Finance & accounting · Ranked by price to features
9 Best Accounting Software of 2026
By the Rankozo research desk · Updated November 5, 2026 · Next review December 20, 2026
Zoho Books is the best accounting software for small businesses in 2026, with a free plan and Standard at $15 per organization per month billed annually; Wave suits sole proprietors who want unlimited invoices at $0; Akaunting has the cheapest paid plan at $12 a month.
- Tools ranked
- 9
- With free plan
- 3
- Cheapest paid plan
- Akaunting, $12
- per month
By the numbers
- $49.46US employers spent an average of $49.46 per hour worked on compensation for civilian workers in June 2026.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- 30.0%Benefits accounted for 30.0 percent of private industry employer compensation costs in the US in June 2026, or $14.07 per hour.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- 3.4%US compensation costs for civilian workers rose 3.4 percent in the 12 months ending September 2026.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- 3.9%US benefit costs for civilian workers rose 3.9 percent in the year to September 2026, faster than wages and salaries at 3.1 percent.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- $299,071 millionGartner's November 2024 forecast put worldwide end-user spending on SaaS at $299,071 million in 2025, up 19.2% from 2024.Gartner
Comparison table
| Tool | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoho Books | 01 | 8.9 | 9.4 | $15per organization per month | Yes |
| Wave | 02 | 8.5 | 9.3 | $19per month | Yes |
| Xero | 03 | 8.2 | 7.6 | $27per month | No |
| QuickBooks Online | 04 | 8.1 | 6.8 | $38per month | No |
| FreshBooks | 05 | 7.9 | 7.2 | $23per month | No |
| ZipBooks | 06 | 7.7 | 8.0 | Free plan | Yes |
| Kashoo | 07 | 7.6 | 7.8 | $30per month | No |
| Akaunting | 08 | 7.5 | 8.2 | $12per month | No |
| Oracle NetSuite | 09 | 6.6 | 4.5 | Check price | No |
Click a column to sort. Prices are the cheapest paid plan quoted from each vendor's US pricing page; "Check price" means the US price check is pending.
How this ranking works
One method for every tool. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run hands-on tests. Value carries the most weight.
Full methodThis list is for small business owners choosing bookkeeping software on cost. We compared documented features and published prices, including invoice caps, user limits and what payroll adds each month, and copied every price from the vendor's own US pricing page. Rankozo weights value at 40%, features at 35% and ease of use at 25%, so low-cost tools with real accounting depth rank above expensive suites.
The verdict
Start with Zoho Books: its free plan covers 1,000 invoices a year and bank reconciliation, and Standard at $15 a month billed annually adds bank feeds and three users. Wave is the simplest free choice if you mainly invoice. Xero and QuickBooks Online have more features but cost $27 to $38 a month at the entry level, with invoice or user limits that push most growing businesses to $59 or $85 plans. Add payroll and the gap widens, since payroll add-ons run $29 to $50 a month plus $5 to $7 per employee.
- 01Top value
Zoho Books
8.9/10Cloud accounting from Zoho with a free plan for very small businesses and paid tiers priced per organization rather than per user.
Price
$15per organization per month
Free plan for businesses under $50K revenue; Standard $15 per organization per month billed annually ($20 monthly)
“STANDARD Efficiently organize your transactions, accounts, reports, and books $ 20 $ 15 Price/Org/Month” Quoted from the pricing page, November 5, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 9.4
- Features (35%)
- 8.8
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.2
Best forSmall businesses that want real double-entry books for $0, then a cheap path to bank feeds and more users.
Zoho Books takes the top spot because it gives the most accounting for the least money. The free plan is not a trial: as long as yearly revenue stays under $50K, one user plus an accountant can send up to 1,000 invoices a year, reconcile bank accounts, automate payment reminders, run recurring invoices and pull profit and loss and balance sheet reports. Standard, at $15 per organization per month billed annually, adds bank feeds, sales tax tracking, 1099 e-filing, custom reports and three users, and it raises the invoice cap to 5,000 a year. Professional at $40 adds purchase orders, inventory, multi-currency and project billing. The catch for owners with staff is payroll: it is not part of Zoho Books, and Zoho Payroll lists its Standard plan at $29 per organization per month billed annually plus $5 per employee. Even with that add-on, a small team pays less than QuickBooks Essentials before payroll.
