Best Business Software of June 2025

Business software refers to various digital tools and programs that help manage your small business.
Advertiser icon
Close
Advertiser icon
Close
Our pick for simple accounting software
Xero
Our pick for simple accounting software

Xero

Xero

on Xero's website

An effective business software ecosystem can streamline your operations. Choosing accounting software is typically the first step. But no matter your business needs, make sure all your software products integrate to minimize manual data entry.
Here are our top business software picks across multiple categories.
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
95+ 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 Business Software

Product Best for NerdWallet rating Starting at Promotion Learn more
QuickBooks

QuickBooks Online

on QuickBooks Online's secure website

Best accounting software

$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

Xero

Xero

on Xero's secure website

Best accounting software

$20/month

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

90% off

for 6 months.

on Xero's secure website

Helcim

Helcim

on Helcim's secure website

Best payment processors

N/A

N/A

on Helcim's secure website

Square

Square POS

on Square POS's secure website

Best point-of-sale (POS) software

N/A

N/A

on Square POS's secure website

Stripe

Stripe

on Stripe Payments' secure website

Best payment processors

N/A

N/A

on Stripe Payments' secure website

Zoho Inventory

Zoho Inventory

on Zoho Inventory's secure website

Best inventory management software

$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $39, $99, $159, $299.

14-day free trial

on Zoho Inventory's secure website

Gusto

Gusto Payroll

on Gusto Payroll's secure website

Best payroll software

$49/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $80, $180. Fee per employee varies by tier.

1 month free

for contractor-only businesses.

on Gusto Payroll's secure website

Rippling

Rippling

on Rippling's secure website

Best HR software

$8/month

Per person plus quote-based monthly software fee.

N/A

on Rippling's secure website

QuickBooks

QuickBooks Payroll

on QuickBooks Payroll's secure website

Best payroll software

$50/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $85, $130. Fee per employee varies by tier.

90% off

for first three months or free 30-day trial.

on QuickBooks Payroll's secure website

Square

Square Invoices

on Square Invoices' secure website

Best invoicing software

$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20.

30-day free trial

of the Plus plan.

on Square Invoices' secure website

Square

Square POS (inventory feature)

on Square POS (inventory feature)'s secure website

Best inventory management software

$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $89 per location, custom.

30-day free trial

on Square POS (inventory feature)'s secure website

Harvest

Harvest

Best invoicing software

4.5 /5
$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $13.75, $17.50 per user.

30-day free trial

Product Best for NerdWallet rating Starting at Promotion Learn more
QuickBooks

QuickBooks Online

on QuickBooks Online's secure website

Best accounting software

$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

Xero

Xero

on Xero's secure website

Best accounting software

$20/month

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

90% off

for 6 months.

on Xero's secure website

Helcim

Helcim

on Helcim's secure website

Best payment processors

N/A

N/A

on Helcim's secure website

Square

Square POS

on Square POS's secure website

Best point-of-sale (POS) software

N/A

N/A

on Square POS's secure website

Stripe

Stripe

on Stripe Payments' secure website

Best payment processors

N/A

N/A

on Stripe Payments' secure website

Zoho Inventory

Zoho Inventory

on Zoho Inventory's secure website

Best inventory management software

$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $39, $99, $159, $299.

14-day free trial

on Zoho Inventory's secure website

Gusto

Gusto Payroll

on Gusto Payroll's secure website

Best payroll software

$49/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $80, $180. Fee per employee varies by tier.

1 month free

for contractor-only businesses.

on Gusto Payroll's secure website

Rippling

Rippling

on Rippling's secure website

Best HR software

$8/month

Per person plus quote-based monthly software fee.

N/A

on Rippling's secure website

QuickBooks

QuickBooks Payroll

on QuickBooks Payroll's secure website

Best payroll software

$50/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $85, $130. Fee per employee varies by tier.

90% off

for first three months or free 30-day trial.

on QuickBooks Payroll's secure website

Square

Square Invoices

on Square Invoices' secure website

Best invoicing software

$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20.

30-day free trial

of the Plus plan.

on Square Invoices' secure website

Square

Square POS (inventory feature)

on Square POS (inventory feature)'s secure website

Best inventory management software

$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $89 per location, custom.

