FreshBooks has a 4.5 rating on Capterra with 4,379 reviews and a 4.5-star rating on G2 with 688 reviews. Users say it is extremely easy to use and has all the basic features needed to manage small business accounting needs. However, large business accounting they say the platform could use more automations and more in-depth reporting. They also wish they did not have to pay extra for features such as adding team members, saving credit card information or processing payroll.

QuickBooks Desktop Premier

• Another key feature of accounting software is built-in payment processing tools, providing the ability to accept credit and debit payments.
• For subscription pricing, expect to pay anywhere from $15 per month for a basic starter plan to $350 per month for a more advanced service plan.
• Advanced features include double entry, payroll integration, project cost tracking, customization options and the ability to collaborate with an accountant.
• The more expensive payroll plan is full-service, automatically filing and paying payroll taxes for your business.
• We don’t guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.
• As businesses grow they can take advantage of Wave’s low-cost payroll services.

Plus, you can get automatic accounting reports, receive guided workflows and set it up in five minutes. ZarMoney earns a 4.7-star rating on Capterra with 83 user reviews and a 4.8-star rating out of 24 user reviews on G2. Users say the software is easy to use and that customer service is responsive, knowledgeable and caring.

Accounting Software Review Methodology

Ability to accept credit card and ACH through Intuit Payment Network may require separate application. Get 6x the list capacity of other QuickBooks Desktop solutions with room to grow to up to 1 million customers, vendors, and inventory items. In addition, get faster payroll inside QuickBooks, deeper insights with 200+ reports, and focused editions for your industry. Stagger bill payments and have a system or methodology behind when and how you pay certain bills.

Top Rated Products

Our favorite features during our test of Freshbooks accounting software included its invoicing and project management tools, and the Gusto payroll integration. Large companies face complex accounting issues that don’t necessarily affect small businesses. The FreshBooks mobile app lets you work on your business finances from anywhere, whether you’re running an expense report from a boardroom or creating a winning work proposal from your kitchen table. With a seamless app integration, you can oversee inventory management or monitor ecommerce sales from anywhere. FreshBooks stays in sync across devices, so you always have access to your latest financial data.

• Bench Accounting was launched in 2012 for the sole purpose of serving the bookkeeping needs of small businesses for both cash basis and accrual basis reporting.
• Although Patriot isn’t loaded with tons of automations, such as Xero, you’ll still speed up your accounting processes while using the software, since it’s so easy to use and streamlines tedious accounting tasks.
• However, firms offering a range of pricing options are keen to optimize cash flow by leveraging the pricing method that will generate the most revenue for the service they provide.
• Most accounting software programs include features for invoicing, tracking payments and managing inventory.

What is the best accounting software for accountants?

FreshBooks’s built-in small-business expense tracking helps you maintain a balanced budget. And, like QuickBooks Online, FreshBooks includes built-in mileage tracking—a must for freelancers who plan to claim mileage expenses on their year-end tax forms. According to our research, indinero is the best online accounting service for small businesses based on its wide range of services, easy-to-use online interface, access to experts, and its customer support. Investopedia narrowed the wide array of providers down to 20 and evaluated them on services offered, cost, ease of use, and other factors to arrive at the five firms highlighted here. To compare different accounting platforms, consider the scale of unique accounting tools your business will need.

Alternative Accounting Software Platforms to Consider

Users give Zoho Books a 4.4 out of five-star rating on Capterra and 618 reviews. Users say the features are intuitive to use, though the system as a whole comes with a slight learning curve. They like that it has all the features they need to handle small business accounting and invoicing and that it integrates with other Zoho tools. Some say they have experienced delays in product functioning, specifically when working with large data sets. Most small-business owners don’t have an accounting background but need to carefully track their business’s finances to make sure they’re turning a profit.

Intuit has an option called QuickBooks Live that adds bookkeeping support to Intuit QuickBooks Online. You communicate with a dedicated bookkeeper through one-way video chat (they can’t see you) or email. This individual and their team work with you on customizing your setup and monitoring your transactions so they’re accurately entered and categorized for tax purposes. They reconcile your accounts and close your books at month’s end to prevent errors. Finally, they generate the reports you need so you’re ready to prepare your taxes or hand them off to your accountant. Wave offers fee-based bookkeeping services but lacks Intuit QuickBooks Live’s interactive quality.

• QuickBooks Solopreneur is designed for freelancers, contractors, and other self-employed individuals and is ideal for managing estimated quarterly taxes and maximizing deductions.
• Small businesses should position themselves in a way that helps them achieve long-term financial goals.
• While human error will always play some role in security breaches, you can be confident in your accounting platform when it comes to keeping your information safe.
• Most of our top accounting software picks include a free trial, so don’t be shy about trying a few different brands if you don’t hit on your favorite right away.
• Advanced Inventory is included in the Platinum and Diamond subscriptions only.
• The capstone involves two projects, each of which includes an assessment component.
• However, unlike competitor software, the invoice creation feature didn’t automate sales tax calculations in my testing experience.

In some cases, we earn commissions when sales are made through our referrals. These financial relationships support our content but do not dictate our recommendations. Our editorial team independently evaluates products based on thousands of hours of research.

If you’re looking for a cheaper solution, Kashoo offers an invoice-centric plan for $0.00. Along with sending invoices, you can use the free plan to track expenses, accept online payments, and send estimates. We’re not sure if the free plan lets you track income and expenses or not—Kashoo’s site gives contradictory answers. Even though Wave has a useful payroll tool, its accounting software isn’t necessarily right for businesses with dozens of employees.

The integration with Patriot’s payroll application is a definite plus, but the accounting side lacks depth in areas like contact records, inventory, and time tracking. Its price, voluminous support, and usability make it a great choice for a novice or a small start-up. Consider what you need the accounting software to accomplish for you and your business, and seek out software that will help you accomplish these tasks with ease. For example, do you need invoicing and billing support, or do you also need tax compliance and robust reporting? Also research customer support, customer reviews, integration capabilities and growth potential. All in all, I would say that this software is easy to use but I would have preferred it included some features it lacked, such as the ability to send payable invoices from the platform.