TallyPrime vs TallyBook: an honest comparison for 2026

Techardent Labs · 3 November 2026 · 8 min read

Quick answer: TallyPrime is the mature choice for multi-user offices, direct GST filing and manufacturing, and costs ₹22,500–₹67,500 + GST plus a yearly renewal. TallyBook is free, runs natively on Windows, Mac and Linux, uses the same keyboard workflow and imports Tally data, but is new, single-user and prepares returns for upload rather than filing them.

TallyBook Gateway menu, laid out like TallyPrime's Gateway of Tally — TallyBook keeps the Gateway layout and keyboard workflow Tally users know.

TallyPrime is the accounting software most Indian businesses and accountants grew up with. TallyBook is a new, free alternative that keeps TallyPrime's keyboard-first way of working. This page compares the two side by side, including where TallyPrime is clearly ahead, so you can choose what fits your business.

We make TallyBook, so read this with that in mind. Prices for TallyPrime come from Tally Solutions' own pages (linked at the end) and can change. Check with an authorised Tally partner before you buy.

At a glance

	TallyPrime	TallyBook
Price to start	Silver (single user) ₹22,500 + GST; Gold (multi-user) ₹67,500 + GST, one-time, first year of TSS included	Free
Yearly cost after year one	TSS renewal ₹4,500 (Silver) or ₹13,500 (Gold) + 18% GST, needed for updates and connected services	₹0, updates included
Windows	Yes, 64-bit	Yes, Windows 10/11 64-bit
Mac	Not installable; Windows virtual machine or Tally's cloud access	Native app, Apple chip and Intel
Linux	Not installable; cloud access only	Native (AppImage, .deb, .rpm)
Several people on one company at once	Yes, with Gold over your office network	No, single user per computer
Remote access, reports in browser	Yes, with TSS	No
GST returns	Prepare and upload/file from inside the app with TSS (connected GST)	Prepare GSTR-1, GSTR-3B, GSTR-2B reconciliation and HSN summary; upload is done on the GST portal
e-Invoice and e-Way Bill	Generate directly from the app with TSS	Creates the JSON file for offline upload; you enter the IRN/e-way number back
Inventory	Full, including bill of materials, manufacturing and job work	Stock items, godowns, batches, price levels, five costing methods, stock vouchers and reports; no manufacturing or job work yet
Payroll	Full, including statutory returns	Employees, pay heads, attendance, PF/ESI/PT, pay slips; no income-tax or gratuity calculation or statutory returns yet
TDS / TCS	Yes, with returns	Deduction during entry, outstandings, challans, Form 26Q summary; no e-TDS file yet
Banking	Reconciliation, connected banking and e-payments	Reconciliation with statement import, cheque register and printing, post-dated cheques; no connected banking
Moving your existing data in	—	Imports Tally XML (masters and vouchers) and Excel/CSV
Customisation	TDL add-ons and a large add-on ecosystem	No add-ons; source code is public
Support and training	Large partner network, certified trainers, decades of track record	New product; help through the website and GitHub
Signed installers	Yes	Not yet (you will see a security prompt on first install)
Where your data lives	On your computer (or Tally's cloud access)	On your computer only

What it costs over five years

Using Tally's published prices and assuming you renew TSS every year to keep getting updates:

Five-year cost (before GST)	TallyPrime Silver	TallyPrime Gold	TallyBook
Licence (includes year 1 TSS)	₹22,500	₹67,500	₹0
TSS renewals, years 2–5	4 × ₹4,500 = ₹18,000	4 × ₹13,500 = ₹54,000	₹0
Total	₹40,500	₹1,21,500	₹0

Add 18% GST to the TallyPrime figures. Multi-year renewal discounts can lower them a little.

Where they feel the same

TallyBook deliberately follows the TallyPrime way of working, so a trained Tally operator can start immediately:

The Gateway home menu with Masters, Transactions, Utilities and Reports.
The same voucher keys: F4 Contra, F5 Payment, F6 Receipt, F7 Journal, F8 Sales, F9 Purchase, Alt+F6 Credit Note, Alt+F5 Debit Note.
Alt+G Go To, Alt+C to create a ledger from inside a voucher, Ctrl+A to accept, Esc to go back, F11 features, F12 report configuration, Alt+F1 detailed view.
The same groups (Sundry Debtors, Duties & Taxes and so on), bill-by-bill outstandings, and the familiar report layouts.

Choose TallyPrime if…

Several staff need to work in the same company at the same time over your office network.
You want to file GST returns, generate e-invoices or make bank payments directly from the accounting software.
You run manufacturing or job work and need bills of materials.
You depend on a local Tally partner, TDL customisations, or your CA insists on TallyPrime data.
You need a product with a long track record today.

Choose TallyBook if…

One person keeps the books on one computer.
You work on a Mac or Linux and do not want a Windows virtual machine.
You want to stop paying a yearly renewal for features you do not use.
You are a student or trainee practising Tally-style accounting at home.
You are comfortable using a new product and uploading returns on the GST portal yourself.

Can I try TallyBook without leaving TallyPrime?

Yes. Export your company from TallyPrime as XML and import it into TallyBook. Your TallyPrime data is not touched. Compare the Trial Balance and Balance Sheet in both, and keep working in TallyPrime until you are sure. The switching guide walks through it.

Try it free. Download TallyBook for Windows, Mac or Linux. No registration.

Frequently asked questions

Is TallyBook free?

Yes. TallyBook has no licence fee and no yearly renewal. TallyPrime Silver costs ₹22,500 + GST one-time and ₹4,500 + GST a year for TSS renewal, according to Tally Solutions' published pricing.

Can TallyBook run on a Mac?

Yes. TallyBook runs natively on macOS 11 or newer, on Apple-chip and Intel Macs. TallyPrime installs only on 64-bit Windows; Mac users need a Windows virtual machine or Tally's cloud access.

Can I move my data from TallyPrime to TallyBook?

Yes. Export masters and vouchers from TallyPrime as XML and import them in TallyBook with Alt+O. Your TallyPrime data is not changed.

Does TallyBook support multiple users on a network?

Not yet. TallyBook is single-user per computer. TallyPrime Gold supports multiple users on a local network.

Can I file GST returns directly from TallyBook?

No. TallyBook prepares GSTR-1, GSTR-3B and the JSON files; you upload them on the GST portal. TallyPrime with an active TSS can file from inside the app.

Sources

TallyBook is not affiliated with Tally Solutions Pvt. Ltd. TallyPrime is a trademark of its owner. Feature descriptions of TallyPrime are based on its public documentation as of November 2026.