Whether you're just starting out or already have a large operation, many options are available when it comes to the best accounting software . We've reviewed some of the best programs using G2's scoring methodology, so you don't have to spend hours figuring out which one is right for your business.
G2 research analysis:
“The accounting software industry has historically been slow to adapt to new trends, but COVID-19 forced the industry to digitally transform to support a remote work environment. The most notable and important advancement, in my opinion, is cloud-based accounting software.
As companies look to decrease their accounting stack spending, especially in the current economic downturn that we are experiencing, cloud computing is allowing organizations to pay for a subscription-based solution, which can cost vastly less than purchasing a product and having to install it.”
– Nathan Calabrese , Senior Research Analyst, G2
The best accounting software helps finance professionals manage and record day-to-day business transactions. It tracks an organization's revenue, expenses, liabilities, and assets. The software facilitates fixed asset management, expense management, accounts receivable, accounts payable, reporting, and analytics.
* These software solutions are ranked using an algorithm that calculates customer satisfaction and market presence based on reviews from our user community. For more information, please check out our G2 Research Scoring Methodology . Some user reviews may have been edited for clarity.
Listed below are the best accounting software platforms from G2’s Fall 2023 Grid® Report. We’ll go over them in detail so you can make a software choice that gives your financial professionals the tools they need to be efficient and effective in their roles.
*Above are the top 15 leading accounting software solutions from G2’s Fall 2023 Grid® Report.
Choosing the right account management tool is critical to a business's financial planning. This list will give you all the information you need to make a software decision.
of accountants said technology has improved efficiency and productivity.
NetSuite 's cloud accounting platform helps businesses simplify and manage transactions. It enables timely and accurate reports while providing enhanced control over financial assets.
The software facilitates real-time access to data, so your finance department more easily resolves issues, generates disclosure, and complies with regulatory standards such as Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), and generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
Free plan: Not available
Free trial: Not available
Price : Available on request
Highest-rated features : Direct Deposit, file exports, and revenue types
NetSuite offers many features that streamline tax management, automate accounts receivable, and improve financial controls. Below are some of the most sought-after features of NetSuite.
NetSuite software comes with some pros and cons. You can look at them below and gain a better understanding of how their features might work for you.
“NetSuite allows us to be as flexible as needed – it’s good at a lot of different things, but it’s great at being customizable. We can change the system to suit our needs and adapt on the fly as requirements change.”
“It’s very complex to manage, and the setup is a long and tedious process. It's definitely a tool that requires someone to constantly optimize it, and there are lots of consulting agencies that can assist with those complexities as well.”
NetSuite doesn’t offer free plans or free trials but nicely accommodates the needs of businesses as they scale and grow. Users can purchase an annual license, which is made up of three main components: the number of users, optional modules, and the core platform. During the initial setup, you pay a one-time implementation fee.
NetSuite’s pricing details are available by getting in touch with the NetSuite team.
QuickBooks Online accounting software organizes data in the cloud to track sales processes, providing complete visibility of a company’s performance. The software offers a seamless user experience and makes it easy to use without hassle. It provides a real-time view of cash flow and provides tools to track invoices and payments.
Free plan: Not available
Free trial: 30-day free trial
Price : Starting at $12.50/month
Highest-rated features : Income & expenses, direct deposit, and cash flow tracking
QuickBooks Online helps professionals like you automate accounting tasks and activities. Its features allow them to effectively report on metrics and centralize all finance data necessary to make critical business decisions.
QuickBooks Online pros and cons
Below are some pros and cons of QuickBooks online that will help you assess whether the software is what your business needs.
“I can access QuickBooks Online from anywhere as long as I have an internet connection. I travel for business but am never out of touch with my accounting system. This feature makes QuickBooks Online much better than the standard desktop/server option. My CPA also has direct access to my QuickBooks Online account whenever he needs it. The process is much more seamless than the desktop/server option.”
