rankozo

Finance & accounting · Ranked by price to features

10 Best Accounting Software for Small Business of 2026

By the Rankozo research desk · Updated November 7, 2026 · Next review December 22, 2026

Zoho Books is the best accounting software for small businesses with a few employees in 2026, with Standard at $15 per organization per month billed annually for 3 users and bank feeds; Wave suits owners who mostly invoice and want automatic bank imports for $19 a month; Wave Starter costs $0 and Akaunting has the cheapest paid plan at $12 a month.

Tools ranked
10
With free plan
5
Cheapest paid plan
Akaunting, $12
per month

By the numbers

Comparison table

Tool
Zoho Books018.99.4$15per organization per monthYes
Wave028.49.0$19per monthYes
Xero038.48.0$27per monthNo
QuickBooks Online048.16.8$38per monthYes
FreshBooks057.86.8$23per monthNo
Kashoo067.88.0$30per monthNo
Akaunting077.58.0$12per monthNo
Odoo Accounting087.57.4Free planYes
ZipBooks097.37.4Free planYes
Sage 50106.54.6$132.17per monthNo

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 method
40%
35%
25%
ValueFeaturesEase of use

This list is for owners of businesses with two to ten people who need books, invoices and bank feeds on a set monthly budget. We compared documented features and published prices, and we priced each tool for the plan a small team actually needs: one with bank feeds, enough users and no tight invoice cap. Prices come from each vendor's US pricing page. Rankozo weights value at 40%, features at 35% and ease of use at 25%.

The verdict

Zoho Books gives a small team the most for a fixed budget: Standard costs $15 per organization per month billed annually and includes 3 users, bank feeds and 5,000 invoices a year. Wave is the low-cost pick for invoice-heavy businesses, with a free Starter plan and bank imports on Pro at $19 a month. Xero suits teams that keep adding staff, since it charges no per-user license fees, but its $27 Early plan stops at 20 invoices, so most teams land on Growing at $59. QuickBooks Online has the deepest feature set, at $85 a month for 3 users on Essentials once the 3-month discount ends.

  1. 01Top value

    Zoho Books

    8.9/10

    Online accounting from Zoho, priced per organization, with a free plan and paid tiers that include several users.

    Price

    $15per organization per month

    Free plan under $50K yearly 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 7, 2026.

    Free plan
    Yes
    Free trial
    14 days
    Value (40%)
    9.4
    Features (35%)
    8.9
    Ease of use (25%)
    8.2

    Best forTeams of two to five that want bank feeds, sales tax and multiple logins for a low flat fee.

    Zoho Books ranks first because its entry paid plan already fits a small team. Standard costs $15 per organization per month on annual billing, or $20 month to month, and the price covers 3 users rather than one. That plan connects bank feeds, tracks sales and use tax, e-files 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC forms, locks closed periods and allows up to 5,000 invoices a year. A fourth or fifth person costs $2.50 a month each on annual billing, or you can move to Professional at $40 for 5 users plus purchase orders, inventory, multi-currency and project billing. The free plan is useful for a new business with under $50K in yearly revenue, but it covers 1 user plus an accountant and does not include bank feeds. The main gap for employers is payroll, which sits outside Zoho Books. For a business that wants books, invoices and bank feeds for a few people at a predictable price, nothing else we compared costs less.

    • ✓One price per organization covers 3 users on Standard
    • ✓Extra users cost $2.50 per month billed annually
    • ✓Free plan works for very small firms with under $50K in yearly revenue
    • ✕Bank feeds are not part of the free plan
    • ✕Monthly billing raises Standard from $15 to $20
    • ✕Payroll is not included in Zoho Books
    Free plan:
    Yes, while yearly revenue stays under $50K
    Standard:
    $15 per org per month billed annually, 3 users
    Professional:
    $40 per org per month billed annually, 5 users
    Standard invoice limit:
    5,000 a year
    Free trial:
    14 days

    Bottom line: The best value for a small team: 3 users and bank feeds for $15 a month billed annually. Plan a separate payroll tool if you have staff.

