Best Accounting Software
Bookkeeping and accounting software for invoicing, expenses, and financial reports.
Read our ranked guide: Best Accounting Software →We compare 5 accounting tools. FreshBooks is our top pick at 4.5/5 (from $19/mo). Entry pricing runs $19–$35/mo, averaging $25/mo. 2 offer a free tier. 4 have a public API.
FreshBooks focuses on invoicing and time-tracking for freelancers and service businesses, with an exceptionally easy interface and strong client billing features.
Zoho Books delivers strong accounting at a low price and integrates tightly with the wider Zoho suite. A great-value pick, especially for existing Zoho users.
QuickBooks Online is the dominant small-business accounting platform, with deep features for invoicing, expenses, payroll, and reporting, plus a huge accountant network.
All accounting tools compared
| # | Tool | Starts at | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | FreshBooks Simple accounting built for freelancers | $19/mo | 4.5/5 | Freelancers & service businesses |
| 2 | Zoho Books Affordable accounting inside the Zoho suite | Free | 4.5/5 | SMBs & Zoho users |
| 3 | QuickBooks Online The market-leading small-business accounting suite | $35/mo | 4.4/5 | Small businesses & accountants |
| 4 | Xero Beautiful cloud accounting with unlimited users | $20/mo | 4.4/5 | Small businesses & startups |
| 5 | Wave Free accounting & invoicing for tiny businesses | Free | 4.3/5 | Micro-businesses & freelancers |
How to choose accounting tools
Best rated → FreshBooks
4.5/5 across 6,200 reviews. Very easy to use.
Best free option → Zoho Books
Has a genuine free tier, so you can test before spending.
Need an API → FreshBooks
4 of 5 here expose a public API for integrations and automation.
- Check whether pricing is per seat — it multiplies with team size.
- Headline prices usually assume annual billing; monthly costs more.
- Start on a free tier or trial before committing to a year.
- Confirm the integrations you already rely on are supported.
Popular comparisons in this category
Frequently asked questions
What is the best accounting tool option?+
FreshBooks is our top-rated pick, scoring 4.5/5 and starting at $19/mo. Very easy to use The best choice still depends on budget and team size — see the ranked list above.
How many accounting tools are compared here?+
We currently compare 5 accounting tools on pricing, features, and ratings, averaging 4.4/5.
Are there free accounting tools?+
Yes — 2 of the 5 here have a free tier: Zoho Books, Wave.
How much do accounting tools cost?+
Entry pricing here runs from $19/mo to $35/mo, averaging $25/mo. The cheapest paid option is FreshBooks at $19/mo.