NerdWallet compared more than a dozen accounting software products. Aplos is our top choice for most nonprofits because it’s built with their needs in mind, letting you avoid potentially costly integrations.
Hillary Crawford writes about small-business software at NerdWallet and is certified in QuickBooks Online and web design. Her previous roles include news writer and associate West Coast editor at Bustle Digital Group, where she helped shape news and tech coverage. She's appeared on Cheddar News and also worked as a policy contributor for GenFKD. Hillary earned a bachelor's degree with high honors in political science from the University of Michigan.
Email: <a href="mailto:hcrawford@nerdwallet.com">hcrawford@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Hillary Crawford writes about small-business software at NerdWallet and is certified in QuickBooks Online and web design. Her previous roles include news writer and associate West Coast editor at Bustle Digital Group, where she helped shape news and tech coverage. She's appeared on Cheddar News and also worked as a policy contributor for GenFKD. Hillary earned a bachelor's degree with high honors in political science from the University of Michigan.
Email: <a href="mailto:hcrawford@nerdwallet.com">hcrawford@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Sally Lauckner has over a decade of experience in print and online journalism. Before joining NerdWallet, Sally was the editorial director at Fundera, where she built and led a team focused on small-business content. Her prior experience includes two years as a senior editor at SmartAsset, where she edited a wide range of personal finance content, and five years at the AOL Huffington Post Media Group, where she held a variety of editorial roles. She has a master's in journalism from New York University and a bachelor's in English and history from Columbia University. Email: slauckner@nerdwallet.com.
Sally Lauckner has over a decade of experience in print and online journalism. Before joining NerdWallet, Sally was the editorial director at Fundera, where she built and led a team focused on small-business content. Her prior experience includes two years as a senior editor at SmartAsset, where she edited a wide range of personal finance content, and five years at the AOL Huffington Post Media Group, where she held a variety of editorial roles. She has a master's in journalism from New York University and a bachelor's in English and history from Columbia University. Email: slauckner@nerdwallet.com.
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Hillary Crawford writes about small-business software at NerdWallet and is certified in QuickBooks Online and web design. Her previous roles include news writer and associate West Coast editor at Bustle Digital Group, where she helped shape news and tech coverage. She's appeared on Cheddar News and also worked as a policy contributor for GenFKD. Hillary earned a bachelor's degree with high honors in political science from the University of Michigan.
Email: <a href="mailto:hcrawford@nerdwallet.com">hcrawford@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Hillary Crawford writes about small-business software at NerdWallet and is certified in QuickBooks Online and web design. Her previous roles include news writer and associate West Coast editor at Bustle Digital Group, where she helped shape news and tech coverage. She's appeared on Cheddar News and also worked as a policy contributor for GenFKD. Hillary earned a bachelor's degree with high honors in political science from the University of Michigan.
Email: <a href="mailto:hcrawford@nerdwallet.com">hcrawford@nerdwallet.com</a>.
Sally Lauckner has over a decade of experience in print and online journalism. Before joining NerdWallet, Sally was the editorial director at Fundera, where she built and led a team focused on small-business content. Her prior experience includes two years as a senior editor at SmartAsset, where she edited a wide range of personal finance content, and five years at the AOL Huffington Post Media Group, where she held a variety of editorial roles. She has a master's in journalism from New York University and a bachelor's in English and history from Columbia University. Email: slauckner@nerdwallet.com.
Sally Lauckner has over a decade of experience in print and online journalism. Before joining NerdWallet, Sally was the editorial director at Fundera, where she built and led a team focused on small-business content. Her prior experience includes two years as a senior editor at SmartAsset, where she edited a wide range of personal finance content, and five years at the AOL Huffington Post Media Group, where she held a variety of editorial roles. She has a master's in journalism from New York University and a bachelor's in English and history from Columbia University. Email: slauckner@nerdwallet.com.
NerdWallet's content is
fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness, and relevance by humans.
It undergoes a thorough review process involving writers and editors to ensure
the information is as clear and complete as possible. Learn more by checking
our
Editorial Guidelines.