    Visit zoho.com ↗

  2. 02

    Wave

    8.4/10

    Invoicing and bookkeeping software with a free Starter plan and a low-cost Pro plan that adds bank imports.

    Price

    $19per month

    Starter plan free; Pro $19 per month billed monthly or $190 per year

    “It’s Pro time. $19 USD/month Billed monthly” Quoted from the pricing page, November 7, 2026.

    Free plan
    Yes
    Value (40%)
    9.0
    Features (35%)
    7.4
    Ease of use (25%)
    8.9

    Best forSmall service businesses that invoice often and want the lowest fixed monthly cost.

    Wave takes second place on price. Starter costs nothing and still lets a business create unlimited estimates, invoices, bills and bookkeeping records, invoice from the mobile app and track cash flow in one dashboard. The catch is that bank transactions must be added by hand on Starter. Pro, at $19 a month or $190 a year, auto-imports, merges and categorizes bank transactions, captures unlimited receipts and sends late payment reminders automatically. Pro also lets you add other people as admins, editors or viewers, and it drops the card fee to 2.9% with no fixed charge on the first 10 card transactions each month, against 2.9% plus $0.60 on Starter. For a team that invoices a lot, those saved fees can cover part of the subscription. Wave has fewer tools for inventory, purchase orders or project costing than the suites below it, so a business that sells stock should look at Zoho Books Professional or QuickBooks Plus instead.

    • ✓Starter is free with no invoice cap
    • ✓Pro costs $19 a month or $190 a year
    • ✓Pro lowers card fees to 2.9% with no fixed fee on the first 10 transactions a month
    • ✕Bank imports and receipt capture need Pro
    • ✕Starter card payments cost 2.9% plus $0.60 per transaction
    • ✕Fewer inventory and project tools than Zoho Books or QuickBooks
    Free plan:
    Yes, Starter
    Pro:
    $19 per month or $190 per year
    Starter card fee:
    2.9% + $0.60 per transaction
    Pro intro offer:
    $9.50 per month for the first 3 months
    Bookkeeping service:
    Wave Advisors from $149 per month

    Bottom line: The cheapest way to get invoices and automatic bank imports in one place, at $19 a month. Product businesses will outgrow it sooner than service firms.

    Visit waveapps.com ↗

  3. 03

    Xero

    8.4/10

    Online accounting software with three plans and no per-user license fees.

    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 7, 2026.

    Free plan
    No
    Value (40%)
    8.0
    Features (35%)
    9.0
    Ease of use (25%)
    8.0

    Best forGrowing teams that want everyone in the books without paying per seat.

    Xero is the strongest choice here for teams that keep adding people, because it states that it charges no per-user license fees. Every plan reconciles bank transactions, captures documents, handles W-9 and 1099 management and sales tax, shows real-time reports and pays domestic bills by ACH at no charge. The entry plan is the weak spot for a working business: Early at $27 a month allows 20 invoices and 5 bills, and auto-reconcile is a $5 add-on. Most small teams will need Growing at $59, which removes those caps and adds auto-reconcile, performance dashboards and a 60-day cash flow forecast. Established at $97 adds multiple currencies, project time and cost tracking and employee expense and mileage claims. New US customers get 80% off for 3 months, so Early starts at $5.40, but the regular price applies after that. Xero Payroll, powered by Gusto, costs $36 a month plus $6 per employee or contractor on any plan.

    • ✓No per-user license fees on any plan
    • ✓Free expert setup help is included
    • ✓Payroll, powered by Gusto, is $36 a month plus $6 per person
    • ✕Early caps you at 20 invoices and 5 bills
    • ✕Auto-reconcile costs $5 a month extra on Early
    • ✕No free plan
    Early:
    $27 per month, 20 invoices and 5 bills
    Growing:
    $59 per month
    Established:
    $97 per month
    User fees:
    No per-user license fees
    Payroll add-on:
    $36 per month + $6 per employee or contractor

    Bottom line: A full accounting suite where adding staff costs nothing extra. Budget for Growing at $59, since Early's 20-invoice cap is tight.

