Best Accounting Software for Small Businesses of June 2025

Accounting software helps you track money moving in and out of your small business, so that you can maintain a detailed financial record for tax time.
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Our pick for simple accounting software
Xero
Our pick for simple accounting software

Xero

Xero

on Xero's website

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.
Objective and comprehensive business accounting software ratings rubric. (Learn more about our star ratings.)
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.

Best Accounting Software for Small Businesses

Product Best for NerdWallet rating Starting at Promotion Learn more
Xero

Xero

on Xero's secure website

Simple accounting software

$20/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $47, $80.

90% off

for 6 months.

on Xero's secure website

QuickBooks

QuickBooks Online

on QuickBooks Online's secure website

Working with an accountant

$35/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $65, $99, $235.

90% off

for first three months or free 30-day trial.

on QuickBooks Online's secure website

Zoho Books

Zoho Books

on Zoho Books' secure website

Free accounting software plan

$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275.

14-day free trial

of the Premium plan.

on Zoho Books' secure website

FreshBooks

FreshBooks

on FreshBooks' secure website

Freelancers

$21/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $38, $65, custom.

50% off

for 6 months. 30-Day Money Back Guarantee.

on FreshBooks' secure website

QuickBooks

QuickBooks Enterprise

on QuickBooks Enterprise's secure website

Enterprise accounting software with advanced reporting capabilities

$1,703/year

Additional pricing tiers (per year): $2,210; $2,717; $5,364. Adding users or cloud access costs extra.

30-day free trial

on QuickBooks Enterprise's secure website

Striven

Striven

on Striven's secure website

Industry-specific features

4.1 /5
$35/month

Per user. Additional pricing tiers per user (per month): $70.

7-day free trial

on Striven's secure website

Wave

Wave Accounting

on Wave Accounting's secure website

Very small, service-based businesses

$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $16

N/A

on Wave Accounting's secure website

Sage

Sage 50 Accounting

on Sage 50 Accounting's secure website

Desktop accounting software

$62/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $103.92, $177.17.

N/A

on Sage 50 Accounting's secure website

Product Best for NerdWallet rating Starting at Promotion Learn more
Xero

Xero

on Xero's secure website

Simple accounting software

$20/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $47, $80.

90% off

for 6 months.

on Xero's secure website

QuickBooks

QuickBooks Online

on QuickBooks Online's secure website

Working with an accountant

$35/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $65, $99, $235.

90% off

for first three months or free 30-day trial.

on QuickBooks Online's secure website

Zoho Books

Zoho Books

on Zoho Books' secure website

Free accounting software plan

$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275.

14-day free trial

of the Premium plan.

on Zoho Books' secure website

FreshBooks

FreshBooks

on FreshBooks' secure website

Freelancers

$21/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $38, $65, custom.

50% off

for 6 months. 30-Day Money Back Guarantee.

on FreshBooks' secure website

QuickBooks

QuickBooks Enterprise

on QuickBooks Enterprise's secure website

Enterprise accounting software with advanced reporting capabilities

$1,703/year

Additional pricing tiers (per year): $2,210; $2,717; $5,364. Adding users or cloud access costs extra.

30-day free trial

on QuickBooks Enterprise's secure website

Striven

Striven

on Striven's secure website

Industry-specific features

4.1 /5
$35/month

Per user. Additional pricing tiers per user (per month): $70.

7-day free trial

on Striven's secure website

Wave

Wave Accounting

on Wave Accounting's secure website

Very small, service-based businesses

$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $16

N/A

on Wave Accounting's secure website

Sage

Sage 50 Accounting

on Sage 50 Accounting's secure website

Desktop accounting software

$62/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $103.92, $177.17.

N/A

on Sage 50 Accounting's secure website

Best Accounting Software for Small Businesses

Our pick for simple accounting software

Xero

Best 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

Our pick for simple accounting software

Xero

Best 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

QuickBooks Online

Best for Working with an accountant

Starting at
$35/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $65, $99, $235.

Promotion
90% off

for first three months or free 30-day trial.

on QuickBooks' website

QuickBooks Online

Best for Working with an accountant

Starting at
$35/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $65, $99, $235.

Promotion
90% off

for first three months or free 30-day trial.

on QuickBooks' website

Zoho Books

Best for Free accounting software plan

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

Zoho Books

Best for Free accounting software plan

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

FreshBooks

Best for Freelancers

Starting at
$21/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $38, $65, custom.

