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Best Business Software of May 2025
Business software refers to various digital tools and programs that help manage your small business.
An effective business software ecosystem can streamline your operations. Choosing accounting software is typically the first step. But no matter your business needs, make sure all your software products integrate to minimize manual data entry.
Here are our top business software picks across multiple categories.
Already know which type of business software you need?
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.
Easy to share information with your accountant and to find QuickBooks experts and online resources if needed.
More than 750 app integrations.
Robust feature set includes record-keeping, reporting, invoicing and inventory management, plus a capable mobile app.
Chat and phone support available Monday through Saturday in all plans.
Cons
Expensive compared with the competition.
Frequent price increases and a tendency toward upselling.
Limited account users with each plan.
QuickBooks Online is an industry leader in the accounting field, thanks to its strong feature set and scalability. It has robust reporting and transaction tracking tools, invoicing capabilities, inventory management features and mobile app functionality. These features, along with its ability to scale up and integrate with a wide range of products, make it valuable to self-employed entrepreneurs and larger small businesses alike. And with millions of users worldwide, your accountant will likely be familiar with it.
However, QuickBooks products can be expensive, so make sure you understand how to get the most out of its main features. And know that if you need time-tracking capabilities, you’ll have to subscribe to a separate app, whether it’s QuickBooks Time or a third-party product.
That being said, QuickBooks products can be expensive, so make sure you understand how to get the most out of its main features. And know that if you need time-tracking capabilities, you’ll have to subscribe to a separate app, whether it’s QuickBooks Time or a third-party product.
Easy to share information with your accountant and to find QuickBooks experts and online resources if needed.
More than 750 app integrations.
Robust feature set includes record-keeping, reporting, invoicing and inventory management, plus a capable mobile app.
Chat and phone support available Monday through Saturday in all plans.
Cons
Expensive compared with the competition.
Frequent price increases and a tendency toward upselling.
Limited account users with each plan.
QuickBooks Online is an industry leader in the accounting field, thanks to its strong feature set and scalability. It has robust reporting and transaction tracking tools, invoicing capabilities, inventory management features and mobile app functionality. These features, along with its ability to scale up and integrate with a wide range of products, make it valuable to self-employed entrepreneurs and larger small businesses alike. And with millions of users worldwide, your accountant will likely be familiar with it.
However, QuickBooks products can be expensive, so make sure you understand how to get the most out of its main features. And know that if you need time-tracking capabilities, you’ll have to subscribe to a separate app, whether it’s QuickBooks Time or a third-party product.
That being said, QuickBooks products can be expensive, so make sure you understand how to get the most out of its main features. And know that if you need time-tracking capabilities, you’ll have to subscribe to a separate app, whether it’s QuickBooks Time or a third-party product.
Feature set includes an excellent mobile app and suite of reports, capable invoicing features, plus automated bill and receipt capture through Hubdoc.
Simple layout and easy to use.
Cons
No inbound phone customer support (callbacks are available, though).
Entry-level plan limits bills and invoices to five and 20 per month, respectively.
Must subscribe to the highest-tier Established plan to claim expenses.
Xero stands out for allowing unlimited users at every subscription tier, a valuable feature in situations where several users need some level of access to the system. Other competitors’ plans limit how many users you can add or charge an additional monthly fee for each one. If you have a large team, those fees can add up quickly. In terms of functionality and features, Xero is one of QuickBooks Online’s biggest competitors. Like QuickBooks Online, it has excellent reporting features and a capable mobile app — but with a more customizable dashboard that lets each user rearrange or hide panels, according to their preferences.
If you appreciate simplicity and don’t want to dedicate much time to learning how to navigate a product, Xero is a great choice. If you need mileage and time tracking, you’ll need to subscribe to the highest-tier Established plan.
Feature set includes an excellent mobile app and suite of reports, capable invoicing features, plus automated bill and receipt capture through Hubdoc.
Simple layout and easy to use.
Cons
No inbound phone customer support (callbacks are available, though).
Entry-level plan limits bills and invoices to five and 20 per month, respectively.
