Where is the best place to find accounting software? Owning your own business has lots of ups and downs. One of the biggest struggles business owners have is getting a handle on their accounting. In the past, accounting meant long hours spent doing calculations by hand or struggling with complicated spreadsheets. That old approach often left room for errors and caused delays (and headaches). But there are better, more modern options that can help you optimize your accounting and get a handle on your business finances with zero hassle.
Best Option
Wave bills itself as a money management system with accounting software that serves small business owners first. The goal is to simplify your everyday business tasks like invoicing, online payments, and keeping track of your finances all in one simple dashboard. The best part is that this software isn't built for accountants. Instead, it's built for people who own businesses but need to handle their accounting themselves. So, there's little to no learning curve.
Impressive interface on free plan
To get started with Wave, you can click the "get started for free" button to join. You just need to add an email and a password to jump right into the software. Wave will ask for your business details, including the name, type, and legal structure of your current business. You can select what you want Wave to help you with first, and it will suggest the best plan. One of the plans is totally free, so you can use the software at no cost. When you get started, Wave will guide you through setting up your dashboard. You'll be directed to add a company signatory, agree to the terms of service, set up your direct deposit, add team members for payroll, and 1099 tax forms. From there, you'll be directed to your accounting software dashboard, where you can see everything in a clean user interface at a glance.
Two plans with plenty of features
Wave's accounting software plans are the Starter plan, which is totally free, and the Pro plan, which is a paid subscription (available for monthly and annual payments).
Costs either $19 per month or $190 per year
The accounting software at Wave includes two plans. One is totally free of charge: yes, you can use it without any cost. It isn't a free trial, either. You just get access to the features above without payment. Wave's paid Pro plan isn't particularly costly either. The monthly fee is $19 per month for all the listed features, and you can save $38 per year if you choose the $190 annual fee. Either way, the prices are upfront and don't break the bank.
Some integrations are limited to "Pro" accounts
Wave's integrations are solid, but are limited to those who are subscribed to the Pro plan. According to an announcement on the integrations page, Wave requires you to have a Pro plan to integrate with existing and new APIs. (If you've checked out Wave in the past and this is coming as a surprise, the company implemented this requirement in May 2025.) However, some in-house integrations, like Zapier and Wave Connect, are still available for free. To see the full list of integrations, though, you will need to finish setting up your account and click on your business name to open the integrations tab. Otherwise, the list isn't offered before you're signed up.
Top pick for invoicing
Wave currently holds an "A+" rating and accreditation with the Better Business Bureau. It also has highly impressive reviews on tech-based review sites like Capterra and Business News Daily. On Capterra, which offers verified third-party reviews, Wave holds a 4.4-star average out of 1,700 total reviews. In general, business owners were impressed with the invoicing features of Wave. It helped multiple reviewers "stay on top of billing cycles" and required minimal effort to maintain general finances. Customers love the tracking and logging features for payments and estimate assistance. It's harder to find reviews for Wave on our traditional third-party review sites, but we're not concerned.
Top pick for budget-friendly software
If you're looking for accounting software that doesn't break the bank and has top-tier support for invoicing, Wave is going to be your next pick. While we'd like to see more transparency on the integrations for this accounting software, it remains our top pick due to the unbeatable pricing. Wave doesn't charge anything for its base tier, which offers plenty of tools for starting business owners. The Pro tier also isn't overly costly and offers savings if you plan to subscribe for a year. If anything, the free version is 100% worth a look. For these reasons, Wave earns a full 5 stars in our review.
Great
FreeAgent is accounting software that's entirely designed to support small businesses. The software is based in the cloud for easy access anywhere, and it was created specifically with freelancers who have to juggle lots of areas of their businesses all at the same time. Currently, FreeAgent is being used by over 200,000 businesses, and it won a silver award from the UKCXA 2024 for having a top user experience. The company first opened in 2009, and it was acquired by the NatWest Group in 2018.
