Best Khata App in Afghanistan (2026): Ledger Apps in Dari and Pashto
Most khata apps are built for India. Afghan shops need something different: Dari and Pashto, Afghani and dollar accounts, and an app that keeps working when the internet does not.
Quick answer
The best khata app for Afghanistan is one that works in Dari and Pashto, keeps accounts in Afghani (AFN) as well as US dollars or Pakistani rupees, works offline, and is free. MobiKhata meets all four: it supports Dari and Pashto among 8 languages, lets each business use its own currency, saves entries offline, and is free on Android, iPhone and the web. Kaata, a newer app made in Kabul, is another Dari and Pashto option on iPhone.
Key takeaways
- Popular apps such as Khatabook and OkCredit are built for India: Indian languages, rupees and UPI payments.
- For Afghan shops, Dari and Pashto support, AFN accounts and offline use matter more than payment features.
- MobiKhata supports Dari, Pashto, Urdu and English, and each business can use AFN, USD, PKR or another currency.
- Keep a separate MobiKhata business for each currency so every balance stays clean.
What Afghan businesses need from a khata app
Credit between a shopkeeper and a trusted customer, the udhaar system, is as common in Kabul, Herat, Kandahar and Mazar-i-Sharif as it is anywhere in South Asia. The paper khata or hisab book is still the most common way to track it. When Afghan shopkeepers look for an app to replace that book, the same five needs come up again and again.
- Dari and Pashto. An app in English or Hindi is hard to use for many shop owners and their staff. Right-to-left Dari and Pashto text needs to display properly, including on PDF statements.
- Afghani and dollars. Many traders price goods in AFN but settle some accounts in US dollars, and traders near the border also deal in Pakistani rupees.
- Offline use. Mobile internet can be slow or expensive. The app must save entries without a connection and sync later.
- WhatsApp sharing. WhatsApp is how most customers stay in touch, so balances and statements should be easy to send there.
- No cost. A small shop should not pay a monthly subscription for a notebook replacement.
Khata apps compared for Afghanistan
We compared five apps that Afghan shopkeepers are likely to find. The details come from each app’s own store listing or website, checked in October 2026. Features change, so check the listing before you decide.
| App | Dari | Pashto | Afghani (AFN) | Platforms | Price | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MobiKhata | Yes | Yes | Yes, set per business | Android, iPhone, web | Free | Pakistan, Afghanistan and beyond |
| Kaata | Yes | Yes (added recently) | Not stated | iPhone | Free | Made in Kabul |
| DigiKhata | Listed as Persian | Yes | Not stated | Android, iPhone | Free core, paid plans | Pakistan |
| Khatabook | No | No | No (rupee features) | Android, iPhone | Free | India |
| OkCredit | No | No | No (UPI payments) | Android, iPhone, web | Free basic, paid premium | India |
MobiKhata is the most complete fit for Afghan users who want both Dari and Pashto, accounts in Afghani and dollars, and the same ledger on Android, iPhone and a computer. Kaata is a promising newcomer made in Kabul with Dari, Pashto and offline use, currently listed on the App Store. DigiKhata is a Pakistani app with more business tools, such as stock and staff books, and paid plans on iPhone. Khatabook and OkCredit are large, well-built apps, but their languages, payments and loans are designed for India. Our Khatabook vs OkCredit vs MobiKhata comparison goes into more detail, and DigiKhata vs MobiKhata covers that pair.
Why language support matters more than you think
A ledger is only useful if everyone who touches it can read it. In many Afghan shops the owner, a son or a nephew, and a counter assistant all record sales. If the app is in a language one of them reads slowly, entries are skipped or made wrong.
MobiKhata works fully in Dari and in Pashto, with right-to-left text throughout the app. The language list also includes Urdu for traders who work with Pakistani partners, plus English, Arabic, Hindi, Bengali and Spanish. You can switch at any time under Settings, in Language and currency, so a family member who prefers another language can change it on their own phone.
How to keep Afghani, dollar and rupee accounts
A common mistake is to record AFN and USD amounts in the same ledger. Balances quickly become meaningless, because 1,000 in one currency is not 1,000 in the other. The clean approach is one ledger per currency.
