Finance & accounting · Ranked by price to features
9 Best Cheap Accounting Software of 2026
By the Rankozo research desk · Updated November 12, 2026 · Next review December 27, 2026
Zoho Books is the best cheap accounting software for small businesses in 2026: Standard costs $15 per organization per month billed annually for 3 users, and the free plan covers businesses under $50K in yearly revenue, as of November 2026. Wave suits owner-run businesses that want free invoicing, with Pro at $19 a month, and QuickBooks Solopreneur Lite costs $20 a month for one-person businesses. Teams that need many users at no cost should look at Odoo Accounting, while GnuCash and the Manager.io Desktop Edition are free if you keep books on one computer.
- Tools ranked
- 9
- With free plan
- 8
- Cheapest paid plan
- Akaunting, $12
- per month
By the numbers
- $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
- $1 trillionIDC forecasts global public cloud spending above $1 trillion in 2026, up 21%, with SaaS the largest category at more than half of the total.IDC
- $55.7MOrganizations spend an average of $55.7 million a year on SaaS in 2026, an 8% increase, according to Zylo's SaaS Management Index.Zylo
- $11,800HubSpot's average subscription revenue per customer was $11,800 in the second quarter of 2026, up 4% as reported, across 306,446 customers.HubSpot
- $198.25 billionUS merchants paid $198.25 billion in card processing fees in 2025, a new record according to the Nilson Report.Nilson Report
Comparison table
| Tool | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoho Books | 01 | 8.9 | 9.5 | $15per organization per month | Yes |
| Wave | 02 | 8.6 | 9.2 | $19per month | Yes |
| QuickBooks Solopreneur | 03 | 8.1 | 8.2 | $20per month | Yes |
| Odoo Accounting | 04 | 8.0 | 8.6 | Free plan | Yes |
| ZipBooks | 05 | 7.9 | 8.4 | Free plan | Yes |
| Manager.io | 06 | 7.8 | 8.4 | $59per month, unlimited users | Yes |
| Akaunting | 07 | 7.6 | 8.2 | $12per month | Yes |
| GnuCash | 08 | 7.5 | 8.8 | Freefree | Yes |
| ZarMoney | 09 | 7.5 | 7.4 | $20per month for 2 users | 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 businesses that want real accounting software for $20 a month or less. Every product here has a free plan or a cheapest paid plan at or under $20, except Manager.io, whose free Desktop Edition qualifies but whose Cloud Edition costs $59. We compared documented features and published prices for 9 tools and ranked them by value first, then features, then ease of use. Value covers the entry price, the billing term behind it and how much the free or cheapest plan includes. Prices are in USD as shown on each vendor's page on November 12, 2026. Where a page showed euros from our location or listed prices without a currency, the price is marked pending.
The verdict
Zoho Books ranks first because its $15 Standard plan is priced per organization and already includes 3 users, bank feeds and 1099 e-filing, while its free plan lasts until revenue passes $50K a year. Wave is second for owners who want unlimited invoices and bookkeeping records for free and can pay $19 a month later for bank imports. QuickBooks Solopreneur is the cheapest way into QuickBooks at $20 a month, but only for one user. Odoo Accounting is free for unlimited users if accounting is the only app you need, and ZipBooks, Manager.io, Akaunting, ZarMoney and GnuCash each fit a narrower budget case.
- 01Top value
Zoho Books
8.9/10Cloud accounting from Zoho with a free plan for small businesses and a $15 Standard plan for three users.
Price
$15per organization per month
Free plan for businesses 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 12, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 14 days
- Value (40%)
- 9.5
- Features (35%)
- 8.6
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.2
Best forsmall businesses with up to three people doing the books
Zoho Books leads this list because its cheapest paid plan is priced per organization rather than per user. Standard is $15 a month billed annually, or $20 monthly, and Zoho lists 3 users, bank feeds, sales and use tax tracking, 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC e-filing, custom reports and API access. Before that, the free plan already covers invoices, quotes, expenses, journals, bank reconciliation, recurring invoices and a customer portal for one user plus an accountant, and Zoho says it stays free while yearly revenue is under $50K. Annual limits apply: 1,000 invoices on Free and 5,000 on Standard. The gap shows when a business needs multi-currency, inventory or purchase orders, because those sit on Professional at $40 billed annually. Extra users on paid plans cost $2.50 each per month on annual billing. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run a trial account.