Quick sign up with a checklist
To get started at FreeAgent, you can make an account for free and test out the process. To join, you just need to enter some personal info like your name, email, business name and type, and a password. Once you get in, FreeAgent will guide you through their "launch" and offer help automatically with the "live agent" (which is an AI assistant). Your first step will be to fill out your business details (including address and business category). Then, you'll choose how you want your information displayed (date format, currency, time zone, locale, and mileage units, for example). In order to complete your sign-up, you'll need a bank and routing number, so make sure that you have that pulled up. Once you're all set up, you'll be offered options to link different accounts, so you have complete visibility, and FreeAgent will show you the next steps to get the most out of the accounting software by using a checklist to guide you.
Full tracking and automated invoices
FreeAgent's main dashboard starts with simple features like account tracking for all your linked bank accounts, expenses and bill tracking, generating invoices, estimates, and timeslips, and a profit and loss tracker with a tax timeline. FreeAgent's accounting software has great automation, too, so you can make sure your invoices and bill payments are sent out without you needing to monitor the system all the time. And, the expense tracking is extremely simple. You just need to take photos of your receipts for business expenses and upload them to FreeAgent. You won't need to manually track them ever again.
Costs $27 per month or $270 per year
FreeAgent is totally free to get started. You can try out the accounting software for 30 days, just to get a handle on things and see how the tracking supports you. Once your 30-day trial is over, you'll have the option to pay monthly or pay annually. The monthly cost is $27 per month. The annual plan is $270 per year. Either way, you'll have access to all of the same features for a reasonable cost.
50+ native integrations
As for integrations, FreeAgent offers support for a few different third-party products, including Open Banking for access to international bank feeds. You can connect to BrightTax, Capium, GoSimpleTax, IRIS, Mettle, NatWest, and integrate with major e-commerce sites like Amazon, SumUp, or WooCommerce. If you're hoping to integrate with your existing payment software, you can connect with PayPal and Stripe, among many others. There are over 50 different supported integrations, making it simple to use this accounting software alongside other features you're used to having for your business.
High praise for usability
FreeAgent holds an impressive "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau. On top of that, it currently holds a 4.6-star rating out of 5 on Trustpilot. Recently, reviewers have had a highly positive experience with this accounting software. Customers love the simple interface, easy navigation, and the way it simplifies accounting and finances for small businesses. Recent reviews were all a full 5 stars as recently as a day before the time of our review. FreeAgent also has high praise for its customer service team, who are noted as being helpful in every situation, no matter what the problem is.
Best beginner-friendly solution
FreeAgent is a great service if you want to see everything in your business expenses and accounts at a glance. The software is easy to learn and free for 30 days, allowing you to decide if you want to use the platform before you have to pay. The cost is also not overly expensive if you pay annually, and with helpful automations, integrations, and solid customer reviews, FreeAgent is one of our top picks. If you're looking for a user-friendly solution that isn't overwhelming for your next accounting software, the beginner-focused options at FreeAgent are a great place to start.
Very Good
Sage 50 is an accounting software option that's specifically designed to support small businesses, currently used by over 2 million companies and with over 40 years of collective experience as part of its service team. Whether you want to just manage your cash flow, simplify payments, or automate details to and from your bank, Sage 50 has simple tools to make it streamlined. However, if you're looking for the most modern software in the industry, this interface might feel a little old-fashioned when compared to other providers in our review.
Some issues with testing the software
Sage 50 lets you get started by testing out the software before you buy. You can click the "Take a Test Drive" button to sign up for your free trial. You may see a warning to turn off ad blockers when you sign up, so make sure to choose a browser you don't mind doing that with. To access the free trial, you'll need your email, name, and company name. Then, you'll be asked about the size of your company, the country, the business phone number for your company, and the state you're located in. Sage 50 notes that it will send you your "test drive" to the email you supplied during sign-up. However, we tried two different emails and never received the link to use this accounting software.
Choose how much support you need
Sage 50's accounting software options include both annual and monthly payment plans. You can choose from 4 plans depending on your business needs. These include:
Cost from $66.08 to $194.42 per month
The costs at Sage 50 are highly transparent, but they aren't the most budget-friendly. Here's how the prices for this accounting software shake out both monthly and annually:
Minimal information on integrations
Integrations for Sage 50 are included for all areas of your business. You'll find add-ons for payroll, eFiling, HR, direct deposit, checks and forms, and much more. However, the list of add-ons is much smaller at Sage 50 than with other accounting software platforms in our review. There are only about 10 options listed with Sage 50, and these seem to be additional apps developed by Sage 50 itself rather than a list of external integrations. Notably, you can code your own integrations if you're a developer, but there isn't a spot where you can see whether or not Sage 50 connects with PayPal or other business favorites.
