗Strongest when
- Very low-friction digital ledger
- Strong consumer awareness among Indian merchants
- Reminders and collections are central to the experience
Check before choosing
- Not positioned as a complete accounting and retail-control system
- Public feature and price detail is limited
- Advanced purchase, cash-control and financial-reporting depth is not prominent
10
Udhaar ledger and payment reminders
OkCredit
The simplicity benchmark for customer credit, automatic reminders, UPI collection, statements and regional-language access.
OkCredit official plans ↗Strongest when
- Extremely low price
- Focused udhaar and collection workflow
- Eleven languages, mobile access and offline ledger use
Check before choosing
- Not a full POS, purchase or accounting system
- GST bills and stock are premium extensions to a ledger product
- No deep financial or retail operations control
11
Cloud accounting and GST compliance
Zoho Books
A strong cloud-accounting competitor with invoicing, purchases, bank reconciliation, GST filing, financial statements, portals and automation.
Zoho Books official pricing ↗Strongest when
- Mature cloud accounting and bank reconciliation
- Direct GST filing and e-invoice workflows
- Strong automation and wider Zoho ecosystem
Check before choosing
- Retail counter billing requires Zoho POS or another connected product
- Advanced inventory and workflow features move up tiers
- The combined Zoho stack can cost more and feel more complex
Methodology
Public evidence, dated and qualified.
Sources. Vendor-owned product, feature, help and pricing pages were reviewed on 24 August 2026. Each competitor row links to the relevant official source. Public marketing claims were not treated as independent performance proof.
Prices. We preserve whether a number is monthly, annual-effective, per location, per licence or a one-time listing. “Contact sales” is used when a dependable public price was not available. Taxes and implementation costs are not normalised into a fictional single monthly figure.
Features. Included means the vendor publicly documents the capability. Limited means it is narrower, plan-dependent or not the primary workflow. Add-on means a connected product is required. Check means the reviewed material did not support a confident claim.
Dukanam disclosure. Dukanam’s entries are checked against the implemented application and its documented product boundaries. This comparison is published by Dukanam, so readers should verify the final shortlist directly with every vendor.
Frequently asked questions
Before you move real billing.
Which billing software is best for a small shop in India?
The best fit depends on counter speed, GST status, item count, staff access, offline needs and accounting depth. Dukanam, Vyapar and myBillBook target simpler small-business workflows. BUSY and TallyPrime favour accounting depth. Marg, GOFRUGAL and Zoho POS fit more specialised or multi-location retail.
Which options have a free plan?
Dukanam, Vyapar mobile, BUSY Express, Swipe, Khatabook, OkCredit, Zoho POS and Zoho Books advertise a free plan or free core product. Limits differ, so compare invoices, items, users, devices and GST capabilities before relying on the word free.
Does Dukanam file GST returns directly?
No. Dukanam prepares GST-aware invoices, a GSTR-1 register, staged GSTR-2B matching and an e-way payload preview. It does not currently claim direct GST portal filing, IRP submission or e-way submission.
What should a retail shop test before switching software?
Complete a barcode sale, a return, a credit sale, a supplier purchase, a split payment and a cash close. Then verify stock, customer balance, tax and profit reports, data export, staff restrictions and what happens when the internet is unavailable.
Are these prices guaranteed?
No. Prices are public snapshots reviewed on 24 August 2026. Vendors can change taxes, offers, plan names, device limits, renewal charges and implementation fees. Follow the official pricing link and confirm the checkout total before buying.