- ✓The free plan includes features others charge for, such as reminders and a client portal
- ✓Prices are per organization, with 3 users on Standard and 5 on Professional
- ✓Extra users cost $2.50 per month billed annually
- ✕The free plan stops being free once yearly revenue passes $50K
- ✕Bank feeds start on Standard, not the free plan
- ✕Payroll is a separate product, Zoho Payroll, with its own monthly fee
- Free plan:
- Yes, for revenue up to $50K a year
- Free plan invoices:
- Up to 1,000 a year
- Standard:
- $15 per org per month billed annually, 3 users
- Professional:
- $40 per org per month billed annually, 5 users
- Extra user:
- $2.50 per month billed annually
Bottom line: The best mix of price and depth we compared, with a usable free plan and a $15 Standard tier. Budget separately for Zoho Payroll if you have employees.
- 02
Wave
8.5/10Free bookkeeping and invoicing software for small businesses, with a paid Pro plan and a payroll add-on.
Price
$19per month
Free Starter plan; Pro $19 per month or $190 per year
“It’s Pro time. $19 USD/month Billed monthly” Quoted from the pricing page, November 5, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 9.3
- Features (35%)
- 7.4
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.8
Best forSole proprietors and freelancers who want unlimited free invoices and simple books.
Wave is the easiest way to keep books for free. The Starter plan places no cap on estimates, invoices, bills or bookkeeping records, which is rare: Xero Early stops at 20 invoices and FreshBooks Lite at 5 clients. The trade is in payment fees and automation. Card payments on Starter cost 2.9% plus $0.60, and bank transactions must be added by hand until you move to Pro at $19 a month or $190 a year. Pro imports and categorizes bank transactions, captures unlimited receipts, sends late payment reminders and drops the fixed card fee to $0. Wave Payroll is listed at $40 USD a month plus $6 per active employee and $6 per contractor paid, so a three-person team pays $58 a month before accounting. Wave suits owners who value simplicity, but it has thinner reporting, inventory and user permissions than Zoho Books or Xero, and each business you run needs its own Pro subscription.
- ✓Unlimited invoices and bills on a permanent free plan
- ✓Pro lowers the card fee to 2.9% plus $0 per transaction
- ✓Annual Pro billing at $190 works out to about $15.83 per month
- ✕Automatic bank imports require Pro
- ✕Fewer inventory and multi-user controls than Zoho Books or Xero
- ✕Each business profile needs its own Pro subscription
- Free plan:
- Yes, Starter
- Pro:
- $19 per month or $190 per year
- Card fee on Starter:
- 2.9% + $0.60
- Card fee on Pro:
- 2.9% + $0
- Payroll add-on:
- $40 USD base + $6 per employee + $6 per contractor
Bottom line: The best free option for unlimited invoicing, and Pro is fairly priced at $190 a year. Growing teams will want more controls than Wave offers.
- 03
Xero
8.2/10Cloud accounting software with no per-user license fees and an optional payroll add-on powered by Gusto.
Price
$27per month
Early $27 per month (80% off for the first 3 months); Growing $59; Established $97
“Early $ 5 . 40 per month for the first 3 months Then $27 per month” Quoted from the pricing page, November 5, 2026.
- Free plan
- No
- Value (40%)
- 7.6
- Features (35%)
- 8.9
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.2
Best forGrowing small businesses that need several users and solid bank reconciliation.
