Best Business Software of June 2023

Why we like it

Pros

• Easy to share information with your accountant and to find QuickBooks experts and online resources if needed.

• More than 750 app integrations, including live, in-house bookkeeping.

• Robust feature set includes thorough record-keeping, comprehensive reporting, excellent invoicing and inventory management, plus a capable mobile app.

• Daily phone support and 24/7 chat support in all plans.

Cons

• Expensive compared to the competition.

• Lower-tier Simple Start and Essentials plans don’t support billable expenses.

• Limited account users with each plan.

Why we like it

Pros

• Unlimited users in all pricing plans.

• Integrates with more than 1,000 third-party apps.

• Feature set includes an excellent mobile app and suite of reports, capable invoicing features, plus automated bill and receipt capture through Hubdoc.

• Simple layout and easy to use.

Cons

• No phone number for customer support listed.

• Entry-level plan limits bills and invoices to five and 20 per month, respectively.

Why we like it

Pros

• Less expensive than some competitors; free plan available for businesses with less than $50k in annual revenue.

• Email support in free plan; 24/5 phone and chat support in paid plans.

• Rich feature set includes excellent invoicing, inventory management, workflow rules and a capable mobile app.

• Add accounting widgets to your phone’s home screen; track time using your Apple Watch.

Cons

• Fewer third-party integrations and reports than some competitors.

• No plan includes more than 15 users (can add additional users for a fee).

Why we like it

Pros

• Stay in touch with clients through the FreshBooks mobile app and get notified when invoices have been viewed or become overdue.

• Intuitive, customizable invoicing capabilities compete with those of more robust accounting solutions.

• Track time and add billable hours to invoices in all plans.

• Weekday phone support in all plans.

Cons

• Lacks features that quickly growing companies need, like audit trails for accountants to review.

• Highest-tier Select plan only comes with two users (additional users add $11 per month) and lower-tier plans put limits on billable clients.

• Least expensive plan lacks double-entry accounting reports, bank reconciliation and accountant access.

Why we like it

Pros

• Free.

• Unlimited partners, collaborators and accountants.

• Intuitive, customizable invoicing capabilities compete with those of more robust accounting solutions.

Cons

• Lacks features that quickly growing companies need, like audit trails. There are no additional plans to increase functionality.

• Must subscribe to Wave’s paid services (payroll, payments, advisor, etc.) to receive customer support from a human.

• No third-party integrations, mileage tracking feature or ability to accept in-person card payments.

Why we like it

Pros

• Transparent, flat swipe fees.

• First magstripe credit card reader is free; free plan available.

• No fees for early termination, PCI compliance, chargebacks or setup.

• Versions available for retail, restaurants or professional services; offers inventory management, table and menu management, multilocation setup, online orders and appointment scheduling.

• Live support available by phone, instant message or email.

• Subscription fees are generally month to month and easy to cancel if needed. You also have the option to pause your subscriptions for up to three months.

Cons

• Loyalty program and email marketing features cost extra; appointment booking for more than one person is an additional fee.

• Ability to create and print barcodes isn’t available on the free version.

Why we like it

Pros

• Promises no additional transaction fees or markups.

• Restaurant-friendly features for managing tables, inventory and employee performance.

• Multilocation management and the ability to publish different menus and set different prices at different locations.

• A self-ordering kiosk system that offers contactless order and payment options for customers when paired with Toast Tap.

• Live support available by phone, email or instant message.

• Offers Pay-as-You-Go plan with no monthly fee.

Cons

• Two-year contract term.

• Some features, like online ordering and the loyalty program, may cost extra based on the package you choose.

• If you close your account before your contract term ends, you’ll have to pay the remaining subscription and software financing fees.

Why we like it

Pros

• Transparent, flat swipe fees; other payment processors are available to use with your POS system if you don’t want to use the in-house option.

• The only unexpected fee you could see on your statement would be $15 for chargeback, if applicable.

• A comprehensive inventory management system to keep detailed records of your products across multiple locations and set automatic reorder points so you don't run out.

• The restaurant POS features an adjustable floor plan, easy-to-edit menus, multilocation management and reports showing peak times and employee performance.

• 24/7 phone support is available in the U.S. Chat and email support are also available.

Cons

• No free plans are available.

• Loyalty, e-commerce, accounting integrations and analytics features are included only on more expensive plans.

• If you cancel your subscription, you’ll immediately owe the remaining installment fees in your plan, if any apply. Prepaid annual and monthly fees are nonrefundable.

Why we like it

Pros

• Transparent, flat swipe fees.

• E-commerce-friendly features, including access to vendors and resources to build an online store from scratch using this platform; dropshipping, curbside pickup and local delivery options.

• Ability to automatically email customers who abandon carts and don’t complete purchases.

• Tracks inventory, hides out-of-stock products and offers inventory analysis.

• Plans are month to month and easy to cancel if needed; you can also upgrade or downgrade them at any time.

• You can “pause” your store for three months with no subscription fee or “pause and build” for a reduced monthly fee.

Cons

• No free plans are available.

