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What Kontuly desktop accounting software does and doesn't do

Is Kontuly right for you?

We'd rather tell you now than refund you later. Kontuly suits Australian sole traders, small businesses and bookkeepers who do the books on one computer and want to own their software. Here's everything it doesn't do in version 0.2 beta, with the workaround where there is one.

Who is Kontuly for?

Kontuly suits you if you:

  • Run an Australian small business, or keep the books for several
  • Do the books yourself, on one computer
  • Would rather buy once than pay monthly
  • Want your data on your own computer, or have patchy internet
  • Work with an accountant who uses Xero, MYOB, QuickBooks, Reckon or Sage
  • Are leaving a package that has changed, gone online-only or gone up in price

Who should look elsewhere for now?

Kontuly isn't the right fit yet if you need:

  • Payroll and Single Touch Payroll in the same app
  • Live bank feeds
  • Several people in the books at the same time
  • A phone app or working from a web browser
  • To lodge from your accounting software
  • Books for a business outside Australia

The full list

What doesn't Kontuly do?

Current as of version 0.2.0 beta, October 2026.

  1. Payroll, including Single Touch PayrollRun pays in a payroll service and record the totals. BAS labels W1 and W2 come from those accounts.
  2. Live bank feedsImport CSV or PDF statements from internet banking. Duplicates are skipped; PDF reading is best-effort, so always review it.
  3. Several users, cloud sync or remote accessOne person on one computer per licence. Share by backup file or export.
  4. A mobile app or web versionKontuly runs on Mac, Windows and Linux computers.
  5. Lodging the BAS or TPARKontuly prepares the figures. Lodge through the ATO or your agent.
  6. The rest of the BASG2, G3, G10, G11, fuel tax credits and FBT instalments aren't worked out.
  7. Countries other than Australia, or languages other than EnglishNew Zealand, the UK, Canada, the US and French are planned, with no dates yet. Join the waitlist.
  8. Online payment links on invoicesInvoices carry your bank details and a "How to pay" panel, but no card or PayPal button.
  9. Multi-location stock, serial or batch numbers, or online store syncTracked stock is one location, at average or FIFO cost.
  10. Job costing beyond trackingTwo tracking categories with Profit and Loss by Tracking; no per-job budgets or work in progress.
  11. Time tracking for teamsOne timer at a time, with a "who" field on each entry. No staff logins or approvals.
  12. Tax depreciation rulesThe asset register does prime cost and diminishing value. Pooling, instant asset write-off and tax-versus-book differences stay with your accountant.
  13. Reading handwriting or scanned PDFs without textPhotos and PDFs with text work. Receipt reading always fills a draft for you to check, and reads English.
  14. An API or app marketplaceKontuly exchanges data through files: CSV, Excel, IIF, ABA and PDF.
  15. Full-history conversionSwitching brings opening balances, contacts and unpaid items, not past transactions. A business can be converted once.
  16. Round-trip sync with your accountant's packageExport is one-way. Their adjustments come back as manual journals.
  17. Reminders while the computer is offWith "Running in the background" on, reminders go out while Kontuly runs with its window closed. Mac and Windows start it at login; Linux keeps it in the tray but doesn't start it at login.
  18. Encryption of the live books fileUse your computer's login and disk encryption. Backups are encrypted when you set a backup password.
  19. ABA payment batches in foreign currenciesPayment batches are in Australian dollars.

Still a fit? Help us shape it.

Beta testers tell us which gaps matter most. If one of these is a deal-breaker for you, tell us at [email protected].

Join the beta now