    Visit xero.com ↗

  4. 04

    QuickBooks Online

    8.1/10

    Intuit's online accounting software, sold in four tiers that step up by user count and reporting depth.

    Price

    $38per month

    Simple Start $38 per month for 1 user (50% off for 3 months); Essentials $85 for 3 users; QuickBooks Free at $0

    “Simple Start For starting small $38 $19 / mo 50% off for 3 months*” Quoted from the pricing page, November 4, 2026.

    Free plan
    Yes
    Free trial
    30 days
    Value (40%)
    6.8
    Features (35%)
    9.4
    Ease of use (25%)
    8.3

    Best forSmall businesses whose accountant already works in QuickBooks and that need deeper reports.

    QuickBooks Online has the most features of any product on this list, which is why it still ranks fourth despite its prices. Simple Start, at $38 a month, records transactions automatically once it learns your categories, sends invoices that accept cards and bank transfers, runs profit and loss and sales reports and pays bills by ACH. The problem for a small team is the user count. Simple Start covers 1 user plus access for 2 accountants, so a business with three people who need logins is looking at Essentials at $85 a month. Five users means Plus at $140, which does add budgets, project profitability, inventory and tracking by class and location. The 50% discount for 3 months softens the first bill, and there is a 30-day free trial with no annual contract. Intuit also lists QuickBooks Free at $0 for businesses just starting out. If your accountant works in QuickBooks, the price premium may be worth it.

    • ✓The broadest feature set we compared
    • ✓30-day free trial and no annual contract
    • ✓QuickBooks Free covers very basic needs at $0
    • ✕Simple Start covers only 1 user
    • ✕3 users require Essentials at $85 a month
    • ✕Regular prices are much higher than Zoho Books or Wave
    Simple Start:
    $38 per month, 1 user
    Essentials:
    $85 per month, 3 users
    Plus:
    $140 per month, 5 users
    Intro offer:
    50% off for 3 months
    Free trial:
    30 days

    Bottom line: The deepest toolset here, but per-plan user limits make it expensive for teams. Best when your accountant already uses it.

    Visit intuit.com ↗

  5. 05

    FreshBooks

    7.8/10

    Invoicing-led accounting software with plans set by the number of clients you bill.

    Price

    $23per month

    Lite $23 per month for 5 clients (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 7, 2026.

    Free plan
    No
    Value (40%)
    6.8
    Features (35%)
    8.2
    Ease of use (25%)
    9.0

    Best forService businesses with a small client list that bill by project or hour.

    FreshBooks is built around invoicing, and it shows: clients can pay by card, ACH bank transfer, Apple Pay, Google Pay or Buy Now, Pay Later, and every plan tracks expenses and produces tax-time reports. For a small business the cost climbs quickly. Lite at $23 a month invoices only 5 clients, and the financial and accounting reports, receipt scanning and accountant access come with Plus at $43 for 50 clients. Premium at $70 removes the client cap and adds project profitability. Each extra team member is $11 a month, so a four-person firm on Plus pays $76 before payroll, which itself costs $40 a month plus $6 per user. The 80% discount for the first 4 months and a 30-day money-back guarantee lower the risk of trying it. FreshBooks fits a services firm with a short client list better than a business that needs several people inside the books.

    • ✓Easy to learn for owners who think in clients and projects
    • ✓30-day money-back guarantee
    • ✓Yearly billing takes an extra 10% off
    • ✕Each team member costs $11 a month
    • ✕Lite bills only 5 clients and Plus 50
    • ✕Full accounting reports start on Plus at $43
    Lite:
    $23 per month, 5 clients
    Plus:
    $43 per month, 50 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: Friendly invoicing with real accounting on Plus. Per-member fees make it costly once several people need access.

    Visit freshbooks.com ↗

  6. 06

    Kashoo

    7.8/10

    Double-entry online accounting sold as one plan with every feature included.

    Price

    $30per month

    One plan at $30 per month (50% off the first 6 months); annual billing available

    “$ 30.00/Mo Start my free trial → Prices in USD” Quoted from the pricing page, November 7, 2026.