- ✓Standard costs $15 per organization, not per user, for 3 users on annual billing
- ✓Free plan stays free as long as yearly revenue is under $50K
- ✓Extra users cost $2.50 per user per month billed annually
- ✕Bank feeds start on Standard, not the free plan
- ✕Multi-currency and inventory need Professional at $40 billed annually
- ✕Monthly billing raises Standard from $15 to $20
- Free plan:
- Yes, for revenue under $50K a year, 1 user plus 1 accountant
- Cheapest paid plan:
- Standard, $15 per organization per month billed annually
- Users on Standard:
- 3
- Free trial:
- 14 days
Bottom line: Zoho Books is the best choice for small businesses with a few people on the books because Standard costs $15 per organization per month and includes 3 users and bank feeds. Stay on the free plan until revenue nears $50K a year.
- 02
Wave
8.6/10Free invoicing and bookkeeping for small businesses, with a Pro plan at $19 a month that adds bank imports and receipt capture.
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 12, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 9.2
- Features (35%)
- 7.6
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.9
Best forowner-run businesses that want free invoicing and bookkeeping
Wave is the easiest way on this list to start keeping books for nothing. The Starter plan is $0 and creates unlimited estimates, invoices, bills and bookkeeping records, with a dashboard and reports such as profit and loss. The catch is that transactions must be entered by hand or imported, because automatic bank imports and auto-categorization sit on Pro. Pro costs $19 a month billed monthly or $190 a year, which works out to about $15.83 a month, and Wave was showing a promo of $9.50 a month for the first three months on the check date. Pro also adds unlimited receipt capture, late payment reminders, branding removal and extra users with admin, editor or viewer roles. Card payments cost 2.9% + $0.60 on Starter and 2.9% + $0 for the first 10 transactions a month on Pro. Payroll is a separate add-on from $25 a month. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run a trial account.
- ✓Starter plan is free with unlimited invoices and bookkeeping records
- ✓Pro is $190 a year, about $15.83 a month, on annual billing
- ✓Pro lets you add admin, editor and viewer users
- ✕Automatic bank imports need Pro
- ✕Starter charges 2.9% + $0.60 per card transaction
- ✕Live chat and email support runs Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 4:45 PM Eastern
- Free plan:
- Yes, Starter with unlimited invoices and records
- Cheapest paid plan:
- Pro, $19 per month or $190 per year
- Promo:
- Pro at $9.50 a month for the first 3 months
- Payroll:
- Add-on from $25 a month
Bottom line: Wave is the best choice for owner-run businesses that want to start free because the Starter plan has unlimited invoices and bookkeeping records at $0. Move to Pro at $19 a month once manual bank entry takes too long.
- 03
QuickBooks Solopreneur
8.1/10Intuit's QuickBooks plan for one-person businesses, with a limited free tier and a $20 Lite plan.
Price
$20per month
Free plan with 2 invoices a month; Lite $20 per month ($10 a month for the first 3 months)
“Lite Automate solopreneur finances and save on taxes with expert help. $20 $10 / mo 50% off for 3 months*” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 8.2
- Features (35%)
- 7.6
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.6
Best forone-person businesses that want QuickBooks and TurboTax help
QuickBooks Solopreneur is the way to get QuickBooks for $20 or less, but it is built for one person. Intuit describes it as designed for self-employed people running a one-person business, and both the Free and Lite plans list 1 user with no accountant access. The Free plan sends two invoices a month, uploads two receipts, tracks five mileage trips and manages one contractor, which suits a trial run more than daily use. Lite costs $20 a month, with 50% off for the first three months on the check date, and removes those caps with unlimited invoices, receipts and mileage, plus three contractors, the mobile app, automated bill pay and automated sales tax. Intuit also bundles Expert Assisted Tax powered by TurboTax, which you pay for only when you file. Anyone who needs an accountant in the file or full reports has to step up to Simple Start at $38. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run a trial account.
