Your current accounting app may not be perfect. If you are considering switching, here are the five things you should check in any alternative app before committing.
By the Hisab Expert Team
Many popular khata apps have millions of installs and helped popularise the digital khata concept in India. But as these apps have grown, many users have started looking for alternatives. Common reasons include: privacy concerns about SMS access, frustration with cloud dependency (some apps do not work well offline), and apps becoming increasingly complex with features most small shops do not need.
If you are one of these shopkeepers, here are the five most important things to evaluate in any alternative accounting app.
This is the single most important privacy check. If an app requests READ_SMS or RECEIVE_SMS, it can read every text message on your phone - not just UPI confirmations. Check the app's Play Store listing under "App permissions" before installing.
Better alternatives use Android's NotificationListenerService to detect UPI payments from app notifications only - a much narrower scope that does not touch your SMS inbox.
Many accounting apps store your data in the cloud and require an internet connection for basic operations. If your shop is in an area with unreliable connectivity - which describes most of India outside metro centres - this is a dealbreaker.
Look for apps that are explicitly "offline-first," meaning every core feature (transactions, inventory, credit tracking) works without internet. Cloud sync should be optional, not mandatory.
Cloud-first apps store your business data on their servers. This means: the company has access to your transaction records, your customer list, your revenue numbers. If the company is acquired, shuts down, or changes its privacy policy, your data goes with it.
Apps that store data on your device first (with optional cloud backup) give you more control. Your records stay on your phone unless you explicitly choose to sync.
Some khata apps only track who owes you money. That is useful - but it is one page in your bahi khata. A proper accounting app should also handle: daily income and expense recording, inventory management, UPI auto-detection, reports (daily, monthly, yearly), and data export.
If you are switching anyway, switch to something that replaces the entire paper register, not just the credit page.
Some apps are free upfront but lock essential features behind paid tiers - reporting, multi-device sync, data export, or even the number of customers you can add. Read the fine print before committing.
Check exactly which features are available without paying, and whether the app requires a credit card to start.
We built Hisab Expert to pass all five checks: no SMS access, full offline mode, on-device data storage, complete accounting (not just credit), and no credit card required to start. But do not take our word for it - apply these same five questions to Hisab Expert or any other app you are considering.
The right app for your shop is the one that respects your privacy, works in your environment, and grows with your business. Use these checks to find it.
Offline-first accounting with UPI auto-detection, voice entry, and customer credit - no SMS access required.
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