Marg was built for pharma and FMCG distribution, Tally for accounting that every CA can read. Both run on a Windows PC and both charge a yearly fee for updates. Here is how they compare in rupees and in daily use.
Chemist or pharma/FMCG distributor: Marg, unless your CA insists on Tally. Its counter billing, batch and expiry handling and schemes are what it was built for.
General trader, manufacturer or service business: Tally, for the accountant, the ecosystem and the books.
Business that manufactures, runs projects or manages a payroll: neither fully covers that; compare ERPs.
Before GST, assuming the yearly fee starts in the second year for both (Tally includes the first year of TSS; ask the Marg dealer about ARC):
Marg charges ₹3,000 for each extra user or company on Basic and Silver. Tally rents its software too: ₹8,100 a year for Silver and ₹24,300 for Gold, TSS included.
Prices checked on 20 October 2026: Tally's cost guide and Marg's price list. Marg is sold only through its own network; get the dealer's quote in writing.
Distribution and pharma depth. Batch and expiry on every item, schemes and distributor workflows are the core of the product rather than add-ons.
Cheap multi-user. Gold covers unlimited users and companies for ₹26,000.
Local support built in. The yearly ARC includes two troubleshooting visits and phone support from local support centres.
The accountant. Almost every Indian CA works in Tally and can open your data directly.
GST filing from inside the software. TallyPrime uploads and files returns through its connected GST features. Marg's price page lists GST returns in Excel, CSV and JSON formats; ask the dealer how your edition files.
Ecosystem. Thousands of partners and add-ons in TDL, and staff who already know it.
Both are accounting, billing and inventory software. Production orders with routing and scheduling, quality checks with batch traceability, projects with BOQs and RA bills, and payroll with PF, ESI and PT in the same system are ERP work. Rebota covers those with GST books and batch and serial stock underneath, priced per company. After the 15-day trial, keep using Rebota free: 1 user, 30 GST invoices a month, stock, suppliers and cash. Upgrade only when you need more.
| Feature | TallyPrime | Marg ERP 9+ | Rebota |
|---|---|---|---|
| One user, one-time | Silver ₹22,500 + GST | Silver ₹13,900 + GST (plus a view-only user) | Cloud plans; see pricing |
| Unlimited users | Gold ₹67,500 + GST | Gold ₹26,000 + GST | Users included in each plan |
| Yearly fee | TSS ₹4,500 / ₹13,500 | ARC ₹4,780 / ₹9,550–₹19,100 | Plan fee |
| Batch and expiry | Core of the product | ||
| Schemes and distributor workflows | Price levels, free quantity; more via add-ons | Core of the product | Price lists and discounts |
| GST returns | Connected GST filing | Returns in Excel, CSV and JSON | Prepares GSTR-1 and 3B; you file on the portal |
| Works without internet | Cloud only | ||
| Your CA already knows it | Almost every CA | Common in pharma and distribution | Rarely |
| Production, projects, payroll | Basic BoM; payroll | Payroll sold as a separate Marg product |
Rebota, as the third option, fits businesses that manufacture, run projects or manage payroll alongside trading, and want stock, production, GST books and payroll in one browser-based system.
A chemist or distributor who needs fast counter billing with batches and schemes. Choose Marg, or Tally if the CA requires it.
Marg for pharma and FMCG distribution and cheap multi-user licences. Tally when the CA, the auditors and the staff all work in it.
Not for a business with batches and expiry dates; spreadsheets miss expiring stock.
Tally: TSS every year and Gold for a second user. Marg: ARC every year and ₹3,000 per extra user or company on Basic and Silver. Both: a Windows PC and backups.
Pharma or FMCG distribution: Marg. Books first and a CA on Tally: Tally. Manufacturing, projects or payroll on top: an ERP.
Ask each dealer to bill ten of your real items with batches, expiry dates and one scheme, then run a near-expiry report and the GSTR-1 summary. The package that gets those right, at the speed your counter needs, is the one to buy.
