Best Cloud Accounting Software of 2025
Cloud accounting software provides modern automation options and lets you access your business’s finances from anywhere, including your couch.
Learn more | Product | Best for | NerdWallet rating | Starting at | Promotion | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Xero | Business performance tracking | $25/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $55, $90. | 90% off for 6 months. | on Xero's website | |
 QuickBooks Online | Overall cloud accounting software | $38/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $75, $115, $275. | 50% off for 3 months or free 30-day trial. | on QuickBooks' website | |
 Zoho Books | Scalability | $0 Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275. | 14-day free trial of the Premium plan. | on Zoho Books' website | |
 FreshBooks | Freelancers and self-employed professionals | $21/month Additional pricing tiers (per month): $38, $65, custom. | 60% off for the first 3 months (applies to new FreshBooks subscriptions). | on FreshBooks' website | |
 Wave Accounting | Free cloud accounting software | $0 Additional pricing tiers (per month): $19 | N/A | on Wave's website | |
 Odoo | Open-source cloud accounting software | 4.1
/5
| $0 For use of a single app. Additional pricing tiers per user (per month): $31.10, $46.80. | Monthly discount for the first 12 months. |
Our pick for simple accounting software
Xero
Best for Business performance tracking
Starting at
$25/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $55, $90.
Promotion
90% off
for 6 months.
on Xero's website
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 inbound phone customer support (callbacks are available, though).
- Entry-level plan limits bills and invoices to five and 20 per month, respectively.
- Must subscribe to the highest-tier Established plan to claim expenses.
QuickBooks Online
Best for Overall cloud accounting software
Starting at
$38/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $75, $115, $275.
Promotion
50% off
for 3 months or free 30-day trial.
on QuickBooks' website
Pros
- Easy to share information with your accountant and to find QuickBooks experts and online resources if needed.
- More than 750 app integrations.
- Robust feature set includes record-keeping, reporting, invoicing and inventory management, plus a capable mobile app.
- Chat and phone support available Monday through Saturday in all plans.
Cons
- Expensive compared with the competition.
- Frequent price increases and a tendency toward upselling.
- Limited account users with each plan.
Zoho Books
Best for Scalability
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275.
Promotion
14-day free trial
of the Premium plan.
on Zoho Books' website
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
Best for Freelancers and self-employed professionals
Starting at
$21/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $38, $65, custom.
Promotion
60% off
for the first 3 months (applies to new FreshBooks subscriptions).
on FreshBooks' website
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
- 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
Best for Free cloud accounting software
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $19
Promotion
N/A
on Wave's website
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 mileage tracking feature and must use Zapier for third-party integrations.
Odoo
Best for Open-source cloud accounting software
Starting at
$0
For use of a single app. Additional pricing tiers per user (per month): $31.10, $46.80.
Promotion
Monthly discount
for the first 12 months.
Pros
- Unlimited users.
- Vast library of directly integrated apps means the software can grow with your business.
- Open-source model encourages regular testing and improvement of the software.
Cons
- Paid plan is required to access the full list of features for most apps and any additional apps.
- Phone support is only available for database emergencies.
Sort by:
Our pick for simple accounting software
Starting at
$25/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $55, $90.
Promotion
90% off
for 6 months.
on Xero's website
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 inbound phone customer support (callbacks are available, though).
- Entry-level plan limits bills and invoices to five and 20 per month, respectively.
- Must subscribe to the highest-tier Established plan to claim expenses.
Our pick for simple accounting software
Xero
Best for Business performance tracking
Best for Business performance tracking
Starting at
$25/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $55, $90.
Promotion
90% off
for 6 months.
on Xero's website
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 inbound phone customer support (callbacks are available, though).
- Entry-level plan limits bills and invoices to five and 20 per month, respectively.
- Must subscribe to the highest-tier Established plan to claim expenses.
Starting at
$38/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $75, $115, $275.
Promotion
50% off
for 3 months or free 30-day trial.
on QuickBooks' website
Pros
- Easy to share information with your accountant and to find QuickBooks experts and online resources if needed.
- More than 750 app integrations.
- Robust feature set includes record-keeping, reporting, invoicing and inventory management, plus a capable mobile app.
- Chat and phone support available Monday through Saturday in all plans.
Cons
- Expensive compared with the competition.
- Frequent price increases and a tendency toward upselling.
- Limited account users with each plan.
QuickBooks Online
Best for Overall cloud accounting software
Best for Overall cloud accounting software
Starting at
$38/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $75, $115, $275.
Promotion
50% off
for 3 months or free 30-day trial.
on QuickBooks' website
Pros
- Easy to share information with your accountant and to find QuickBooks experts and online resources if needed.
- More than 750 app integrations.
- Robust feature set includes record-keeping, reporting, invoicing and inventory management, plus a capable mobile app.
- Chat and phone support available Monday through Saturday in all plans.
Cons
- Expensive compared with the competition.
- Frequent price increases and a tendency toward upselling.
- Limited account users with each plan.
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275.
Promotion
14-day free trial
of the Premium plan.
on Zoho Books' website
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).
Zoho Books
Best for Scalability
Best for Scalability
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $20, $50, $70, $150, $275.
