Best Accounting and Bookkeeping Apps for Small Business in 2026
We looked at more than 50 accounting software products and their accompanying mobile apps. The best options make it easy to complete bookkeeping tasks on the go. They include invoicing, receipt capture and, in some cases, automatic mileage tracking.
Hillary Crawford writes about small-business software at NerdWallet and is certified in QuickBooks Online and web design. Her previous roles include news writer and associate West Coast editor at Bustle Digital Group, where she helped shape news and tech coverage. She's appeared on Cheddar News and also worked as a policy contributor for GenFKD. Hillary earned a bachelor's degree with high honors in political science from the University of Michigan.
Email: <a href="mailto:hcrawford@nerdwallet.com">hcrawford@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Rosalie Murphy covers small business topics for NerdWallet. Previously, she led editorial strategy for a local news startup and covered business at The Desert Sun. She holds a journalism degree from the University of Southern California and is currently pursuing an MBA.
Hillary Crawford writes about small-business software at NerdWallet and is certified in QuickBooks Online and web design. Her previous roles include news writer and associate West Coast editor at Bustle Digital Group, where she helped shape news and tech coverage. She's appeared on Cheddar News and also worked as a policy contributor for GenFKD. Hillary earned a bachelor's degree with high honors in political science from the University of Michigan.
Email: <a href="mailto:hcrawford@nerdwallet.com">hcrawford@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Rosalie Murphy covers small business topics for NerdWallet. Previously, she led editorial strategy for a local news startup and covered business at The Desert Sun. She holds a journalism degree from the University of Southern California and is currently pursuing an MBA.
Ryan Lane is an editor on the small-business team and a NerdWallet authority on student loans. He spent more than a decade as a writer and editor for student loan guarantor American Student Assistance and was a managing editor for publisher Cell Press. Ryan’s work has been featured by The Associated Press, USA Today and MarketWatch, and he previously co-authored the U.S. News & World Report Student Loan Ranger blog. Email: <a href="mailto:rlane@nerdwallet.com”">rlane@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Ryan Lane is an editor on the small-business team and a NerdWallet authority on student loans. He spent more than a decade as a writer and editor for student loan guarantor American Student Assistance and was a managing editor for publisher Cell Press. Ryan’s work has been featured by The Associated Press, USA Today and MarketWatch, and he previously co-authored the U.S. News & World Report Student Loan Ranger blog. Email: <a href="mailto:rlane@nerdwallet.com”">rlane@nerdwallet.com</a>.
NerdWallet's content is
fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness, and relevance by humans.
It undergoes a thorough review process involving writers and editors to ensure
the information is as clear and complete as possible. Learn more by checking
our
Editorial Guidelines.
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
Why trust NerdWallet
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
80+ years of combined experience covering small business and personal finance.
75+ categories of best business software selections.
NerdWallet's small-business software content, including ratings, recommendations and reviews, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in business software, including payroll, accounting and payment processing. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, The Washington Post, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, Yahoo Finance and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity to ensure accuracy and fairness in our coverage.
Advertiser disclosure
You're our first priority.
Every time.
We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with
confidence. While we don’t cover every company or financial product on
the market, we work hard to share a wide range of offers and objective
editorial perspectives.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us for advertisements
that appear on our site. This compensation helps us provide tools and
services - like free credit score access and monitoring. With the
exception of mortgage, home equity and other home-lending products or
services, partner compensation is one of several factors that may affect
which products we highlight and where they appear on our site. Other
factors include your credit profile, product availability and
proprietary website methodologies.
However, these factors do not influence our editors’ opinions or ratings, which are based on independent research and analysis. Our partners cannot
pay us to guarantee favorable reviews.
Here is a list of our partners.
Hillary Crawford writes about small-business software at NerdWallet and is certified in QuickBooks Online and web design. Her previous roles include news writer and associate West Coast editor at Bustle Digital Group, where she helped shape news and tech coverage. She's appeared on Cheddar News and also worked as a policy contributor for GenFKD. Hillary earned a bachelor's degree with high honors in political science from the University of Michigan.
Email: <a href="mailto:hcrawford@nerdwallet.com">hcrawford@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Rosalie Murphy covers small business topics for NerdWallet. Previously, she led editorial strategy for a local news startup and covered business at The Desert Sun. She holds a journalism degree from the University of Southern California and is currently pursuing an MBA.