- ✓Free plan needs no credit card
- ✓Lite at $20 includes unlimited invoices and mileage
- ✓Built-in TurboTax experts for the owner's tax return
- ✕Limited to 1 user with no accountant access on Free and Lite
- ✕Free plan caps invoices and receipt uploads at 2 a month
- ✕General reports and unlimited contractors need Simple Start at $38
- Free plan:
- Yes, 2 invoices and 2 receipts a month
- Cheapest paid plan:
- Lite, $20 per month
- Users:
- 1, no accountant access
- Contractors on Lite:
- 3
Bottom line: QuickBooks Solopreneur is the best choice for one-person businesses that want QuickBooks because Lite costs $20 a month with unlimited invoices and mileage. Pick another tool if an accountant needs to log in.
- 04
Odoo Accounting
8.0/10The accounting app of the Odoo business suite, free for unlimited users under Odoo's One App Free plan.
Price
Free plan
See vendor pricing (USD check pending); One App Free plan covers one app for unlimited users
US price check pending. Vendor pricing page
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 8.6
- Features (35%)
- 8.4
- Ease of use (25%)
- 6.4
Best forgrowing teams that want free multi-user accounting
Odoo Accounting is the only tool here that can be free for a whole team. Odoo's One App Free plan lets a company pick one app and use it with unlimited users, and the company states that the app's usage is free forever, whatever its dependencies. Choose Accounting and you get unlimited invoices and bills, bank synchronization with more than 28,000 banks, AI invoice capture, automated payment follow-ups, deferrals and country-specific taxes and charts of accounts. The trade-off is scope and setup. Installing a second app, such as Inventory or Sales, moves the database to the paid Standard plan, priced per user, and Odoo is a full business suite with more configuration than Wave or Zoho Books. Odoo's pricing page showed euros from our location, so the USD price of paid plans is pending. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run a trial account.
- ✓Odoo says the free app is free for unlimited users, forever
- ✓Bank sync and reconciliation built into the accounting app
- ✓Add sales, inventory or payroll apps later in the same system
- ✕Adding a second app moves you to a paid per-user plan
- ✕Pricing page loaded in euros from our location, so the USD price is pending
- ✕More setup than a single-purpose small business tool
- Free plan:
- Yes, One App Free for unlimited users
- Bank connections:
- 28,000+ banks
- Paid plans:
- Standard and Custom, per user per month
- USD price:
- Check pending
Bottom line: Odoo Accounting is the best choice for teams that want free accounting for many users because the One App Free plan has no user limit. Expect more setup, and price the Standard plan before adding apps.
- 05
ZipBooks
7.9/10Simple US accounting software with a free Starter plan and paid Smarter and Sophisticated tiers.
Price
Free plan
See vendor pricing (USD check pending); free Starter plan
US price check pending. Vendor pricing page
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 8.4
- Features (35%)
- 7.0
- Ease of use (25%)
- 8.2
Best forservice businesses that invoice often and want a free start
ZipBooks keeps invoicing free and charges for automation. The Starter plan sends unlimited invoices, manages unlimited customers and vendors, accepts payments through Square or PayPal, shows basic reports and connects one bank account. Smarter adds recurring invoices with auto-bill, automated reminders, saved line items, multiple bank accounts, time tracking and five team members. Sophisticated adds tagging by location, project or custom tag, reconciliation, locked books, document sharing and unlimited users. The feature table also lists 1099 tracking, cash and accrual reporting and a Gusto integration for payroll. ZipBooks shows its plan prices without a currency sign, so we mark the USD price as pending rather than guess. For a business that mostly sends invoices, the free tier covers a lot, but teams that need reconciliation should price the Sophisticated plan first. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run a trial account.
