9 Best Business Budgeting Software Tools of 2024
Business budgeting software helps you manage, track and forecast budgets to see how your business is performing financially.
Learn more Business budgeting software helps ensure your business is on track to meet its financial goals. Some business owners use spreadsheets as their main budgeting tool; however, the downsides are manual data entry and the risk of human error. If you prefer a more automated approach to the process, business budgeting software could be a better alternative. The best tools let you create account budgets, run budget variance reports, forecast cash flow and, in some cases, choose between different projection methods or plan for worst-case scenarios.
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Here are our top picks for business budgeting software tools and what makes them stand out.
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FloatBest Business Budgeting Software Tools
| Product | Best for | NerdWallet rating | Starting at | Promotion | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 QuickBooks Online on QuickBooks Online's secure website | All-in-one budgeting software | $38/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $75, $115, $275. | 90% off for first three months or free 30-day trial. | on QuickBooks Online's secure website | |
 Xero on Xero's secure website | All-in-one budgeting software | $20/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $47, $80. | 90% off for 6 months. | on Xero's secure website | |
 Zoho Books on Zoho Books' secure website | All-in-one budgeting software | $0 Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275. | 14-day free trial of the Premium plan. | on Zoho Books' secure website | |
PlanGuru | In-depth forecasting | $99/per month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $299. | 14-day free trial | ||
Float | Cash flow management | $69/per month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $119, $249. | 14-day free trial | ||
 Centage Planning Maestro® | Financial planning and analysis | N/A | N/A | ||
 Futrli | Software integrations | $35/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $200, $375, $500. | 14-day free trial | ||
 LivePlan | Startups | $20/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $40. | N/A | ||
 Budgeto | Easy to use business budgeting software | $25/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $30, $35, $40, $45. | 14-day free trial |
Best Business Budgeting Software Tools
Starting at
$38/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $75, $115, $275.
Promotion
90% off
for first three months or free 30-day trial.
on QuickBooks' website
Pros
- 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
Best for All-in-one budgeting software
Starting at
$38/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $75, $115, $275.
Promotion
90% off
for first three months or free 30-day trial.
on QuickBooks' website
Pros
- 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.
Our pick for simple accounting software
Starting at
$20/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $47, $80.
Promotion
90% off
for 6 months.
on Xero's website
Pros
- Unlimited users in all pricing plans.
- Integrates with more than 1,000 third-party apps.
- 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.
Our pick for simple accounting software
Xero
Best for All-in-one budgeting software
Starting at
$20/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $47, $80.
Promotion
90% off
for 6 months.
on Xero's website
Pros
- Unlimited users in all pricing plans.
- Integrates with more than 1,000 third-party apps.
- 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.
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275.
Promotion
14-day free trial
of the Premium plan.
on Zoho Books' website
Pros
- Less expensive than some competitors; free plan available for businesses with less than $50k in annual revenue.
- Email support in free plan; phone and chat support in paid plans.
- Rich feature set includes excellent invoicing, inventory management, workflow rules and a capable mobile app.
- Add accounting widgets to your phone’s home screen; track time using your Apple Watch.
Cons
- Fewer third-party integrations and reports than some competitors.
- No plan includes more than 15 users (can add additional users for a fee).
Zoho Books
Best for All-in-one budgeting software
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275.
Promotion
14-day free trial
of the Premium plan.
on Zoho Books' website
Pros
- Less expensive than some competitors; free plan available for businesses with less than $50k in annual revenue.
- Email support in free plan; phone and chat support in paid plans.
- Rich feature set includes excellent invoicing, inventory management, workflow rules and a capable mobile app.
- Add accounting widgets to your phone’s home screen; track time using your Apple Watch.
Cons
- Fewer third-party integrations and reports than some competitors.
- No plan includes more than 15 users (can add additional users for a fee).
Starting at
$99/per month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $299.
Promotion
14-day free trial
Pros
- Offers more than 20 forecasting methods including percentage of other accounts, growth rates and assumptions, and key performance indicators.
- Predicts cash flow and can create budget forecasts for up to 10 years.
- Can import chart of accounts data from QuickBooks Online or Xero.
- Scenario analysis tool helps your business plan for “what if” situations.
Cons
- There will be a learning curve if you’re not familiar with using various projection methods.
- Accounting data isn’t synced daily. QuickBooks Online integration updates scenarios with actual results on a monthly basis.
PlanGuru
Best for In-depth forecasting
Starting at
$99/per month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $299.
Promotion
14-day free trial
Pros
- Offers more than 20 forecasting methods including percentage of other accounts, growth rates and assumptions, and key performance indicators.
- Predicts cash flow and can create budget forecasts for up to 10 years.
