{
    "slug": "accounting-software",
    "name": "Accounting software",
    "title": "Best Accounting Software in 2026",
    "category": "business",
    "filter": null,
    "available_filters": [
        "free",
        "web"
    ],
    "page": "https://listme.name/best/accounting-software",
    "json": "https://listme.name/api/v1/lists/accounting-software.json",
    "updated": "2026-10-10",
    "intro": "Accounting software ranges from free desktop programs to cloud suites with payroll and bank feeds. This ranking weighs bookkeeping depth and bank connections first, then sharing with an accountant, price and open-source options.",
    "criteria": [
        "Bookkeeping depth and reports",
        "Bank feeds and reconciliation",
        "Sharing with an accountant",
        "Hosting and data control",
        "Price and free-plan limits"
    ],
    "specs": [
        {
            "key": "hosting",
            "label": "Hosting",
            "type": "text"
        },
        {
            "key": "bank_feeds",
            "label": "Bank feeds",
            "type": "bool"
        },
        {
            "key": "inventory",
            "label": "Inventory tracking",
            "type": "bool"
        }
    ],
    "how_to_choose": [
        {
            "point": "Bookkeeping depth",
            "detail": "Double-entry suites and detailed reports suit businesses with staff or an accountant; basic invoicing tools suit freelancers."
        },
        {
            "point": "Bank feeds",
            "detail": "Live bank feeds save reconciliation time; GnuCash works from imported files instead of live feeds."
        },
        {
            "point": "Hosting",
            "detail": "Cloud tools need no install and can be shared; GnuCash keeps data on one computer, which is private but harder to share."
        },
        {
            "point": "Add-ons",
            "detail": "Payroll and inventory are extra in several products, so compare the total cost with the features you need."
        }
    ],
    "faq": [
        {
            "q": "What is the best free accounting software?",
            "a": "Wave's Starter plan is free for invoicing and bookkeeping, and GnuCash is a free desktop program with full double-entry accounts. Zoho Books also has a free plan for solopreneurs and micro businesses."
        },
        {
            "q": "Which accounting software is open source?",
            "a": "GnuCash is open source under the GNU GPL. Akaunting can be self-hosted for free, but its Business Source License is not OSI open source."
        },
        {
            "q": "Which accounting software works best with an accountant?",
            "a": "Xero and Zoho Books both support accountant access in the cloud, and Wave has an Advisors program. GnuCash keeps the books on one computer, so sharing takes more effort."
        },
        {
            "q": "Does Xero include payroll?",
            "a": "Payroll is an add-on in Xero, powered by Gusto, and inventory is an optional add-on too. Check the current price of each add-on on Xero's pricing page."
        }
    ],
    "entries": [
        {
            "rank": 1,
            "score": 93,
            "verdict": "Strong bank feeds, reconciliation and cash flow forecasting, with no per-user license fees. Payroll and inventory are add-ons, and it has no free plan, unlike Wave and Zoho Books.",
            "best_for": "Small businesses working with an online accountant",
            "spec": {
                "hosting": "Vendor cloud",
                "bank_feeds": true,
                "inventory": true
            },
            "product": {
                "slug": "xero",
                "name": "Xero",
                "kind": "web",
                "website": "https://www.xero.com/",
                "page": "https://listme.name/software/xero",
                "tagline": "Cloud accounting for small businesses and their accountants",
                "summary": "Xero is cloud accounting software made by Xero Limited for small businesses and accountants. It covers invoicing, bank reconciliation, expenses, reporting and cash flow forecasts, and it connects to more than a thousand apps. Plans are monthly, tiered by features, and have no per-user license fees.",
                "developer": "Xero Limited",
                "platforms": [
                    "web"
                ],
                "pricing": "subscription",
                "price_note": "Monthly plans with no per-user license fees",
                "free_to_use": false,
                "open_source": false,
                "strengths": [
                    "No per-user license fees",
                    "More than 1,000 app integrations",
                    "Bank feeds and reconciliation"
                ],
                "limits": [
                    "Payroll and inventory are add-ons",
                    "Lower plans limit features and reports"
                ],
                "checked": "2026-10-10",
                "connected_to_publisher": false
            }
        },
        {
            "rank": 2,
            "score": 90.5,