• Live support is available only through chat, not phone.

• Additional transaction fees apply if you don’t use Shopify’s in-house payment processing.

Why we like it

Pros

• Accepts payments when the internet is down and processes them when you are reconnected.

• Offers a rapid deposit option for an additional fee of 1% that provides faster access to the funds from sales transactions.

• Phone support is available 24/7.

• Free customer engagement tools, such as discounts and perks, are included to help you build relationships.

Cons

• $25 chargeback fee per occurrence.

• No free hardware options.

• A virtual terminal costs $14.95 per month if you don’t purchase a software plan.

Why we like it

Pros

• Quick setup.

• 24/7 phone, chat and email support is available.

• Syncs with QuickBooks Online.

• Instant payout option available for 1% fee (minimum fee of 50 cents).

Cons

• Services aren’t available to businesses in certain industries.

• Requires some technical knowledge to fully take advantage of all features.

Why we like it

Pros

• Quick setup; approvals usually take a day.

• In-house customer support is available seven days a week.

• Offers volume-based discounts automatically.

• Syncs directly with QuickBooks Online.

Cons

• Deposits are available within two business days; same-day deposit option is not available.

• Card reader is not included with your plan; it can be purchased for $199 per unit.

• Doesn’t offer services to businesses in certain industries.

Why we like it

Pros

• 0% markup charged on top of interchange fees.

• Same-day funding available for 1% fee.

• Lowest-tier plan includes a free terminal or mobile reader.

• In-house customer support is available 24/7.

Cons

• Longer setup time than a payment service provider, typically 48 hours.

• Not all pricing plans include QuickBooks Online sync.

• Doesn’t offer services to businesses in certain industries.

Why we like it

Pros

• 0% markup charged on top of interchange fees.

• Some pricing plans include free hardware.

• Well-rated in-house customer support.

• Integrates with QuickBooks Online.

Cons

• Approval usually takes 24 hours, which is longer than some competitors.

• Doesn't offer a same-day funding option.

• In-house customer support is only available on weekdays.

• Doesn’t offer services to businesses in certain industries.

Why we like it

Pros

• Provides merchant accounts to high-risk businesses, such as those that have elevated rates of credit card fraud or chargebacks, or those that sell age-restricted products.

• 24/7 customer support is available.

• Integrates with QuickBooks Online.

Cons

• Pricing is not transparent.

• You can generally get approved within 48 hours, but it can take longer depending on how quickly you submit the required documents.

Why we like it

Pros

• Benefits administration (401(k)s available in all 50 states; health benefits are available in 37 states and Washington, D.C.).

• Time-tracking features at higher-price tiers (limited at Simple level).

• Certified HR experts available (at the Premium level).

• Free account setup.

• Next-day direct deposit (at Plus and Premium levels).

Cons

• Doesn’t offer a mobile app specifically for payroll processing.

• Limited hours for live support.

Why we like it

Pros

• First three months free; terms apply.

• Ability to scale up for growing businesses.

• Live payroll support is available 24/7.

• Benefits administration available as add-on.

• Time-tracking features available as add-on.

Cons

• Opaque pricing.

• Limited HR support at base level.

Why we like it

Pros

• Benefits administration at all levels.

• Time-tracking features available (Premium and up).

• Next-day direct deposit at Core level (same-day at Premium).

• HR support available (Premium and up).

• The option to choose a 30-day free trial or 50% off base price for first three months; terms apply.

• Easy integration with QuickBooks Online.

Cons

• Limited integration with non-QuickBooks products.

• Additional fees if you have employees in more than one state (Core and Premium).

Why we like it

Pros

• Benefits administration included.

• Integrates with third-party software for time tracking.

• HR tools included.

• One-month free trial; terms apply.

• Straightforward pricing.

• Integrates with QuickBooks and Xero.

Cons

• Can’t run payroll automatically.

• Limited customer support hours.

Why we like it

Pros

• Transparent pricing.

• One-month free trial; terms apply.

• Scales from one to 100 employees.

• Time tracking and HR support available as add-ons.

• Abundant payroll reports.

Cons

• Doesn't offer benefits administration.

• Extra fee for 1099 e-filing (at Basic level).

Why we like it

Pros

• Send up to 1,000 invoices per year for free.

• Portal lets clients pay invoices and view their transaction history.

• Payment gateway integrations include Stripe, PayPal, Square and more.

• Autoscan uploaded receipts and convert them into expenses.

Cons

• Limited third-party integrations outside of other Zoho products and QuickBooks Online.

Why we like it

Pros

• Free plan supports unlimited invoices for up to 20 clients.

• Automatically transfer credit card processing fees to customers and allow them to tip on invoices or pay incrementally over time.

• Integrates with more than a dozen payment gateways including Stripe, PayPal, Square and Apple Pay.

• Built-in inventory tool tracks items as they’re invoiced.

• Portal lets clients view their invoices and payment history.

Cons

• No direct integrations with bookkeeping or accounting software.

• Enterprise plan pricing increases as you add more users.

