Set Up GnuCash with PostgreSQL for Acceby

Setup Guides · June 22, 2026

GnuCash is a free, open-source accounting platform available for Windows, MacOS and Linux. To work with Acceby, GnuCash needs to store its data in a PostgreSQL database rather than a local file. This guide walks you through installation, creating a database, and connecting both apps to the database.

Installation

Install both packages on the same computer:

  1. GnuCash desktop: download it from gnucash.org.
  2. PostgreSQL: a powerful, open source object-relational database. Download it from postgresql.org.

Acceby is in early release, and Mac users may run into errors when connecting GnuCash to PostgreSQL. If you hit a problem during setup, please contact support.

The database is required so that GnuCash and Acceby can store and access the data required for your accounting transactions.

Using a brand-new database is recommended. GnuCash's SQL backend is technically considered experimental, and pointing it at an existing book risks data loss. If you do decide to use an existing database make sure to back up your data.

Make Sure PostgreSQL Is Running

PostgreSQL runs quietly in the background as a service, and both GnuCash and Acceby can only connect while it's running. Confirm it has started before you go on.

Windows: the installer sets PostgreSQL to run automatically every time you start your PC.

Mac: if you installed Postgres.app, open it and click Start. If you used Homebrew, start the service from a terminal:

brew services start postgresql

Linux: check the service, and start it if it isn't already running:

sudo systemctl status postgresql
sudo systemctl start postgresql

To confirm it's ready on any platform, run pg_isready in a terminal. An "accepting connections" reply means you're good to move on.

Choosing Your Book Currency

When a GnuCash book is first created, it is stamped with a single currency that can't be changed afterwards. Choose the currency that matches the data from selling region you'll be importing.

The Values Acceby Asks For

Acceby's Database settings panel needs these connection details:

Field Default Notes
Host localhost The machine PostgreSQL runs on.
Port 5432 PostgreSQL's standard port.
Database acceby_accounting The database name
User (role) acceby_user The database login role
Password (you set this) See below.

Generate a password in the app, or create your own. Record your password somewhere safe to connect GnuCash to the database.

Creating the Role and Database

Before Acceby can connect, the database and its login role need to exist. There are two ways to create them, and both work the same on Windows, macOS, and Linux. The built-in creator is the simplest path; if you prefer the command line, the manual steps follow.

The easy way using Acceby

  1. In Acceby, open Database settings… → Create role & database….
  2. Enter a PostgreSQL admin login, a superuser such as postgres, and its password.
  3. Either type a password for the new Acceby role, or click Generate to have Acceby produce a strong one.
  4. Copy the password down. It's shown, not hidden, and you'll need it to open the same database in GnuCash desktop.

Acceby then creates the role and database and fills in the password field for you.

The manual way using PostgreSQL

If the role already exists, or you simply prefer the command line, create everything yourself. Open a terminal and connect to PostgreSQL as an admin (a superuser such as postgres) with psql:

psql -U postgres

Then run these commands to create the database, add the login role, and give it access:

CREATE DATABASE acceby_accounting;
CREATE ROLE acceby_user WITH LOGIN PASSWORD 'choose-a-password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON DATABASE acceby_accounting TO acceby_user;

You can use names of your own choosing. Just enter the same values in Acceby's Database settings, then click Save in Database settings to connect.

You're Connected

Once Database settings saves successfully, GnuCash is wired up and Acceby can sync your marketplace sales into it.

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