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
Why trust NerdWallet
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
80+ years of combined experience covering small business and personal finance.
75+ categories of best business software selections.
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.
Advertiser disclosure
You’re our first priority.
Every time.
We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with
confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or
financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance
we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are
objective, independent, straightforward — and free.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence
which products we review and write about (and where those products
appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or
advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our
partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products
or services. Here is a list of our partners .
Tools to build and host your website, plus the ability to accept online donations and tithes.
Donor database collects information like giving history and lets you create groups.
Fund accounting features for tracking how gifts, grants and donations are used.
Cons
Accounting features like budgeting and recurring transactions require a plan upgrade.
Aplos is a nonprofit and church management software solution that allows your organization to easily track finances, manage operations and engage members and donors. The accounting tools help you stay on top of donation restrictions to ensure funds are spent on time and in the correct manner, generate relevant reports and financial statements, create invoices and receive payments and more. In addition to donor database and accounting features, the cloud-based software also includes tools for event management, website building and mass communications.
Aplos
Best for Overall nonprofit accounting software
Best for Overall nonprofit accounting software
Starting at
$79/month
Additional pricing tiers (per month): $99, $189.
Promotion
15-day free trial
Pros
Designed for nonprofits and churches.
Tools to build and host your website, plus the ability to accept online donations and tithes.
Donor database collects information like giving history and lets you create groups.
Fund accounting features for tracking how gifts, grants and donations are used.
Cons
Accounting features like budgeting and recurring transactions require a plan upgrade.
Aplos is a nonprofit and church management software solution that allows your organization to easily track finances, manage operations and engage members and donors. The accounting tools help you stay on top of donation restrictions to ensure funds are spent on time and in the correct manner, generate relevant reports and financial statements, create invoices and receive payments and more. In addition to donor database and accounting features, the cloud-based software also includes tools for event management, website building and mass communications.
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.
Xero allows unlimited users at every subscription tier, a valuable feature for businesses where several users may need at least limited access to the system to run reports or analyze performance. Xero also has a customizable analytics dashboard that lets each user rearrange or hide panels.
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.
Xero allows unlimited users at every subscription tier, a valuable feature for businesses where several users may need at least limited access to the system to run reports or analyze performance. Xero also has a customizable analytics dashboard that lets each user rearrange or hide panels.
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 is an industry leader in the accounting field, thanks to its strong feature set, scalability and ability to accommodate small businesses with more complex financial needs. With millions of users worldwide, your accountant will likely be familiar with it.
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 is an industry leader in the accounting field, thanks to its strong feature set, scalability and ability to accommodate small businesses with more complex financial needs. With millions of users worldwide, your accountant will likely be familiar with it.
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 packs an impressive collection of features and capabilities for an affordable price, and higher-tier plans let users automate workflows and track project profitability. It’s an especially good choice for users that already use the company’s other in-house apps and for businesses that want software with multilingual capabilities (Zoho Books supports 10 languages).
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 packs an impressive collection of features and capabilities for an affordable price, and higher-tier plans let users automate workflows and track project profitability. It’s an especially good choice for users that already use the company’s other in-house apps and for businesses that want software with multilingual capabilities (Zoho Books supports 10 languages).
Automation features streamline financial processes.
Customizable reports and dashboard enhance business insights.
Consolidates many functions, like billing, invoicing, cash flow management payroll and HR, within a single product.
Cons
Quote-based pricing makes it difficult to compare with competitors.
Not suitable for small businesses that don’t plan to grow.
Sage Intacct is cloud-based accounting software that can be tailored to fit businesses in a variety of industries, including the nonprofit sector, hospitality, construction and a number of others. It includes more automation features, like automated revenue recognition and bill entry, than some of its competitors and is tailored to organizations that plan to expand.
Automation features streamline financial processes.
Customizable reports and dashboard enhance business insights.
Consolidates many functions, like billing, invoicing, cash flow management payroll and HR, within a single product.
Cons
Quote-based pricing makes it difficult to compare with competitors.