    Free plan
    No
    Free trial
    14 days
    Value (40%)
    8.0
    Features (35%)
    7.4
    Ease of use (25%)
    8.0

    Best forSmall teams that want unlimited users and bank feeds without picking a tier.

    Kashoo keeps the decision simple: one plan at $30 a month with every feature included. That covers unlimited invoices, online payments, expense and bill tracking, sales tax, bank feed sync, projects, inventory items, multi-currency and unlimited attachments, all on a double-entry ledger with two-factor sign-in. For a small team the most useful line is unlimited users at no extra charge, with access levels you can set per person, which puts its $30 price in line with Xero Growing for a business with several logins. Payroll runs through an integration with PaymentEvolution rather than a built-in module, and there is a Square integration for businesses that take in-person payments. The limits are that there is no free plan and each additional business needs its own subscription. A 14-day trial needs no card, and the current offer takes 50% off the first 6 months.

    • ✓Unlimited users at no extra charge
    • ✓One price with no feature tiers
    • ✓14-day free trial with no credit card
    • ✕No free plan
    • ✕Each additional business needs its own subscription
    • ✕Payroll relies on a third-party integration
    Price:
    $30 per month
    Users:
    Unlimited, no extra charge
    Free trial:
    14 days, no credit card
    Intro offer:
    50% off the first 6 months
    Ledger:
    Double-entry

    Bottom line: A fair flat price for a team that wants everyone in the books. Choose it for simplicity, not depth.

    Visit kashoo.com ↗

  7. 07

    Akaunting

    7.5/10

    Online accounting software with an app store of add-ons and four cloud plans.

    Price

    $12per month

    Standard Cloud $12 per month ($8 billed yearly); Premium Cloud with bank feeds $36 ($24 yearly)

    “Best for one-person businesses $12 per month” Quoted from the pricing page, November 7, 2026.

    Free plan
    No
    Value (40%)
    8.0
    Features (35%)
    7.0
    Ease of use (25%)
    7.2

    Best forVery small businesses that want the lowest paid price and can add features as apps.

    Akaunting has the cheapest paid plan on this list, but the plan a small team needs costs more than the headline. Standard Cloud is $12 a month, or $8 on yearly billing, for one company, 1 user plus an accountant and 1,000 invoices, with unlimited customers, vendors, reports and products and multiple currencies. Double-entry, bank feeds, expense claims, roles and permissions and a client portal start on Premium Cloud at $36 a month, or $24 billed yearly, which covers 10 users and 10,000 invoices. That makes Premium the fair comparison with Zoho Books Standard, and at $24 yearly it still costs more per month. Elite Cloud at $84, or $56 yearly, adds payroll, projects, inventory, estimates, CRM and receipt scanning for 30 users. Extra features come from an app store of more than 50 apps. Support is ticket based, so owners who want phone help should look elsewhere.

    • ✓Lowest paid entry price we found at $12 a month
    • ✓Yearly billing cuts Standard to $8 and Premium to $24
    • ✓Payroll is included on Elite Cloud
    • ✕Standard Cloud covers 1 user plus an accountant
    • ✕Bank feeds and double-entry need Premium Cloud
    • ✕Support is by ticket
    Standard Cloud:
    $12 per month, 1 user + 1 accountant, 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
    Apps:
    50+

    Bottom line: The lowest entry price here, though bank feeds wait until the $36 Premium plan. A fit for owners who like to add features one app at a time.

    Visit akaunting.com ↗

  8. 08

    Odoo Accounting

    7.5/10

    The accounting app in Odoo's business suite, free on its own and priced per user when combined with other apps.

    Price

    Free plan

    See vendor pricing (USD check pending)

    US price check pending. Vendor pricing page

    Free plan
    Yes
    Value (40%)
    7.4
    Features (35%)
    8.6
    Ease of use (25%)
    6.2

    Best forSmall companies that want accounting today and CRM, inventory or POS from the same vendor later.