Xero is the best value among the full-featured paid suites because it does not charge per user. Every plan includes bank reconciliation, Smart Document Capture, real-time reports, sales tax and W-9 and 1099 management, and you can invite your whole team. The entry plan is the weak spot: Early at $27 a month allows sending 20 invoices and entering 5 bills, and auto-reconcile costs $5 a month extra. Most businesses that invoice weekly will need Growing at $59, which removes those limits and adds performance dashboards and a 60-day cash flow forecast. Established at $97 adds multi-currency, project time and cost tracking and a 180-day forecast. Payroll runs through Xero Payroll, powered by Gusto, at $36 a month plus $6 per employee or contractor, so a five-person team adds $66 a month. Xero currently advertises 80% off for the first 3 months, but plan your budget on the full price.
- ✓Unlimited users without per-seat charges
- ✓Strong reporting and dashboards from Growing up
- ✓Promotional 80% off the first 3 months
- ✕Early allows only 20 invoices and 5 bills
- ✕Auto-reconcile is a $5 add-on on Early
- ✕Multi-currency requires Established at $97 a month
- Early:
- $27 per month, 20 invoices, 5 bills
- Growing:
- $59 per month
- Established:
- $97 per month
- Users:
- No per-user license fees
- Payroll add-on:
- $36 per month + $6 per employee or contractor
Bottom line: A strong choice for teams that need multiple users without per-seat fees. Skip Early unless you send fewer than 20 invoices a month.
- 04
QuickBooks Online
8.1/10Intuit's cloud accounting software, with plans from 1 to 25 users and payroll sold as an add-on.
Price
$38per month
Simple Start $38 per month (50% off for 3 months); Essentials $85; Plus $140; Advanced $340
“Simple Start For starting small $38 $19 / mo 50% off for 3 months*” Quoted from the pricing page, November 5, 2026.
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 30 days
- Value (40%)
- 6.8
- Features (35%)
- 9.4
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.4
Best forBusinesses whose accountant works in QuickBooks, or that want the deepest feature set and payroll in one place.
QuickBooks Online has the most features on this list and ranks fourth only because Rankozo weights value at 40%. Simple Start costs $38 a month for one user plus two accountants, and covers automated transaction categorizing, profit and loss and sales reports, invoicing with card and bank payments, and bill pay with free ACH up to monthly allotments, after which standard ACH costs $0.50 per transaction. More users mean a big step up: Essentials is $85 for 3 users, Plus is $140 for 5 users with budgets, project profitability and inventory, and Advanced is $340 for 25 users. Payroll is a separate purchase, with Workforce Payroll listed at $50 a month plus $7 per employee, so a five-person business on Essentials pays $170 a month at full price. Intuit advertises 50% off for 3 months and a 30-day free trial. The case for paying more is ecosystem: if your bookkeeper already works in QuickBooks, the time saved can outweigh the price gap.
- ✓The widest feature set of any tool we compared
- ✓Each plan includes access for 2 or 3 accountants
- ✓30-day free trial
- ✕Simple Start allows only 1 user
- ✕Essentials costs $85 a month for 3 users
- ✕Full prices apply after the 3-month discount
- Simple Start:
- $38 per month, 1 user
- Essentials:
- $85 per month, 3 users
- Plus:
- $140 per month, 5 users
- Advanced:
- $340 per month, 25 users
- Payroll add-on:
- Workforce Payroll $50 per month + $7 per employee
Bottom line: The most complete package, especially with payroll, but the most expensive per user among small business tools. Pick it when your accountant or industry expects QuickBooks.
- 05
FreshBooks
7.9/10Invoicing-led accounting software for service businesses, priced by the number of clients you bill.
Price
$23per month
Lite $23 per month (80% off for 4 months); Plus $43; Premium $70
“Lite $ 4 .60 USD/mo 80% Off for 4 Months Was $23.00” Quoted from the pricing page, November 5, 2026.
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 30 days
- Value (40%)
- 7.2
- Features (35%)
- 8.0
- Ease of use (25%)
- 9.0
Best forFreelancers and service firms that bill a small number of clients and want easy invoicing.
