The Busy Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Busy in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Busy
The Insider’s Guide
GST accounting and inventory software for Indian small businesses
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among inventory management tools, read from Busy’s own pages.
Made by BUSY Infotech Pvt. Ltd. · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Busy’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Busy’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 69 of the 72 other inventory management tools we grade
Busy is desktop accounting software from India that combines billing, GST invoicing, e-way bills and stock tracking in one program. It is sold as a free Express edition plus 360-day subscription plans, with an optional cloud-access service and a mobile app. Prices are listed in Indian rupees, excluding GST.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Busy, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Accounting software has a learning curve, and no store rating is on record.
- 1
Best for free GST billing and accounting for Indian firms
Prices are in rupees without GST, paid plans fall back to Demo Mode when they lapse, and cloud access costs extra.
- 2
Paid plans start at about $4.39 a month
As its pricing page puts it: ₹5,000 per 360 days, single user, excluding GST.
- 3
There is a free plan
Express edition: free billing and accounting with multiple companies and financial years; no mobile app.
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
Web, iOS and Android.
- 5
Accounting and billing
Vouchers, invoices, ledgers, receivables and payables, a balance sheet and P&L, with multiple companies and financial years.
- 6
GST compliance tools
The Smart plan and above add GSTR-1 tools, return downloads, GSTIN and HSN validation, e-way bills and e-invoices up to plan limits.
- 7
Stock management
Multiple godowns, MRP-wise stock, batch and serial numbers, reorder levels and item parameters such as brand, size and colour on Smart and above.
- 8
A 2.8 GPA, above 69 of 72
That is against the other inventory management tools we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Busy you would be making live feeds from your bank, which take an agreement with each bank or a service that has them. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Busy at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from ₹5,000 per 360 days, single user, excluding GST
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 15-day free trial
- Runs on
- Web, iOS, Android
- Made by
- BUSY Infotech Pvt. Ltd., since 1993
- Category
- Inventory Management
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for free GST billing and accounting for Indian firms
Busy combines billing, GST invoices, e-way bills and stock in one program, with a free Express edition and paid plans from ₹5,000 for 360 days. Prices are in rupees without GST, paid plans fall back to Demo Mode when they lapse, and cloud access costs extra.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Express is free, and the cheapest paid plan is ₹5,000 for 360 days, which is far under this category's $49 monthly cheaper-quarter start. Cloud access is ₹10,800 or ₹16,800 extra. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Express gives free billing and accounting with multiple companies and years, though it has no mobile app. There is also a 15-day trial. |
| Features | C | Accounting, billing, GST tools, stock, POS and barcodes, and a mobile app on paid plans. It is built around Indian GST. |
| Ease of use | C | Accounting software has a learning curve, and no store rating is on record. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Desktop software with a mobile app and optional cloud access. The only named integration is WhatsApp. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Busy is for
- Fits if you run a small Indian business and want free GST billing and accounts
- Works for shops that need stock, POS and e-way bills in one program
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you sell outside India, as it is built around GST
- Watch out: paid plans switch to Demo Mode when the subscription expires
- Watch out: cloud access is separate at ₹10,800 or ₹16,800 for 360 days, excluding GST
- Tight if you need the mobile app, because Express has none
- Skip it if you want one price, since older perpetual plans carry yearly renewal fees
Good to know
Good for
- Indian small businesses that need GST invoicing with inventory
- Traders and shops that bill and track stock on a desktop
- Firms that want a free edition before paying
Worth knowing
- Prices are in rupees, exclude GST, and are shown for India; the page also has South Asia and Global views in dollars.
- Subscription plans switch to Demo Mode when the subscription expires.
- Cloud access is separate: BUSY Online costs ₹10,800 per 360 days for Access or ₹16,800 for SQL, excluding GST.
- The pricing page also sells older perpetual plans (BUSY 21) with a yearly renewal fee for updates and support.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
~$4.39
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Busy has a free plan. Paid plans start at ₹5,000 per 360 days, single user, excluding GST.
Express gives free billing and accounting with multiple companies and years, though it has no mobile app.
Express
₹0
Free billing and accounting: vouchers, invoices, ledgers, P&L and balance sheet. No mobile app.
Start
₹5,000
per 360 days, single user, excluding GST
Billing, accounting and inventory for non-GST businesses, with Mobile App Lite free for the first 360 days.
Smart
₹8,000
per 360 days, single user, excluding GST
Adds GST returns tools, e-way bills and e-invoices up to 10,000, POS, barcode scanning, batch and serial tracking.
Power
₹12,000
per 360 days, single user, excluding GST
Adds multiple GSTINs in one company, e-way bills and e-invoices up to 20,000, SQL support and premium voice support.
Power+
₹50,000
per 360 days, 10 users, excluding GST
For larger firms: 10 users, 150 companies, e-way bills and e-invoices up to 50,000, email, WhatsApp and voice support.
The free plan
Express edition: free billing and accounting with multiple companies and financial years; no mobile app.
Trying it first
15-day free trial
Read from busy.in on Nov 13, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Other savings
Mobile App Lite free for 360 days
Every BUSY Magic subscription plan includes Mobile App Lite with 250 credits for the first 360 days.
Stated on busy.in
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: Web, iOS and Android
GST accounting and inventory software for Indian small businesses. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: invoicing, reports, bookkeeping, inventory, barcode scanning.