Why we like it

Pros

• Free plan supports unlimited invoicing for up to five clients.

• Integrates with a dozen payment gateways including Stripe, PayPal, Square and more.

• Assign different billable rates to each type of task.

• Direct clients to your own custom domain with the Plus plan.

Cons

• No built-in, direct integrations with bookkeeping or accounting software.

• All plans have client limits (highest-tier Plus plan caps at 1,000).

Why we like it

Pros

• Offers a free plan (limited to two projects).

• Advanced time-tracking features, including integrations with Google Calendar, Slack, Asana, Trello and other project management tools.

• Display billable hours by task, person or project on invoices.

• Snap and upload photos of billable expense receipts with the mobile app.

• Integrates with QuickBooks Online and Xero for accounting.

Cons

• Invoice customization options are limited. Free users can’t add company logos to invoices, and Harvest offers only one template.

• Payment integrations are limited to Stripe and PayPal.

Why we like it

Pros

• Multichannel tracking syncs inventory online and offline.

• Scalable; offers plans for enterprise businesses.

• More than 30 reports available.

• Integrates with more than 300 software products.

• Generates barcode labels.

• Can create workflow automation rules for order fulfillment.

Cons

• No mobile app for iPhone users.

• Limited number of users in all plans below the Enterprise level; can add users for $50 per month each.

• Plans limit which types of apps you can integrate with and number of orders per month.

Why we like it

Pros

• Sync inventory across multiple channels online and in-store.

• Create automation rules for tasks like order processing and invoicing.

• In-depth reporting on sales channels, customers, suppliers and marketing campaigns.

• Forecasting tools predict demand and make inventory recommendations.

• Also offers its own POS system, accounting and invoicing capabilities, customer relationship management system and warehouse management software.

• Unlimited users.

Cons

• Quote-based pricing makes it difficult to compare costs.

• Excessive for small businesses that don’t plan to grow.

Why we like it

Pros

• Offers in-house smart scanner device.

• Generate barcode labels.

• More than 30 reports available.

• Integrated business-to-business showroom for listing items online.

Cons

• Must opt for more expensive plan to access unlimited integrations or unlimited locations.

Why we like it

Pros

• Sync inventory across multiple online sales channels.

• Client portal in all plans.

• All paid plans include two hours of setup help.

• Free barcode generator.

Cons

• Only higher-tier plans (Professional plan and up) include automated workflows.

• Must subscribe to most expensive plan to view real-time reports and access advanced analytics features.

Why we like it

Pros

• Offers more than 20 forecasting methods including percentage of other accounts, growth rates and assumptions, and key performance indicators.

• Predicts cash flow and can create budget forecasts for up to 10 years.

• Can import chart of accounts data from QuickBooks Online or Xero.

• Scenario analysis tool helps your business plan for “what if” situations.

Cons

• There will be a learning curve if you’re not familiar with using various projection methods.

• Accounting data isn’t synced daily. QuickBooks Online integration updates scenarios with actual results on a monthly basis.

Why we like it

Pros

• Forecasts cash flow for up to three years.

• Automatically imports QuickBooks Online and Xero data daily.

• Scenario planning tool prepares your business for “what if” situations.

• Streamlined user interface makes it easier to use than some competitors.

Cons

• Focuses on cash flow only, as opposed to other apps that incorporate profit and loss budgets, etc. This can be limiting for businesses that need a more holistic view of their financials.

Why we like it

Pros

• Scenario planning tool helps your business prepare for “what if” situations.

• Can use non-financial drivers, like hours worked or square footage, to calculate expense and revenue budgets.

• Customizable performance dashboard drills into historical trends and comparisons.

• In-depth financial planning and analysis tools can accommodate medium-size businesses with dedicated finance teams, too.

Cons

• Accounting software integrations cost extra.

• Getting used to various customization options is a learning process.

• Quote-based pricing isn’t transparent.

Why we like it

Pros

• Single platform for employee data.

• Payroll in all 50 states and outside the U.S.

• Employee app and device management.

Cons

• Lacks pricing transparency.

• System may be more than the average small business requires.

Why we like it

Pros

• Employee engagement tools.

• Vast library of training and compliance courses.

• Offers a monthly webinar to demonstrate the product.

Cons

• Lacks pricing transparency.

• Not the best fit for businesses with fewer than 25 employees.

Why we like it

Pros

• Focus on analytics and reporting.

• Strong employee engagement tools.

• Seven-day free trial.

Cons

• Lacks pricing transparency.

• Payroll is considered an add-on.

Why we like it

Pros

• Paper-free hiring and onboarding process.

• 20% discount for annual and multiyear contract payment.

• Product tour with preloaded demo data.

Cons

• Lacking pricing details.

• Limited employee performance features.

Why we like it

Pros

• Employee self-onboarding that can be completed before the start date.

• People Hub for employee engagement and collaboration.

• Free payroll for 12 months for businesses that meet promotion terms.

Cons

• Minimum charge for five employees totaling $50 per month.

• Payroll is an add-on feature at an added cost.