The Best Budget-Friendly Accounting Software for Small Businesses in 2025

Our top free bookkeeping software recommendation is Wave Accounting. Luckily, most tax preparer mistakes bookkeeping software comes with a free trial. (For one thing, it starts at an above-average monthly price.) Xero and Wave Accounting are more affordable with similar reporting features. But QuickBooks Online isn’t necessarily the best online accounting solution for you.

Patriot Software Accounting Basic

Tax time no longer has you chugging bottles of antacid while you scramble to find your records. Managing invoices goes from a headache to a routine task. With today’s tools, you can automate, simplify, and focus on what really matters—growing your business. A medium-sized enterprise integrated Zoho Books with its operations, resulting in enhanced financial reporting and inter-departmental collaboration .

Some bookkeeping companies and accounting firms use proprietary in-house accounting software. Its comprehensive reports are easy for first-time business owners to generate and understand, and it offers more thorough reporting than just about any other software out there. Want to check out software ranked by accounting features, not just bookkeeping basics? If you’re nervous about setting up accounting software for the first time, Kashoo’s experts can talk you through it. For accountant access, more accurate bookkeeping, and detailed business health reports, you’ll need the $30-a-month Plus plan (non-promotional price).

But business performance report if you prefer your accounting tools on the go, look elsewhere. We’re not sure if the free plan lets you track income and expenses or not—Kashoo’s site gives contradictory answers. Like Zoho Books, Kashoo’s automation is its selling point—and unlike Zoho Books, it syncs with SurePayroll, one of our top payroll providers.

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Depending on the type of accounting software you invest in, the software will help you create and send invoices, track projects and spending, and much more. Accounting software is software that automates the most important bookkeeping tasks for small businesses. That said, all five of the best accounting software for small-business owners on our list are impressively user friendly. Check out the best small business accounting software for Macs. We’re going to walk you through the 10 best accounting software solutions below, but these are the best options out there—so how can you decide which one will work best for your business?

• I also liked the built-in security features like two-factor authentication, advanced encryption systems, role restrictions and IP-based login restrictions, which are rarely included at this level.
• The software is fast, reliable, and convenient for business owners that need to see their finances in real-time or manage inventory.
• This will give you the peace of mind that you need to manage your business finances effectively.
• Many users appreciate its comprehensive features, robust reporting capabilities and seamless integration with other systems that are beneficial for larger enterprises and complex accounting needs.
• Adding on Patriot Payroll costs $17/month +$4/month per person – $37/month + $4/month per person.

Starts at $19 per month (without any discounts applied) However, this tier includes everything in the Premium plan plus the option for add-ons. FreshBooks doesn’t disclose the exact pricing for this tier so you’ll have to reach out to speak to a specialist for pricing. Starts at $15 per month (without any discounts applied)

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Sage Business Cloud Accounting offers two affordable plans for small businesses with up to 10 employees, including audit trails and third-party integrations. For $37 per month, the Growing plan offers bulk transaction reconciliation and unlimited invoicing and bill entering. The Early plan starts at $13 per month and includes basic features like bank reconciliation and business snapshots.

• Not sure what accounting software to choose for your business?
• QuickBooks Online is one of the most popular bookkeeping software choices in the US.
• You can, for example, accept ACH and credit card payments, customize and create unlimited invoices and estimates, import and manage bank transactions, and track time and expenses.
• A generous free trial always catches my eye if it gives users enough access to truly test the platform before committing.
• We’ve been testing accounting software for more than two decades, so we know what’s best for even the smallest businesses.
• The best accounting software and services are affordable, easy to use, and help you easily manage your books.

Accounting

Designed to be user-friendly, Xero is accessible to those without an accounting background. Deciding to go paperless is an added benefit, saving time and resources. This will give you the peace of mind that you need to manage your business finances effectively. Last but not least, it is important to consider the support options each provider offers before investing in a product. By trying out different solutions, you can find the one that works best for your business. This includes not only the upfront costs of the software but also any additional fees or recurring costs that may be involved.

What accounting software do bookkeepers use?

FreshBooks claims its software can help users save up to 46 hrs per year on filing their taxes. You can also sync Xero with multiple devices and receive real-time reports, ensuring you have up-to-date bookkeeping information ifrs and gaap accounting: top 10 differences & effects on business when and where you need it. Perfect for small businesses or freelancers that need to track expenses, log mileage, and organize receipts. OneUp also matches bank transactions with invoices, enabling you to control your cash flow, which every small business needs. Each time you approve a suggestion, it validates OneUp’s algorithms, increasing its accuracy to meet your accounting needs.

Choose Wave If…

You will need to upgrade to a paid tier for advanced features, more users or higher transaction volumes. A dedicated, secure mobile application allows you to manage tasks like submitting expense receipts, approving invoices or checking key financial metrics while away from a desktop. While many platforms use promotional pricing to lure in new users, we rated those with stable, sustainable pricing more favorably. We favored providers with transparent pricing, predictable cost increases and solid feature sets across all plans—not just the premium tiers.

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The best accounting software and services are affordable, easy to use, and help you easily manage your books. Some accounting services offer their most basic plan for $0 per month with the option to pay for add-ons. Still, Zoho Books offers affordable pricing considering the slew of services users can take advantage of.

That’s where we come in — CNBC Select rounded up some of the best accounting software for small businesses. Yes, many accounting software solutions, including QuickBooks, Zoho Books, and Xero, offer built-in payroll features. And while many accounting software services overlap, some provide solutions more suited to one small business than another. Neat accounting software usability makes it a popular choice for self-employed entrepreneurs, with users saying it only takes 5 minutes to set up. Suits small business owners who need user-friendly mobile accounting software.

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The best tools make financial reporting, invoicing and compliance easier while giving you real-time insights into your cash flow and performance. Choosing cloud accounting software isn’t just about automating your books. Although QuickBooks remains a popular choice due to its market presence and features, especially for basic bookkeeping, many users are considering alternatives due to the rising costs and service issues. While some appreciate its capability for automating accounting tasks and ease of use for small businesses, many express frustration with its frequent glitches, slow customer support and increasing subscription costs.

You usually need to submit financial documents like profit and loss reports as part of your business taxes each year. 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. Start out with our small-business accounting guide. Want to learn a little more about bookkeeping and accounting before you dive into our top reviews? Answer some questions about your small business and we’ll pair you with customized software options. With less time spent on data entry, you have more time for the things you like most about small-business ownership, whether that’s getting to know customers or making products you’re proud of.

Accounting Software FAQs

However, you may be more likely to make a mistake with manual bookkeeping if you aren’t an expert. Starts at $0/month (without any discounts applied) Starts at $35 per month (without any discounts applied)

And it doesn’t integrate with third-party payroll providers either. That’s a standout bargain, especially compared to FreshBooks’ extra $10 per user per month. Otherwise, Zoho Books starts at $15 a month if you pay annually or $20 if you pay month to month. Plus, Zoho Books is just one piece of software in the larger suite of Zoho products. It’s exceptionally easy to use and provides top-notch support options, making it a good choice for accounting novices. The site provides 21 accounting reports and great mobile access through a web browser.

Accounting software integrations can make a big difference as your business grows. It’s also convenient to snap and send photos of receipts or other financial documents, view key financial metrics, and track time or miles. Functionality also varies, with some accounting services providing robust mobile features, whereas others have limited tools.