Best business software
- QuickBooks Online.
- Xero.
- Zoho Books.
- FreshBooks.
- Wave Accounting.
- Square.
- SpotOn Restaurant.
- Shopify Retail.
- Clover.
- Lightspeed Retail.
- Stripe.
- Helcim.
- National Processing.
- PayPal.
- Chase Payment Solutions.
- Harvest.
- Square Invoices.
- Hiveage.
- Zoho Invoice.
- Invoice Ninja.
- Cin7.
- Brightpearl.
- inFlow Inventory.
- Zoho Inventory.
- Katana.
- Gusto.
- QuickBooks Payroll.
- ADP RUN.
- OnPay.
- Patriot.
- PlanGuru.
- Float.
- Centage Planning Maestro.
- LivePlan.
- Spendesk.
- Rippling.
- Namely.
- BambooHR.
- GoCo.
- TriNet Zenefits.
Our Nerdy picks for
Best business budgeting software
PlanGuruOur picks for
Best accounting software
Solid accounting software is the foundation of a capable business software ecosystem. Use it to centralize all of your financial data, prepare for tax season and keep tabs on the financial health of your business. Accounting software often includes features for budgeting (Xero and QuickBooks Online stand out for theirs) and invoicing (we rate FreshBooks as one of the best all-in-one invoicing and accounting products).
QuickBooks Online
on QuickBooks Online's secure website
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $60, $90, $200.
for first three months or free 30-day trial.
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 with the competition.
- Limited account users with each plan.
Xero
on Xero's secure website
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $42, $78.
or monthly discount (terms vary).
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.
Zoho Books
on Zoho Books' secure website
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275.
of the Premium plan.
Pros
- Less expensive than some competitors; free plan available for businesses with less than $50k in annual revenue.
- Email support in free plan; 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).
FreshBooks
on FreshBooks' secure website
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $33, $60, custom.
or monthly discount (terms vary).
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.
Wave Accounting
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $16
Pros
- Free plan available.
- Intuitive, customizable invoicing capabilities compete with those of more robust accounting solutions.
Cons
- Lacks features that quickly growing companies need, like audit trails.
- Must subscribe to Wave’s Pro plan or other 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.
Our picks for
Best point-of-sale (POS) software
Point-of-sale software often enables you to do much more than take payments. Capabilities can include inventory management, menu and table management, employee management, customer loyalty programs and integrations with third-party software for additional functionality. If you have a brick-and-mortar storefront, make sure your POS software provider also offers hardware that lets you accept in-person payments.
Square POS
on Square POS's secure website
in-person; 2.9% + 30¢ online.
and up.
Pros
- Free plan option available.
- Offers helpful related services, like payroll, that integrate closely with its POS system.
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- All plans include a free online store.
Cons
- Can’t run on Windows devices.
- Complex industries might prefer a more specialized system.
SpotOn Restaurant
on SpotOn Restaurant's secure website
For most cards in paid plans.
and up.
Pros
- Offers a free plan.
- Restaurants can customize plans by adding loyalty programs, reservation capabilities, online ordering or employee scheduling software.
- 24/7 phone support.
- No long-term contract or termination fees.
Cons
- Charges setup fee.
- Offline mode includes the hidden cost of a router.
Shopify Retail POS
on Shopify POS's secure website
in-person; 2.9% + 30¢ online (Basic plan).
and up for e-commerce plans with POS Lite; Can upgrade to POS Pro for an extra $89.
Pros
- No long-term contracts or termination fees.
- All plans include an online store.
- Built specifically for online sellers.
- 24/7 chat support.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Cannot process cards in offline mode.
Clover POS
on Clover POS's secure website
in-person; 3.5% + 10¢ online.
and up.
Pros
- Free plan available if you’re only using a mobile card reader.
- 24/7 phone and email support.
- All restaurant plans include no-fee online ordering, and retail plans let you integrate with existing online stores.
Cons
- Promotions require a three-year contract.
- Charges termination fees, though they may be waived in certain cases.
- Online payment processing rates are more expensive than competitors.
- Popular accounting integrations are only available through third-party apps.
Lightspeed Retail POS
on Lightspeed Retail POS's secure website
in-person; 2.9% + 30¢ online.
for Lean plan, $149 for Standard plan, $269 for Advanced plan.
Pros
- Includes detailed inventory management tools for creating product variants.
- Free one-on-one onboarding session for all new merchants.
- 24/7 phone and live chat support.
- Generate unlimited barcode labels.
Cons
- No free plan options.
- Lowest-tier plan doesn’t include e-commerce features.
- Charges termination fee and may require annual contract.
