Manager.io
Great for accounting, weak for HR & payroll
- •Strong inventory and accounting ledgers, but no HR workflows.
- •Requires spreadsheets or other apps for leave, compliance, and payslips.
- •No guided SME implementation or African statutory packs.
Comparison Guide
Best Free Accounting & Payroll Software in 2026
Free payroll software, provided with the Nexarisi Micro SME package. Provided free with the Nexarisi Micro SME package. Payroll software is provided free with the Micro SME package. Payroll software is free; the package is paid. Micro SME is a paid package, so there is no payroll licence fee and no payroll add-on cost.
We compared Nexarisi to Manager.io, Wave, Odoo Community, and GnuCash so African SMEs can pick a payroll-included platform with real HR structure.
Free accounting tools save cash but rarely solve payroll, leave, or compliance for African SMEs. Nexarisi keeps payroll software free by providing it with the paid Micro SME package (no payroll licence fee or payroll add-on cost), while Manager.io, Wave, Odoo Community, and GnuCash expect you to stitch together spreadsheets and manual processes. This guide summarises what each platform offers so you can defend your decision with facts.
If you want to see free payroll in action, open the free payroll software page, or jump straight to pricing to understand how payroll stays included as you scale.
| Capability | Nexarisi | Manager.io | Wave | Odoo Community | GnuCash |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Payroll included for SMEs | Free up to 10 staff, included on every paid tier | Manual payslips, no HR workflows | US/Canada only, payroll add-on cost | Community edition lacks payroll engine | No payroll; accounting only |
| HR + compliance workflows | Hiring, leave, discipline, QMS, training, documents | Basic accounting + inventory; no HR | Bookkeeping only | Requires paid HR modules/add-ons | None |
| Africa-ready statutory support | Built for African labour law, UIF, BCEA, Namibian regs | Generic; requires manual localisation | North America tax stack only | Needs heavy configuration & paid payroll app | Manual setup |
| Multi-entity agency controls | Agency plan with bureau billing & regions | Single company view | One business per account | Possible, but complex and server-heavy | Single ledger focus |
| Implementation effort | Guided onboarding + African templates | DIY only | Self-serve tutorials | Needs developer or partner | DIY accounting knowledge required |
Wave
Free accounting for North America only
- •Payroll offered only in the US/Canada and costs extra.
- •No HR, leave, or compliance tooling.
- •Not built for African currencies or statutory filings.
Odoo Community
Modular but complex
- •Payroll app is not included in Community and requires custom dev.
- •HR apps need configuration expertise and dedicated hosting.
- •Better suited to teams with engineering capacity.
GnuCash
Desktop accounting for hobbyists
- •No payroll or HR features.
- •Manual backups and limited collaboration.
- •Not ideal for compliance-heavy SMEs.
Ready to switch?
One platform replaces accounting add-ons and ad-hoc payroll
Launch Nexarisi with free payroll software provided by the paid Micro SME package (no payroll licence fee or payroll add-on cost), then keep payroll included as you step into Startup, Growth, and Agency plans. Every module stays unlocked.