    Odoo Accounting is the most flexible option here for a business that expects to need more than books. On its own, the accounting app can run under Odoo's One App Free plan with unlimited users, and Odoo says you can send and receive unlimited invoices and bills for free. The app syncs with more than 28,000 banks, reads vendor bills with AI data capture that Odoo puts at a 98% recognition rate, matches about 95% of bank transactions automatically by its own figures and sends payment follow-ups based on days overdue. Once you add a second app, such as inventory, CRM or point of sale, you move to the Standard or Custom plan, priced per user and covering all apps. We could only see euro prices from our location, so the USD price is pending. The trade-off is setup: Odoo is a modular suite, and a five-person business with simple needs will get running faster on Zoho Books or Wave.

    • ✓Accounting alone can run free with unlimited users
    • ✓Grows into inventory, CRM, POS and HR without switching vendors
    • ✓Hosting, support and maintenance included on every plan
    • ✕US dollar prices could not be confirmed from our location
    • ✕Paid plans are priced per user
    • ✕More setup than Wave or Zoho Books for a simple business
    Free plan:
    Yes, One App Free with unlimited users
    Bank connections:
    28,000+ banks
    Auto-matching:
    95% of transactions, per Odoo
    Paid plans:
    Standard and Custom, per user
    Light users:
    Available at a lower rate

    Bottom line: Free accounting with room to grow into a full business suite. Expect more configuration than single-purpose tools.

    Visit odoo.com ↗

  9. 09

    ZipBooks

    7.3/10

    Small business accounting software from Utah with a free Starter plan and two paid tiers.

    Price

    Free plan

    See vendor pricing (USD check pending)

    US price check pending. Vendor pricing page

    Free plan
    Yes
    Value (40%)
    7.4
    Features (35%)
    6.8
    Ease of use (25%)
    8.0

    Best forSmall service businesses that want free invoicing and a simple path to team access.

    ZipBooks is a straightforward choice for a small service business that mainly needs to invoice. Starter is free and sends unlimited invoices, manages unlimited vendors and customers, accepts payments through Square or PayPal, shows basic reports and connects one bank account. Smarter adds recurring invoices that bill customers automatically, payment reminders, saved line items, multiple bank accounts, time tracking and room for 5 team members. Sophisticated adds tagging by location, project or custom label, reconciliation for every account, locked books, document sharing and unlimited users. Payroll comes through a Gusto integration. The pricing page lists the paid plans as 15 and 35 without a currency symbol, so we treat the USD price as pending rather than assume it. The feature set is lighter than Zoho Books or Xero, and putting reconciliation on the top tier is a drawback for any business that closes its books monthly.

    • ✓Starter is free with unlimited invoices
    • ✓Smarter adds 5 team members
    • ✓Sophisticated allows unlimited users
    • ✕Starter connects only 1 bank account
    • ✕Reconciliation tools sit on the top plan
    • ✕Paid plan prices are shown without a currency, so we mark them pending
    Free plan:
    Yes, Starter
    Starter bank accounts:
    1
    Smarter team members:
    5
    Sophisticated users:
    Unlimited
    Payroll:
    Gusto integration

    Bottom line: Free unlimited invoicing with a clear upgrade path for a small team. Lighter on accounting than the leaders.

    Visit zipbooks.com ↗

  10. 10

    Sage 50

    6.5/10

    Sage's long-running accounting software, now sold as Sage 50 Cloud or Sage 50 Desktop on subscription.

    Price

    $132.17per month

    Pro Accounting $132.17 per month for 1 user, minimum one-year commitment

    “Pro Accounting $132.17 /mo” Quoted from the pricing page, November 7, 2026.

    Free plan
    No
    Value (40%)
    4.6
    Features (35%)
    8.8
    Ease of use (25%)
    6.4

    Best forInventory and job-costing businesses that want desktop-grade accounting and can pay a higher fixed fee.