Hillary Crawford writes about small-business software at NerdWallet and is certified in QuickBooks Online and web design. Her previous roles include news writer and associate West Coast editor at Bustle Digital Group, where she helped shape news and tech coverage. She's appeared on Cheddar News and also worked as a policy contributor for GenFKD. Hillary earned a bachelor's degree with high honors in political science from the University of Michigan.
Email: <a href="mailto:hcrawford@nerdwallet.com">hcrawford@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Rosalie Murphy covers small business topics for NerdWallet. Previously, she led editorial strategy for a local news startup and covered business at The Desert Sun. She holds a journalism degree from the University of Southern California and is currently pursuing an MBA.
Ryan Lane is an editor on the small-business team and a NerdWallet authority on student loans. He spent more than a decade as a writer and editor for student loan guarantor American Student Assistance and was a managing editor for publisher Cell Press. Ryan’s work has been featured by The Associated Press, USA Today and MarketWatch, and he previously co-authored the U.S. News & World Report Student Loan Ranger blog. Email: <a href="mailto:rlane@nerdwallet.com”">rlane@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Ryan Lane is an editor on the small-business team and a NerdWallet authority on student loans. He spent more than a decade as a writer and editor for student loan guarantor American Student Assistance and was a managing editor for publisher Cell Press. Ryan’s work has been featured by The Associated Press, USA Today and MarketWatch, and he previously co-authored the U.S. News & World Report Student Loan Ranger blog. Email: <a href="mailto:rlane@nerdwallet.com”">rlane@nerdwallet.com</a>.
NerdWallet's content is
fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness, and relevance by humans.
It undergoes a thorough review process involving writers and editors to ensure
the information is as clear and complete as possible. Learn more by checking
our
Editorial Guidelines.
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
Why trust NerdWallet
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
80+ years of combined experience covering small business and personal finance.
75+ categories of best business software selections.
NerdWallet's small-business software content, including ratings, recommendations and reviews, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in business software, including payroll, accounting and payment processing. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, The Washington Post, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, Yahoo Finance and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity to ensure accuracy and fairness in our coverage.
Advertiser disclosure
You're our first priority.
Every time.
We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with
confidence. While we don’t cover every company or financial product on
the market, we work hard to share a wide range of offers and objective
editorial perspectives.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us for advertisements
that appear on our site. This compensation helps us provide tools and
services - like free credit score access and monitoring. With the
exception of mortgage, home equity and other home-lending products or
services, partner compensation is one of several factors that may affect
which products we highlight and where they appear on our site. Other
factors include your credit profile, product availability and
proprietary website methodologies.
However, these factors do not influence our editors’ opinions or ratings, which are based on independent research and analysis. Our partners cannot
pay us to guarantee favorable reviews.
Here is a list of our partners.
Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us
when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not
influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.
Photograph receipts, upload and pair them with expenses.
Automatically track mileage using GPS.
View profit and loss reports and balance sheets.
Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
Expensive compared with the competition.
QuickBooks Online's accounting app covers the basics for most small-business owners. It lets users create and send invoices, upload receipts, track miles, and view accounting reports from their phone or tablet. All the features of QuickBooks Online Simple Start are available in the app. However, if you use a costlier QuickBooks Online plan, some features are available only on the browser-based version. QuickBooks also offers its own mobile card reader for processing payments on the go.
View profit and cash flow insights, including outstanding payments.
Invoice clients via email or messaging app and know when they’ve viewed it.
Xero Me app lets employees submit expenses and view personal information.
Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
Must subscribe to the most expensive Established plan to access mileage tracking. Users can plug in start and end locations after their trip, but they cannot use GPS to automatically track mileage as they drive.
Must subscribe to the Established plan to access the receipt scanner.
The Xero app is a good choice for entrepreneurs who need to give mobile access to multiple employees, so that they can submit expenses or invoice clients. Employees can download the Xero Me self-service app to submit expense claims for things like team lunches or gas. They can also view their personal information, such as contact and employment details. Administrators can assign employees specific permissions based on their roles to determine which information and features they can access.
View financial insights like total profit and outstanding revenue.
Invoice clients, message them in-app and get notified when they view or pay invoices.