Accounting, billing, GST tools, stock, POS and barcodes, and a mobile app on paid plans.
- Accounting and billing
- Vouchers, invoices, ledgers, receivables and payables, a balance sheet and P&L, with multiple companies and financial years.
- GST compliance tools
- The Smart plan and above add GSTR-1 tools, return downloads, GSTIN and HSN validation, e-way bills and e-invoices up to plan limits.
- Stock management
- Multiple godowns, MRP-wise stock, batch and serial numbers, reorder levels and item parameters such as brand, size and colour on Smart and above.
- POS and barcodes
- Smart and higher plans list point-of-sale billing and barcode and QR code scanning for fast invoicing.
- Mobile app
- A mobile app for iOS and Android shows reports, creates orders, quotations and invoices, and checks stock.
- Access controls
- User-definable access rights, an audit trail and user login scheduling are listed on the higher plans.
Where it runs
- Web
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Busy is made by BUSY Infotech Pvt. Ltd., and has been around since 1993.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
69/72
Other inventory management tools it is graded above
Busy's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 69 of the 72 other inventory management tools we grade, and level with 1.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 68 of 72) and worst on ease of use (C, above 3).
Its paid plans start at about $4.39 a month, against a middle price of $91 for the category: 0 of the 42 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 73 inventory management tools we grade, cut by the letter each got. Busy’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 68 of 72
- BFree plan and trialAbove 68 of 72
- CFeaturesAbove 5 of 72
- CEase of useAbove 3 of 72
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 14 of 72
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 44 inventory management tools. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Busy is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Busy you would be making live feeds from your bank, which take an agreement with each bank or a service that has them. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 69 of the 72 other inventory management tools we grade. It costs $52.66 a year.
What you could make
- Inventory, invoicing and reports: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Live feeds from your bank, which take an agreement with each bank or a service that has them.
- Scanning barcodes with a phone camera or a scanner.
- A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
What this rests on. Busy’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Marg ERP, Zoho Inventory, Megaventory, HandiFox and Acctivate
The 5 tools Busy is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 1.8GPA
Marg ERP
From $350
GST billing, batch-wise stock and accounting for Indian traders.
- Busy has a free plan. Marg ERP does not.
- Only Busy lists iOS and Android apps.
- 3.4GPA
Zoho Inventory
Free plan · from $29/mo
Online inventory and order management from Zoho, with a free plan.
- Only Zoho Inventory lists a Windows app.
- Busy also covers invoicing, reports and bookkeeping.
- Zoho Inventory also covers online store and shipping labels.
- 2.2GPA
Megaventory
Free trial · from $135/mo
Cloud inventory, order and light manufacturing management.
- Busy has a free plan. Megaventory does not, though it has a free trial.
- Busy also covers invoicing and bookkeeping.
- Megaventory also covers dropshipping.
- 2.2GPA
HandiFox
Free trial · from $49/mo
Barcode inventory and mobile warehouse app that syncs with QuickBooks.
- Busy has a free plan. HandiFox does not, though it has a free trial.
- Busy also covers bookkeeping.
- 1.4GPA
Acctivate
Paid
Inventory and order software that extends QuickBooks.
- Busy has a free plan. Acctivate does not.
- Only Busy lists a web app.
- Only Busy lists iOS and Android apps.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
14
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Busy free?
Busy has a free plan. Express edition: free billing and accounting with multiple companies and financial years; no mobile app.
How much does Busy cost?
Busy lists 5 plans. Express: ₹0.
What platforms does Busy work on?
Busy is available on Web, iOS and Android.
Does Busy offer any discounts?
Busy publicly lists the following: Mobile App Lite free for 360 days.
Does Busy have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Busy is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Does Busy have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Busy is listed for Web, iOS and Android.
Is Busy open source?
Busy is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 13, 2026.
What does Busy integrate with?
Busy's listing names WhatsApp. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does Busy have a free trial?
Yes. 15-day free trial.
Who makes Busy?
Busy is made by BUSY Infotech Pvt. Ltd.
What are the alternatives to Busy?
The closest alternatives to Busy in our directory are Marg ERP, Zoho Inventory, Megaventory, HandiFox and Acctivate.
How does Busy compare with other inventory management tools?
Busy's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 69 of the 72 other inventory management tools we grade, and level with 1.
Is Busy good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Busy A for value for money. Its paid plans start at about $4.39 a month, against a middle price of $91 for the category: 0 of the 42 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Busy?
To replace Busy you would be making live feeds from your bank, which take an agreement with each bank or a service that has them.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Busy’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Busy's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by BUSY Infotech Pvt. Ltd. Prices change, so check busy.in before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Busy, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/busy-accounting
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Busy: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/busy-accounting
Know someone choosing between inventory management tools?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/busy-accounting/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded inventory management tools after Busy, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Inventory Management Insider's GuideEvery one of the 73 inventory management tools we grade, compared
- Zoho Inventory Insider's GuideOnline inventory and order management from Zoho, with a free plan3.4 GPA
- Sortly Insider's GuidePhone-first inventory app for tracking equipment, tools and supplies3.0 GPA
- Loyverse Insider's GuideFree point-of-sale app with stock tracking for small shops and cafes2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Busy’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Busy is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by BUSY Infotech Pvt. Ltd. Prices and plans change: check busy.in before you buy.