Easy to use and great automations
Sage 50 has a mixed reputation depending on where you look. On the Better Business Bureau, Sage 50 holds a lower-than-average "C-" rating due to its failure to respond to complaints against the business. However, on other third-party review sites like Trustpilot, Sage 50 has a much more competitive reputation. Our research shows that Sage 50 has a respectable 4.1-star average rating out of 5 with almost 20,000 individual reviews to back up that score. According to recent feedback, Sage 50 is a comprehensive accounting software. The features that come stock are easy to use and helpful, and automations are particularly easy with this platform. On the other hand, there are still some problems with long wait times or difficulties getting questions answered by customer service.
Competitive for its usability
While Sage 50 isn't the most affordable option, having most of the main accounting software features included for the price is helpful. It has high praise for its usability, and it offers different tiers for different business needs. Only the lack of clearly spelled-out integrations keeps this from being more competitive. However, it still holds a solid score in our review. Sage 50 is definitely worth a look if you're hoping for an easy setup and smooth accounting process.
Good
LessAccounting is a platform for accounting software that promises "effortless bookkeeping" throughout your subscription. You should be almost completely hands-off when you use LessAccounting, so you can spend more time on your business instead. This company got started in 2011 and is a cloud-based platform that allows you to access your finances anywhere, any time.
Need to wait for them to get details
To get started with LessAccounting, you'll need to contact them for a personalized consultation. From there, LessAccounting will design a program for you and process your onboarding with ongoing monthly maintenance on your finances. However, if you're a DIY type of person who doesn't want to rely on a quote from the company to get your accounting started, this accounting software platform may be more frustrating and time-consuming to join than some others in our review. To get in contact, you'll have to put in your name, email, and details about your business. Then, you wait anywhere from an hour to 24 hours to get a response. During our review period, we didn't hear back within a day, which was frustrating.
Find the features on the pricing page
There's only a superficial amount of information about the features of LessAccounting on the website. Ideally, the accounting software platform wants you to talk to them to get the information you need. However, if you look around, you'll be able to find a pricing page with more details on different plans and features.
Subscription from $199 to $399 per month
The pricing is all listed monthly at LessAccounting, but it's quite a bit steeper than other accounting software sites in our review. The base tier, Simple, costs $199 per month. The Growth tier is $299 per month, and the Business Pro tier is $399 per month. You can't subscribe to any of these on your own, however. To actually join the site, you'll need to contact a sales rep or schedule a call with LessAccounting.
Nearly 100 integrations
As for integrations, LessAccounting connects with the majority of banking institutions, including Bank of America, American Express, Chase, Wells Fargo, Capital One, Regions, and payment processors like PayPal, Stripe, and WePay. You'll also get access to Wagepoint payroll software, ZenCash, Basecamp, and developer and API access for third-party apps. There are almost 100 different apps and programs that work with LessAccounting.
No feedback from the BBB
Finding reviews and ratings for LessAccounting is a little more difficult than with some of the other services in our review. Compared to other accounting software that has ratings with the Better Business Bureau and Trustpilot, LessAccounting isn't reviewed or rated on any of those platforms. Instead, our research had to rely on reviews from tech review sites like G2 or PCMag. On average, LessAccounting usually rated between 3 and 4.4 stars depending on which site was reviewing it. Verified customer reviews on Capterra said that the LessAccounting software was an all-in-one approach that even included a time tracker for hours. However, some complaints noted that LessAccounting doesn't integrate with newer software. So, for those looking for a completely modern platform, this might miss the mark a little.
Too costly for many new businesses
While some customers like the all-in-one features of LessAccounting, the cost is going to be a bit of a problem for some. If you're a freelancer or the owner of a new small business, this won't be the best choice for you, as the price point starts at nearly $200 per month. While the integrations are impressive, the lack of reviews on trusted third-party review sites makes it harder to gauge the site when compared to other accounting software with more feedback. For these reasons, LessAccounting earns a slightly above mid-tier rating rather than something higher.