FreshBooks is built around invoicing, and it is the easiest tool here for a service business to learn. The catch is that plans are capped by billable clients: Lite at $23 a month covers 5 clients, Plus at $43 covers 50 and Premium at $70 is unlimited. Lite already includes estimates, expense tracking, tax-time reports and online payments by card, ACH, digital wallets and Buy Now, Pay Later. Plus adds proposals, retainers, receipt scanning, financial and accounting reports and accountant access, which most businesses need at tax time. Add-ons raise the bill quickly: each team member costs $11 a month, Advanced Payments is $20 and FreshBooks Payroll is $40 a month plus $6 per user. A Plus account with two staff on payroll and one team member costs $106 a month at full price. FreshBooks currently offers 80% off for 4 months, a 30-day free trial and an extra 10% off yearly billing.
- ✓Very easy invoicing and client management
- ✓30-day free trial and a 30-day money back guarantee
- ✓Yearly billing takes an extra 10% off
- ✕Lite bills only 5 clients and Plus 50 clients
- ✕Team members cost $11 per month each
- ✕Accountant access and accounting reports start on Plus at $43
- Lite:
- $23 per month, 5 billable clients
- Plus:
- $43 per month, 50 billable clients
- Premium:
- $70 per month, unlimited clients
- Team members:
- $11 per month per user
- Payroll add-on:
- $40 per month + $6 per user
Bottom line: The friendliest invoicing experience we compared, best for firms with few clients. Client caps and per-person add-ons make it pricey as you grow.
- 06
ZipBooks
7.7/10Simple accounting software from Utah with a free Starter plan and two paid tiers.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 8.0
- Features (35%)
- 7.0
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.2
Best forVery small businesses that want free unlimited invoicing with one connected bank account.
ZipBooks is a lightweight alternative to Wave with a free Starter plan that sends unlimited invoices, manages unlimited customers and vendors, accepts digital payments through Square or PayPal and connects one bank account. The paid Smarter tier adds recurring invoices with auto-bill, automated reminders, multiple bank accounts, time tracking and up to 5 team members. Sophisticated adds smart tagging by location, project or custom label, account reconciliation, books locking, document sharing and unlimited users. Reports cover income statements and balance sheets, with a switch between cash and accrual views. ZipBooks does not run payroll itself; it lists an integration with Gusto, so employers pay Gusto separately. The pricing page shows plan prices without a currency symbol from our location, so we mark its paid pricing as pending rather than guess. On features alone it sits between Wave and the larger suites, and the free plan is a fair starting point for a business sending a modest number of invoices.
- ✓Free plan with unlimited invoices
- ✓Smarter includes 5 team members and time tracking
- ✓Sophisticated allows unlimited users
- ✕Starter connects only 1 bank account
- ✕Payroll requires a separate Gusto subscription
- ✕Pricing page does not show currency, so we list it as pending
- Free plan:
- Yes, Starter
- Starter bank accounts:
- 1
- Smarter team members:
- 5
- Sophisticated users:
- Unlimited
- Payroll:
- Through Gusto integration
Bottom line: A clean free plan and reasonable paid tiers for small teams. Payroll and deeper reporting mean adding other tools.
- 07
Kashoo
7.6/10Accounting software sold as one plan with every feature and unlimited users.
Price
$30per month
One plan at $30 per month in USD; 14-day free trial
“$ 30.00/Mo Start my free trial → Prices in USD” Quoted from the pricing page, November 5, 2026.
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 14 days
- Value (40%)
- 7.8
- Features (35%)
- 7.2
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.0
Best forSmall businesses that want one flat price with unlimited users and invoices.
