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SimpleERP vs Tally: which fits a small business?

Tally is desktop accounting with inventory that many Indian accountants know well. SimpleERP runs the whole business in the browser on one ledger. Here is how to choose.

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In short

SimpleERP is browser-based ERP for Indian small businesses: billing, stock, purchase, accounting, CRM, HR and payroll on one ledger, with a login for every team member. Tally suits businesses whose accountant runs desktop books; SimpleERP suits teams that want everyone working in one system.

Illustration of the SimpleERP dashboard for Lakshmi Steel Furnitures: sales ₹18,42,600, net profit ₹4,12,800, ₹2,14,800 to collect, a sales versus purchases chart and top products.

What Tally is good at

Tally is desktop accounting software with inventory, and it is one of the most widely used tools among Indian chartered accountants and small businesses. That familiarity is a real strength.

  • Accountants know it. Many CAs and bookkeepers have used it for years, so help is easy to find.
  • Accounting and inventory in one place. Vouchers, ledgers and stock sit together on the desktop.
  • A large ecosystem. Partners, add-ons and training are available in most towns.
  • Works from the office computer. A good fit when one person keeps the books at one desk.

Side by side

Where the fit breaks: the jobs, side by side

The same daily jobs, described as work rather than features. The Tally column says how businesses on Tally usually get each job done, which depends on the edition, add-ons and setup you choose.

JobIn SimpleERPTypical with Tally
Raise a GST invoiceKeyboard-first line editor; the place of supply picks CGST and SGST or IGSTVoucher entry on the desktop, usually by the person who keeps the books
Bill from a phone or a second shopEvery screen works in a phone browser; every member signs in with their own loginDepends on the edition, licences and remote access you set up
Track leads and follow-upsCRM pipeline, today's follow-ups, convert a deal to a customer and quotationUsually handled outside the books, in a spreadsheet or a separate CRM
Attendance, leave and payslipsAttendance and leave feed payroll; payslips with PF, PT and TDS post to the booksHandled in the desktop product or alongside it, depending on your setup; staff self-service is usually separate
Staff see their own payslips and leaveEmployee self-service on a phone for attendance, leave, payslips and claimsUsually shared by the office on paper, email or WhatsApp
Expense claims with receiptsStaff submit claims with photos; approve, then reimburse, all postedUsually collected on paper or chat and entered later
Work orders and bills of materialsBOMs with scrap and cost roll-up; work orders consume and produce stockDepends on the edition and features you enable
Month-end closeTrial balance, P&L, balance sheet, GST summary and a lock date the database enforcesA strong fit: closing the books is what desktop accounting is built for
Get your data outCSV export of every report, products, stock and the ledger; invoices print as A4 or PDFDepends on the reports and export formats you use
Based on public product descriptions and how small businesses commonly work. Tally changes over time; check their site.

Verdict

Choose Tally if… choose SimpleERP if…

Both are sensible choices for different businesses. Here is the honest split.

Choose Tally if

  • Your accountant keeps your books in Tally and you mainly need accounting and GST work done well
  • One person enters everything from one office computer
  • You rely on add-ons or customisations a partner has set up for you

Choose SimpleERP if

  • You want billing, stock, purchase, CRM, HR and payroll on one ledger, with every invoice updating stock and books in one step
  • Your team works from phones, shops and the road, each with their own login and role
  • You want to try it free for a week in the browser, with nothing to install

Honest limits

What SimpleERP does not do yet

Worth knowing before you switch.

  • GST return filing: registers and the HSN summary export to CSV for whoever files your returns
  • E-invoice IRN and e-way bill generation through the government APIs
  • Batch, lot, serial or expiry tracking, and multi-currency
  • Bank feeds: bank entries are recorded and reconciled by hand
  • A direct import of another system's data file

Getting started

Moving from Tally to SimpleERP

  1. Pick a cut-over date

    There is no direct import of a Tally data file today, so you start from opening balances on a chosen date. The first day of a month, or of a quarter, keeps the comparison clean.

  2. Bring in products and opening stock

    Import products by CSV with a dry run that shows every error before anything is written, including opening stock per warehouse.

  3. Enter opening balances

    Add customers and suppliers on screen, then use the opening balances wizard for what they owe you, what you owe them, and your bank and cash.

  4. Run both for a month

    Bill in SimpleERP and keep the old books open. Compare receivables, stock and the trial balance at month end, then set the lock date.

FAQ

Questions, answered

Is SimpleERP a good Tally alternative for a small business?

It is a good fit if you want more than the books: GST billing, stock, purchases, CRM, HR, payroll and manufacturing on one ledger, used by your whole team from the browser. If your accountant runs everything in Tally and you only need accounting, Tally may suit you better.

Can I import my Tally data into SimpleERP?

Not directly. Import your products by CSV, including opening stock per warehouse, add customers and suppliers on screen, and enter what is owed with the opening balances wizard. Most businesses switch at the start of a month and run both systems side by side for a month.

Can my accountant keep working with me if I move from Tally?

Yes. Invite your accountant by phone or email with the Accountant role. They get journals, bank and cash registers, the trial balance, P&L, balance sheet, GST summary and the lock date, and can export any report or register to CSV for their own tools.

Does SimpleERP file GST returns?

No. SimpleERP prepares what filing needs: the sales and purchase registers for GSTR-1 and GSTR-2B checks and the HSN summary, all exportable to CSV. Filing itself stays with you or your accountant on the GST portal. E-invoice IRNs and e-way bills are not generated through the government APIs today.

Related

Try SimpleERP next to Tally.

Seven days free, no card. Run both side by side and keep the one that fits.

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Tally is a trademark of its owner. Details change; check their site for current features and pricing.