Good
Zoho Books is an accounting platform that offers not just assistance with your business as is, but also software that will help you grow your business. From generating 1099 reports to managing expenses, Zoho Books is designed to help you simplify your day-to-day finances. This platform has been around since 2011, making it one of the more established online accounting software platforms in our review.
Easy trial to start out
Zoho Books lets you test out the software in two ways. You can either start your free trial right away or request a demo from the Zoho Books team. If you choose to start your free trial of the accounting software, Zoho Books will ask you for your company name, email, mobile number, and a password. When you get started with the platform, you'll answer a few more questions about whether you need to import information from other software, and Zoho Books will let you either jump right in, or you can get a tour of the dashboard.
Helpful dashboard
You'll see a list of things you can view, like sales, purchases, time tracking, filing, banking, and reports, all along the left side navigation. On your main dashboard, you'll see a checklist for things to help you get your account up and running. You can put together charts for your accounts and connect with integrations right from the easy-to-use dashboard.
Fit your features to your business level
Zoho Books offers both a free program (you can use the platform and many of its features at no cost) and a few other tiers of accounting software.
Cost from $0 to $275 per month
Each of the accounting software tiers has monthly and annual pricing, with a slight discount if you choose annual billing. Here's how the costs shake out:
Could use some more integrations
Zoho Books has some limitations for integrations, as some come with higher tiers of service. However, in general, it has a decent list of integrations for the lower cost tiers. You can find connectivity with apps like Stripe, PayPal, Playflow Pro, Verifone, Braintree, CSG Forte, Square, and more. On the other hand, the public list of integrations is smaller than some of the options in our review.
Some troubles with cancellation
At the time of our review, Zoho Books was not rated by the Better Business Bureau. Instead, we had to rely on feedback from other third-party review sites. According to feedback on Trustpilot, Zoho Books had a competitive 4.1-star rating out of 5. Recent reviews were mostly 5 stars, though there were a few 1-star reviews within the preceding week. The positive reviews praise the accessibility of this accounting software, and its ability to help businesses do more than just bookkeeping, but also help them manage their online presence and more. However, some customers have trouble with the account settings and find the learning curve for Zoho's system to be too steep. There are also some concerning reviews about difficulties cancelling the paid subscriptions. So, if you want to switch or drop to a less costly tier, you may have trouble with the customer service team.
Great choice if you want free accounting software
Zoho Books is a decent option offering an impressive free tier for you to do the basics of managing your finances. If you're just looking for accounting software that does the job, Zoho Books' free tier is going to be a great choice. While there are some mixed reviews about cancelling the paid tiers that make the more feature-heavy options less viable, this platform is definitely worth a look. With the mixed reviews included, we give Zoho Books a mid-tier rating, with its free option being the primary selling point.
Average
FreshBooks is an accounting software site that promises to simplify everything about finance for your business. It's designed to help out freelance workers, "solopreneurs," businesses with employees, and businesses with contractors (so, basically, it's for everyone). According to the on-site analytics, this accounting software should save you up to 500+ hours each year and up to $7,000 in billable hours that you don't need to spend on an accountant (or waste doing the accounting yourself).
Join to see your all-in-one dashboard
To get started with FreshBooks, you'll click the "buy now and save" button at the top of the screen. This will direct you to the payment plans page right away. However, there are some annoying pop-ups. The chat window and pop-up that keeps suggesting you connect with a rep to find the right plan show up repeatedly while you're browsing. From this page, you can find the free trial for FreshBooks, though it's less obvious than the "buy now" options.
Get your free trial
To get your free trial, you just need to make an account. Once you sign up, you'll be asked to verify your email, then put in your personal and business information. The questionnaire you get is more detailed than we've seen at other accounting software sites and includes questions about turnaround times for your products and how customized your items are. From there, FreshBooks will guide you through the setup process. Between navigation, settings, business notifications, billing, client management, organization, invoicing, and bank connections, everything is on one simple dashboard.
Choose your tier
Whether you want to work from home or check things on the go, FreshBooks has an app to allow you access to the accounting software anytime. However, depending on what plan tier you choose (from Lite, Plus, Premium, and Select), your overall access to features may be more limited.
