Best Accounting Software for Small Business 2026
Quick Take
Small business accounting doesn't need to be complicated or expensive. We tested every major option and ranked them based on what actually matters for businesses under 50 employees: ease of use, price, and core accounting features.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
| # | Tool | Best For | Starting Price | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zoho Books | Best overall value | $0/mo | 9.3/10 |
| 2 | Wave | Tightest budget | $0/mo | 6.8/10 |
| 3 | QuickBooks Online | Most accountant-friendly | $30/mo | 8.6/10 |
| 4 | FreshBooks | Service businesses | $Custom/mo | 8.4/10 |
| 5 | Patriot Software | Budget payroll + accounting | $17/mo | 7.4/10 |
1. Zoho Books | Best overall value
Part of the massive Zoho ecosystem. Free for businesses under $50K revenue, then competitively priced. Strong automation features and excellent if you're already in the Zoho ecosystem. The UI is functional but not winning any design awards.
Our take: Free for businesses under $50K, then $15-$120/mo. More features per dollar than anything else on the market.
Zoho Books Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | — |
| Standard | $15 | $10/mo |
| Professional | $40 | $26/mo |
| Premium | $60 | $40/mo |
| Elite | $120 | $80/mo |
2. Wave | Tightest budget
Genuinely free accounting and invoicing. no catch, no 'freemium' bait-and-switch. Wave makes money on payment processing and payroll add-ons. Perfect for solopreneurs and micro-businesses who need real double-entry accounting without spending a dime.
Our take: Free double-entry accounting. Period. If $0/mo is your budget, Wave is your answer.
Wave Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting (Free) | $0 | — |
| Payments | $0 | — |
| Payroll (Tax States) | $40 | — |
3. QuickBooks Online | Most accountant-friendly
The 800-pound gorilla of SMB accounting. QuickBooks Online dominates market share for a reason. deep integrations, solid reporting, and an ecosystem of accountants who know it inside out. The pricing creep over the past few years is real, though.
Our take: Your accountant probably wants you on QBO. The Simple Start plan at $30/mo covers the basics.
QuickBooks Online Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Start | $30 | $18/mo |
| Essentials | $60 | $36/mo |
| Plus | $90 | $54/mo |
| Advanced | $200 | $120/mo |
4. FreshBooks | Service businesses
Started as invoicing software, grew into full accounting. FreshBooks is beloved by freelancers and service businesses for its dead-simple invoicing and time tracking. The accounting features are adequate but not as deep as QBO or Xero.
Our take: Best invoicing and time tracking for freelancers and consultants. The Lite plan at $19/mo is well-priced.
FreshBooks Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Select | Custom | — |
| Lite | $19 | $14/mo |
| Plus | $33 | $24/mo |
| Premium | $60 | $44/mo |
5. Patriot Software | Budget payroll + accounting
Budget-friendly payroll and accounting built for small businesses. Patriot won't win any feature comparisons against QBO, but at $20/mo for accounting it does the basics well. The payroll module starting at $17/mo is genuinely competitive.
Our take: Accounting at $20/mo plus payroll at $17/mo. Not flashy but gets the job done at a fraction of QBO's price.
Patriot Software Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Payroll Basic | $17 | — |
| Accounting Basic | $20 | — |
| Accounting Premium | $30 | — |
| Payroll Full Service | $37 | — |
How We Ranked These Tools
Focused on tools priced under $100/mo with strong ease-of-use ratings. Weighted toward simplicity and value over enterprise features.
Read our full scoring methodology for details.