hledger-web vs Tryton
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted budgeting & finance options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | hledger-web | Tryton |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 89 · Excellent | 70 · Good |
| Category | Budgeting & Finance | Budgeting & Finance |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Haskell | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, binary, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,730 | ★ 223 |
| First released | 2010 | 2008 |
| Replaces | QuickBooks, Quicken | QuickBooks, SAP |
What are hledger-web and Tryton?
hledger-web
hledger-web is the web interface for hledger, a robust plain-text, double-entry accounting tool. It allows browsing, adding, and reporting on transactions stored in plain-text journal files.
- Plain-text journal files
- Add and edit transactions in browser
- Balance and register reports
- Fast Haskell core
Tryton
Tryton is a free, open-source business management platform with a strong accounting core. Its modular design covers accounting, invoicing, inventory, and more for small and medium enterprises.
- Modular ERP and accounting
- Three-tier architecture
- Multi-company support
- Strong accounting compliance
hledger-web vs Tryton: key differences
Hledger-web is written in Haskell, while Tryton is built with Python. Hledger-web is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Tryton. Tryton is the more established project (first released 2008), while hledger-web arrived in 2010. Hledger-web has the considerably larger community, at 4,730 GitHub stars versus 223. Tryton lists first-class Docker deployment; hledger-web does not.
Why pick each one
Choose hledger-web if…
- No database needed
- Data is plain text and portable
Watch out for
- CLI knowledge helps
- Minimal UI
Choose Tryton if…
- Robust accounting core
- Highly modular
Watch out for
- Complex to deploy
- Smaller community
Frequently asked questions
Is hledger-web or Tryton better?
hledger-web is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Tryton if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are hledger-web and Tryton free and open-source?
Yes. hledger-web is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Tryton under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run hledger-web and Tryton with Docker?
hledger-web: check the project docs for container support. Tryton: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, hledger-web or Tryton?
hledger-web has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Tryton. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.