            "verdict": "A free plan for solopreneurs and micro businesses, with inventory and fixed assets on higher editions and apps for iOS and Android. Its ecosystem is strongest inside the Zoho suite.",
            "best_for": "Growing businesses that want a free start",
            "spec": {
                "hosting": "Vendor cloud",
                "bank_feeds": true,
                "inventory": true
            },
            "product": {
                "slug": "zoho-books",
                "name": "Zoho Books",
                "kind": "web",
                "website": "https://www.zoho.com/books/",
                "page": "https://listme.name/software/zoho-books",
                "tagline": "Online accounting for small and growing businesses",
                "summary": "Zoho Books is online accounting software made by Zoho Corporation. It handles invoices, bills, expenses, bank feeds, inventory and reports, and it works with other Zoho apps. A free plan is aimed at solopreneurs and micro businesses, and paid editions add users and features. Apps are available for iOS and Android.",
                "developer": "Zoho Corporation",
                "platforms": [
                    "web",
                    "ios",
                    "android"
                ],
                "pricing": "freemium",
                "price_note": "Free plan for solopreneurs and micro businesses; paid editions",
                "free_to_use": true,
                "open_source": false,
                "strengths": [
                    "Free plan for solopreneurs and micro businesses",
                    "Apps for iOS and Android",
                    "Connects to other Zoho apps"
                ],
                "limits": [
                    "Free plan is aimed at very small businesses",
                    "Inventory and analytics need higher editions"
                ],
                "checked": "2026-10-10",
                "connected_to_publisher": false
            }
        },
        {
            "rank": 3,
            "score": 88.5,
            "verdict": "Unlimited invoices and bookkeeping on a free Starter plan, with card and bank payments that carry a fee. It does not track inventory, and payroll is a separate paid service.",
            "best_for": "Freelancers and very small businesses on a budget",
            "spec": {
                "hosting": "Vendor cloud",
                "bank_feeds": true,
                "inventory": false
            },
            "product": {
                "slug": "wave",
                "name": "Wave",
                "kind": "web",
                "website": "https://www.waveapps.com/",
                "page": "https://listme.name/software/wave",
                "tagline": "Free accounting, invoicing and receipt tracking for small businesses",
                "summary": "Wave is online accounting and invoicing software made by Wave Financial for small businesses and freelancers. Its Starter plan is free and covers invoices, estimates and bookkeeping, and the Pro plan adds more features. Card payments carry a per-transaction fee, and payroll is a separate paid service.",
                "developer": "Wave Financial",
                "platforms": [
                    "web"
                ],
                "pricing": "freemium",
                "price_note": "Free Starter plan; paid Pro plan and card payment fees",
                "free_to_use": true,
                "open_source": false,
                "strengths": [
                    "Free Starter plan with unlimited invoices",
                    "Receipt capture and expense tracking on Pro"
                ],
                "limits": [
                    "Card payments carry a per-transaction fee",
                    "Payroll is a separate paid service"
                ],
                "checked": "2026-10-10",
                "connected_to_publisher": false
            }
        },
        {
            "rank": 4,
            "score": 84,
            "verdict": "A simple invoice and estimate workflow with expense receipt scanning and project profitability. It has no free plan, only a trial, and its accounting depth is lighter than Xero or Zoho Books.",
            "best_for": "Service businesses that bill many clients",
            "spec": {
                "hosting": "Vendor cloud",
                "bank_feeds": true,
                "inventory": false
            },
            "product": {
                "slug": "freshbooks",
                "name": "FreshBooks",
                "kind": "web",
                "website": "https://www.freshbooks.com/",
                "page": "https://listme.name/software/freshbooks",
                "tagline": "Invoicing and accounting for freelancers and small service businesses",
                "summary": "FreshBooks is invoicing and accounting software for freelancers and small service businesses. It creates invoices and estimates, tracks expenses and time, and accepts online payments. Plans are monthly and tiered by client count and features, with paid add-ons for team members and payroll.",
                "platforms": [
                    "web"
                ],
                "pricing": "subscription",