Promotion
50% off

for 6 months. 30-Day Money Back Guarantee.

on FreshBooks' website

FreshBooks

Best for Freelancers

Starting at
$21/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $38, $65, custom.

Promotion
50% off

for 6 months. 30-Day Money Back Guarantee.

on FreshBooks' website

QuickBooks Enterprise

Best for Enterprise accounting software with advanced reporting capabilities

Starting at
$1,703/year

Additional pricing tiers (per year): $2,210; $2,717; $5,364. Adding users or cloud access costs extra.

Promotion
30-day free trial

on QuickBooks' website

QuickBooks Enterprise

Best for Enterprise accounting software with advanced reporting capabilities

Starting at
$1,703/year

Additional pricing tiers (per year): $2,210; $2,717; $5,364. Adding users or cloud access costs extra.

Promotion
30-day free trial

on QuickBooks' website

Striven

4.1

 

Best for Industry-specific features

Starting at
$35/month

Per user. Additional pricing tiers per user (per month): $70.

Promotion
7-day free trial

on Striven's website

Striven

Best for Industry-specific features

4.1

 
Starting at
$35/month

Per user. Additional pricing tiers per user (per month): $70.

Promotion
7-day free trial

on Striven's website

Wave Accounting

Best for Very small, service-based businesses

Starting at
$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $16

Promotion
N/A

on Wave's website

Wave Accounting

Best for Very small, service-based businesses

Starting at
$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $16

Promotion
N/A

on Wave's website

Sage 50 Accounting

Best for Desktop accounting software

Starting at
$62/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $103.92, $177.17.

Bonus
$0

on Sage's website

Sage 50 Accounting

Best for Desktop accounting software

Starting at
$62/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $103.92, $177.17.

Bonus
$0

on Sage's website

More about our top accounting software picks

Get additional details about the features these products do and don't include.
Double-entry accounting
Automatic bank imports
Automatic transaction reconciliation
Unlimited users with at least one plan
Accountant access with all plans
Standard accounting reports (e.g., P&L, balance sheet, AP and AR)
Customizable reports
Industry-specific reports
Invoicing features
Inventory management features
Project tracking features
Mobile app
Business software integrations (e.g., payroll, HR, CRM, time tracking)
Live customer support
Double-entry accounting
Automatic bank imports
Automatic transaction reconciliation
Unlimited users with at least one plan
Accountant access with all plans
Standard accounting reports (e.g., P&L, balance sheet, AP and AR)
Customizable reports
Industry-specific reports
Invoicing features
Inventory management features
Project tracking features
Mobile app
Business software integrations (e.g., payroll, HR, CRM, time tracking)
Live customer support
Double-entry accounting
Automatic bank imports
Automatic transaction reconciliation
Unlimited users with at least one plan
Accountant access with all plans
Standard accounting reports (e.g., P&L, balance sheet, AP and AR)
Customizable reports
Industry-specific reports
Invoicing features
Inventory management features
Project tracking features
Mobile app
Business software integrations (e.g., payroll, HR, CRM, time tracking)
Live customer support
Double-entry accounting
Automatic bank imports
Automatic transaction reconciliation
Unlimited users with at least one plan
Accountant access with all plans
Standard accounting reports (e.g., P&L, balance sheet, AP and AR)
Customizable reports
Industry-specific reports
Invoicing features
Inventory management features
Project tracking features
Mobile app
Business software integrations (e.g., payroll, HR, CRM, time tracking)
Live customer support
Double-entry accounting
Automatic bank imports
Automatic transaction reconciliation
Unlimited users with at least one plan
Accountant access with all plans
Standard accounting reports (e.g., P&L, balance sheet, AP and AR)
Customizable reports
Industry-specific reports
Invoicing features
Inventory management features
Project tracking features
Mobile app
Business software integrations (e.g., payroll, HR, CRM, time tracking)
Live customer support
Double-entry accounting
Automatic bank imports
Automatic transaction reconciliation
Unlimited users with at least one plan
Accountant access with all plans
Standard accounting reports (e.g., P&L, balance sheet, AP and AR)
Customizable reports
Industry-specific reports
Invoicing features
Inventory management features
Project tracking features
Mobile app
Business software integrations (e.g., payroll, HR, CRM, time tracking)
Live customer support
Double-entry accounting
Automatic bank imports
Automatic transaction reconciliation
Unlimited users with at least one plan
Accountant access with all plans
Standard accounting reports (e.g., P&L, balance sheet, AP and AR)
Customizable reports
Industry-specific reports
Invoicing features
Inventory management features
Project tracking features
Mobile app
Business software integrations (e.g., payroll, HR, CRM, time tracking)
Live customer support
Double-entry accounting
Automatic bank imports
Automatic transaction reconciliation
Unlimited users with at least one plan
Accountant access with all plans
Standard accounting reports (e.g., P&L, balance sheet, AP and AR)
Customizable reports
Industry-specific reports
Invoicing features
Inventory management features
Project tracking features
Mobile app
Business software integrations (e.g., payroll, HR, CRM, time tracking)
Live customer support

