Free Pre-Accounting Software

If you've searched for "free cloud accounting software" and tried the first five results, you already know the drill. You sign up, the interface looks great, and then you try to issue an invoice only to get a pop-up saying that feature is only available in the paid plan.

Free plans are generally promotional tools. The issue isn't that they're free, but rather that you can't see where the limits lie until after you sign up. In this article, we first cover what you should look for, and then break down exactly what is included in Qolay.App's free plan, right down to the exact limits.

The four most common limitations in free plans

Ask these four questions before trying any software. If the answers aren't on the pricing page, that fact alone speaks volumes.

• Is e-Invoice included? This is the most common restriction. Basic accounting is free, but e-document dispatch is sold as a separate package.
• How many users can I add? A plan limited to a single user falls apart the moment a second person steps into the office.
• Can I manage multiple companies? This is a dealbreaker for anyone running two businesses or keeping books for clients.
• What determines the limit? Invoice volume, number of records, storage, users... Knowing which one it is helps you calculate when you're going to hit that wall.

What's included in the Qolay.App free plan?

The short answer: all of it. There are no locked modules in the free plan. The restriction isn't on features, but on volume.

500 invoices a year means an average of 40 invoices a month. That's more than enough for a small service business or a newly launched e-commerce venture. If you're issuing 5-10 invoices a day, you'll reach the limit mid-year; that's when you'll need to upgrade to the Standard plan.

Which plan should you choose?

There are three tiers, and your choice really boils down to a single question: how many invoices do you issue per year?

• Invoices Only: You aren't keeping accounting books, you just need to issue sales e-invoices. Contacts, inventory, and cash & bank are not included in this tier.
• Basic (free): All features up to 500 invoices per year. The starting point for most small businesses.
• Standard: No invoice limits, 10 GB storage space. Ideal for businesses with high invoice volumes or heavy document storage needs.

Check out the pricing page for current rates, as they may vary during promotional periods.

What actually works on the free plan

When a feature list is too long, it's easy to lose track of what's actually useful. Here are the areas you'll touch most during daily use:

e-Invoice and e-Archive

Once you issue an invoice, the system automatically determines whether it should be sent as an e-invoice or an e-archive based on whether the recipient is an e-invoice taxpayer. If you're curious about the difference, we broke it down in detail in our e-invoice vs. e-archive comparison.

Current accounts (Contacts)

Every invoice and collection is automatically reflected in the respective customer's balance. You can view overdue receivables in a separate report — our guide on managing overdue receivables is a practical starting point for this.

Cash and bank

Cash, bank, credit card, and virtual POS accounts are tracked separately, and you can easily transfer funds between them. Check out the bank and cash management guide for setup instructions.

Mobile

Everything available on the web can also be accessed from your phone using the same account. If you need to issue invoices while on the field, our article on issuing e-invoices on mobile walks you through the workflow.

Multi-company

If you have two companies, you can manage both from the same account by switching via the top menu. Your data stays completely separate. Read more in our multi-company management article.

What to do on day one

Instead of opening the app and browsing every menu, follow this sequence to get up and running in half an hour:

1. Open an account and enter your company details. Make sure to enter your tax ID and tax office correctly — e-invoices are processed using this information.
2. Set up your cash and bank accounts and enter today's balances.
3. Add your 5-10 most frequent customers as contacts. You can add the rest as you issue invoices.
4. Define the products or services you sell as items/cards.
5. Issue a test invoice. This lets you see the printout and the e-document flow firsthand.

Frequently asked questions

Is the free plan a trial period or is it indefinite?

It's indefinite. It's not a trial that expires after 30 days; you can keep using it as long as you stay within the annual limit of 500 invoices.

What happens to my data if I use up the 500 invoices?

Your data stays right where it is. Once you reach the limit, you'll need to upgrade to the Standard plan to issue new invoices; your access to existing records remains fully intact.

I have no accounting background; can I still use it?

Yes, the software was designed with this assumption in mind. Even so, grasping basic concepts makes things easier — our basic accounting guide for non-accountants was created specifically for this purpose.

Do I need a separate integrator agreement for e-Invoices?

If you are an e-invoice taxpayer, you send invoices through an integrator; Qolay.App lets you establish this connection directly in the settings section. Be sure to clarify your taxpayer status with your financial advisor.

What to look for in a free software isn't a long feature list, but knowing upfront where the limits are. If you know your volume, picking the right plan is easy.

Open a free account and issue your first invoice; you can track how close you are to your limits directly inside the app.