Automatically track mileage and label trips as business or personal.
Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
Least expensive Lite plan doesn't include receipt scanning.
Lite and Plus plans limit how many clients you can invoice.
FreshBooks supports automated mileage tracking, mobile invoice creation and receipt capture to log expenses — all key features that small-business owners can benefit from. But it's especially ideal for freelancers because it makes it easy to stay in touch with clients. The notifications tab shows when invoices have been paid or become overdue, and you can send clients messages from within the app. Messages might consist of payment reminders, a response to a client’s question or a request for feedback.
View balance sheet, cash flow reports and income statements.
Invoice clients.
Add accounting widgets to your phone’s home screen; track time using your Apple Watch.
Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
To track mileage via GPS, you’ll need Zoho Expense, a separate app (free plan includes these features).
Fewer third-party integrations than some competitors.
Zoho Books is part of the robust Zoho suite, which includes several business services at affordable price points. Its mobile-first features are what set its bookkeeping app apart, though. Take, for example, the ability to send invoices through iMessage or add widgets to your phone’s home screen so that you can easily access timers and overdue invoices lists. There’s also an Apple Watch app that lets you track time, send payment reminders and review outstanding invoices. Though you’ll have to download it separately, the in-house Zoho Expense app lets you track mileage via distance covered, point-to-point map locations, GPS or odometer reading, too. Other apps typically make only one or two of those methods available.
View a profit and loss chart, invoicing details and total income and expenses.
Create and send invoices to clients.
Available for iOS and Android.
Scan receipts and automatically generate new expenses for a monthly fee.
Cons
No mileage tracking feature.
Must use Zapier for third-party integrations.
Wave, one of NerdWallet’s top free accounting software picks, has a convenient mobile app that lets you send invoices and view basic financial information, like overdue invoices and your taxable income for the fiscal year. More detailed reports, like a full profit and loss statement plus your balance sheet, are available in your Wave account, but not on the mobile app. While the app is free, you will incur fees if you choose to accept invoice payments online or scan receipts from the mobile app. The mobile receipts feature — which uploads your receipts and uses the information to create new expenses for you — costs $8 per month or $72 per year.
Additional pricing tiers per user (per month): $38.90, $58.40.
Promotion
Monthly discount
for the first 12 months.
Pros
View balance sheet, profit and loss statement and more.
Send invoices to clients with the accompanying Invoicing app.
Snap pictures of receipts.
All Odoo business software apps are available on one home screen.
Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
No mileage tracking.
Odoo offers a variety of in-house business management apps for accounting, customer relationship management, subscriptions, projects, time tracking, human resources and marketing. Instead of having to download a separate app for each one, though, you can access them all through the same app home screen. If you’d like to centralize your accounting app and other business management apps under the same umbrella, Odoo could be a good all-in-one solution for your business.
Photograph receipts, upload and pair them with expenses.
Automatically track mileage using GPS.
View profit and loss reports and balance sheets.
Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
Expensive compared with the competition.
QuickBooks Online's accounting app covers the basics for most small-business owners. It lets users create and send invoices, upload receipts, track miles, and view accounting reports from their phone or tablet. All the features of QuickBooks Online Simple Start are available in the app. However, if you use a costlier QuickBooks Online plan, some features are available only on the browser-based version. QuickBooks also offers its own mobile card reader for processing payments on the go.
Photograph receipts, upload and pair them with expenses.
Automatically track mileage using GPS.
View profit and loss reports and balance sheets.
Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
Expensive compared with the competition.
QuickBooks Online's accounting app covers the basics for most small-business owners. It lets users create and send invoices, upload receipts, track miles, and view accounting reports from their phone or tablet. All the features of QuickBooks Online Simple Start are available in the app. However, if you use a costlier QuickBooks Online plan, some features are available only on the browser-based version. QuickBooks also offers its own mobile card reader for processing payments on the go.
Photograph receipts, upload and pair them with expenses.
Automatically track mileage using GPS.
View profit and loss reports and balance sheets.
Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
Expensive compared with the competition.
QuickBooks Online's accounting app covers the basics for most small-business owners. It lets users create and send invoices, upload receipts, track miles, and view accounting reports from their phone or tablet. All the features of QuickBooks Online Simple Start are available in the app. However, if you use a costlier QuickBooks Online plan, some features are available only on the browser-based version. QuickBooks also offers its own mobile card reader for processing payments on the go.