Kashoo keeps pricing simple: one plan, listed at $30 a month in USD, with every feature included. That plan covers unlimited invoices, online payments, expense and bill tracking, sales tax, bank feed sync, projects, inventory items, multi-currency, unlimited attachments and a double-entry ledger. Unlimited users are included, which is a real saving next to QuickBooks or FreshBooks if several people touch the books. Kashoo was advertising 50% off the first 6 months when we checked, plus a 14-day free trial with no credit card needed. The limits are breadth and payroll. There is no free plan, each additional business needs its own subscription, and payroll runs through an integration with PaymentEvolution rather than a built-in service. Reports and automation are thinner than Xero or QuickBooks, so Kashoo fits owners who want predictable costs and a short feature list over a long one.
- ✓One plan with every feature, no tier upgrades
- ✓Unlimited users included
- ✓14-day free trial with no credit card
- ✕No free plan
- ✕Each additional business needs its own subscription
- ✕Payroll requires a separate PaymentEvolution account
- Price:
- $30 per month, in USD
- Users:
- Unlimited
- Invoices:
- Unlimited
- Free trial:
- 14 days, no credit card
- Payroll:
- PaymentEvolution integration
Bottom line: Flat pricing with unlimited users and invoices makes Kashoo easy to budget. Look elsewhere if you want built-in payroll or a free tier.
- 08
Akaunting
7.5/10Open source accounting software with hosted cloud plans and paid apps for extra modules.
Price
$12per month
Standard Cloud $12 per month; Premium Cloud $36; Elite Cloud $84; yearly billing gives 4 months free
“Best for one-person businesses $12 per month” Quoted from the pricing page, November 5, 2026.
- Free plan
- No
- Value (40%)
- 8.2
- Features (35%)
- 7.0
- Ease of use (25%)
- 7.2
Best forCost-conscious solo owners who are comfortable adding features through apps.
Akaunting is open source accounting software with hosted cloud plans, and it has the lowest paid entry price on this list. Standard Cloud costs $12 a month for one company, one user plus an accountant and 1,000 invoices, with unlimited customers, vendors, products and reports and support for multiple currencies. The catch is that core bookkeeping features sit higher up. Bank feeds, double-entry, expense claims and the client portal start on Premium Cloud at $36 a month, which also allows 10 users and 10,000 invoices. Elite Cloud at $84 adds estimates, payroll, projects, inventory, receipt scanning and Shopify and Stripe apps for up to 30 users. That makes Akaunting one of the few tools here where payroll is part of a plan rather than a per-employee add-on. Yearly billing gives 4 months free. Expect more setup than Wave or Zoho Books because features arrive as apps.
- ✓Cheapest paid entry price we found at $12 a month
- ✓Multiple currencies on the entry plan
- ✓Payroll included at the Elite tier instead of as a per-employee add-on
- ✕Bank feeds and double-entry require Premium at $36
- ✕Standard includes only 4 apps
- ✕Payroll needs the $84 Elite plan
- Standard Cloud:
- $12 per month, 1,000 invoices
- Premium Cloud:
- $36 per month, 10 users, 10,000 invoices
- Elite Cloud:
- $84 per month, 30 users, payroll included
- Yearly billing:
- 4 months free
- Model:
- Open source, cloud hosted plans
Bottom line: The cheapest paid plan we found, with an unusual flat-priced payroll option on Elite. Bank feeds behind Premium reduce the value of the $12 tier.
- 09
Oracle NetSuite
6.6/10Oracle's cloud ERP and accounting suite for companies that have outgrown small business software.
- Free plan
- No
- Value (40%)
- 4.5
- Features (35%)
- 9.6
- Ease of use (25%)
- 5.8
Best forFast-growing or multi-entity companies that need ERP-level controls and audit readiness.
NetSuite is included as the step up for companies that outgrow small business accounting, not as a pick for most readers. Its accounting covers the general ledger, accounts receivable and payable, cash management, account reconciliation, tax, close and fixed assets management, with support for ASC 606, GAAP and SOX requirements. Oracle positions it as a unified platform that adds payroll, inventory, order management and commerce modules as a company grows, and accountants can get a free license through the SuiteAccountants program to work in client accounts. For a small business comparing monthly prices, the problem is that there are none to compare: NetSuite does not publish prices, so we list pricing as pending and score value low. Expect a sales process and setup project rather than a self-serve signup. Consider it when you run several entities, need formal revenue recognition or are preparing for an audit.
