Free accounting software sounds tempting especially for businesses operating on a tight budget. But should you really be using free accounting software in your organisation?
While there are both advantages and disadvantages of free and open-source software, it is advisable to weigh up both sides before making the decision whether or not to use them.
Here are some of the disadvantages of free accounting software:
Security issues
Perhaps, one of the biggest issues with free software is security. Free software applications don’t get to enjoy regular upgrades like their premium counterparts. And so, there are bound to be security loopholes that attackers can exploit. A vulnerability in the software and/or its modules can serve as an attack route for malware into your organisation’s business systems.
And given that this has to do with company financials, it could be a big problem for organisations.
Lack of support
Support is a big part of every software and one of the biggest cons associated with freeware is the lack of support. This is a serious problem because if a user runs into an issue with the software, it’ll be difficult to resolve the problem as most free software developers don’t provide support.
For those that offer support, it’s likely that it won’t be as good as what you’ll get with a paid software. Unless you’re able to support the software in-house or pay a third-party service to provide support, then you should steer clear of free accounting software.
Difficulty in implementing the software
While your in-house team may be capable of implementing financial management systems, it can end up costing you plenty of time and resources.
In most cases, implementation would require frequent and adequate communication between the implementation team and the software authors in an attempt to resolve issues and obstacles. But where the authors are not readily available as the case is with most free software, the implementation project and change management can become difficult.
Distracting ad banners
Authors of free software have to find a way to monetise their products. Because they’re not charging users to use the software, most authors turn to other means of monetisation such as ad placement.
The last thing you want is ad banners getting in your way while using the accounting tool. In addition to causing distraction, an ad invaded user interface can slow down productivity and operational efficiency.
Ugly and non-intuitive UI is commonplace in free accounting software
Another major downside of free accounting software is that they mostly come with an ugly and non-intuitive user interface.
When finance staff are presented with a bad UI, they may start feeling both distaste and distrust. Additionally, poor UI may push users to waste more time in performing their tasks, make errors, and misuse their time by trying to learn how to use the software during office hours.
To avoid these issues, you need a cost-effective financial management system that is built to deliver results. Get in touch with us today to discuss!