“Quickbooks can sometimes have repetitive functions. Such as, if you look up an account on your general ledger and it is on the third page, you must return to page one and go through all the pages to get back to page three.”
Users can start with a 30-day free trial of the platform, after which they have the option to choose one of the four paid plans. QuickBooks Online comes with Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, and Advanced subscription options. If you don’t go for a free trial and choose to purchase the subscription right away, you get a 50% discount for three months.
Here’s a snapshot of what features are included in these options.
QuickBooks Online considers the needs of freelancers or independent contractors and offers a subscription plan at $15 per month. The plan allows self-employed people to track income and expenses, run basic reports, capture and organize receipts, estimate quarterly taxes, and track miles.
Sage Intacct is a cloud-based accounting and financial management solution that ensures control of company finances through real-time visibility. The software integrates the various aspects of a business, automating operations to eliminate manual tasks and reduce labor costs.
Free plan: Not available
Free trial: 30-day free trial
Price: Available on request
Highest-rated features: Journal entry, file exports, performance and reliability
Sage Intact offers multiple features to make an accountant’s work easier and more efficient. Keep reading to see if any of these functionalities would be of use to you and your business.
Sage Intacct software is rated #1 for Enterprise and #2 for Mid-Market. There are a few reasons supporting these rankings, but let’s look at some of Sage’s challenges as well. Below are some pros and cons of Sage Intacct.
“Intacct performs everything you expect a typical accounting system to do. It is a cloud dimensional-based system that allows the organization lots of options for the dimensions and attributes within the dimensions for reporting use.
Depending on the complexity of the organization, data pulls and reporting are lightning-quick. Data imports can bring in tons of transactions, saving data entry time.”
“There are a few basic rules that the system does not adhere to that seem backward in thinking – mainly the fact that once a payment has been cleared/cashed on bank reconciliation, it can be voided in the system.
This can lead to an internal nightmare if someone is not paying attention and voids a check/ACH payment that has been paid out already (as the invoice will be reopened for payment and can lead to duplicate payments).”
Sage Intacct doesn’t offer a free plan but provides a 30-day free trial. The company recognizes the unique needs of every organization and builds a custom pricing plan according to each business. You can choose from a range of products built for accounting and enterprise resource management (ERP), planning, analytics, HR, and payroll.
Sage Intacct pricing is made available on request by getting in touch with the Sage Intacct team.
QuickBooks Desktop Pro tracks company performance by organizing finances, tracking products, managing costs, and staying on top of inventory needs. It tracks which customers and products are taxable and defines taxes automatically throughout the month.
You can use the QuickBooks Mobile app to automate bill entries and pay bills using the funding source you choose, in the form your vendors prefer.
Free plan: Not available
Free trial: Not available
Price: Starting at $41/month
Highest-rated features: Track cash flow, income & expenses, and tax calculations
Take a look at the Desktop Pro features that make an accountant’s job easier.
Find out about Desktop Pros, advantages, and challenges to help you make an informed purchasing decision.
“It’s clearly organized even though there are tons of components. It can integrate with many external accounts. I like that it works well for a DIY person like me.”
“The desktop user interface is clunky and antiquated, yet manages to keep up with tons of irrelevant ads. The desktop version offers more features than its online counterpart. Native add-on services and the subscription model are expensive.”
Desktop Pro doesn’t have a free trial or a free version of the software.
All you need to do is simply select the QuickBooks Desktop Pro solution that is right for you and how many people will use it to get started. Their plans start at $41 per month for one user and go up to $130 per month for 3 users.
QuickBooks Online Advanced saves time on all financial transactions. The cloud application allows up to 25 simultaneous users at a time and offers a customizable and scalable platform to manage financial data while ensuring robust security.
QuickBooks Online Advanced at a glance:
Free plan: Not available
Free trial: 30-day free trial
Price: Starting at $100/month
Highest-rated features: Check/W-2 printing, direct deposit, and tax calculation
QuickBooks Online Advanced’s features help you run and grow your business. Below are some features that allow accountants to save time and work smarter.