- ✓Free Starter plan with unlimited invoices
- ✓Cash and accrual reporting with PDF and CSV export
- ✓Gusto integration for payroll
- ✕Starter connects only 1 bank account
- ✕Reconciliation is listed on the Sophisticated tier
- ✕Pricing page shows plan prices without a currency sign, so the USD check is pending
- Free plan:
- Yes, Starter with unlimited invoices and 1 bank account
- Team members on Smarter:
- 5
- Users on Sophisticated:
- Unlimited
- USD price:
- Check pending
Bottom line: ZipBooks is the best choice for service businesses that invoice often because the free Starter plan sends unlimited invoices. Check the Sophisticated plan if you need reconciliation.
- 06
Manager.io
7.8/10Full accounting software that is free on the desktop, with a flat-priced Cloud Edition for teams.
Price
$59per month, unlimited users
Desktop Edition free; Cloud Edition $59 per month flat for unlimited users and businesses
“59 USD per month Unlimited Users + Unlimited Businesses” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 14 days
- Value (40%)
- 8.4
- Features (35%)
- 8.0
- Ease of use (25%)
- 6.6
Best forowners who keep books on one computer and want no subscription
Manager.io is the most complete free accounting package on this list, on the condition that it runs on your own computer. The Desktop Edition is free to use for as long as you like, with all features, as much data as you need and no ads, and it runs offline on Windows, macOS and Linux. The demo company on its site shows the scope: bank and cash accounts, receipts and payments, sales and purchase invoices, inventory items, payslips, fixed assets and journal entries, with a balance sheet and profit and loss statement. If several people need access from anywhere, the Cloud Edition costs $59 a month as one flat price for unlimited users and unlimited businesses, with a 14-day trial and no discounts. That is far above the $20 line, so most budget buyers will stay on the desktop. It has a more traditional, ledger-style interface than Wave or Zoho Books. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run a trial account.
- ✓Desktop Edition lets you use all features and enter as much data as you need for free
- ✓Same data file format on Windows, Mac and Linux
- ✓Cloud price does not rise with users or businesses
- ✕Free version is a desktop install, not a browser app
- ✕Cloud Edition at $59 a month is well above $20
- ✕Manager Cloud says it does not offer discounts
- Free plan:
- Yes, Desktop Edition
- Cloud Edition:
- $59 per month, unlimited users and businesses
- Platforms:
- Windows, macOS, Linux
- Cloud trial:
- 14 days, no credit card
Bottom line: Manager.io is the best choice for owners who keep books on one computer because the Desktop Edition is free with no usage limits. Teams that need browser access face a $59 monthly Cloud price.
- 07
Akaunting
7.6/10Open source accounting software you can self-host for free or use on Akaunting's cloud from $12 a month.
Price
$12per month
Self-hosted version free; Standard Cloud $12 per month billed monthly
“Best for one-person businesses $12 per month” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 8.2
- Features (35%)
- 7.0
- Ease of use (25%)
- 7.4
Best fortechnical owners who can self-host or need a $12 cloud plan
Akaunting gives budget buyers two routes. The software is open source, and Akaunting says you can run it on your own host or server without any limitation, which costs nothing beyond hosting if you have the skills. The hosted route starts with Standard Cloud at $12 a month, aimed at one-person businesses, with 1 company, 1 user plus 1 accountant, 1,000 invoices, 4 included apps, unlimited customers, vendors, reports and products, and multiple currencies. The limits matter for anyone doing real bookkeeping: double-entry, bank feeds, expense claims and roles sit on Premium Cloud at $36 a month, and apps beyond the included ones are bought separately. Akaunting notes that the cloud plans do not apply to self-hosted installs, which have their own on-premise plans. For a small business that mainly invoices and records income and expenses, Standard Cloud is cheap; for full books, compare it with Zoho Books Standard. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run a trial account.