Promotion
14-day free trial
of the Premium plan.
on Zoho Books' website
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).
Starting at
$21/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $38, $65, custom.
Promotion
60% off
for the first 3 months (applies to new FreshBooks subscriptions).
on FreshBooks' website
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
- 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.
FreshBooks
Best for Freelancers and self-employed professionals
Best for Freelancers and self-employed professionals
Starting at
$21/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $38, $65, custom.
Promotion
60% off
for the first 3 months (applies to new FreshBooks subscriptions).
on FreshBooks' website
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
- 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.
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 mileage tracking feature and must use Zapier for third-party integrations.
Wave Accounting
Best for Free cloud accounting software
Best for Free cloud accounting software
Starting at
$0
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $19
Promotion
N/A
on Wave's website
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 mileage tracking feature and must use Zapier for third-party integrations.
Starting at
$0
For use of a single app. Additional pricing tiers per user (per month): $31.10, $46.80.
Promotion
Monthly discount
for the first 12 months.
Pros
- Unlimited users.
- Vast library of directly integrated apps means the software can grow with your business.
- Open-source model encourages regular testing and improvement of the software.
Cons
- Paid plan is required to access the full list of features for most apps and any additional apps.
- Phone support is only available for database emergencies.
Odoo
Best for Open-source cloud accounting software
Best for Open-source cloud accounting software
Starting at
$0
For use of a single app. Additional pricing tiers per user (per month): $31.10, $46.80.
Promotion
Monthly discount
for the first 12 months.
Pros
- Unlimited users.
- Vast library of directly integrated apps means the software can grow with your business.
- Open-source model encourages regular testing and improvement of the software.
Cons
- Paid plan is required to access the full list of features for most apps and any additional apps.
- Phone support is only available for database emergencies.
Jump to
What is cloud accounting software?
Cloud accounting software lets you access your financial data from anywhere with an internet connection. Most of our picks for the best accounting software for small businesses
With cloud accounting software, you and any other authorized users can run reports, enter transactions, send invoices, reconcile accounts and monitor your business’s finances from any internet-enabled device. Many popular cloud accounting software products also offer mobile apps that let you do most of these tasks from your phone.
How to choose cloud accounting software
When selecting cloud accounting software, you’ll want to consider your business’s size, financial tracking needs and budget. Here are a few additional tips for navigating the decision-making process:
- Consider how much your business may grow . Narrow your options to software that can accommodate your operations now and down the road. When you’re first starting out,
free accounting software - Check in with your accountant. Be sure they’re familiar and comfortable with the cloud accounting software you’re considering. They may even be able to recommend their preferred product if you’re finding it difficult to make a decision. You might also ask whether they prefer direct access to the software as that may affect the plan tier you choose. Many accounting software products limit the number of users by plan tier, though some, like QuickBooks Online, allow accountant access separate from user limits.
- Explore the software integrations available. Many cloud accounting programs offer at least a handful of integrations with other software to help link multiple aspects of your business, including
payroll, point of sale payment processing
Can your small business benefit from cloud accounting software?
Most businesses will benefit from the flexibility of cloud accounting software versus locally installed, desktop-based accounting software. Small-business owners can enter sales and run reports remotely, as opposed to having to go into an office. Similarly, freelancers can send invoices from their phones and accept payments on the go.
Regardless of what type of business you run, cloud accounting software makes it easier to collaborate with other users, including your accountant. They can access the software remotely, you don’t have to manually import their changes and some products even enable you and your accountant to work within the software simultaneously. Separately, your accounting software won’t take up space on your hard drive, since all of the data is stored in the cloud and you don’t have to install anything.
Unless there’s a specific reason you prefer desktop-based accounting software, going with a cloud-based product is usually more convenient and can be less expensive than desktop software, especially if you need to provide access to multiple users.
Cloud accounting software isn’t limited to just one computer, and you don’t have to buy additional user licenses to use it on multiple devices. Often, this makes it more cost effective and convenient than desktop-based accounting software.
Other benefits include cloud-based accounting features, like online bank feeds that automatically import new transactions from your connected bank accounts. Plus, you don’t risk losing all of your data if your computer’s hard drive fails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cloud accounting is the process of recording your business’s financial data, translating it into useful insights and storing it online so that it can be accessed remotely. You sign into the remotely hosted software via a browser or mobile app to perform accounting tasks, like recording financial transactions, categorizing them, reconciling accounts, sending invoices and running reports. Cloud accounting software helps streamline those processes and centralizes all of the resulting information online.
Rather than storing your financial data locally on a hard drive, cloud accounting software backs your information up to the cloud (the internet, essentially) and lets you access it from any device with an internet connection. Typically, you use your email and password to sign in online or through a designated app.
Cloud accounting software companies encrypt your business’s financial data, which makes it unreadable to outsiders, and require passwords to access it. Firewalls also help guard servers against hackers. Most companies have web pages that address security concerns and explain what specific measures are being taken to protect your data.
It’s not without its risks, but neither is desktop-based accounting software. Your locally installed data is still vulnerable to hackers and malware, and if your computer gets damaged or is stolen, you may lose the data stored on it. Data stored online isn’t as vulnerable to physical damage, and well-established software companies should have the resources to implement strong online security policies.
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