Must subscribe to the highest-tier Established plan to claim expenses.
Xero stands out for allowing unlimited users at every subscription tier, a valuable feature in situations where several users need some level of access to the system. Other competitors’ plans limit how many users you can add or charge an additional monthly fee for each one. If you have a large team, those fees can add up quickly. In terms of functionality and features, Xero is one of QuickBooks Online’s biggest competitors. Like QuickBooks Online, it has excellent reporting features and a capable mobile app — but with a more customizable dashboard that lets each user rearrange or hide panels, according to their preferences.
If you appreciate simplicity and don’t want to dedicate much time to learning how to navigate a product, Xero is a great choice. If you need mileage and time tracking, you’ll need to subscribe to the highest-tier Established plan.
Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
Offers free POS software.
Offers volume-based discounts automatically.
No termination fees, long-term contracts or PCI compliance fees.
Cons
Deposits are available within two business days; same-day deposit option is not available.
Interchange-plus costs can be difficult to predict.
Helcim is a standout choice for credit card processing because it checks off many boxes. Setup is quick. Helcim gives you the ability to accept credit cards in person, online, through an app or over the phone. The rates are also competitive. Just know that the processing fees listed here are for businesses with a monthly credit card volume of $25,000 or less. Fees begin decreasing once a business exceeds that monthly volume.
Businesses save when customers use cards with low interchange rates.
Offers free POS software.
Offers volume-based discounts automatically.
No termination fees, long-term contracts or PCI compliance fees.
Cons
Deposits are available within two business days; same-day deposit option is not available.
Interchange-plus costs can be difficult to predict.
Helcim is a standout choice for credit card processing because it checks off many boxes. Setup is quick. Helcim gives you the ability to accept credit cards in person, online, through an app or over the phone. The rates are also competitive. Just know that the processing fees listed here are for businesses with a monthly credit card volume of $25,000 or less. Fees begin decreasing once a business exceeds that monthly volume.
Can process transactions in more than 135 currencies.
No PCI compliance fees.
Cons
Doesn’t sell full countertop POS setups; hardware is limited to handheld terminals and card readers.
Deposits can take up to two business days.
No phone or email support.
Stripe Payments can accept dozens of payment methods and more than 135 currencies. And its advanced developer tools allow you to create a checkout flow that feels custom, provided you know how to use them. Stripe users can accept in-person payments by integrating the company’s point-of-sale option, Stripe Terminal. But if you do most of your business in person, there are better options.
Can process transactions in more than 135 currencies.
No PCI compliance fees.
Cons
Doesn’t sell full countertop POS setups; hardware is limited to handheld terminals and card readers.
Deposits can take up to two business days.
No phone or email support.
Stripe Payments can accept dozens of payment methods and more than 135 currencies. And its advanced developer tools allow you to create a checkout flow that feels custom, provided you know how to use them. Stripe users can accept in-person payments by integrating the company’s point-of-sale option, Stripe Terminal. But if you do most of your business in person, there are better options.
Offers helpful related services, like payroll, that integrate closely with its POS system.
No long-term contracts or termination fees.
All plans include a free online store.
Cons
Can’t run on Windows devices.
Complex industries might prefer a more specialized system.
Square’s point-of-sale system stands out with its transparent pricing, live support and many useful features. Unlike most systems, Square offers a free POS software option with no monthly charges. Because Square works on iPhones, Androids and iPads, you can make sales on the go — for example, at a farmers market, trade show or music festival.
Offers helpful related services, like payroll, that integrate closely with its POS system.
No long-term contracts or termination fees.
All plans include a free online store.
Cons
Can’t run on Windows devices.
Complex industries might prefer a more specialized system.
Square’s point-of-sale system stands out with its transparent pricing, live support and many useful features. Unlike most systems, Square offers a free POS software option with no monthly charges. Because Square works on iPhones, Androids and iPads, you can make sales on the go — for example, at a farmers market, trade show or music festival.
Sync inventory across multiple online sales channels. Other integrations include Zoho Books and QuickBooks Online for accounting.