View profit and cash flow insights, including outstanding payments.
Invoice clients via email or messaging app and know when they’ve viewed it.
Xero Me app lets employees submit expenses and view personal information.
Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
Must subscribe to the most expensive Established plan to access mileage tracking. Users can plug in start and end locations after their trip, but they cannot use GPS to automatically track mileage as they drive.
Must subscribe to the Established plan to access the receipt scanner.
The Xero app is a good choice for entrepreneurs who need to give mobile access to multiple employees, so that they can submit expenses or invoice clients. Employees can download the Xero Me self-service app to submit expense claims for things like team lunches or gas. They can also view their personal information, such as contact and employment details. Administrators can assign employees specific permissions based on their roles to determine which information and features they can access.
View profit and cash flow insights, including outstanding payments.
Invoice clients via email or messaging app and know when they’ve viewed it.
Xero Me app lets employees submit expenses and view personal information.
Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
Must subscribe to the most expensive Established plan to access mileage tracking. Users can plug in start and end locations after their trip, but they cannot use GPS to automatically track mileage as they drive.
Must subscribe to the Established plan to access the receipt scanner.
The Xero app is a good choice for entrepreneurs who need to give mobile access to multiple employees, so that they can submit expenses or invoice clients. Employees can download the Xero Me self-service app to submit expense claims for things like team lunches or gas. They can also view their personal information, such as contact and employment details. Administrators can assign employees specific permissions based on their roles to determine which information and features they can access.
View profit and cash flow insights, including outstanding payments.
Invoice clients via email or messaging app and know when they’ve viewed it.
Xero Me app lets employees submit expenses and view personal information.
Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
Must subscribe to the most expensive Established plan to access mileage tracking. Users can plug in start and end locations after their trip, but they cannot use GPS to automatically track mileage as they drive.
Must subscribe to the Established plan to access the receipt scanner.
The Xero app is a good choice for entrepreneurs who need to give mobile access to multiple employees, so that they can submit expenses or invoice clients. Employees can download the Xero Me self-service app to submit expense claims for things like team lunches or gas. They can also view their personal information, such as contact and employment details. Administrators can assign employees specific permissions based on their roles to determine which information and features they can access.
View financial insights like total profit and outstanding revenue.
Invoice clients, message them in-app and get notified when they view or pay invoices.
Automatically track mileage and label trips as business or personal.
Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
Least expensive Lite plan doesn't include receipt scanning.
Lite and Plus plans limit how many clients you can invoice.
FreshBooks supports automated mileage tracking, mobile invoice creation and receipt capture to log expenses — all key features that small-business owners can benefit from. But it's especially ideal for freelancers because it makes it easy to stay in touch with clients. The notifications tab shows when invoices have been paid or become overdue, and you can send clients messages from within the app. Messages might consist of payment reminders, a response to a client’s question or a request for feedback.
View financial insights like total profit and outstanding revenue.
Invoice clients, message them in-app and get notified when they view or pay invoices.
Automatically track mileage and label trips as business or personal.
Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
Least expensive Lite plan doesn't include receipt scanning.
Lite and Plus plans limit how many clients you can invoice.
FreshBooks supports automated mileage tracking, mobile invoice creation and receipt capture to log expenses — all key features that small-business owners can benefit from. But it's especially ideal for freelancers because it makes it easy to stay in touch with clients. The notifications tab shows when invoices have been paid or become overdue, and you can send clients messages from within the app. Messages might consist of payment reminders, a response to a client’s question or a request for feedback.
View financial insights like total profit and outstanding revenue.
Invoice clients, message them in-app and get notified when they view or pay invoices.
Automatically track mileage and label trips as business or personal.
Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
Least expensive Lite plan doesn't include receipt scanning.
Lite and Plus plans limit how many clients you can invoice.
FreshBooks supports automated mileage tracking, mobile invoice creation and receipt capture to log expenses — all key features that small-business owners can benefit from. But it's especially ideal for freelancers because it makes it easy to stay in touch with clients. The notifications tab shows when invoices have been paid or become overdue, and you can send clients messages from within the app. Messages might consist of payment reminders, a response to a client’s question or a request for feedback.