                "price_note": "Monthly plans with a free trial and a 30-day money-back guarantee",
                "free_to_use": false,
                "open_source": false,
                "strengths": [
                    "Simple invoice and estimate workflow",
                    "Accountant access on paid plans"
                ],
                "limits": [
                    "No free plan, only a free trial",
                    "Team members and payroll cost extra"
                ],
                "checked": "2026-10-10",
                "connected_to_publisher": false
            }
        },
        {
            "rank": 5,
            "score": 79.5,
            "verdict": "A free self-hosted edition with invoicing, inventory, payroll and double-entry accounts. Its Business Source License is not OSI open source, and self-hosting means running a web server.",
            "best_for": "Self-hosted accounting with a web interface",
            "spec": {
                "hosting": "Self-hosted or cloud",
                "bank_feeds": true,
                "inventory": true
            },
            "product": {
                "slug": "akaunting",
                "name": "Akaunting",
                "kind": "web",
                "website": "https://akaunting.com/",
                "page": "https://listme.name/software/akaunting",
                "tagline": "Accounting and invoicing software you can self-host or use in the cloud",
                "summary": "Akaunting is accounting and invoicing software made by Akaunting, Inc. for small businesses and freelancers. It covers invoices, expenses, double-entry accounts, inventory and payroll, and runs self-hosted or in the cloud. Its Business Source License is not an OSI open-source license.",
                "developer": "Akaunting, Inc.",
                "platforms": [
                    "web",
                    "self-hosted"
                ],
                "pricing": "freemium",
                "price_note": "Free self-hosted edition; paid cloud plans",
                "free_to_use": true,
                "open_source": false,
                "license": "Business Source License 1.1",
                "source": "https://github.com/akaunting/akaunting",
                "strengths": [
                    "Free self-hosted edition",
                    "Covers invoicing, payroll and inventory"
                ],
                "limits": [
                    "License is source-available, not OSI open source",
                    "Self-hosting means running a web server"
                ],
                "checked": "2026-10-10",
                "connected_to_publisher": false
            }
        },
        {
            "rank": 6,
            "score": 78,
            "verdict": "Free, open-source double-entry accounting that runs offline on Windows, macOS and Linux. It has no online invoicing, payments or sharing, and it asks more of the user than cloud tools.",
            "best_for": "Private double-entry books on your own computer",
            "spec": {
                "hosting": "Local files on your computer",
                "bank_feeds": false,
                "inventory": false
            },
            "product": {
                "slug": "gnucash",
                "name": "GnuCash",
                "kind": "app",
                "website": "https://www.gnucash.org/",
                "page": "https://listme.name/software/gnucash",
                "tagline": "Free double-entry accounting program for personal and small-business books",
                "summary": "GnuCash is a free, open-source double-entry accounting program for personal and small-business finances. It runs as a desktop app on Windows, macOS and Linux and keeps books in local files. Its code is licensed under the GNU GPL, version 2 or later.",
                "developer": "GnuCash project",
                "platforms": [
                    "windows",
                    "macos",
                    "linux"
                ],
                "pricing": "open-source",
                "price_note": "Free desktop app; donations are accepted",
                "free_to_use": true,
                "open_source": true,
                "license": "GPL-2.0-or-later",
                "source": "https://github.com/gnucash/gnucash",
                "strengths": [
                    "Open source under the GNU GPL",
                    "Full double-entry accounting on your own computer"
                ],
                "limits": [
                    "No online invoicing or payments",
                    "Steeper learning curve than cloud tools"
                ],
                "checked": "2026-10-10",
                "connected_to_publisher": false
            }
        }
    ],
    "notes": [
        "Scores are editorial, 0 to 100. Entries with product.connected_to_publisher true are made by or connected to the publisher and receive a disclosed ranking lift: https://listme.name/methodology"
    ],
    "source": "https://listme.name",
    "license": "Free to read and cite with attribution to listme.name.",
    "docs": "https://listme.name/developers"
}