Free plan includes invoice customization, shipping labels, backorders and item bundling.
Free barcode, purchase order and shipping label generators.
Mobile app available for iOS and Android.
Cons
Free plan caps users at one, purchase orders at 20 and sales orders at 50.
Zoho Inventory’s plans scale up according to the number of users, warehouses, orders, bills and shipping labels, meaning small businesses don’t have to pay for what they don’t need. The software is especially ideal for entrepreneurs who already subscribe to a separate product in the Zoho suite, like Zoho CRM.
Sync inventory across multiple online sales channels. Other integrations include Zoho Books and QuickBooks Online for accounting.
Free plan includes invoice customization, shipping labels, backorders and item bundling.
Free barcode, purchase order and shipping label generators.
Mobile app available for iOS and Android.
Cons
Free plan caps users at one, purchase orders at 20 and sales orders at 50.
Zoho Inventory’s plans scale up according to the number of users, warehouses, orders, bills and shipping labels, meaning small businesses don’t have to pay for what they don’t need. The software is especially ideal for entrepreneurs who already subscribe to a separate product in the Zoho suite, like Zoho CRM.
Square Inventory
Best for Best inventory management software
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $89 per location, custom.
Built-in POS system and payment processing; in-house POS hardware available.
Unlimited items and low stock alerts.
Weekday live chat and phone support.
Barcode printing, mobile inventory counting tool, COGS tracking, stock forecasts and reorder recommendations in paid plans.
Mobile app available for iOS and Android.
Cons
Coupons and sale prices don’t sync between Square Online and Square POS.
Fewer inventory reports than some competitors.
Square for Retail has built-in free inventory software and is a great launching pad for brick-and-mortar businesses looking to expand online.Read full review
Square Inventory
Best for Best inventory management software
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $89 per location, custom.
Built-in POS system and payment processing; in-house POS hardware available.
Unlimited items and low stock alerts.
Weekday live chat and phone support.
Barcode printing, mobile inventory counting tool, COGS tracking, stock forecasts and reorder recommendations in paid plans.
Mobile app available for iOS and Android.
Cons
Coupons and sale prices don’t sync between Square Online and Square POS.
Fewer inventory reports than some competitors.
Square for Retail has built-in free inventory software and is a great launching pad for brick-and-mortar businesses looking to expand online.Read full review
Benefits administration (health benefits are available in 38 states and Washington, D.C.; 401(k) plans are available in all 50 states).
Time-tracking features at higher-price tiers (limited at Simple level).
Certified HR experts available (at the Premium level).
Free account setup.
Next-day direct deposit (at Plus and Premium levels).
Cons
More expensive than some options.
Limited hours for live support.
Gusto offers full-service payroll with unlimited payroll runs, tax filings and payment, and automated payroll options. HR features such as health insurance administration, employee self-onboarding and state new hire reporting are included at all pricing tiers. Employees also get access to a mobile app called Gusto Wallet to help them track their finances, and they can opt to be paid through debit card. For businesses that want the human touch, the Premium level offers dedicated HR support. Gusto integrates with many third-party software products, including popular accounting apps like QuickBooks Online, FreshBooks and Xero.
Benefits administration (health benefits are available in 38 states and Washington, D.C.; 401(k) plans are available in all 50 states).
Time-tracking features at higher-price tiers (limited at Simple level).
Certified HR experts available (at the Premium level).
Free account setup.
Next-day direct deposit (at Plus and Premium levels).
Cons
More expensive than some options.
Limited hours for live support.
Gusto offers full-service payroll with unlimited payroll runs, tax filings and payment, and automated payroll options. HR features such as health insurance administration, employee self-onboarding and state new hire reporting are included at all pricing tiers. Employees also get access to a mobile app called Gusto Wallet to help them track their finances, and they can opt to be paid through debit card. For businesses that want the human touch, the Premium level offers dedicated HR support. Gusto integrates with many third-party software products, including popular accounting apps like QuickBooks Online, FreshBooks and Xero.