View balance sheet, cash flow reports and income statements.
Invoice clients.
Add accounting widgets to your phone’s home screen; track time using your Apple Watch.
Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
To track mileage via GPS, you’ll need Zoho Expense, a separate app (free plan includes these features).
Fewer third-party integrations than some competitors.
Zoho Books is part of the robust Zoho suite, which includes several business services at affordable price points. Its mobile-first features are what set its bookkeeping app apart, though. Take, for example, the ability to send invoices through iMessage or add widgets to your phone’s home screen so that you can easily access timers and overdue invoices lists. There’s also an Apple Watch app that lets you track time, send payment reminders and review outstanding invoices. Though you’ll have to download it separately, the in-house Zoho Expense app lets you track mileage via distance covered, point-to-point map locations, GPS or odometer reading, too. Other apps typically make only one or two of those methods available.
View balance sheet, cash flow reports and income statements.
Invoice clients.
Add accounting widgets to your phone’s home screen; track time using your Apple Watch.
Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
To track mileage via GPS, you’ll need Zoho Expense, a separate app (free plan includes these features).
Fewer third-party integrations than some competitors.
Zoho Books is part of the robust Zoho suite, which includes several business services at affordable price points. Its mobile-first features are what set its bookkeeping app apart, though. Take, for example, the ability to send invoices through iMessage or add widgets to your phone’s home screen so that you can easily access timers and overdue invoices lists. There’s also an Apple Watch app that lets you track time, send payment reminders and review outstanding invoices. Though you’ll have to download it separately, the in-house Zoho Expense app lets you track mileage via distance covered, point-to-point map locations, GPS or odometer reading, too. Other apps typically make only one or two of those methods available.
View balance sheet, cash flow reports and income statements.
Invoice clients.
Add accounting widgets to your phone’s home screen; track time using your Apple Watch.
Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
To track mileage via GPS, you’ll need Zoho Expense, a separate app (free plan includes these features).
Fewer third-party integrations than some competitors.
Zoho Books is part of the robust Zoho suite, which includes several business services at affordable price points. Its mobile-first features are what set its bookkeeping app apart, though. Take, for example, the ability to send invoices through iMessage or add widgets to your phone’s home screen so that you can easily access timers and overdue invoices lists. There’s also an Apple Watch app that lets you track time, send payment reminders and review outstanding invoices. Though you’ll have to download it separately, the in-house Zoho Expense app lets you track mileage via distance covered, point-to-point map locations, GPS or odometer reading, too. Other apps typically make only one or two of those methods available.
View a profit and loss chart, invoicing details and total income and expenses.
Create and send invoices to clients.
Available for iOS and Android.
Scan receipts and automatically generate new expenses for a monthly fee.
Cons
No mileage tracking feature.
Must use Zapier for third-party integrations.
Wave, one of NerdWallet’s top free accounting software picks, has a convenient mobile app that lets you send invoices and view basic financial information, like overdue invoices and your taxable income for the fiscal year. More detailed reports, like a full profit and loss statement plus your balance sheet, are available in your Wave account, but not on the mobile app. While the app is free, you will incur fees if you choose to accept invoice payments online or scan receipts from the mobile app. The mobile receipts feature — which uploads your receipts and uses the information to create new expenses for you — costs $8 per month or $72 per year.
View a profit and loss chart, invoicing details and total income and expenses.
Create and send invoices to clients.
Available for iOS and Android.
Scan receipts and automatically generate new expenses for a monthly fee.
Cons
No mileage tracking feature.
Must use Zapier for third-party integrations.
Wave, one of NerdWallet’s top free accounting software picks, has a convenient mobile app that lets you send invoices and view basic financial information, like overdue invoices and your taxable income for the fiscal year. More detailed reports, like a full profit and loss statement plus your balance sheet, are available in your Wave account, but not on the mobile app. While the app is free, you will incur fees if you choose to accept invoice payments online or scan receipts from the mobile app. The mobile receipts feature — which uploads your receipts and uses the information to create new expenses for you — costs $8 per month or $72 per year.
View a profit and loss chart, invoicing details and total income and expenses.
Create and send invoices to clients.
Available for iOS and Android.
Scan receipts and automatically generate new expenses for a monthly fee.
Cons
No mileage tracking feature.