- Can import chart of accounts data from QuickBooks Online or Xero.
- Scenario analysis tool helps your business plan for “what if” situations.
Cons
- There will be a learning curve if you’re not familiar with using various projection methods.
- Accounting data isn’t synced daily. QuickBooks Online integration updates scenarios with actual results on a monthly basis.
Starting at
$69/per month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $119, $249.
Promotion
14-day free trial
Pros
- Forecasts cash flow for up to three years.
- Automatically imports QuickBooks Online and Xero data daily.
- Scenario planning tool prepares your business for “what if” situations.
- Streamlined user interface makes it easier to use than some competitors.
Cons
- Focuses on cash flow only, as opposed to other apps that incorporate profit and loss budgets, etc. This can be limiting for businesses that need a more holistic view of their financials.
Float
Best for Cash flow management
Starting at
$69/per month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $119, $249.
Promotion
14-day free trial
Pros
- Forecasts cash flow for up to three years.
- Automatically imports QuickBooks Online and Xero data daily.
- Scenario planning tool prepares your business for “what if” situations.
- Streamlined user interface makes it easier to use than some competitors.
Cons
- Focuses on cash flow only, as opposed to other apps that incorporate profit and loss budgets, etc. This can be limiting for businesses that need a more holistic view of their financials.
Promotion
N/A
Pros
- Scenario planning tool helps your business prepare for “what if” situations.
- Can use non-financial drivers, like hours worked or square footage, to calculate expense and revenue budgets.
- Customizable performance dashboard drills into historical trends and comparisons.
- In-depth financial planning and analysis tools can accommodate medium-size businesses with dedicated finance teams, too.
Cons
- Accounting software integrations cost extra.
- Getting used to various customization options is a learning process.
- Cost may be prohibitive for many small businesses.
Centage Planning Maestro®
Best for Financial planning and analysis
Promotion
N/A
Pros
- Scenario planning tool helps your business prepare for “what if” situations.
- Can use non-financial drivers, like hours worked or square footage, to calculate expense and revenue budgets.
- Customizable performance dashboard drills into historical trends and comparisons.
- In-depth financial planning and analysis tools can accommodate medium-size businesses with dedicated finance teams, too.
Cons
- Accounting software integrations cost extra.
- Getting used to various customization options is a learning process.
- Cost may be prohibitive for many small businesses.
Starting at
$35/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $200, $375, $500.
Promotion
14-day free trial
Pros
- You’ll likely need only the least-expensive plan to serve your budgeting needs since it’s designed for small businesses.
- Direct integrations with popular accounting software.
- Advanced forecasting tools.
- All plan tiers include unlimited users and free 24/7 customer support.
Cons
- Integrations are limited to accounting software.
- Software plans and features seem geared slightly more toward accountants, so functionality may be more than some small business owners need.
Futrli
Best for Software integrations
Starting at
$35/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $200, $375, $500.
Promotion
14-day free trial
Pros
- You’ll likely need only the least-expensive plan to serve your budgeting needs since it’s designed for small businesses.
- Direct integrations with popular accounting software.
- Advanced forecasting tools.
- All plan tiers include unlimited users and free 24/7 customer support.
Cons
- Integrations are limited to accounting software.
- Software plans and features seem geared slightly more toward accountants, so functionality may be more than some small business owners need.
Starting at
$20/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $40.
Promotion
N/A
Pros
- Integrates with popular accounting software.
- Automates a great deal of the earliest stages of starting a business.
- The company requires no contract and offers a 35-day money back guarantee.
- Customer support is available by email and live chat.
Cons
- You need the most expensive plan to use the software for budgeting beyond the pitch and investment startup stages.
- Most expensive plan is required to integrate with accounting software.
LivePlan
Best for Startups
Starting at
$20/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $40.
Promotion
N/A
Pros
- Integrates with popular accounting software.
- Automates a great deal of the earliest stages of starting a business.
- The company requires no contract and offers a 35-day money back guarantee.
- Customer support is available by email and live chat.
Cons
- You need the most expensive plan to use the software for budgeting beyond the pitch and investment startup stages.
- Most expensive plan is required to integrate with accounting software.
Starting at
$25/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $30, $35, $40, $45.
Promotion
14-day free trial
Pros
- Intuitive user experience.
- Syncs with QuickBooks and Xero.
- No contract.
- Can upgrade or downgrade plan at any time.
- Easily share financial reports with business collaborators from within software.
Cons
- Integrations are limited to accounting software.
Budgeto
Best for Easy to use business budgeting software
Starting at
$25/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $30, $35, $40, $45.
Promotion
14-day free trial
Pros
- Intuitive user experience.
- Syncs with QuickBooks and Xero.
- No contract.
