Best Accounting and Bookkeeping Apps for Small Businesses
Product | Promotion | Learn more | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
QuickBooks Online Learn more on QuickBooks Online's secure website | 5.0/5 Best for Overall accounting app | $35/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $65, $99, $235. | 50% off for first three months or free 30-day trial. | Learn more on QuickBooks Online's 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. | 75% off for six months on Business Edition plans. | Learn more on Xero's 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 |
FreshBooks Learn more on FreshBooks' secure website | 4.5/5 Best for Freelancers | $19/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $33, $60, custom. | 30-day free trial or monthly discount (terms vary). | Learn more on FreshBooks' secure website |
Wave Accounting | 3.5/5 Best for Free accounting app | $0 Additional pricing tiers (per month): $16 | N/A | |
Odoo | 4.0/5 Best for All-in-one business management app | $0 For use of a single app. Additional pricing tiers per user (per month): $38.90, $58.40. | Monthly discount for the first 12 months. |
Our pick for
Overall accounting app
All the many features available in QuickBooks Online’s Simple Start (entry-level) plan are available in the QuickBooks app. That means you get income tracking and expense tracking (including receipt uploads), custom estimates and invoices, payment acceptance, basic accounting reports, mileage tracking and more on your mobile device.
QuickBooks Online
on QuickBooks Online's secure website
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $65, $99, $235.
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
Employee access
In addition to its general accounting app, which lets you create, send and track invoices, reconcile your books, and keep tabs on your overall financial standing, Xero offers a separate and free app with each of its plans, called Xero Me. This app is designed specifically for employees to capture receipts and submit expense claims, view paystubs, submit timesheets and more.
Xero
on Xero's secure website
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $42, $78.
for six months on Business Edition plans.
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
Mobile-first features
Zoho Books’ mobile app includes a few unique features, including accounting widgets designed for your phone’s home screen, accounting-related shortcuts for Siri and an app designed specifically for the Apple Watch. If you’re a tech-savvy business owner who frequently works on the go, the Zoho Books app may be the right fit for you.
Zoho Books
on Zoho Books' secure website
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275.
of the Premium plan.
Pros
- 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 scan receipts and track mileage via GPS, you’ll need Zoho Expense, a separate app (free plan includes these features).
Our pick for
Freelancers
FreshBooks accounting software designed its first two plan tiers with freelancers and solopreneurs in mind. The FreshBooks app is particularly convenient for freelancers since it enables you to track miles, photograph and upload receipts, create and send invoices, and communicate and collaborate with your clients.
FreshBooks
on FreshBooks' secure website
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $33, $60, custom.
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
Free accounting app
Wave’s free app gives you access to a financial dashboard, lets you create and send invoices, and notifies you when invoices have been paid. If you pay for Wave’s payment processing or mobile receipts services, the app comes with additional features for collecting payment in any currency and capturing receipts for expense tracking.
Wave Accounting
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $16
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
All-in-one business management app
Having multiple business-related apps can crowd your smartphone’s home screen and get tedious to flip between. Odoo houses all of those apps in one place, so that you can easily pivot from viewing reports to managing inventory.
Odoo
For use of a single app. Additional pricing tiers per user (per month): $38.90, $58.40.
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.
- Phone support is only available for database emergencies.
Need a crash course in bookkeeping?
How to choose accounting and bookkeeping apps
1. Determine which tasks you need to do from your phone.
2. Understand which apps you need to sync with.
3. Check compatibility with your mobile device.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
Many small business owners who use accounting and bookkeeping software themselves still choose to enlist the help of a bookkeeping service to feel confident they’re keeping accurate financial records and correctly filing their taxes.