- ✓Far deeper controls than any small business tool here
- ✓Accounting, payroll and operations on one platform
- ✓Built for multi-entity and audit readiness
- ✕No public price list; you must contact sales
- ✕Much more setup than QuickBooks or Xero
- ✕More software than most small businesses need
- Pricing:
- Quote from sales
- Core modules:
- GL, AR, AP, cash, reconciliation, tax, close, fixed assets
- Compliance:
- ASC 606, GAAP, SOX
- Accountant access:
- Free license via SuiteAccountants
- Payroll:
- Available as a NetSuite module
Bottom line: The most powerful accounting system here, and the wrong one for most small businesses. Shortlist it when entities, audits or revenue rules outgrow QuickBooks Advanced.
What to check before you pay
Check invoice and client caps before the price
Entry plans are often capped. Xero Early allows 20 invoices and 5 bills, FreshBooks Lite bills 5 clients, Akaunting Standard allows 1,000 invoices and Zoho Books Free allows 1,000 invoices a year. Wave Starter, ZipBooks Starter and Kashoo do not cap invoices. Count your monthly invoices and clients, then price the plan that fits.
Add payroll to the monthly total
Payroll is almost always extra. Xero Payroll costs $36 a month plus $6 per person, Wave Payroll $40 plus $6, FreshBooks Payroll $40 plus $6 and QuickBooks Workforce Payroll $50 plus $7 per employee. Zoho Payroll lists $29 per organization billed annually plus $5 per employee. For five employees, payroll alone runs $54 to $85 a month.
Price extra users
User fees change the ranking for teams. Xero and Kashoo charge nothing per user, Zoho Books charges $2.50 per extra user billed annually, FreshBooks charges $11 per team member and QuickBooks moves you up a whole plan, from $38 for 1 user to $85 for 3.
Budget for the full price after promotions
Xero offers 80% off for 3 months, FreshBooks 80% off for 4 months, QuickBooks 50% off for 3 months and Wave Pro 50% off for 3 months. After that you pay $27 for Xero Early, $23 for FreshBooks Lite, $38 for QuickBooks Simple Start and $19 for Wave Pro.
FAQ
What is the cheapest accounting software for a small business?
Zoho Books Free, Wave Starter and ZipBooks Starter all cost $0. Zoho Books Free is limited to businesses with under $50K in yearly revenue and 1,000 invoices a year. The cheapest paid plan we found is Akaunting Standard Cloud at $12 a month.
Which accounting software includes payroll?
Most charge for payroll separately. QuickBooks Workforce Payroll costs $50 a month plus $7 per employee, Wave Payroll $40 plus $6 per employee, FreshBooks Payroll $40 plus $6 per user and Xero Payroll, powered by Gusto, $36 plus $6 per person. Akaunting includes payroll in its $84 Elite Cloud plan.
Is QuickBooks Online worth the price over Xero?
QuickBooks has more features and is the default for many US bookkeepers, but Simple Start at $38 covers only 1 user. Xero Early costs $27 with no per-user fees, though it caps you at 20 invoices, so most teams compare QuickBooks Essentials at $85 with Xero Growing at $59.
Is Wave really free?
Wave's Starter plan is free and includes unlimited invoices, estimates, bills and bookkeeping records. You pay 2.9% plus $0.60 on card payments, and automatic bank imports and receipt capture require Pro at $19 a month or $190 a year.
How did we rank these tools?
We compared documented features and published prices on each vendor's site in November 2026. Value counts for 40% of the score, features for 35% and ease of use for 25%. Vendors without a published USD price are marked pending and score lower on value.
Questions or corrections: editorial@rankozo.comSee our disclosure. Prices change; confirm on the vendor page before buying.
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