Home Transactions & Journal Entries Simple Mode vs Advanced Mode: When to Use Each

Simple Mode vs Advanced Mode: When to Use Each

Last updated on May 02, 2026

The two tools

BitBooks has two entry tools that produce the same kinds of entries in the books:

  • Simple Mode lives on the Transactions page. A friendly form. Pick a wallet, pick what it was for, pick an amount, save.
  • Advanced Mode lives on the Journal Entries page. The accountant's view. You write the underlying debits and credits yourself.

Same data, two different forms. Which one you should open depends on what you're trying to do.

Use Simple Mode when

  • A transaction touched one wallet (money came in, money went out, or you transferred between two wallets)
  • You don't want to think about debits and credits
  • You're entering the kind of transaction a normal business does every day (sales, expenses, payments)
  • You're new to bookkeeping

Simple Mode handles the bookkeeping for you. You can't break the rules.

90% of entries should go through Simple Mode. It's the everyday tool.

Use Advanced Mode when

  • You need a multi-line entry that touches several accounts in unusual ways
  • The entry doesn't involve a wallet at all (depreciation, accruals, prepaid amortization)
  • You need to manually pin an exchange rate
  • You're posting closing entries at year-end
  • You're recording an equity event (owner contributions, dividends, stock issues)
  • Your accountant told you to use a journal entry

Advanced Mode is more flexible but requires you to know what debits and credits to use.

A quick decision tree

Ask yourself:

  1. Is at least one side of this transaction a wallet?

    • Yes → Simple Mode
    • No → Advanced Mode

  2. Does it touch only one wallet, or move between two?

    • One wallet → Simple Mode (Standard or Split)
    • Two wallets → Simple Mode (Transfer)

  3. Is it a multi-line entry that doesn't fit Standard / Split / Transfer?

    • Yes → Advanced Mode

  4. Is it a non-cash event (depreciation, accrual, etc.)?

    • Yes → Advanced Mode

When in doubt, try Simple Mode first. If you find yourself wanting fields it doesn't have, that's the signal to switch to Advanced Mode.

Are the entries different?

In the database, no. Every transaction recorded in BitBooks ultimately becomes a journal entry with debits and credits. Simple Mode just builds that journal entry behind the scenes.

That means:

  • A transaction created in Simple Mode and a journal entry created in Advanced Mode that have the same amounts and accounts produce identical results on reports
  • You can view a Simple Mode transaction's underlying journal entry by clicking through (it's the same data)
  • Reports don't distinguish between the two tools

The choice is purely about which form is easier for you to fill in.

Examples side by side

A coffee shop sale of 25,000 sats

Simple Mode:

Wallet: Blink Lightning Hot
Direction: Money in
Amount: 25,000 sats
Contact: Cash Customer
Category: Sales: Coffee

Advanced Mode (same outcome):

| Account                | Debit | Credit |
| Blink Lightning Hot    | 25,000 sats     |
| Sales: Coffee          |       | 25,000 sats |

Both produce the same record. Simple Mode is faster.

Year-end depreciation of $83.33

Simple Mode: Can't do this. There's no wallet involved.

Advanced Mode:

| Account                       | Debit | Credit |
| Depreciation Expense          | $83.33 |       |
| Accumulated Depreciation      |        | $83.33 |

Has to be Advanced Mode.

Owner contributes $10,000

Simple Mode:

Wallet: Cash on Hand
Direction: Money in
Amount: $10,000
Contact: (Owner's name)
Category: Owner's Capital

This works! The bank account is a wallet, so Simple Mode handles it.

Advanced Mode (same outcome):

| Account            | Debit  | Credit |
| Cash on Hand       | $10,000 |        |
| Owner's Capital    |         | $10,000 |

Either tool works. Pick whichever you prefer.

Switching mid-flow

You can't take a transaction created in Simple Mode and "convert" it to Advanced. They're really the same underlying data, just viewed differently.

You CAN view a Simple Mode transaction's journal entry. Open the transaction, look for "View Journal Entry" or click through. That opens the same data in the Journal Entries view.

If you want to edit it as a journal entry (not as a transaction), the cleanest approach is: reverse the original, post a new journal entry from scratch in Advanced Mode.

Common questions

"My team is split between Simple and Advanced. Is that OK?"

Yes. Different team members can use different tools for the same kinds of transactions. The bookkeeper might prefer Advanced for control; a sales rep might prefer Simple for speed. The reports come out the same.

"Is Advanced Mode faster than Simple Mode for an experienced accountant?"

For some kinds of entries (multi-line journal entries, adjustments), yes. For everyday Standard transactions, Simple Mode is faster because you don't have to manually balance debits and credits.

"Will future versions remove one of these?"

No. Both serve real purposes. Simple Mode for ease of use, Advanced Mode for power. Most accounting tools have something like this; we just made the distinction explicit.

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