Time-tracking features and HR support available (Premium and up).
Next-day direct deposit at Core level (same-day at Premium).
The option to choose a 30-day free trial or 50% off base price for first three months; terms apply.
Easy integration with QuickBooks Online. (Integrated accounting and payroll plans start at $75 per month.)
Cons
Limited integration with non-QuickBooks products.
Additional fees if you have employees in more than one state (Core and Premium).
For the many small-business owners who use QuickBooks Online for accounting needs, turning to QuickBooks Payroll is a logical choice for the fast, convenient integration. The Core plan offers a full suite of payroll features, including unlimited payroll runs, automated tax filing, robust payroll reports and next-day direct deposit. Higher tiers add features such as same-day direct deposit, HR Support Center and mobile time tracking. At $125 a month plus $10 per employee, the Elite plan includes a personal HR advisor, expert setup help and a tax-penalty-free guarantee. Through the QuickBooks Workforce portal, employees can access their pay stubs and personal information.
Time-tracking features and HR support available (Premium and up).
Next-day direct deposit at Core level (same-day at Premium).
The option to choose a 30-day free trial or 50% off base price for first three months; terms apply.
Easy integration with QuickBooks Online. (Integrated accounting and payroll plans start at $75 per month.)
Cons
Limited integration with non-QuickBooks products.
Additional fees if you have employees in more than one state (Core and Premium).
For the many small-business owners who use QuickBooks Online for accounting needs, turning to QuickBooks Payroll is a logical choice for the fast, convenient integration. The Core plan offers a full suite of payroll features, including unlimited payroll runs, automated tax filing, robust payroll reports and next-day direct deposit. Higher tiers add features such as same-day direct deposit, HR Support Center and mobile time tracking. At $125 a month plus $10 per employee, the Elite plan includes a personal HR advisor, expert setup help and a tax-penalty-free guarantee. Through the QuickBooks Workforce portal, employees can access their pay stubs and personal information.
System may be more than the average small business requires.
Rippling’s HR products are packaged as a cloud-based HRIS, or human resources information system, that will accommodate from two to 2,000 employees. All employee data is stored in one workforce platform, thus allowing you to automate many manual HR and IT processes. Businesses can customize their plans based on their needs.
System may be more than the average small business requires.
Rippling’s HR products are packaged as a cloud-based HRIS, or human resources information system, that will accommodate from two to 2,000 employees. All employee data is stored in one workforce platform, thus allowing you to automate many manual HR and IT processes. Businesses can customize their plans based on their needs.
Unlimited invoicing, estimates, contracts, users and clients in all plans.
Integrates with Square’s all-in-one payment platform.
Streamlined and intuitive.
Ability to process in-person and online card payments as well as cash, checks, ACH transfers, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Send recurring invoices.
Automatic payment reminders.
Gives clients the option to include a tip.
Cons
Must use Square’s in-house payment processing to accept online payments.
Free plan does not enable custom invoicing fields and the ability to auto-convert estimates into invoices.
Square is right up there with PayPal as one of the top all-in-one payment platforms for small-business owners. User-friendly design is its style, so even tech-shy users will likely be able to navigate its invoicing platform. Unlike many of the software solutions on this list that require integration with a payment gateway, as a payment processor first and foremost, Square offers a built-in processing solution. That makes it a great option for existing Square POS users who want to add invoicing functionality and small-business owners who don’t want the hassle of choosing a separate payment gateway to accept payments.Read full review
Unlimited invoicing, estimates, contracts, users and clients in all plans.
Integrates with Square’s all-in-one payment platform.
Streamlined and intuitive.
Ability to process in-person and online card payments as well as cash, checks, ACH transfers, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Send recurring invoices.
Automatic payment reminders.
Gives clients the option to include a tip.
Cons
Must use Square’s in-house payment processing to accept online payments.
Free plan does not enable custom invoicing fields and the ability to auto-convert estimates into invoices.