QuickBooks Online Advanced comes with its pros and cons. Use them to evaluate whether it’s the best accounting software for your business.
“The integrations available give you great flexibility for your business and significantly reduce keystrokes required to reach your designed result. With add-ins, you can tailor it to your specific business needs. Advanced is a software you will never outgrow. It’s that robust, indefinitely postponing the nightmare of changing platforms in the future.”
“The search features in the help menus are not great. You've really got to customize your search.”
QuickBooks Online Advanced doesn’t offer a free plan.
The company offers an advanced plan that starts at $100 per month. It offers multiple features and capabilities, like income and expense automation, tax deductions, cash flow, receipt capture, estimates, and time tracking.
Oracle Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Cloud is an end-to-end software-as-a-service (SaaS) cloud-based suite. It helps manage enterprise functions, including accounting, financial management, project management, and procurement.
Price : Available on request
Highest-rated features: Journal entries, custom reporting, dashboards
Businesses in many industries use Oracle ERP Cloud for some of its advanced features, as discussed below.
Learn about Oracle ERP's pros and cons to make an informed decision before your purchase.
“ Oracle Accounting Hub provides organizations with the ability to consolidate financial data from multiple systems, creating a centralized hub for accounting operations. This streamlines financial processes, reduces complexity, and enables real-time visibility into financial performance. The platform offers robust automation capabilities, allowing businesses to automate repetitive tasks such as journal entries, reconciliations, and intercompany transactions. This automation reduces manual effort, minimizes errors, and increases overall efficiency. ”
“ Like any enterprise software, implementing Oracle Accounting Hub Cloud can be a complex and time-consuming process, requiring proper planning, configuration, and data migration. Organizations may need to invest in expertise or consulting services to ensure a smooth implementation. ”
Oracle ERP has not provided pricing information for this product or service. Alternatively, contact Oracle Cloud ERP to obtain current pricing.
Intuit QuickBooks is small business financial software that supports start-ups in tracking, organizing, and managing their finances. Take advantage of automated data backup, real-time insights from your accountant, workflows that are automated to minimize mistakes and maximize productivity, and reports that are customized for your company.
Free plan: Not available
Free trial: 30-day free trial
Price : Starting at $15/month
Highest-rated features : Di rect deposit, tax calculation, and revenue allocation
Some advanced features of Intuit Quickbooks are discussed below.
Get insight into Intuit Quickbooks' pros and cons to understand if it's the right accounting software for you.
“QuickBooks simply integrates with so many apps and other software, making the full accounting process so seemingly effortless. I've been working with QuickBooks for the past 5 years, and I would not even think of changing.
As of today, this is still the best cloud accounting solution for small to mid-sized businesses looking to automate accounting and financial processes.”
“ Occasionally, it can be hard to find what I need in QuickBooks, or things are unintuitively labeled. Progressive iterations have not improved this. Also, QuickBooks can occasionally be quite buggy. Their 2FA system, in particular, has often been nonfunctional. ”
Inuti Quickbooks offers a 30-day free trial, along with 3 other tiers with additional and advanced features. Have a look below to choose one that is suitable for you.
SAP ECC software boosts business agility and takes financial management to the next level. You and your company can use it for financial planning, tax management, quote-to-cash management, and budgeting and forecasting. With real-time, flexible reporting, the SAP ECC software integrates sustainability metrics and effectively manages risk.
Price : Available on request
Highest-rated features : File exports, reporting and dashboards, purchase orders
The core features of SAP ECC are as follows.
SAP ECC, like every other software solution, has its pros and cons. Use them to evaluate whether it’s the best accounting software for your business.
