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Ranking

Best Accounting Software in 2026

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.

6 products ranked Updated October 2026 How we rank

The ranking

  1. Xero93.0
  2. Zoho Books90.5
  3. Wave88.5
  1. 1

    Xero

    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

    WebSubscription

    93.0of 100
    Visit Alternatives
  2. 2

    Zoho Books

    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

    WebiOSAndroidFree plan, paid upgrades

    90.5of 100
    Visit Alternatives
  3. 3

    Wave

    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

    WebFree plan, paid upgrades

    88.5of 100
    Visit Alternatives
  4. 4

    FreshBooks

    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

    WebSubscription

    84.0of 100
    Visit Alternatives
  5. 5

    Akaunting

    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

    WebSelf-hostedFree plan, paid upgrades

    79.5of 100
    Visit Alternatives
  6. 6

    GnuCash

    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

    WindowsmacOSLinuxFree and open sourceOpen source

    78.0of 100
    Visit Alternatives

At a glance

ProductScorePricePlatformsHostingBank feedsInventory tracking
Xero93.0SubscriptionWebVendor cloudYesYes
Zoho Books90.5Free plan, paid upgradesWebiOSAndroidVendor cloudYesYes
Wave88.5Free plan, paid upgradesWebVendor cloudYesNo
FreshBooks84.0SubscriptionWebVendor cloudYesNo
Akaunting79.5Free plan, paid upgradesWebSelf-hostedSelf-hosted or cloudYesYes
GnuCash78.0Free and open sourceWindowsmacOSLinuxLocal files on your computerNoNo

How to choose accounting software

Bookkeeping depth
Double-entry suites and detailed reports suit businesses with staff or an accountant; basic invoicing tools suit freelancers.
Bank feeds
Live bank feeds save reconciliation time; GnuCash works from imported files instead of live feeds.
Hosting
Cloud tools need no install and can be shared; GnuCash keeps data on one computer, which is private but harder to share.
Add-ons
Payroll and inventory are extra in several products, so compare the total cost with the features you need.

What the scores weigh

  • Bookkeeping depth and reports
  • Bank feeds and reconciliation
  • Sharing with an accountant
  • Hosting and data control
  • Price and free-plan limits

Scores are editorial, from 0 to 100, and use these criteria. Full method · Disclosure

About accounting software

Accounting products fall into three groups. Cloud suites such as Xero and Zoho Books cover bookkeeping, bank feeds and reports, and they suit businesses that work with an accountant online. Invoicing-first tools such as Wave and FreshBooks cover the basics for freelancers and small service businesses. Desktop programs such as GnuCash keep the books on your own computer.

Cost and free plans vary. Wave's Starter plan is free, Zoho Books has a free plan for solopreneurs and micro businesses, and Xero charges monthly per organization with no per-user license fees. Payroll and inventory are often add-ons, so the total price depends on which parts a business uses.

Open source is limited to GnuCash here. Akaunting can be self-hosted for free, but its Business Source License is not an OSI open-source license, and its cloud plans are paid. The scores are editorial judgments against the criteria, not measurements.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free accounting software?
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.
Which accounting software is open source?
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.
Which accounting software works best with an accountant?
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.
Does Xero include payroll?
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.