When comparing GnuCash vs Buckets, the Slant community recommends GnuCash for most people. In the question“What are the best cross-platform budgeting apps?” GnuCash is ranked 1st while Buckets is ranked 10th. The most important reason people chose GnuCash is:
GnuCash supports Linux, OSX and Windows and is also free on those platforms.
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Multi-platform and free
GnuCash supports Linux, OSX and Windows and is also free on those platforms.
Pro Double entry accounting
By fully using the double entry accounting features in GnuCash, you can know (for example) not only that you spent $25 at Hugemart but that you spent $13 on groceries, $2 on disinfecting wipes, and $5 on motor oil. Later on, you can use data from that transaction and others to find out how much you're spending each month on food, home supplies, and car maintenance, along with other expense categories.
Pro Investment support
Pro Small business accounting
Pro Auto backup
GnuCash has auto backup settings so users can set it and forget it.
Pro Easily set up
GnuCash walks the user through setting up their accounts making setup extremely easy for new users.
Pro No monthly fee
Pro Budgeting closely integrated
While not perfect, the Buckets is the only offline budgeting desktop application which has budgeting as front-and-center as YNAB 4, and the developer is continually working on it, so hopefully it will be improved further.
Pro Untimed, free trial
Evaluate the app for as long as you need prior to purchasing.
Pro Syncs with your bank
Allows you to write private macros and import data securely from your bank.
Pro Import from YNAB4 Budget
You can upload your YNAB4 budget and you are ready to go.
Pro Imports Amazon transactions
This program will import and reconcile Amazon transactions.
Cons
Con Report customization is complex and difficult
Setting the options for existing reports requires use of a multi-tab interface with poor usability. Creating new reports requires programming that will be beyond the abilities (or desire to spend time and effort) of many users.
Con Double entry accounting may be confusing or difficult for non business owners
For those that are unfamiliar with double entry bookkeeping it may be difficult to understand making using GnuCash a bit confusing on how it works.
Con Check Number/Transaction ID is not available
If you have checks or transaction IDs, you are forced to used the Memo field which is over used for memos and/or payees.
Con No payee field
The "memo" field is over used as a payee field within the program. If you use the "memo" for payee, you cannot have any other description of the transaction. If you use the "memo" for a memo, you cannot track the payee.