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Best Accounting Software for Macs of October 2024

Most accounting software can work with any operating system, but some options have more Mac-friendly features.
By Tina Orem
Last updated on June 18, 2024
Edited bySally Lauckner
Fact checked and reviewed

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.

In earlier days, a big part of choosing the best accounting software for Macs involved finding out which programs were compatible with which systems. Now, things are more universal — especially for online, small-business accounting software. But some solutions have features that are a little friendlier for Mac users, such as desktop versions for Macs, iOS apps, iCloud compatibility and even Apple Watch apps.

Best Accounting Software for Macs

Product
Promotion
Learn more

Xero

Learn more

on Xero's secure website

5.0/5

Best for Unlimited Mac users

$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

QuickBooks Online

Learn more

on QuickBooks Online's secure website

5.0/5

Best for Overall accounting software for Macs

$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

FreshBooks

Learn more

on FreshBooks' secure website

4.5/5

Best for Apple Pay-friendly option

$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

Zoho Books

Learn more

on Zoho Books' secure website

4.5/5

Best for Low cost, high value

$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

Wave Accounting

3.5/5

Best for Free option

$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $16

N/A

Our pick for

Unlimited Mac users

Learn more

on Xero's secure website

Starting at
$15/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $42, $78.

Promotion
75% off

for six months on Business Edition plans.

Our pick for

Overall accounting software for Macs

QuickBooks Online

Learn more

on QuickBooks Online's secure website

Starting at
$35/month

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

Promotion
50% off

for first three months or free 30-day trial.

Our pick for

Apple Pay-friendly option

FreshBooks

Learn more

on FreshBooks' secure website

Starting at
$19/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $33, $60, custom.

Promotion
30-day free trial

or monthly discount (terms vary).

Our pick for

Low cost, high value

Zoho Books

Learn more

on Zoho Books' secure website

Starting at
$0

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

Promotion
14-day free trial

of the Premium plan.

Our pick for

Free option

Wave Accounting

Starting at
$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $16

Promotion
N/A

NerdWallet’s picks for best accounting software for Macs

QuickBooks Online

Best overall accounting software for Macs
Price:
  • $35 per month for the Simple Start plan.
  • $65 per month for the Essentials plan.
  • $99 per month for the Plus plan.
  • $235 per month for the Advanced plan.
Why we like it: QuickBooks Online works on Macs, tablets and phones (among other options). It has solid accounting features such as invoicing, billing, inventory tracking, reporting, budget creation, sales and customer management. Several features simplify payment collection, including automated reminders, the ability to combine multiple invoices in one email and an online payment portal. Read our full QuickBooks Online review.

Xero

Best for unlimited Mac users
Price:
  • $15 per month for the Early plan.
  • $42 per month for the Growing plan.
  • $78 per month for the Established plan.
Why we like it: Xero stands out by allowing unlimited users at every subscription tier, a potentially valuable feature for businesses where several users may need at least limited access to the system to run reports or analyze performance. You can also set up different permissions for each user so employees have access only to what's relevant to their job. Read our full Xero review.

FreshBooks

Best for Apple Pay-friendly option
Price:
  • $19 per month for the Lite plan.
  • $33 per month for the Plus plan.
  • $60 per month for the Premium plan.
  • Custom pricing for the Select plan.
Why we like it: FreshBooks' mobile app is intuitive and feature-rich, making it a great choice for entrepreneurs who spend more time on the phone than at a desk. Aside from general accounting functions, the mobile app also allows you to respond to clients' questions and get notified when they view or pay invoices or when invoices are overdue. FreshBooks receives generally strong industry reviews for its intuitive, easy-to-use interface. Entirely cloud-based, it covers the basics and includes some attractive automated features and reports. If you need to have more than one person access the system, be sure you factor that into the price. Read our full FreshBooks review.

Zoho Books

Best for low-cost, high-value accounting software
Price:
  • $0 per month for the Free plan.
  • $20 per month for the Standard plan.
  • $50 per month for the Professional plan.
  • $70 per month for the Premium plan.
  • $150 per month for the Elite plan.
  • $275 per month for the Ultimate plan.
Why we like it: Zoho Books packs an impressive collection of features and reporting capabilities for an affordable price. The free version is only for businesses that have less than $50,000 in annual revenue; it allows one user and one accountant. Its interface is easy to learn and use, and the option to automate workflows — for example, to send an email alert if an invoice exceeds a certain amount, or to apply a discount or late fee in certain cases — makes it stand out as an attractive choice. Zoho is perhaps best-known for its customer relationship management, or CRM, and productivity apps, which integrate well with its accounting software. Read our full Zoho Books review.

Wave

Best for free accounting software
Price: $0.
Why we like it: Wave doesn’t put out a bare-bones free product as bait, then load it down with costly upgrades. Even the free version has the ability to add unlimited collaborators, along with unlimited bank and credit card connections. Its separate invoicing product (also free) adds unlimited invoices and automated invoice reminders. The company makes money through payment processing, a service you can add. It's also among the best accounting software for payroll, as it offers a payroll add-on. Read our full Wave Accounting review.

Accounting software features that Mac users should consider before buying

Consider the following when choosing the best small-business accounting software for your Mac-based business:
  • Accessibility: Most new accounting software is cloud-based, meaning you can access it from any device with an internet connection, via either a browser or app for your iOS-enabled device. If wide accessibility, collaboration and integrations are important to your business, then a cloud-based option may be your priority.
  • Collaboration:  If you plan to work with an outside accountant or bookkeeper, choosing a software they can work in is paramount.
  • Scalability: Your accounting software should be able to grow with your business. That means looking at whether you can upgrade your accounting software when you need to and whether there are limits on the use of certain features.
  • Feature set: Beyond the standard accounting features, what else does your business need to run most efficiently? You may also find inventory management, built-in payment processing, multi-currency capabilities, integrations and more in today’s accounting products. Be sure the one you choose has everything you need. On the flip side, don’t pay for “extras” you won’t use.
  • Cost: Price is probably isn’t the only deciding factor in your accounting software choice, but it's important to know what to expect. Monthly and annual subscription fees vary a lot, and add-ons could raise the price.
Last updated on June 18, 2024

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.
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