Costs $6.30 to $19.50 per month before extras
FreshBooks has different plans depending on whether you're a freelancer or a business owner who needs more features. If you want to check out the full program, you can use the 30-day free trial to go through all the features. When you subscribe, you'll choose one of four subscription tiers. The subscriptions can be paid monthly or annually. Here's how the costs shake out:
On top of those prices, there are some extras on top of the accounting software to keep in mind. If you want advanced payments, it will be an additional $20 per month. If you want team member dashboards, it's $11 per month per person added, and the FreshBooks payroll program is $40 per month plus an extra $6 per user.
More limited selection of integrations
As for integrations, you can find plenty of apps and programs that work natively with FreshBooks' accounting software. For example, you can integrate with online payment processors like PayPal, Stripe, and Gusto. You can also work with HubSpot and Zapier if you prefer. FreshBooks offers some API integrations as well. You can integrate with plenty of apps like Pidj Texting, Acuity Scheduling, Lovat Compliance LTD, Aclockk AI Time Tracking, Collectdesk, and more. Some of the apps and integrations are free, and others will need to be paid for separately (unless you already have an account with one of them).
Easy to use, but too costly for more features
FreshBooks could work a little harder on its reputation according to what we've seen in our research. FreshBooks holds a below-average "C-" rating on the Better Business Bureau. It does a little bit better on other verified review sites like Trustpilot, where FreshBooks holds a 3.9-star average rating out of 5. On average, FreshBooks has a decent amount of praise from customers who felt that the accounting software had a minimal setup process and simplified the process of invoices, specifically. However, some customers who are bookkeepers for small businesses found the program frustrating due to the nickel-and-diming required to get a full experience that's actually helpful for a business with more than a few people.
Could offer more features with the base price
While the pricing seems great, especially if you're a single freelancer, the reality is that FreshBooks' accounting software might miss the mark if you need more than the basic tracking features. If you're hoping to manage more than 5 clients, get payment structures set up for individual employees or contractors, or get multiple access points for the account, you'll end up paying a lot more than the base price. For these reasons, it isn't as competitive as some accounting software platforms that include more features for the subscription cost.
Fair
Xero is a popular accounting software platform that is already being used by over 4 million business owners. The goal of Xero's software is to help you keep everything in one place, automate the functions of accounting and bookkeeping so you don't need to worry about the annoying details in your day-to-day business running, and offer you data reports and insights to help you keep up with trends and make better business decisions in the long run. Xero opened initially in 2006 in Wellington, New Zealand, and has grown since to support business owners in the US.
No free trial unless you enter your payment information
To get started at Xero, you can join the free trial, which lasts a full 30 days. However, you will need to select a plan from the Early, Growing, and Established business types and enter your payment information before you can try the software. This is similar to a few other accounting software sites in our review. On the other hand, it does create some limitations for those who want to try out a program without paying (or without the threat of a payment being processed if they forget to cancel).
Three different plans for different business levels
Depending on which of Xero's three plans you choose, you'll get slightly different features.
Costs from $20 to $80 per month
Xero's accounting software offers fairly reasonable pricing for its plans, all billed monthly. The Early plan costs $20 per month, the Growing plan costs $47 per month, and the Established plan costs $80 per month. The costs are reasonable for the features, and if you can stay on the lower tier, it is competitive with the least expensive accounting software platforms in our review.
25+ integrations offered
The integrations at Xero are promised to offer top-tier customizability, so you can manage your business all in one place. The integrations will all come from the Xero app store. You can find top business integrations like HubSpot, Shopify, Stripe, Syft, DEXT, Expensify, Fathom, Gusto, PayPal, Synder, and more. There are around 25 listed integrations, with notes that there are more on the Xero App Store.
Solid customer service, but more issues to start with
Xero, regrettably, holds an abysmal "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau. However, on other third-party review sites, like Trustpilot, its reputation is much better. This accounting software holds a 4-star average rating out of 5. Recent reviews were mostly 5 stars and said that customer service team members at Xero were extremely polite and helpful. Almost every review starts by mentioning an issue with Xero and then how the customer service team solved it. So, while the end result was fine, this shows a pattern of issues with Xero's technology when compared to other sites.