- Does not include a virtual terminal or offline mode.
Our picks for
Best payment processors
A payment processor is necessary for any business that accepts credit cards. The best payment processors offer competitive transaction rates, can process multiple payment methods and currencies, are transparent with their fees and may offer discounted transaction rates based on sales volume.
Stripe
on Stripe Payments' secure website
in-person; 2.9% + 30¢ online.
Pros
- Highly customizable.
- Competitive pricing.
Cons
- Prioritizes online merchants.
- Requires developer experience.
Helcim
on Helcim's secure website
plus interchange, in-person; 0.50% + 25¢ plus interchange, online.
Pros
- Interchange-plus pricing structure can help businesses save money.
- 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.
- Doesn ’t offer services to businesses in certain high-risk industries.
National Processing
on National Processing's secure website
for Basic In-Person Package.
for Basic In-Person Package.
Pros
- Low in-person processing fees for a flat-rate processor.
- No termination fees or long-term contracts.
- Works with high-risk merchants.
- Integrates with popular POS systems, e-commerce platforms and accounting products.
- 24/7 phone support.
Cons
- Fees may be higher if you process less than $10,000 per month.
- Basic plans for processing in-person and online transactions are separate.
- Mobile card reader is pricier than some competitors.
PayPal
on PayPal's secure website
credit and debit cards; 3.49% + 49¢ digital payments.
Standard; $5 Payments Advanced; $30 Payments Pro.
Pros
- One of the most commonly used payment processing platforms.
- Easy to use and integrate with website hosts and shopping carts.
- Transparent fixed fees in 25 currencies.
Cons
- PayPal’s offerings are vast and can be difficult to grasp quickly.
- Payment processing can be expensive for small purchases.
- Not ideal for high-risk or high-volume businesses.
Chase Payment Solutions℠
on Chase Payment Solutions℠'s secure website
in-person; 2.9% + 25¢ online.
Monthly fee in some instances.
Pros
- Two-in-one processor and acquiring bank.
- Free monthly plans available.
- Using your bank as your processor makes deposits convenient.
Cons
- Some hardware pricing is not readily available.
- No e-commerce integrations.
- Chase’s Business Complete checking account comes with a $15 monthly service fee for some merchants.
Our picks for
Best invoicing software
Invoicing and billing software lets you create one-off and recurring invoices, bills clients, keeps track of unpaid invoices and sends payment reminders. Here are several great options that all include a free pricing plan.
Harvest
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $12 per user.
of the Harvest Pro plan.
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 two templates (one PDF and one GDoc).
- Payment integrations are limited to Stripe and PayPal.
Square Invoices
on Square Invoices' secure website
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20.
of the Plus plan.
Pros
- Unlimited invoicing, estimates, contracts, users and clients in all plans.
- Integrates with Square’s all-in-one payment platform.
- Streamlined and intuitive.
- Ability to process in-person and online card payments as well as cash, checks, ACH transfers, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
- Send recurring invoices.
- Automatic payment reminders.
- Gives clients the option to include a tip.
Cons
- Must use Square’s in-house payment processing to accept online payments.
- Free plan does not enable custom invoicing fields and the ability to auto-convert estimates into invoices.
Hiveage
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $19, $29, $49.
of the Pro plan.
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).
Zoho Invoice
on Zoho Invoice's secure website
Free.
Pros
- Send up to 500 invoices per year for free.
- Portal lets clients pay invoices and view their transaction history.
- Payment gateway integrations include Stripe, PayPal, Square and more.
- Photograph receipts and attach them to expense reports.
- Free invoice app for iOS lets you add a timer widget to your home screen, send invoices via iMessage and add new contacts by taking photos of their business cards.
Cons
- Limited third-party integrations outside of other Zoho products and QuickBooks Online.
Invoice Ninja
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $12, $16.
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.
Our picks for
Best inventory management software
It’s not uncommon to find inventory tracking features in your accounting or POS software. Here are several standalone options, however, that may be a good fit for businesses with basic or limited POS software or those operating without a POS but in need of a system to help manage inventory.
Cin7
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $599, $999. Custom pricing also available.
Pros
- Multichannel tracking syncs inventory online and offline.
- Scalable; offers plans for enterprise businesses.
- More than 30 reports available.
- Integrates with dozens of 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; can add users for additional cost.
- Plans limit which types of apps you can integrate with and number of orders per month.
Brightpearl
Quote-based.
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.
inFlow Inventory
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $279; $549; $1,319.
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 locations.
- Number of included integrations is limited for all plans; must pay additional monthly charge to add integrations.