- Create your main business, for example “Noor Store – AFN”, and set its currency to Afghani.
- Add a second business, for example “Noor Store – USD”, with US dollars as its currency.
- Record each customer in the business that matches the currency you settle with them. Switching between businesses takes one tap.
- If you also trade in Pakistani rupees, add a third business in PKR.
MobiKhata treats each business as a separate ledger with its own parties, entries and currency, so totals never mix. Our guide to managing multiple currencies in Pakistan and Afghanistan explains this approach with examples.
Working with weak or expensive internet
MobiKhata saves every entry on your phone first. You can record sales all day without a connection, and the app syncs to your account the next time you are online. Because only small text records are synced, the app uses very little mobile data compared with photos or video. If you change phones, sign in with the same account and your ledger comes back.
Use MobiKhata in Dari or Pashto
Free on Android and iPhone. Choose Dari or Pashto when you set up, and set your business currency to Afghani.
On a computer? Use the same account in the MobiKhata web app.
Getting started in Dari or Pashto
- Install MobiKhata from Google Play or the App Store.
- Sign in with Google, Apple or email so your ledger is backed up.
- Choose دری (Dari) or پښتو (Pashto) as your language.
- Create your business and select Afghani (AFN) as its currency.
- Add your first customer and record a Cash Out entry when you give goods on credit, or a Cash In entry when you receive a payment.
When a balance is due, share a PDF statement on WhatsApp. If you are not sure how to word the message, our payment reminder templates include polite messages in Dari and Pashto. And if you are still on paper, start with our guide to moving your khata to your phone.
Who uses a khata app in Afghanistan?
Any business that sells on trust can use one. The most common are:
- Grocery and general stores that let families pay at the end of the month.
- Pharmacies that give medicines on credit to regular patients.
- Mobile phone and top-up shops that sell airtime and accessories on account.
- Wholesale traders who supply retailers in Afghani and settle some accounts in dollars.
- Workshops and service businesses, such as tailors and mechanics, that bill regular customers monthly.
In every case the need is the same as with a paper book: a clear page for each person and a balance everyone agrees on.
Tips for Afghan shopkeepers switching from paper
- Start with your biggest balances. Enter the ten customers who owe you the most on day one; add the rest over the week.
- Keep the paper book for a month. Note on its last page the date you moved to the app, and keep it as a backup record.
- Write notes in the language your customer reads. A note in Dari or Pashto makes a shared statement easy for them to check.
- Sign in before you start. Signing in with Google, Apple or email is what backs up your ledger, so a lost or broken phone does not mean lost records.
A note on payments and banks
Some Indian khata apps include online payment collection or business loans. These depend on Indian payment systems and lenders, so they are not useful in Afghanistan. MobiKhata does not move money or lend money. It is a record of what is owed, which is exactly what a paper khata is, and you settle payments however you normally do: cash, hawala, mobile money or a bank transfer.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a khata app in Dari?
Yes. MobiKhata can be used in Dari, as well as Pashto, Urdu, English, Arabic, Hindi, Bengali and Spanish. Kaata, an iPhone app made in Kabul, also supports Dari.
Is there a khata app in Pashto?
Yes. MobiKhata supports Pashto on Android, iPhone and the web. You can choose Pashto when you set up the app or change it later in Settings.
Does MobiKhata support Afghani (AFN)?
Yes. Each business in MobiKhata has its own currency, and Afghani is one of the options. You can keep a separate business in US dollars or Pakistani rupees in the same account.
Can I use a khata app without internet in Afghanistan?
Yes. MobiKhata saves entries on your phone first, so it works offline. Entries sync to your account when you are back online.
Is MobiKhata free in Afghanistan?
Yes. MobiKhata is free to download and use on Google Play and the App Store, with no subscription.
Related reading
- Managing Multiple Currencies in Pakistan and Afghanistan
- Khatabook vs OkCredit vs MobiKhata
- Payment Reminder Messages in Dari, Pashto, Urdu and English
- Mobile Khata App: How to Keep Your Khata Book on Your Phone
A khata app that speaks your language
Download MobiKhata free and keep your accounts in Dari or Pashto, in Afghani or dollars.
Free on Android and iPhone. Also on the web.