Needs to work on its reputation a bit more
While Xero has a decent reputation on third-party review sites, the "F" rating is still something to keep an eye on. Since it seems to have more usage issues than other accounting software (leading to good but frequent use of customer support), it doesn't rank quite as highly as more reliable platforms in our review. However, it does have a competitive price range, so it may be worth looking into, though the lack of a free trial before paying is another drawback.
Subpar
Kashoo brands itself as being the "world's simplest accounting software," so it's ideal for small-business owners who want to work out invoicing, tax returns, or just need something that helps them keep organized. Unlike some accounting software platforms, Kashoo actually makes multiple apps and platforms to help you grab only the features you need (or all of the features you need) in one subscription. The platform offers both the Kashoo app and the Trulysmall app, both for accounting purposes. Kashoo has earned some buzz on Forbes and the Apple App Store.
A little more cluttered than competitors
To get started with Kashoo, you'll need to pick between the two accounting software options developed by this platform.
To get a feel for the site, we did our trial run on Kashoo's full app experience. You'll be asked to make an account to use your free trial, which will include details about your business name, yourself, and your location. Within seconds, you'll be taken to your income and expenses dashboard. However, when compared to some other accounting software in our review, Kashoo's experience is less streamlined. There are a lot of boxes, dropdowns, and hyperlinks that make the dashboard look busier than those we've seen at other accounting software sites. It is also a more limited dashboard. To see other parts of your business, like bills, clients, income reports, or unpaid invoices, you'll have to switch tabs and travel through the dashboard rather than seeing it all at a glance.
You get more features with the "lower" tier
Depending on which tier of accounting software you choose, you will get slightly different features. For example, the Trulysmall software includes business automation without the need for any manual entries to track your business or expenses. You'll get invoice tracking, payment collection, the ability to add your logo to your materials, estimate tracking, IRS & CRA account charts, full transaction tracking with auto categorization, multi-user access, multiple currencies, and email alerts. Now, the actual Kashoo software includes some things that aren't available in the Trulysmall software, but it also drops a few things. Additions include payroll integration, check printing, and custom design and layout. However, you lose auto categorization, email alerts, all the estimate features, and more.
Cost from $20 to $30 per month
Oddly, it feels like the Trulysmall plan is a better deal. Trulysmall costs $20 per month and includes (in some areas) more features than the Kashoo "official" software. On the other hand, Kashoo costs $30 per month and promises a more personalized experience, but the side-by-side comparison suggests that you may want the lower tier at this accounting software site. There is a 15-day free trial for both plans, so you can decide which one gets the job done for your business.
More limited integrations
Kashoo has more limited integrations than some of the other sites in our review. This accounting software will natively integrate with Square and Stripe for payment processing. You'll also be able to connect with SurePayroll and Paychex. However, further integrations aren't listed, creating a much smaller range of integrations than we've seen with competitors.
Some issues with incorrect entries
Kashoo did not have a page with the Better Business Bureau at the time of our review. On top of that, finding customer reviews on other verified third-party review sites was somewhat difficult. Kashoo had only one total review on Trustpilot with a dismal 1-star rating. The customer said that he has used Kashoo for over 6 years and has had issues with duplicate bank entries, up to four entries for one transaction, and each duplicate item had to be removed individually. Support apparently couldn't help with the issue, and he has since switched to another accounting software platform. There are similar concerns from tech blogs and publications like PCMag, where Kashoo earns just 3 stars out of 5.
Confusing and not reliable enough
At the end of the day, because of the slightly confusing fee structure (with the lower tier offering generally more features) for this accounting software and the concerns about Kashoo's reliability in terms of reporting accuracy, it doesn't quite stand out from the pack in our review. With no BBB scores to back it up and just 1 review on Trustpilot, it needs more feedback before it earns a higher score from us.
Weak
Quickbooks, also known as Intuit Quickbooks, is the accounting software specifically designed as part of the Intuit suite (which includes software like Turbotax where you can immediately integrate it to get business software all together). Whether you want to have an easier time managing your finances alone or if you want to get professional help from an expert, Quickbooks has got your back. Plus, Quickbooks works for all business levels - new small businesses, professionals or freelancers, retailers, and nonprofits. And with cloud and desktop compatibility, you can use Quickbooks wherever you're most comfortable.