    Sage 50 is on this list for one kind of small business: one that holds stock or costs jobs and needs more than lightweight online books. Pro Accounting handles invoices and bills, purchase orders and approvals, expenses, automated bank reconciliation, cash flow, inventory with assemblies and FIFO or LIFO costing, and job costing. Premium, from $182.50 a month, adds 1 to 5 users, multiple companies, advanced budgeting, serialized inventory, phase-level job costing and audit trails. The cost is the reason it ranks last. Pro is $132.17 a month for a single user, with a minimum one-year commitment, which is several times Zoho Books Standard or Xero Growing. Sage offers an integrated payroll module priced by employee count, but you have to call to buy it. Sage 50 Cloud gives remote access and automatic updates, and a desktop version remains for businesses that prefer a local install.

    • ✓Deep inventory and job costing for a small business tool
    • ✓Cloud or desktop versions
    • ✓Unlimited phone and chat support
    • ✕Pro costs $132.17 a month for 1 user
    • ✕Minimum one-year commitment
    • ✕Payroll pricing is by phone only
    Pro Accounting:
    $132.17 per month, 1 user
    Premium Accounting:
    From $182.50 per month, 1 to 5 users
    Quantum Accounting:
    From $271.17 per month, 1 to 40 users
    Commitment:
    Minimum one year
    Versions:
    Sage 50 Cloud and Sage 50 Desktop

    Bottom line: Strong inventory and job costing at a price far above the rest. Only worth it if those features run your business.

    Visit sage.com ↗

What to check before you pay

01

Price the plan with bank feeds

Automatic bank imports are often the first paid feature. Wave adds them on Pro at $19 a month, Zoho Books on Standard at $15 billed annually, and Akaunting on Premium Cloud at $36 a month. Xero, QuickBooks Simple Start and Kashoo include bank reconciliation on their entry plans. Compare the plan that has bank feeds, not the cheapest plan on the page.

02

Count users before you compare

A team of four changes the math. Xero says it has no per-user license fees and Kashoo includes unlimited users for $30 a month. Zoho Books Standard covers 3 users and adds more for $2.50 per user per month billed annually. QuickBooks moves you up a plan: Simple Start covers 1 user at $38, Essentials 3 users at $85 and Plus 5 users at $140. FreshBooks charges $11 a month per team member.

03

Watch invoice and client caps

Xero Early allows 20 invoices and 5 bills. FreshBooks Lite sends invoices to 5 clients and Plus to 50. Zoho Books Standard allows 5,000 invoices a year and Akaunting Standard Cloud 1,000. Wave Starter, ZipBooks Starter and Kashoo list unlimited invoices.

04

Add payroll and use the full price

Payroll is usually a separate fee. Xero Payroll, powered by Gusto, costs $36 a month plus $6 per employee or contractor, and FreshBooks Payroll costs $40 a month plus $6 per user. Intro offers also expire: Xero gives 80% off for 3 months, FreshBooks 80% off for 4 months and QuickBooks 50% off for 3 months. Budget on the regular price.

FAQ

What is the best accounting software for a small business with employees?

Zoho Books ranks first in our comparison. Standard costs $15 per organization per month billed annually and includes 3 users and bank feeds. Xero is the alternative if you will add many users, since it charges no per-user license fees.

What is the cheapest accounting software with bank feeds?

Zoho Books Standard at $15 a month billed annually and Wave Pro at $19 a month are the cheapest verified plans with automatic bank feeds in our list. Akaunting's entry plan costs $12 but bank feeds start on Premium Cloud at $36.

Which accounting software does not charge per user?

Xero states that it has no per-user license fees, Kashoo includes unlimited users in its $30 plan and Odoo's One App Free plan allows unlimited users. QuickBooks and FreshBooks raise the price as you add people.

How much does payroll add to accounting software?

Xero Payroll, powered by Gusto, costs $36 a month plus $6 per employee or contractor. FreshBooks Payroll costs $40 a month plus $6 per user. Kashoo uses a PaymentEvolution integration and ZipBooks a Gusto integration.

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%. Tools without a confirmed USD price are marked pending.

Questions or corrections: editorial@rankozo.comSee our disclosure. Prices change; confirm on the vendor page before buying.

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