Accounting software applications can streamline financial management and help businesses stay on top of their finances. With so many accounting software applications on the market, it can be challenging to choose the right one for your business. In this article, we will look at the 10 most popular accounting software applications, including information about their main features, pricing, pros and cons, tech stack used to create the software, mobile apps, and review ratings from multiple sources.
QuickBooks Desktop is a widely used accounting software application that offers a range of features, including invoicing, expense tracking, financial reporting, and payroll management. It is created using the Microsoft .NET Framework and runs on Windows operating systems. QuickBooks Desktop does not have a mobile app, but it can be accessed remotely through a virtual desktop.
Pricing: QuickBooks Desktop offers four pricing plans – Pro, Premier, Enterprise, and Accountant. Pro costs $399.99, Premier costs $649.99, Enterprise costs $1,213 per year, and Accountant costs $799.99.
Pros: QuickBooks Desktop is a well-established accounting software application with a range of features and strong customer support.
Cons: QuickBooks Desktop is only available on Windows operating systems, and it does not have a mobile app.
User Reviews: QuickBooks Desktop has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 on TrustRadius and 4.3 out of 5 on G2.
FreshBooks is a cloud-based accounting software application that is popular with freelancers and small businesses. It offers a range of features, including invoicing, time tracking, expense tracking, financial reporting, and project management. FreshBooks is created using PHP, Ruby on Rails, and AngularJS and has mobile apps for both iOS and Android.
FreshBooks offers four pricing plans – Lite, Plus, Premium, and Select. Lite costs $6 per month, Plus costs $10 per month, Premium costs $20 per month, and Select is a custom pricing plan.
Pros: FreshBooks is easy to use, has a range of features for freelancers and small businesses, and has excellent mobile apps for both iOS and Android.
Cons: FreshBooks can be expensive for businesses with more than five clients, and some users have reported issues with the lack of customization options.
User Reviews: FreshBooks has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 on TrustRadius and 4.6 out of 5 on G2.
Wave is a free accounting software application that is popular with small businesses and freelancers. It offers a range of features, including invoicing, expense tracking, financial reporting, and payroll. Wave is created using Ruby on Rails and has mobile apps for both iOS and Android.
Wave is free to use, but it charges for payment processing and payroll services.
Pros: Wave is easy to use, has a range of features for small businesses and freelancers, and is entirely free to use.
Cons: Wave has limited customer support options, and some users have reported issues with bank syncing.
User Reviews: Wave has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 on TrustRadius and 4.4 out of 5 on G2.
Zoho Books is a cloud-based accounting software application that is popular with small businesses. It offers a range of features, including invoicing, expense tracking, financial reporting, and inventory management. Zoho Books is created using PHP and has mobile apps for both iOS and Android.
Zoho Books offers three pricing plans – Basic, Standard, and Professional. Basic costs $9 per month, Standard costs $19 per month, and Professional costs $29 per month.
Pros: Zoho Books is easy to use, has a range of features for small businesses, and is affordable.
Cons: Some users have reported issues with the user interface and lack of customization options.
User Reviews: Zoho Books has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 on TrustRadius and 4.5 out of 5 on G2.
Xero is a cloud-based accounting software application that is popular with small businesses. It offers a range of features, including invoicing, expense tracking, financial reporting, and payroll management. Xero is created using PHP and has mobile apps for both iOS and Android.
Xero offers three pricing plans – Early, Growing, and Established. Early costs $11 per month, Growing costs $32 per month, and Established costs $62 per month.
Pros: Xero is easy to use, has a range of features for small businesses, and has excellent customer support.
Cons: Xero can be expensive for businesses with more than five employees, and some users have reported issues with bank syncing.
User Reviews: Xero has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 on TrustRadius and 4.4 out of 5 on G2.
Sage 50cloud is a desktop-based accounting software application that is popular with small and medium-sized businesses. It offers a range of features, including invoicing, expense tracking, financial reporting, and payroll management. Sage 50cloud is created using the Microsoft .NET Framework and has mobile apps for both iOS and Android.
Sage 50cloud offers three pricing plans – Pro Accounting, Premium Accounting, and Quantum Accounting. Pro Accounting costs $431.99 per year, Premium Accounting costs $647.99 per year, and Quantum Accounting is a custom pricing plan.
Pros: Sage 50cloud has a range of features for small and medium-sized businesses and strong customer support.
Cons: Sage 50cloud is only available on Windows operating systems, and it can be expensive for businesses with more than one user.
User Reviews: Sage 50cloud has an average rating of 4.0 out of 5 on TrustRadius and 4.0 out of 5 on G2.
NetSuite is a cloud-based accounting software application that is popular with mid-sized businesses. It offers a range of features, including invoicing, expense tracking, financial reporting, and inventory management. NetSuite is created using Java and has a mobile app for iOS.
NetSuite does not disclose pricing information, but it offers a free demo and custom pricing plans.
Pros: NetSuite has a range of features for mid-sized businesses and strong customer support.
Cons: NetSuite can be expensive and complex, making it difficult to use for small businesses.
User Reviews: NetSuite has an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 on TrustRadius and 3.9 out of 5 on G2.
KashFlow is a cloud-based accounting software application that is popular with small businesses. It offers a range of features, including invoicing, expense tracking, financial reporting, and payroll management. KashFlow is created using PHP and has a mobile app for iOS.
KashFlow offers three pricing plans – Business, Business + Payroll, and Business + Payroll + HR. Business costs £8 per month, Business + Payroll costs £12 per month, and Business + Payroll + HR costs £18 per month.
Pros: KashFlow is easy to use, has a range of features for small businesses, and is affordable.
Cons: KashFlow has limited integrations with other software and lacks advanced reporting features.
User Reviews: KashFlow has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot and 4.2 out of 5 on G2.
FreeAgent is a cloud-based accounting software application that is popular with small businesses and freelancers. It offers a range of features, including invoicing, expense tracking, financial reporting, and time tracking. FreeAgent is created using Ruby on Rails and has mobile apps for both iOS and Android.
FreeAgent offers a single pricing plan that costs £14.50 per month.
Pros: FreeAgent is easy to use, has a range of features for small businesses and freelancers, and has excellent customer support.
Cons: FreeAgent can be expensive for businesses with multiple users and lacks advanced reporting features.
User Reviews: FreeAgent has an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 on Trustpilot and 4.3 out of 5 on G2.
FreshBooks is a cloud-based accounting software application that is popular with small businesses and freelancers. It offers a range of features, including invoicing, expense tracking, financial reporting, and time tracking. FreshBooks is created using PHP and has mobile apps for both iOS and Android.
FreshBooks offers four pricing plans – Lite, Plus, Premium, and Select. Lite costs $4.50 per month, Plus costs $7.50 per month, Premium costs $15 per month, and Select is a custom pricing plan.
Pros: FreshBooks is easy to use, has a range of features for small businesses and freelancers, and has excellent customer support.
Cons: FreshBooks can be expensive for businesses with more than five clients, and some users have reported issues with the user interface.
User Reviews: FreshBooks has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot and 4.5 out of 5 on G2.
Choosing the right accounting software for your business is essential to keeping your finances organized and managing your finances effectively. The accounting software applications listed above are all excellent options with a range of features for businesses of all sizes. When choosing accounting software, it’s important to consider your specific business needs and budget, as well as any integrations or mobile app requirements. With the right accounting software, you can keep your finances organized and focus on growing your business.