Square is right up there with PayPal as one of the top all-in-one payment platforms for small-business owners. User-friendly design is its style, so even tech-shy users will likely be able to navigate its invoicing platform. Unlike many of the software solutions on this list that require integration with a payment gateway, as a payment processor first and foremost, Square offers a built-in processing solution. That makes it a great option for existing Square POS users who want to add invoicing functionality and small-business owners who don’t want the hassle of choosing a separate payment gateway to accept payments.Read full review
Harvest
4.5
Best for Best invoicing software
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $13.75, $17.50 per user.
Promotion
30-day free trial
Pros
Offers a free plan (limited to two projects).
Advanced time tracking features, including integrations with Google Calendar, Slack, Asana, Trello and other project management tools.
Display billable hours by task, person or project on invoices.
Snap and upload photos of billable expense receipts with the mobile app.
Integrates with QuickBooks Online and Xero for accounting.
Cons
Invoice customization options are limited. Free users can’t add company logos to invoices, and Harvest offers only two templates (one PDF and one GDoc).
Payment integrations are limited to Stripe and PayPal.
Harvest allows members of a project team to track their hours and expenses in detail, often within whatever apps project managers are using. Managers can set the budget for a project and track expenses and hours to make sure teams are working efficiently. When it comes to invoicing, Harvest’s estimate, invoice and payment collection tools are easy to navigate, and it offers helpful features like automated email reminders to customers with late payments.
If you’re concerned about credit card processing fees adding up, you can switch off the ability to pay with a credit card through Stripe. Instead, your invoices will give clients the option to pay only via ACH transfer.
Harvest
Best for Best invoicing software
4.5
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $13.75, $17.50 per user.
Promotion
30-day free trial
Pros
Offers a free plan (limited to two projects).
Advanced time tracking features, including integrations with Google Calendar, Slack, Asana, Trello and other project management tools.
Display billable hours by task, person or project on invoices.
Snap and upload photos of billable expense receipts with the mobile app.
Integrates with QuickBooks Online and Xero for accounting.
Cons
Invoice customization options are limited. Free users can’t add company logos to invoices, and Harvest offers only two templates (one PDF and one GDoc).
Payment integrations are limited to Stripe and PayPal.
Harvest allows members of a project team to track their hours and expenses in detail, often within whatever apps project managers are using. Managers can set the budget for a project and track expenses and hours to make sure teams are working efficiently. When it comes to invoicing, Harvest’s estimate, invoice and payment collection tools are easy to navigate, and it offers helpful features like automated email reminders to customers with late payments.
If you’re concerned about credit card processing fees adding up, you can switch off the ability to pay with a credit card through Stripe. Instead, your invoices will give clients the option to pay only via ACH transfer.
1. Pick your accounting softwareMost small businesses should have some type of accounting software, even if it’s very simple, to separate their business and personal expenses and keep track of income. This can also make filing taxes simpler.
2. Consider how you’ll get paidTo accept payment from customers, look for a payment processor that offers competitive pricing and the type of hardware you need. Brick-and-mortar businesses may consider a countertop POS system, while mobile businesses may only need a portable card reader. Online businesses should seek out processors that integrate with e-commerce platforms or offer their own.
3. Figure out how you’ll pay employeesIf your business has employees, payroll software can help you stay on top of payroll taxes and make sure your employees are receiving their paychecks on time. Some payroll software lets you add HR services, offer medical benefits and track time off, too.
4. Make sure it all integratesIf your business software programs don’t integrate with each other, you could be stuck manually entering data. Above all, your accounting software should integrate with your POS system, payments software and payroll so that it can keep track of all the money coming into and out of your business. Direct, built-in integrations, as opposed to those hosted by third-party apps, are preferable because they typically don’t cost extra.
Last updated on March 28, 2025
Methodology
NerdWallet independently reviews business software products before determining our top picks. We collect the data for our software ratings from products’ public-facing websites and from company representatives. Information is gathered on a regular basis and reviewed by our editorial team for consistency and accuracy.
Here’s more information about how we evaluate accounting software, POS systems, payment processing providers and payroll software services.
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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