What is accounting software?

Accounting software helps your small business follow basic accounting principles so that you can keep your books up to date and in order, which is especially important come tax season. Think of it as a database for all of your business’s financial transactions.
Without dedicated accounting software, the following crucial financial tasks would be tedious and more vulnerable to human error:
  • Entering and organizing financial transactions. 
  • Recording income and expenses. 
  • Reconciling accounts.
  • Generating financial statements and reports.  
  • Keeping track of how much money you’re owed and vice versa.  
Most accounting software goes beyond these tasks with additional built-in modules for invoicing, bill-pay and inventory management, among other functions. The more your accounting software becomes a one-stop shop for these financial chores, the fewer integrations you need to consider.

Learn more about how accounting software works

You’ll get the most out of your accounting software if you understand its main use cases and which features to look for. If used correctly, it can help minimize manual data entry and simplify tedious back-office tasks.

Key accounting software features to consider

Determining which accounting tools you require will depend on your business type, size and industry, among other factors. Here are some features to keep top of mind as you compare options.
This means your accounting software enters a balancing debit or credit for each transaction, so that you don’t have to do it manually.  
Most accounting software comes with a built-in chart of accounts you can use to categorize transactions. You should be able to add or remove accounts as needed.
You may have the option to automatically pull transactions from your business’s bank and credit card accounts into your software. This reduces time and error from manual entry.  
Tracking money-in and money-out transactions is central to bookkeeping
Some accounting software products will automatically match your bank and credit card statements with the transactions in your accounting software to ensure alignment, meaning you only have to look them over and approve.
Cloud-based accounting software makes it easy to invite your accountant to look over your books remotely.
Look for report templates — think a profit and loss statement, balance sheet and cash flow statement — along with reports on aged receivables and sales tax. You should be able to customize them by date so that you can compare time periods. 
The ability to invoice clients from your accounting software is key for service-based businesses. You want to be able to customize invoices with your logo, easily turn estimates into invoices, add terms and due dates, and accept online payments. While it might not be as convenient, third-party invoicing software is also available.
To minimize manual data entry, you’ll want to integrate your accounting software with the rest of your business software ecosystem so they can exchange information automatically. This may include your point-of-sale software, payroll software, inventory software and third-party time or mileage tracking tools. 
Accounting software for freelancers, for example, often includes mobile apps for iOS and Android devices that let you track time and miles. Accounting apps are also convenient for sending invoices on the go and snapping photos of receipts and other documents.
It’s not uncommon for accounting software to include basic inventory management in lower-tier plans, though you might have to pay extra or integrate with a third-party app to sync in-store and online sales.
Just like you keep track of how much money your business is owed, you may need to keep tabs on what your business owes. Bill management features can help you schedule payments so you don’t risk late fees.
Service-based businesses may want insight into each job’s profitability, so they know how to best spend their time.
Many of the popular accounting products can work well for a variety of business types and sizes, but they do come with limits. If you work in an industry with more stringent tax requirements, such as the nonprofit sector or legal professions, or in a field that benefits from detailed and specialized financial reporting, such as construction or manufacturing, then accounting software designed specifically with those needs in mind may be the way to go.

How much does accounting software cost?