30-day free trial

on Square POS (inventory feature)'s secure website

Harvest

Harvest

Best invoicing software

4.5 /5
$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $13.75, $17.50 per user.

30-day free trial

Best Business Software

QuickBooks Online

Best for Best accounting software

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 Best accounting software

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

Our pick for simple accounting software

Xero

Best for Best 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 Best accounting software

Starting at
$20/month

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

Promotion
90% off

for 6 months.

on Xero's website

Helcim

Best for Best payment processors

on Helcim's website

Helcim

Best for Best payment processors

on Helcim's website

Stripe

Best for Best payment processors

on Stripe's website

Stripe

Best for Best payment processors

on Stripe's website

Square POS

Best for Best point-of-sale (POS) software

on Square's website

Square POS

Best for Best point-of-sale (POS) software

on Square's website

Zoho Inventory

Best for Best inventory management software

Starting at
$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $39, $99, $159, $299.

Promotion
14-day free trial

on Zoho Inventory's website

Zoho Inventory

Best for Best inventory management software

Starting at
$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $39, $99, $159, $299.

Promotion
14-day free trial

on Zoho Inventory's website

Square POS (inventory feature)

Best for Best inventory management software

Starting at
$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $89 per location, custom.

Promotion
30-day free trial

on Square's website

Square POS (inventory feature)

Best for Best inventory management software

Starting at
$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $89 per location, custom.

Promotion
30-day free trial

on Square's website

Gusto Payroll

Best for Best payroll software

Starting at
$49/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $80, $180. Fee per employee varies by tier.

Promotion
1 month free

for contractor-only businesses.

on Gusto's website

Gusto Payroll

Best for Best payroll software

Starting at
$49/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $80, $180. Fee per employee varies by tier.

Promotion
1 month free

for contractor-only businesses.

on Gusto's website

QuickBooks Payroll

Best for Best payroll software

Starting at
$50/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $85, $130. Fee per employee varies by tier.

Promotion
90% off

for first three months or free 30-day trial.

on QuickBooks' website

QuickBooks Payroll

Best for Best payroll software

Starting at
$50/month

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $85, $130. Fee per employee varies by tier.

Promotion
90% off

for first three months or free 30-day trial.

on QuickBooks' website

Rippling

Best for Best HR software

Starting at
$8/month

Per person plus quote-based monthly software fee.

Promotion
N/A

on Rippling's website

Rippling

Best for Best HR software

Starting at
$8/month

Per person plus quote-based monthly software fee.

Promotion
N/A

on Rippling's website

Square Invoices

Best for Best invoicing software

Starting at
$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20.

Promotion
30-day free trial

of the Plus plan.

on Square's website

Square Invoices

Best for Best invoicing software

Starting at
$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20.

Promotion
30-day free trial

of the Plus plan.

on Square's website

Harvest

Harvest

4.5

 

Best for Best invoicing software

Starting at
$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $13.75, $17.50 per user.

Promotion
30-day free trial

Harvest

Harvest

Best for Best invoicing software

4.5

 
Starting at
$0

Additional pricing tiers (per month): $13.75, $17.50 per user.

Promotion
30-day free trial

How to choose the right business software

Couple of hands typing on a laptop.
1. Pick your accounting softwareMost small businesses should have some type of accounting software, even if it’s very simple, to separate their business and personal expenses and keep track of income. This can also make filing taxes simpler.
Some bills and a red card.
2. Consider how you’ll get paidTo accept payment from customers, look for a payment processor that offers competitive pricing and the type of hardware you need. Brick-and-mortar businesses may consider a countertop POS system, while mobile businesses may only need a portable card reader. Online businesses should seek out processors that integrate with e-commerce platforms or offer their own.
Cash and coins.
3. Figure out how you’ll pay employeesIf your business has employees, payroll software can help you stay on top of payroll taxes and make sure your employees are receiving their paychecks on time. Some payroll software lets you add HR services, offer medical benefits and track time off, too.
A person looking at a mobile phone.
4. Make sure it all integratesIf your business software programs don’t integrate with each other, you could be stuck manually entering data. Above all, your accounting software should integrate with your POS system, payments software and payroll so that it can keep track of all the money coming into and out of your business. Direct, built-in integrations, as opposed to those hosted by third-party apps, are preferable because they typically don’t cost extra.
Last updated on March 28, 2025