Must use Zapier for third-party integrations.
Wave, one of NerdWallet’s top free accounting software picks, has a convenient mobile app that lets you send invoices and view basic financial information, like overdue invoices and your taxable income for the fiscal year. More detailed reports, like a full profit and loss statement plus your balance sheet, are available in your Wave account, but not on the mobile app. While the app is free, you will incur fees if you choose to accept invoice payments online or scan receipts from the mobile app. The mobile receipts feature — which uploads your receipts and uses the information to create new expenses for you — costs $8 per month or $72 per year.
Additional pricing tiers per user (per month): $38.90, $58.40.
Promotion
Monthly discount
for the first 12 months.
Pros
View balance sheet, profit and loss statement and more.
Send invoices to clients with the accompanying Invoicing app.
Snap pictures of receipts.
All Odoo business software apps are available on one home screen.
Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
No mileage tracking.
Odoo offers a variety of in-house business management apps for accounting, customer relationship management, subscriptions, projects, time tracking, human resources and marketing. Instead of having to download a separate app for each one, though, you can access them all through the same app home screen. If you’d like to centralize your accounting app and other business management apps under the same umbrella, Odoo could be a good all-in-one solution for your business.
Pros
View balance sheet, profit and loss statement and more.
Send invoices to clients with the accompanying Invoicing app.
Snap pictures of receipts.
All Odoo business software apps are available on one home screen.
Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
No mileage tracking.
Odoo offers a variety of in-house business management apps for accounting, customer relationship management, subscriptions, projects, time tracking, human resources and marketing. Instead of having to download a separate app for each one, though, you can access them all through the same app home screen. If you’d like to centralize your accounting app and other business management apps under the same umbrella, Odoo could be a good all-in-one solution for your business.
Pros
View balance sheet, profit and loss statement and more.
Send invoices to clients with the accompanying Invoicing app.
Snap pictures of receipts.
All Odoo business software apps are available on one home screen.
Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
No mileage tracking.
Odoo offers a variety of in-house business management apps for accounting, customer relationship management, subscriptions, projects, time tracking, human resources and marketing. Instead of having to download a separate app for each one, though, you can access them all through the same app home screen. If you’d like to centralize your accounting app and other business management apps under the same umbrella, Odoo could be a good all-in-one solution for your business.
Jump to
How we choose the best accounting and bookkeeping apps
What’s the difference between bookkeeping and accounting apps?
Do you still need an accountant if you use an app?
What other apps does your business need?
Should you choose free accounting and bookkeeping apps?
What features do the best accounting and bookkeeping apps have?
How to choose the best accounting and bookkeeping app
How we choose the best accounting and bookkeeping apps
Our writers and editors cover more than 50 accounting software products for small businesses. And most of them have their own mobile apps. To find the best options, we identified features that help entrepreneurs work from their phones.
All of our picks let you do at least three of the following tasks on the go:
View business insights.
Send invoices.
Scan and upload expense receipts.
Track time.
Track mileage.
Each product we chose also had to have a mobile app for both Android and iOS users. And most of them receive at least 4 stars in Google Play or the App Store. This suggests users are satisfied with the mobile apps’ functionality — at least for the most part. Every product receives its fair share of negative reviews, whether they have to do with glitchy updates or customer support.
The one outlier is Odoo. As of this writing, it received 3 stars on Google Play and 2.6 stars on the App Store. Users commonly complain about customer support and an outdated interface. That said, we think its overall value outweighs that. Few products give you access to so many different types of business apps for $31.10 per month.
What’s the difference between bookkeeping and accounting apps?
There is no difference between bookkeeping and accounting apps. They both achieve the same goal of helping you track your finances. The same goes for bookkeeping and accounting software.
There is, however, a difference between bookkeepers and accountants. Bookkeepers are in charge of day-to-day financial tasks. This often includes recording transactions, reconciling accounts, running reports and sending invoices.
Accountants assist businesses on a less frequent basis. For example, they may help you analyze reports at the end of each quarter. This type of analysis can uncover ways to improve your cash flow or profitability. They also help you prepare and file your business taxes.
Do you still need an accountant if you use an app?
In most cases, yes. We recommend small businesses use accounting software (which typically comes with a mobile app) and hire an accountant. Even if you do your own bookkeeping.