No free trial access before you provide payment info
To get started with your Quickbooks membership, you'll first need to choose between one of four plans that include the Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, and Advanced. You can, thankfully, get a free trial before you have to pay for one of the plans. Quickbooks offers a free trial for 30 days. It does tell you to "check out" before you can access the free trial, which is frustrating. After you make a username and password, you will be asked to input your payment information before you can access the free trial. Compared to other sites that allow you to use the accounting software before you have to commit to payments, Quickbooks is more determined to get you to stay by snagging your credit card info (and probably hoping you'll forget to cancel when the 30 days are up).
AI-powered, with tons of features
Depending on which of the four accounting software plans you choose, you'll get slightly different features. None of the plans include payroll software, so you will be offered the opportunity to grab that at an upcharge.
Costs from $38 to $137 per month without payroll
The accounting software plans by themselves are at a discounted price (at least at the time of our review) for the first three months. After that, they go up to the standard price, which we'll list below, so you know what you're looking at long-term from Quickbooks:
Over 800 integrations
In terms of integrations, Quickbooks works natively with other Intuit software with zero problems. On top of that, it works with over 800 different business apps, including Amazon Business, PayPal, Square, Etsy, eBay, Shopify, BigTime, Gusto, Buildertrend, Housecall Pro, and many more. If you're looking for an accounting software that easily works with other programs that are already part of your business, Quickbooks is definitely one to keep an eye on.
Concerning reviews about customer service
Quickbooks reviews are harder to find on the BBB. Instead, we had to research its parent company, Intuit, to get the details. Currently, Intuit holds an average rating of "B-" from the Better Business Bureau. However, when we researched Quickbooks specifically on Trustpilot, we were deeply concerned by the reviews. On average, this accounting software has earned a 1.1-star average out of 5 stars there. Most customers felt let down by Quickbooks. There were tons of negative reviews covering poor customer service, unhelpful staff, and long wait times to get problem resolution. Despite the large number of integrations, Quickbooks also seems to have problems with processing payments, causing problems with the bookkeeping in general.
Not worth the poor customer service
While the integrations sound like a solid selling point, the actual customer experience with Quickbooks isn't one you want to jump into. Regrettably, Quickbooks' 1.1-star average is a major red flag, especially since business owners can't get ahold of the customer service team to get problems resolved. Only the integrations keep it from being the lowest-rated accounting software in our review.
Poor
Oracle Netsuite is a cloud-based accounting software platform that focuses on optimizing your ledger and helping you streamline your tax management at the end of the fiscal year. This software stands out from its competitors by offering management for payables and receivables, and it offers AI technology to help automate manual processes that would normally waste your valuable business time. Oracle Netsuite is also a platform that goes beyond basic accounting, noted to grow with you through the Netsuite platform that also offers separate software for inventory management, HR, customer management, e-commerce, and more.
No pricing unless you have a Zoom call
Oracle Netsuite is another site where you may need to call a representative to get all the details. You can click on the "Free tour" button at the top of the screen to get a quick look at the accounting software, though. However, instead of actually taking you on a product tour, you'll be directed to wait to be contacted by a rep. To streamline this process, we used the online chat features instead. It took a few minutes to get connected, and once we did, the answers were somewhat frustrating. The individual we were connected with stated that he was not privy to "specific information around pricing." We would need to complete a full and detailed call with specific information about the business to get sent to someone who might be able to give us pricing. After spending about 20 minutes and getting zero answers, we asked for a connection to the specialist, but we never heard back from them via phone or email.
Decent features, but unclear which you get
The main excuse for not having details about pricing online is that the accounting software at Oracle Netsuite is "unique" and "custom" (according to our service rep in the chat). As far as our research turned up on the website, you will be able to get a general ledger with income and expense reporting, and "enhanced audit trails." Access includes cash management, so you can see and monitor all bank accounts in one place. You'll also be able to manage invoicing and payment plans for paying your employees (if you have them). Oracle Netsuite helps with tax management, including multiple tax schedules. Other features include fixed assets management and grant management (especially helpful to a non-profit).
