Best Accounting and Bookkeeping Apps for Small Business
Product | Promotion | Learn more | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
QuickBooks Online Learn more on QuickBooks Online's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Overall accounting app | $30/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $60, $90, $200. | 50% off for first three months or free 30-day trial. | Learn more on QuickBooks Online's secure website |
FreshBooks Learn more on FreshBooks' secure website | 4.5/5 Best for Freelancers | $17/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $30, $55, custom. | 30-day free trial or monthly discount (terms vary). | Learn more on FreshBooks' secure website |
Zoho Books Learn more on Zoho Books' secure website | 4.5/5 Best for Mobile-first features | $0 Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275. | 14-day free trial of the Premium plan. | Learn more on Zoho Books' secure website |
Xero Learn more on Xero's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Employee access | $15/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $42, $78. | 30-day free trial or monthly discount (terms vary). | Learn more on Xero's secure website |
Wave Accounting | 3.5/5 Best for Free accounting app | $0 Free (Wave makes money via paid money management products). | N/A | |
Bench | Best for In-app messaging with your bookkeeper | $299/month | One free month of bookkeeping. |
Our pick for
Overall accounting app
QuickBooks Online
on QuickBooks Online's secure website
$30/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $60, $90, $200.
50% off
for first three months or free 30-day trial.
Pros
- Create and send invoices to clients.
- 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.
Our pick for
Freelancers
FreshBooks
on FreshBooks' secure website
$17/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $30, $55, custom.
30-day free trial
or monthly discount (terms vary).
Pros
- 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.
Our pick for
Mobile-first features
Zoho Books
on Zoho Books' secure website
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275.
14-day free trial
of the Premium plan.
Pros
- View balance sheet, cash flow reports and income statements.
- Invoice clients and turn photos of their business cards into contacts.
- Add accounting widgets to your phone’s home screen; track time using your Apple Watch.
- Available for iOS and Android.
Cons
- To scan receipts and track mileage via GPS, you’ll need Zoho Expense, a separate app (free plan includes these features).
Our pick for
Employee access
Xero
on Xero's secure website
$15/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $42, $78.
30-day free trial
or monthly discount (terms vary).
Pros
- 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.
Our pick for
Free accounting app
Wave Accounting
$0
Free (Wave makes money via paid money management products).
N/A
Pros
- 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.
Our pick for
In-app messaging with your bookkeeper
Bench
$299/month
One free month of bookkeeping.
Pros
- View profit and loss insights, balance sheets, income statements and top 10 expenses.
- Send messages to your bookkeeping team.
- Categorize transactions and record notes for them.
Cons
- Available for iOS only.
- No invoicing, mileage tracking or receipt capture features.