At the very least, you should consult an accountant during tax season. They can help ensure you’re taking advantage of all the relevant business tax deductions. They can also check your returns for accuracy to help you avoid audits.
It’s smart to have an accountant’s contact on hand throughout the year too. You might consult them here and there with financial reporting questions.
What other apps does your business need?
Accounting and bookkeeping apps are arguably the most important tools for small businesses. But you might need apps for other types of business software too.
Most businesses will also need software for accepting card payments and recording sales. Brick-and-mortar operations that accept payments in-person should opt for a POS system in most cases.
Businesses with employees require payroll software as well. Some businesses only run payroll on their desktop computers or laptops. But mobile apps can be useful if you need to run it on the go.
The last type of app you might consider is one for inventory management. These apps often include barcode scanners that let you quickly take stock of items using just your phone.
Should you choose free accounting and bookkeeping apps?
Free accounting and bookkeeping apps can work for solopreneurs and microbusinesses. But if you have employees, maintain multiple business locations or require in-depth reporting capabilities, we suggest opting for a paid product.
Paid accounting and bookkeeping apps can grow alongside your business better. And they typically give you access to more automation features, like bank feeds and expense receipt scanning. These can help you save time and avoid manual data entry errors.
What features do the best accounting and bookkeeping apps have?
Use the table below to compare useful mobile features across accounting and bookkeeping apps:
QuickBooks Online
Xero
FreshBooks
Zoho Books
Wave
Odoo
Free plan
X
X
X
✔️
✔️
✔️
GPS mileage tracking
✔️
X
✔️
X (must download separate Zoho Expense app)
X
X
Time tracking
X
X
✔️
✔️ (Professional plan and up)
X
✔️
Receipt scanning
✔️
✔️ (Established plan)
✔️ (Plus plan and up)
✔️
✔️ (via add-on or Pro plan)
✔️
Invoicing
✔️
✔️
✔️
✔️
✔️
✔️
How to choose the best accounting and bookkeeping app
Follow these steps to find the best app for your accounting and bookkeeping needs:
1. Determine which tasks you need to do from your phone.
If you prefer to work on your laptop, a fairly simple mobile app may be good enough. Business owners that work away from home from time to time should opt for more capable options, though. Look for features like mileage tracking, receipt scanning and invoicing. Being able to view business insights on a mobile dashboard is also helpful.
That said, don’t choose your accounting software just based on its app. You’ll do other tasks, like bank reconciliation, on your laptop or desktop computer. In addition to mobile app capabilities, strong accounting software should also have in-depth reporting and transaction categorization tools.
2. Understandwhich apps you need to sync with
Make sure to choose an accounting app that syncs with your other business software. Some other types of popular business apps include solutions for payroll, inventory tracking and payment processing.
3. Confirm compatibility with your mobile device
All of our picks for the best accounting and bookkeeping apps are available for both iOS and Android devices. If you choose a product that isn't listed, though, make sure its app is compatible with your team’s mobile devices.
4. Check user reviews
Navigability and ease of use are paramount. Especially if you plan to use the app every day. One of the best ways to gauge usability is to scan user reviews in the App Store and Google Play. And since companies frequently roll out app updates, it’s best to filter reviews by “most recent.” That way, you’re seeing reviews of the app's most updated version.
We also suggest taking advantage of free trials when you can. Then you can test out the app’s user interface yourself.
NerdWallet independently reviews accounting software products before determining our top picks. We collect the data for our software ratings from products’ public-facing websites and from company representatives. Our editorial team reviews information on a regular basis for consistency and accuracy.
We also periodically update our scoring system to reflect changing industry norms and business needs. For instance, in 2026, we stopped factoring in whether mobile apps work for both Android and iOS smartphones. If an accounting software product has its own mobile app, it’s almost always available for both operating systems.
NerdWallet’s accounting software ratings favor products that are easy to use, reasonably priced, have a robust feature set and can grow with your business. The best accounting software received top marks when evaluated across 10 categories and more than 30 subcategories. Learn more about how we rate small-business accounting software.
These ratings are meant to provide clarity in the decision-making process, but what’s best for your business will depend on its size, growth trajectory and which features you need most. We encourage you to research and compare multiple accounting software products before choosing one.
NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
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