“ I like using SAP with many other applications such as Excel, Smartsheet, and Salesforce. It is easy to use with its other parts like BI and SAP Cloud. ”
“ The finance module of SAP seems a little bit downgraded. Oracle has an upper edge compared to SAP. SAP relies on codes instead of the software as a service model, which feels like a flow interruption. ”
SAP hasn’t provided any pricing details for this product. Contact the sales team at +1-800-872-1727 to get a quote.
The Microsoft Dynamic 365 Business Central software features finance tools for analytics, AI-driven insights, and easy reporting. Integrating accounting software into your core business process amps up performance and stimulates financial results. It enables you to go beyond transactional management to protect revenue, mitigate risk, and reduce costs.
Free plan: Not available
Free trial: 30-day free trial
Price : Starting at $8/month
Highest-rated features : Journal entries, file export and versioning
Discovers well-known features of the Microsoft Dynamic 365 Business Central.
The best accounting software in the world won’t make a difference if it doesn’t fit your needs. Read some real user reviews below to see if this software has what you want.
“ I enjoy the setup and how user-friendly the platform is. I also enjoy that it is tied into Microsoft Office, and if you need help, they are always there to assist with anything. Overall, I would say that it’s a good platform to use, depending on the size of your company. ”
“ Complexity for customization and some niche industries may require specific features or modules that are not readily available. In such cases, additional customization or third-party integrations may be necessary. ”
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central has 3 pricing editions, from $8 to $100. A free trial of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is also available. Look at different pricing editions below and see what editions and features meet your budget and needs.
SAP S/4HANA Cloud is a flexible cloud ERP platform that is powered by AI and analytics and is built for all business requirements. SAP S/4HANA Cloud enables users to perform mission-critical activities in real-time from any location, introduce new industry business models, and expand globally. It can be installed on-premises, in the cloud, or in a hybrid configuration for a faster time-to-value.
Price : Available on request
Highest-rated features : Data import, invoice customization, and direct deposit.
Learn why businesses tend to gravitate towards the SAP S/4HANA cloud.
SAP’s purpose is to help the world run better and improve people’s lives with sustainability at the core. Explore it's pros and cons before making your choice.
“ The software provides a complete set of applications to manage almost any business through its system that integrates financial analysis, centralized and reliable accounting, an extensive network of professional advisors included in each module, centralized data and transactions, highly integrated business process support, and management and multiple data flows, all this is what the system proposes to companies to help them manage their businesses in an excellent way and without financial, accounting or transactional problems, because the software contains Safe and Secure App. ”
“ The AI of the software leaves much to be desired; they have not worked on this aspect. I think the service could be automated even more. Another problem is the mess of data; you have many options within the same system, so you can get lost or make a mistake, and the cost forms can be improved. I feel that the program is not very intuitive. I hope this will improve in the future as I consider SAP a leader in the labor market. ”
SAP S/4HANA hasn’t provided any pricing details for this product. Contact the sales team at +1-800-872-1727 to get a quote.
BlackLine automates accounting overflows and allows businesses to manage their end-to-end financial processes. It provides a secure and centralized workspace to conduct accounting activities.
BlackLine at a glance:
Free plan: Not available
Free trial: Not available
Price: Available on request
Highest-rated features: Reconciliations, reporting & dashboards, and journal entries
BlackLine streamlines accounting processes and automates tasks. Here’s a quick list of some of its other features.
BlackLine is a great accounting solution, but nothing is perfect. Take a quick look at BlackLine’s benefits and challenges.
BlackLine is such an easy tool to use. It will change the game in reconciling your accounts and keeping a listing of what has been processed by your team and what is still outstanding. The dashboard is the best since it gives you a snapshot of where the team is at with their tasks and reconciliations. A simple yet powerful tool in the accounting industry. Truly a game-changer.”
“I wish we could insert lines in a journal entry exactly where we want them and not just on the bottom. It is nice to have the entry flow with your backup documents, and this can make it difficult if the lines are out of order. But on a large entry, it is time-consuming to have to redo every line.”