Accounting software for small businesses can cost anywhere from $0 for the basics to $200 or more per month for the most advanced plans. The picks listed above include both free and paid products, and most options have multiple plans at different price points. Here are a handful of factors that could impact how much you’re paying for accounting software:
Paper documents wrapped with a ribbon that has a checkmark on it.
Sign-up discountsAs a new customer, you can sometimes choose between a monthly discount or a free trial. If you go with the monthly discount, understand exactly how much more you’ll be paying when the introductory period is up.
A calculator with cash next to it.
Payment frequencyThe prices listed above apply to month-to-month subscriptions, but you may be able to save by committing to an annual one instead. Just be sure to read the fine print — you might not get reimbursed if you pay upfront and cancel before the year is up.
A person looking at a mobile phone.
Number of usersIn some cases, you’ll need to pay a monthly fee per additional user. Factor in how many users an accounting software product includes, how much it costs to add additional users and how many people in your business need to have access to the software.
Couple of hands typing on a laptop.
IntegrationsMake a list of the integrations you’ll require and check to see if they’re built into your accounting software already. If not, you might need to pay a monthly subscription fee to connect one program to another.

How to choose accounting software

Ideally, your accounting software will make your day-to-day routine easier through automation. Here are some key factors to consider when researching and choosing the best accounting software for your small business.
  • Accessibility: Cloud-based software enables access through any device with an internet connection. This generally allows for easier collaboration with accountants and seamless integration with other business software. Desktop-based software, however, can only be accessed from a single computer.
  • Scalability: Take a look at products’ plan offerings, including how many employees and users the software can support, to make sure you can upgrade to a more robust version of the software as your business grows. If you anticipate rapid or high growth, consider accounting software for medium-sized businesses
  • Your budget: Determine how much your business can afford to spend monthly on accounting software in conjunction with other recurring costs, like utilities, rent and additional software subscriptions for a POS system or payroll, for example. If you’re a solopreneur and want to keep costs down, check out our list of best accounting software for freelancers and the self-employed.
  • Ease of use: Accounting software that isn’t intuitive and user-friendly can take up an unnecessary amount of your time or discourage you from using it as often as you should to keep your finances in order. Test out free trials of accounting software, request a demo and watch tutorial videos to get a feel for navigating the software. 
  • Integrations: Think about the other types of software you already use or plan to use, and check to see if direct integrations are available between those products and the accounting software you’re considering. If not, you may need to pay for an indirect integration or manually transfer data from one product to another. 
  • Customer support: Think about what time of the day you’re most likely to reach out for assistance and how you’d like to communicate with customer service representatives. Free accounting software options typically offer less robust customer support solutions than paid products do. 
  • Sharing with your accountant: If you’re working with an outside accountant, take note of how easy (or not) a product makes it for you to share your financial details and reports with your accountant. Many popular accounting software products allow you to easily share access, but some require upgrades to costlier plans for this access and some products only enable you to export data to be sent to your accountant.

💬 Tips for setting up your accounting software

"My husband plans to open a brewery this year, and I’m going to help him choose the right accounting software and maintain his books. I’m QuickBooks certified and write about small-business software for a living, but taking on a business’s bookkeeping tasks is still daunting. That’s why I’m not doing it alone.
"As I’m setting up the accounting software, I’m going to check in with a certified public accountant to make sure I’m on the right track. More specifically, I want to ensure I’m organizing the chart of accounts efficiently and categorizing transactions correctly. That way, we can run accurate reports from day one.
"Other small-business owners can benefit from doing the same early on. And ideally, your accountant will have experience in your specific industry, too."
Hillary Crawford, lead writer covering small business

How we choose the best accounting software for small business

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 more than 10 categories and more than 30 subcategories.
Pie chart displaying accounting software ratings categories and percentages
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.

A guide to our star ratings

Accounting software that receives a NerdWallet rating of 5 stars is outstanding among its competition. It delivers great value to users with a range of features and integrations at an affordable — and transparent — price. It also offers multiple avenues for customer support.
Accounting software that earns 4 to 4.9 stars is excellent. It includes all the standard features and most advanced features but is lacking in areas such as integrations, a mobile app and/or pricing transparency.
Accounting software with a rating of 3 to 3.9 stars is a solid choice. It lacks certain key features and integrations, and it may also lack pricing transparency. Alternatively, it may be a free product that lacks certain desirable features but offers enough to be worth consideration for businesses on a tight budget.
Accounting software that we rate below 3 stars is found to be lacking in several key categories, and we therefore won’t typically recommend it.
Last updated on May 12, 2025