Best financial software

3 products compared on who they suit and what to pick instead. Facts checked November 4, 2026.

QuickBooks Online is the safe choice for most US small businesses, because almost every accountant and bookkeeper already works in it, though list prices now run from $38 to $340 a month. Xero costs less as you add people, since it charges no per-user license fees. FreshBooks suits freelancers and service businesses that mostly send invoices, Zoho Books has the most useful free plan for businesses under $50,000 in yearly revenue, and Wave is the cheapest way to keep simple books.

Our top picks

QuickBooks Online Best for US small businesses that work with an outside accountant Xero Best for growing teams that want to add users without paying per seat FreshBooks Best for freelancers and agencies that bill clients for time Zoho Books Best for businesses under $50,000 a year that want to start on a free plan

All financial software

FreshBooks Invoicing, time tracking and bookkeeping for freelancers and small firms that bill clients for their work. Best for freelancers and service businesses that bill a modest number of clients for time or projects Free trial
Xero Cloud accounting for small businesses: bank reconciliation, invoicing and bills, with no per-user fees. Best for small businesses where several people need access to the books Free trial
Zoho Invoice Zoho's invoicing app for freelancers and small firms, with quotes, recurring invoices and a client portal. Best for freelancers and two-person businesses that send up to about 40 invoices a month Free plan