BlackLine pricing is available on request. You can get in touch with the software vendor, share your requirements, and receive a custom price quote for your unique needs. You can explore the product and negotiate the final cost with the software vendor.
Xero keeps invoices, contacts, and online accounts in one place. The software connects your business with its accountants, tools, payment services, and third-party apps, allowing you to access them securely.
Xero at a glance:
Free plan: Not available
Free trial: 30-day free trial
Price: Starting at $12/month
Highest-rated features: Direct Deposit, income & expense, and file exports
Xero connects businesses with every component of the accounting process, keeping everything securely available at any time and accessible from any device.
Below are some pros and cons of Xero. Consider these while comparing accounting software for your needs.
“This accounting software is very user-friendly for every type of person. You don't have to have an excellent knowledge of accounting principles to use this software. It is very straightforward since you can pull all your transactions from your bank and credit card accounts.”
“One thing that I dislike with Xero is the chart of accounts that is automatically within Xero. It can be very time-consuming having to change them for each business, so it would be good if Xero had pre-set chart of accounts for different types of businesses.”
Xero offers three plans, namely Early, Growing, and Established.
Users can add payroll with Gusto starting from $39 per month.
QuickBooks Enterprise is a comprehensive system for managing company finances and daily operations, as well as providing tools to help you grow your business. The solution's various modules are designed for specific industries, including contracting, manufacturing, and wholesale.
With built-in advanced inventory management capabilities, you can track inventory across multiple locations with ease.
QuickBooks Enterprise at a glance:
Free plan: Not available
Free trial: Not available
Price: Starting at $184.46/month
Highest-rated features: Income & expense, Direct Deposit, and track cash flow
QuickBooks Enterprise has multiple features to support its customer base in the enterprise segment. You can expect:
It’s easier to finish reports using QuickBooks Enterprise. It offers a range of solid accounting and bookkeeping features that are essential for a business, but are they what your business needs?
“Quickbooks puts together a small business into one cohesively comprehensive program. I don't have to chase down the info in a bunch of different programs to finish all your reports. It's all right there for you in the same basket.”
“I dislike when things go wrong, and I need customer support. It is the luck of the draw with who you will get to help you.
Some agents are really helpful and knowledgeable, and others know next to nothing, give out incorrect information and just pass you along to someone else. I had an issue that each agent I spoke to said I needed to speak with someone else. I had to set up an appointment to speak to this person and wait 3 days. Once I finally spoke to them, they told me the other person could have taken care of it in the beginning.”
QuickBooks Enterprise doesn’t come in a free plan. The company offers three plans, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond, for $1,566 per year, $1,926 per year, and $3,780 per year. Below are more details about the features of these plans.
Enterprise add-ons such as E-commerce integration, Salesforce CRM connecter, and Cloud access come with additional fees.
Acumatica 's accounting software provides a single source of truth to gain real-time business insights. The software streamlines and synchronizes automation across several workflows while helping users get a consistent and coordinated view of all current accounts.
Acumatica at a glance:
Free plan: Not available
Free trial: Not available
Price: Available on request
Highest-rated features: File exports, Direct Deposit, and data import
Acumatica works with financial data to make processes more efficient and effective. Below are some of the notable features of Acumatica.
Acumatica pros and cons
The best software in the world won’t do you any good if it doesn’t fit your needs. Read some real user reviews below to see if Acumatica has what you want.
“The most helpful part of Acumatica is the ability to get at the data. This comes into play for daily processing between staff, where one person can enter information and attach backup, and another can get the details on the related project without needing to ask for it. Being able to drill down on the information from screens you are familiar with also gives independence to staff without the need to learn how someone else does their job.
The ability to structure reports and extract data through tools like generic inquiries also allows you to get the information out in the format you need for outside purposes, like uploading data to a bank for positive payor payments or providing details for the annual audit.”