- ✓Self-hosted install has no limitation, according to Akaunting
- ✓Standard Cloud at $12 a month is among the cheapest hosted plans here
- ✓Multiple currencies included on Standard
- ✕Double-entry and bank feeds start on Premium Cloud at $36 a month
- ✕Standard includes 4 apps; others are sold separately
- ✕Self-hosting means you handle installs, updates and backups
- Free plan:
- Yes, self-hosted open source version
- Cheapest paid plan:
- Standard Cloud, $12 per month
- Invoice limit on Standard:
- 1,000
- Double-entry:
- From Premium Cloud
Bottom line: Akaunting is the best choice for technical owners who want to self-host because the open source version runs on your own server without limits. Hosted buyers should note that bank feeds start at $36 a month.
- 08
GnuCash
7.5/10Free, open source double-entry accounting software for personal and small business books on the desktop.
Price
Freefree
Free and open source under the GNU GPL; no paid plan
“GnuCash is personal and small-business financial-accounting software, freely licensed under the GNU GPL” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.
- Free plan
- Yes
- Value (40%)
- 8.8
- Features (35%)
- 7.2
- Ease of use (25%)
- 5.8
Best forowners comfortable with double-entry who want to pay nothing
GnuCash is the long-standing free option for people who are happy to work in a ledger. It is licensed under the GNU GPL and runs on Linux, BSD, Mac and Windows, so there is no subscription at any size. The project lists double-entry accounting, a checkbook-style register with split transactions, scheduled transactions, statement reconciliation, multiple currencies and a reports module with balance sheet and profit and loss. For small businesses it adds customer and vendor tracking, jobs, invoicing, bill payment, tax and billing terms and a budget tool. Bank data comes in through QIF and OFX import. The trade-offs are clear on its own pages: it is desktop software, it expects you to understand debits and credits, and its SQL database storage is described as experimental, with the default being an XML file. There is no vendor support desk; help comes from documentation, a wiki and mailing lists. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run a trial account.
- ✓Free with no subscription, under the GNU GPL
- ✓Runs on Linux, BSD, Mac and Windows
- ✓Balance sheet, profit and loss and customizable reports
- ✕Desktop software with no hosted cloud version
- ✕Assumes comfort with double-entry accounting
- ✕GnuCash calls its SQL database storage experimental
- Price:
- Free
- License:
- GNU GPL
- Platforms:
- Linux, BSD, Mac, Windows
- Bank import:
- QIF and OFX
Bottom line: GnuCash is the best choice for owners who know double-entry and want to pay nothing because it is free under the GNU GPL with invoicing and reconciliation. Pick Wave or Zoho Books if you want a browser app and bank feeds.
- 09
ZarMoney
7.5/10Cloud accounting with inventory and order management, priced at $20 a month for two users.
Price
$20per month for 2 users
Small Business $20 per month including 2 users; $10 for each additional user
“Small Business $20 Per month Includes 2 Users $10 for Each Additional User” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 15 days
- Value (40%)
- 7.4
- Features (35%)
- 7.6
- Ease of use (25%)
- 7.6
Best forsmall product businesses that need inventory and two users
ZarMoney is the pick here for small businesses that sell products and need inventory without paying for a mid-tier plan elsewhere. Its Small Business plan is $20 a month and includes two users, unlimited transactions, U.S.-based customer service and ZarMoney Expert Assist free for the first 30 days, with each extra user at $10 a month. The feature list covers invoicing, quotes and estimates, sales orders, quick sales for cash orders, customer statements, prepayments, payment terms with early payment discounts and real-time inventory tracking. ACH and eCheck payments cost 0.75%, capped at $5.00 per transaction. There is no free plan, only a 15-day trial without a credit card, and data is kept for 60 days if you do not subscribe. At exactly $20 it sits on the edge of this list's budget, and a third user takes it to $30. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run a trial account.