Starting costs of over $1,000 per month
During our chat with the accounting software rep, we created a sample small business to get going and said the annual revenue was around $100,000. After stating this information (after about 30 minutes on chat), the original rep we spoke to (who originally had said he didn't have financial information) finally told us that we "aren't a good fit for their program" and that pricing costs "upwards of $1k/month." When we asked why he couldn't tell us that earlier, he simply ended the chat and logged us off (!).
Rude reps are a red flag
At the end of the day, the customer service rep gave us a lot of runaround and was extremely rude by the end of the chat, as soon as he realized we weren't representing a large-scale business. Nothing on Oracle Netsuite indicates that this may not be ideal for small businesses. Plus, the attitude we experienced after he found out that we had a lower income level than "ideal" for Oracle Netsuite was a bit shocking, and raised some red flags about how they might treat other customers of their accounting software in the future.
Not a winner with business owners
Oracle Netsuite currently holds an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau; however, on third-party review sites like Trustpilot, the feedback is dismal. Netsuite currently has a 1.4-star average rating on Trustpilot, which was somewhat unsurprising after the customer "service" we received while talking to Oracle Netsuite. Customers who got through the entire process to get a proper quote (and weren't shut down over their income) said that the quoted prices had changed by the time they committed to a contract with Oracle Netsuite. Further reviews say that actually using the platform is a nightmare, that it's "utterly hopeless" and struggles with concurrent connections. The accounting software is also claimed to be completely unintuitive, bulky, and slow.
Not worth the cost or the stress
Even for those who can afford the extremely high starting costs, Oracle Netsuite isn't an option we can recommend. It's slow, clunky, and hard to use, and their pricing isn't even reliable if its $1,000+ starting range is within your budget. With the negative reviews and the rude customer service to consider, Oracle Netsuite easily earns the bottom spot for accounting software in our review.
Continued from above...
Owning your own business has lots of ups and downs. One of the biggest struggles business owners have is getting a handle on their accounting. In the past, accounting meant long hours spent doing calculations by hand or struggling with complicated spreadsheets. That old approach often left room for errors and caused delays (and headaches). But there are better, more modern options that can help you optimize your accounting and get a handle on your business finances with zero hassle.
Modern accounting software has transformed this process by automating calculations and keeping records in real time. It can even connect to your bank accounts and track expenses as they happen. These improvements mean that your business can now manage its finances faster and more accurately. So, when you get to the tough part of the year (yeah, we all hate tax season), your numbers are all ready to go.
Accounting software can make a big difference for anyone, but it's especially helpful if you own a small business. Instead of worrying about lost receipts or trying to track your payroll yourself, accounting software helps you keep everything in one easy-to-read dashboard. For many small businesses, having your finance tools for payments, taxes, and more all in one program saves time, giving you more freedom to focus on growing your company.
One of the biggest advantages of accounting software today is the support that comes with it. Many platforms include tutorials, built-in guides, and even access to live experts who can answer questions. This way, if you're totally new to accounting software (or changing over from a software that's completely different from the newer ones out there), you can jump right in without the extra learning curve. And, if you do feel comfortable with finance, some programs also provide detailed reports on cash flow, profit margins, and other key data, giving you a clearer picture of how your company is doing and what steps to take next.
Plus, accounting software also offers flexibility and savings that make it an attractive option. Cloud-based platforms allow access from anywhere, so you can check accounts on the go. Some services offer features that can grow along with your business, too, so as you level up, you don't need to worry about finding new or different accounting software all over again.
If you're ready to find the right program so you can cut down on wasted time, keep finances secure, and gain peace of mind knowing that your records are accurate, we totally get it. Here are some factors to consider before you start crunching numbers:
For small businesses that need efficiency and reliability, accounting software has become one of the smartest investments available. Whether you're starting your first business or you've been building an empire for years now, solid accounting software can make the difference between a smooth fiscal year and a high-stress end-of-year audit. To help you make the best choice for your business, Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked the top accounting software platforms available today. This way, you can hand off the finances to the experts and focus on making your mark in the business world!
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