Zoho Inventory
on Zoho Inventory's secure website
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $39, $99, $159, $299.
Pros
- Sync inventory across multiple online sales channels. Other integrations include Zoho Books and QuickBooks Online for accounting.
- Free plan includes a customer portal, dropshipping options, backorders and item bundling.
- Free barcode, purchase order and shipping label generators.
- Mobile app available for iOS and Android.
Cons
- Free plan caps users at two, purchase orders at 20, and shipping labels and sales orders at 50.
- You’ll have to pay for setup help.
Katana
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $399; $899; $1,999.
plus $200 monthly discount on Professional plan.
Pros
- Access to accounting and e-commerce integrations in all plans.
- Introductory plan lets you track inventory in up to three warehouses.
- Use Katana Shop Floor app to track time spent on particular tasks, scan barcodes and assign jobs to employees.
- Gain insights into top-selling products, profit margin by category and cost of goods sold.
- Create purchase orders from within the software.
Cons
- Additional users cost extra in all plans.
- Higher-tier plans require costly implementation package.
Our picks for
Best payroll software
Payroll software doesn’t just make paying your employees easier — some will also calculate and file payroll taxes for you. Typically it offers some level of access to employees so they can view pay stubs, download tax forms and update their personal information. Standout payroll software includes automatic payroll functionality and direct integrations with popular accounting software.
Gusto Payroll
on Gusto Payroll's secure website
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $80, custom pricing. Fee per employee varies by tier.
Pros
- Benefits administration (health benefits are available in 37 states and Washington, D.C.; 401(k) plans are available in all 50 states).
- 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
- More expensive than some options.
- Limited hours for live support.
QuickBooks Payroll
on QuickBooks Payroll's secure website
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $80, $125. Fee per employee varies by tier.
or 50% off for three months; terms apply.
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).
RUN Powered by ADP
on RUN Powered by ADP's secure website
Plus $4 per employee. Custom pricing also available.
Terms apply
Pros
- Benefits administration available as add-on.
- Time-tracking features available as add-on.
- HR features offered at higher tiers, including HR help desk support.
- First three months free; terms apply.
- Ability to scale up for growing businesses.
Cons
- Opaque pricing.
- Limited HR support at base level.
OnPay Payroll
on OnPay Payroll's secure website
Plus $6 per employee.
Terms apply
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
- Limited customer support hours.
Patriot Payroll
on Patriot Payroll's secure website
Plus $4 per employee. Additional pricing tiers (per month): $37.
Terms apply
Pros
- Time tracking available as add-on.
- HR support available as add-on.
- One-month free trial; terms apply.
- Covers up to 100 employees.
Cons
- Doesn't offer benefits administration.
- Extra fee for 1099 e-filing (at Basic level).
- Limited accounting integration options.
Our picks for
Best business budgeting software
Business budgeting software is designed to help you forecast and manage cash flow. It often includes features for budget creation and reporting and can even help you run projections and plan for various financial scenarios.
PlanGuru
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $299.
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.
Float
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $119, $249.
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.
Centage Planning Maestro®
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $1,950, quote-based.
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.
- Cost may be prohibitive for many small businesses.
LivePlan
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $40.
Pros
- Integrates with popular accounting software.
- Automates a great deal of the earliest stages of starting a business.
- The company requires no contract and offers a 35-day money back guarantee.
- Customer support is available by email and live chat.
Cons
- You need the most expensive plan to use the software for budgeting beyond the pitch and investment startup stages.
- Most expensive plan is required to integrate with accounting software.
Spendesk Collaborative Budgets
Free.
Pros
- Totally free software.
- Company has paid offerings that could be useful as your business grows.
- Can invite additional users to collaborate on budgets.
Cons
- Software may be too basic to serve budgeting needs for certain types of businesses.
- Signing up for the free software will subject you to marketing emails as the company tries to upsell you, though you can easily unsubscribe.
Our picks for
Best HR software
If your business spends a lot of time hiring and training employees, it might be time to explore human resources software that can assist in benefits administration, payroll and employee onboarding.
Rippling
on Rippling's secure website
Plus $8 per person.
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.
Namely
Quote-based.
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.
BambooHR
Quote-based.
Pros
- Focus on analytics and reporting.
- Strong employee engagement tools.
- Seven-day free trial.
Cons
- Lacks pricing transparency.
- Payroll is considered an add-on.
GoCo
Quote-based. Plus $5 per person.
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.
TriNet Zenefits
Per employee. Must pay for at least 5 employees per month. Additional pricing tiers (per employee per month): $20, $33.
With annual subscription to Growth and Zen plans.
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.
How to choose the right business software