- ✓Two users included at $20 a month
- ✓Unlimited transactions on the Small Business plan
- ✓U.S.-based support by phone, chat and email
- ✕No free plan, only a 15-day trial
- ✕Each user beyond two adds $10 a month
- ✕No published annual discount
- Free plan:
- No, 15-day free trial
- Cheapest paid plan:
- Small Business, $20 per month
- Users included:
- 2, then $10 each
- ACH fee:
- 0.75%, up to $5.00
Bottom line: ZarMoney is the best choice for small product businesses because its $20 plan includes 2 users, unlimited transactions and inventory tracking. Budget $10 more for each extra user.
What to check before you pay
Check what the free plan leaves out
Free plans differ most on bank connections and limits. Wave Starter has unlimited invoices but no automatic bank import, Zoho Books Free stops at $50K in yearly revenue, QuickBooks Solopreneur Free sends 2 invoices a month and ZipBooks Starter connects 1 bank account.
Compare per-user and per-organization pricing
Zoho Books Standard is $15 per organization for 3 users billed annually, ZarMoney is $20 for 2 users plus $10 per extra user, and Manager Cloud is a flat $59 for unlimited users. QuickBooks Solopreneur and Akaunting Standard Cloud allow only one main user.
Look at the billing term and promo pricing
Annual billing lowers several prices: Zoho Books Standard is $15 billed annually and $20 monthly, and Wave Pro is $190 a year against $19 a month. Introductory offers such as Wave's $9.50 and QuickBooks' 50% off last three months, so budget for the regular price.
Decide between cloud and desktop
GnuCash and the Manager.io Desktop Edition are free but run on your own computer, and Akaunting can be self-hosted for free. Cloud tools such as Zoho Books, Wave and ZarMoney cost money for full features but handle backups and remote access.
Price the next tier before you start
The jump after the cheapest plan can be large. Zoho Books Professional is $40 billed annually, QuickBooks Simple Start is $38, Akaunting Premium Cloud is $36 and ZipBooks reserves reconciliation for its Sophisticated tier.
FAQ
What is the cheapest accounting software for a small business?
Wave, GnuCash, Manager.io Desktop and Odoo Accounting can all be used for $0. Wave's Starter plan has unlimited invoices and bookkeeping records, and Odoo's One App Free plan covers unlimited users. Among paid cloud plans, Akaunting Standard Cloud is the cheapest here at $12 a month, as of November 2026.
What is the best accounting software under $20 a month?
Zoho Books is the best accounting software under $20 a month. Its Standard plan costs $15 per organization per month billed annually and includes 3 users, bank feeds and 1099 e-filing.
Is Wave accounting really free?
Yes, Wave's Starter plan costs $0 and includes unlimited estimates, invoices, bills and bookkeeping records. Automatic bank imports and receipt capture need Pro at $19 a month, and card payments on Starter cost 2.9% + $0.60 each.
Is Zoho Books free?
Yes, Zoho Books has a free plan for businesses with yearly revenue under $50K. It covers 1 user plus 1 accountant and up to 1,000 invoices a year; paid plans start at $15 per organization per month billed annually.
How much does QuickBooks cost for a small business?
QuickBooks Solopreneur Lite costs $20 a month and QuickBooks Online Simple Start costs $38 a month, as of November 2026. Intuit was offering 50% off for the first three months on both. Solopreneur is limited to 1 user with no accountant access.
Is there free accounting software with unlimited users?
Yes, Odoo's One App Free plan lets you use one app, such as Accounting, with unlimited users. Manager.io's free Desktop Edition has no usage limits but runs on one computer, and its Cloud Edition is $59 a month for unlimited users.
Is free desktop accounting software good enough for a business?
Yes, for owners comfortable with bookkeeping. GnuCash offers double-entry, invoicing, bill payment and statement reconciliation under the GNU GPL, and Manager.io Desktop includes inventory, payslips and fixed assets, but neither gives you browser access for free.
Questions or corrections: editorial@rankozo.comSee our disclosure. Prices change; confirm on the vendor page before buying.
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