Not suitable for small businesses that don’t plan to grow.
Sage Intacct is cloud-based accounting software that can be tailored to fit businesses in a variety of industries, including the nonprofit sector, hospitality, construction and a number of others. It includes more automation features, like automated revenue recognition and bill entry, than some of its competitors and is tailored to organizations that plan to expand.
Strong feature set includes thorough record-keeping, invoicing and advanced inventory management and pricing rules.
More than 200 reports, including industry-specific options for various industries.
24/7 phone and chat support.
Cons
Outdated user interface.
Limited direct, third-party integrations for payroll software and popular point-of-sale systems.
Annual subscriptions are expensive; each additional user license costs extra.
As far as locally installed desktop accounting software goes, QuickBooks Enterprise is one of the most feature-rich. While QuickBooks Online and other cloud-based products are typically easier to use, they don’t usually come with industry-specific features like QuickBooks Enterprise does. These include specialized reporting for construction companies, nonprofits, manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors.
Strong feature set includes thorough record-keeping, invoicing and advanced inventory management and pricing rules.
More than 200 reports, including industry-specific options for various industries.
24/7 phone and chat support.
Cons
Outdated user interface.
Limited direct, third-party integrations for payroll software and popular point-of-sale systems.
Annual subscriptions are expensive; each additional user license costs extra.
As far as locally installed desktop accounting software goes, QuickBooks Enterprise is one of the most feature-rich. While QuickBooks Online and other cloud-based products are typically easier to use, they don’t usually come with industry-specific features like QuickBooks Enterprise does. These include specialized reporting for construction companies, nonprofits, manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors.
Built specifically for nonprofits and government agencies.
Fund accounting features for tracking how donations and grants are used.
Built-in human resources management system for payroll, benefits, time tracking and more.
Web payment module lets you accept donations online.
Cons
Lack of pricing transparency.
AccuFund is available as both a desktop product and a cloud-based solution. In particular, nonprofits with many full-time employees may benefit most from the product’s HR management modules, which can assist with payroll, time tracking, tax management and HR policies. Each plan can be customized with other a la carte modules that address areas like budget development, payment portals and grants management.
AccuFund
Best for Nonprofit HR management features
Best for Nonprofit HR management features
Promotion
N/A
Pros
Built specifically for nonprofits and government agencies.
Fund accounting features for tracking how donations and grants are used.
Built-in human resources management system for payroll, benefits, time tracking and more.
Web payment module lets you accept donations online.
Cons
Lack of pricing transparency.
AccuFund is available as both a desktop product and a cloud-based solution. In particular, nonprofits with many full-time employees may benefit most from the product’s HR management modules, which can assist with payroll, time tracking, tax management and HR policies. Each plan can be customized with other a la carte modules that address areas like budget development, payment portals and grants management.
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What is nonprofit accounting software?
Nonprofit accounting software is a bookkeeping program tailored to the needs of tax-exempt organizations. In addition to the basic functions of standard accounting software, it typically offers fund accounting — a method that monitors how donations are used — as well as capabilities like Form 990 filing, fundraising tools and a system for communicating with donors.
These features may be available in more universal products. For instance, tracking donations in QuickBooks is possible through workarounds, but not as straightforward as with a product built for nonprofits. If you choose to use regular accounting software, make sure you can integrate with an app like Donor Receipts or Kindful that provides nonprofit-specific tools.
How to choose nonprofit accounting software
Consider cost, ease of use and must-have features to choose the best accounting software for your nonprofit. Pay particularly close attention to the following:
CRM functions that let you track, analyze and engage a large donor or membership base.
Tools for easily accepting online donations.
The ability to budget by fund, project and/or tag.
Automated reporting for IRS Form 990.
Grant management features to meet time and use restrictions.
Ultimately, you’ll want to balance the features you need alongside your budget and whether the software checks other boxes, like scalability. Your nonprofit accounting software should accommodate your nonprofit today and down the road if it grows.
NerdWallet writer Kelsey Sheehy contributed to this article.
Last updated on October 25, 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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