“The Field Service module is behind in integration with the core modules since it is still only a few years old. Stronger dispatching capabilities are needed. The "Calendar Board" should be the best tool in the module for dispatchers/service coordinators, but it is currently too basic.”
Acumatica’s pricing evolves with user needs. The company makes sure users only pay for the functionality they need, not for set seats.
Pricing is available on request. A member of the sales team will work with you to understand specific requirements, determine the proper resources and modules for your company, and present you with an accurate price for the license.
TallyPrime provides companies with rich insights, so they make the right decisions that support growth. It improves control over cash flow with quick and hassle-free invoice management.
TallyPrime at a glance:
Free plan: Not available
Free trial: Not available
Price: Starting at $27/month
Highest-rated features: Data import & export tools, file exports, and audit trail
TallyPrime enables accountants to have better control over cash flow and enhances business efficiency by providing the features below.
Consider the pros and cons of TallyPrime to help you choose software for your business needs.
“Tally is a really easy-to-use accounting software. Any new user will quickly learn this software. Additionally, the best thing about the software is that the booking of invoices can be done in backdate because the user has access to entries in previous months, which makes accounting simpler.”
“Reports customizations aren't available as per our requirement. Some Tally Prime shortcuts are different from Tally ERP 9, which makes it a little uncomfortable during use.
TallyPrime has two plans, Silver and Gold. The Silver version is good for single users and standalone PCs. On the other hand, the Gold plan works better for multiple users on several PCs or local area network environments.
If you sign up for three months, the Silver plan is offered at $81, and the Gold plan is available for $243. Similarly, they have pricing set for six months and eight months on their website.
Accounting is a core part of every industry and can be found in almost any organization. It helps managers make decisions based on accurate information about their company's finances.
Accounting is the process of tracking, recording, and summarizing information about a company's financial transactions.
The goal of accounting is to make sure that all of a company's financial transactions are recorded so that outside parties, like shareholders and investors, can understand the company’s process.
Accounting also helps companies comply with government regulations, such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), which requires publicly traded companies to report certain information about their financial health.
Accounting is a rigorous practice, but the effort that comes with taking care of your company’s financial health brings many advantages.
Accounting software is a tool that can help you manage your business's finances, track your employees' time and attendance, and automate many other tasks that you might be doing manually. Read on for further benefits.
It's not just about keeping track of money – it's also about making sure that your company has the resources it needs to be successful. If you're looking for a way to improve your company's financial health and make sure everything is in order, then you should consider implementing these accounting best practices.
The right accounting software for your business helps you keep track of your finances, which means you can make smart decisions about how to spend your money.
First, identify who will be using your accounting software. How many user accounts will you need? Will people use it from the same location or different?
Determine the type of tasks that are required from an accounting program. Be it invoicing, reporting expenses, generating management reports, or recording payments, you will have to know the type of functions you need from a business accounting software program.
Find out whether your business requires specific accounting requirements or not. If so, you can choose among several different types of payroll software programs that can help with payroll functions related to your business transactions.
There are a lot of different options of accounting software in the category, and it can be tough to know what's best for your business. Answering these questions will help you make the right choice.
Ultimately, the choice of the best accounting software will depend on your requirements and expectations. Make a wise choice that best supports your business needs.
A. Cloud accounting software functions on the internet without installing anything on your computer. On the other hand, desktop accounting software requires installation.
A. Yes, it’s safe to store financial data on the cloud. It would be best to ensure that you’re using safe and trustworthy accounting software.
A. Invoicing, billing, estimating, tracking and recording expenses, managing inventory, and generating business reports are the main features of accounting software.
A. There’s no special training required to operate accounting software unless you’re working on very complicated tasks and reports.
Made your pick amongst some of the best accounting software? Buy your chosen software at a discounted rate using G2 deals!
Sagar Joshi is a former content marketing specialist at G2 in India. He is an engineer with a keen interest in data analytics and cybersecurity. He writes about topics related to them. You can find him reading books, learning a new language, or playing pool in his free time.
