What accounting software really costs in India
Two products with the same sticker price can cost wildly different amounts by year three. The difference is never on the pricing page's headline — it is in the licence model, the per-user maths, and the line items that appear after you have signed. Here is how to read an accounting software price like an accountant.
The three pricing models
| Model | How it bills | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| One-time licence + AMC | Big payment up front, then a yearly "maintenance" fee to keep updates and support | The AMC is the real subscription — price the five-year total, not the sticker. Desktop licences also mean your hardware, your backups, your IT. |
| Per-user per-month | A small number × every user × 12 | Per-user creep: the ₹700/user/month that felt cheap at 2 users is ₹84,000/year at 10. Adding your accountant, a second branch, an auditor — each is a new line on the bill. |
| Flat yearly subscription | One price per year for a plan with a user allowance | Check what the allowance is and what an upgrade costs — but the maths stays predictable, which is the point. |
The hidden line items
- Training and implementation — some vendors charge separately to set you up; ask before signing, not after.
- GST/TDS return modules sold separately. "Accounting" that needs a paid add-on to file GSTR-1 is not accounting software in India — it is half of one.
- Per-company charges. If you run two firms, does the price double?
- Backups and data export. Is a full export of your data free, always? A vendor who charges to give your books back owns you.
- Support. Is a human included, or a chatbot with a paid "priority" tier above it?
What any yearly price should include
Use this as a checklist against any vendor, including us:
- Invoicing, ledgers, inventory and the full books — not a "starter" that locks vouchers behind a bigger plan
- GST returns (GSTR-1, 2B reconciliation, 3B, annual return) and e-invoice support built in
- TDS returns if you run payroll or pay contractors
- A stated number of users, unlimited companies, daily backups, free data export
- Updates included — tax law changes every year; software that charges for the new format is charging you for the government's homework
Arthora ERP's prices, in the open
Our own list, so you can apply the checklist immediately — every plan includes the full ERP (books, GST, e-invoicing, TDS, payroll, inventory), unlimited companies, daily backups, free export, and updates:
| Plan | Price | Users |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | ₹14,999/year — about ₹41 a day | 3 |
| Professional | ₹19,999/year | 5 |
| Enterprise | ₹31,999/year — includes free Tally migration done for you | 10 |
No per-user maths, no AMC, no paid GST add-on, no charge for your own data. If you also need a sales CRM, Arthora CRM is a separate product with its own plans — two tools, two transparent bills, nothing bundled to hide the price of either.
7-day free trial with the full product — import your Tally masters, raise real invoices, build a real GSTR-1. No card.