- Can upgrade or downgrade plan at any time.
- Easily share financial reports with business collaborators from within software.
Cons
- Integrations are limited to accounting software.
NerdWallet’s picks for the best business budgeting software
QuickBooks Online
Best for all-in-one budgeting software
Why we like it: QuickBooks Online’s Plus and Advanced plans come with basic tools that’ll familiarize you with the budgeting and forecasting process. To start out, determine whether you want to create a profit and loss budget, to track performance against predictions, or a balance sheet budget, to track your financial position over time. Then choose the fiscal year you want to budget for and whether you want to see results separated by quarter, month or year. QuickBooks Online has a planning tool to help you see how future adjustments will affect your cash flow QuickBooks Online review
Price
User experience
Xero
Best for all-in-one budgeting software
Why we like it: If you already use Xero for accounting, you’ll be happy to know that simple budgeting features are at the tips of your fingers. Before you can run reports, you need to set up the primary budget for your organization, then you can create separate budgets for each category you’d like to track. Once you’ve set up your budgets, you can run the budget variance report or even add a budget column to a separate report, like your profit and loss statement, to compare numbers. Read our full Xero Accounting review
Price
User experience
» MORE: Best alternatives to Xero
Zoho Books
Best for all-in-one budgeting software
Why we like it: If you already use Zoho Books for accounting, then you can also put it to use for your business budgeting needs. The software lets you build budgets and view budget variance reports to get a better sense of how your business is performing in relation to the budget you’ve set. Zoho Books also has some helpful automated functions when it comes to budgeting, including the ability to create a budget from your previous years’ actuals and auto-fill data. Keep tabs on your budget with profit and loss, balance sheet Zoho Books review
Price
User experience
PlanGuru
Best for in-depth forecasting
Why we like it: PlanGuru offers much more detailed budgeting and forecasting features than typical accounting software does, including more than 20 forecasting methods, and it can predict cash flow and create budget forecasts
Price
User experience
Float
Best for cash flow management
Why we like it: Float’s functionality doesn’t get quite as granular as PlanGuru’s does, but for business owners who want a more user-friendly experience, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The software has a clean user interface and analyzes historical accounting data to suggest budget values for you if you’re not sure where to start. This is a plus for business owners who need more features than their accounting software offers but are still relatively new to budgeting. Float’s business budgeting software forecasts cash flow for up to three years and automatically syncs with Xero to give you a real-time view of your cash flow and forecasting. The app also helps businesses plan for worst-case scenarios with a dedicated tool that shows how certain events, like losing a valuable client, would affect cash flow.
Price
User experience
Centage Planning Maestro
Best for financial planning and analysis
Why we like it: Centage Planning Maestro’s dashboard visualizes top-line data for a number of criteria, along with yearly financial comparisons and monthly trends. The amount of information can be overwhelming at first, but business owners who take a more in-depth approach to financial planning and analysis will appreciate it. Advanced financial planning and analysis (FP&A) tools can accommodate medium-size businesses with dedicated finance teams, too.
Price
User experience
Futrli
Best for software integrations
Why we like it: Futrli, which was acquired by Sage
Price
User experience
» MORE: Best business software
LivePlan
Best for startups
Why we like it: At its core, LivePlan is software designed to guide you through the business planning and startup process. It takes the guesswork out of drafting a complete business plan, creating a business pitch deck and refining your business strategy. Most notably, though, LivePlan helps you build and check your business financials — answer some straightforward questions and prompts, and the software will construct a visualized forecast. LivePlan integrates with QuickBooks and Xero, so it can keep up with your business budgeting needs as they evolve. To get access to LivePlan’s ongoing budgeting tools, including analytics dashboards and accounting integrations, you’ll need the Premium plan.
Price
User experience
» MORE: Best startup accounting software
Budgeto
Best for easy to use business budgeting software
Why we like it: Budgeto’s business budgeting software stands out for its simple interface and intuitive user experience. Before you begin using the software, you’re prompted to enter some basic information about your business, including the country in which it’s based and the currency in which it operates. This ensures the financial budgets, forecasting and reports conform to the specific needs of your business. Budgeto also makes it easy to share your budgets with your business collaborators and import your accounting data from QuickBooks Online or Xero (provided you choose the respective upgrade option).
Price
User experience
What is business budgeting software?
Business budgeting software helps you manage, track and forecast business budgets
While some accounting software products have budgeting tools, there are distinct solutions that dig a little deeper if you want to predict how a particular business decision could affect your cash flow. Before you dive into your options, consider how pricing, user experience, accounting tools and more will play into your decision-making process.
» MORE: Best apps for small businesses
Methodology
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. Information is gathered on a regular basis and reviewed by our editorial team for consistency and accuracy.
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