If you want the best bookkeeping software for your business, you will see there are many tools available. Some software is good for freelancers, and some are better for full accounting teams and big companies.
Compare different bookkeeping software, read our simple reviews and helpful articles, and choose the best bookkeeping tool for your needs.
Top 5 bookkeeping softwares for small business
QuickBooks
Small business software of choice
50% OFF for 3 months*
Starting from: $30/mo
- Free setup with guidance
- 7 million customers worldwide
- Exclusive FREE 30-day trial
- Save an average of $2,100+ per year
Zoho Books
Affordable and flexible pricing packages
Starting from: $0/mo
- Free Plan
- Accounting A to Z
- Account reconciliation & secured banking
- Inventory, sales & billable hours management
Square
Send professional invoices effortlessly
Starting from: $35/mo
- Free Plan
- You only pay when you get paid
- Set up tracking & payment reminders
- Option for online payment
FreshBooks
Invoicing & accounting for small businesses
50% Off for 6 Months
Starting from: $7.60/mo
- 30 day free trial with no credit card
- Award-winning support team
Oracle NetSuite
Worldwide bookkeeping solution
Starting from: Custom Pricing
- Global business management compliance
- Speeds up the financial closing process
What Is Bookkeeping Software?
Bookkeeping software is a tool that helps you record and manage your business money activities. These activities include:
Customer invoices
Employee salaries
Business expenses
Cash received
Payments made
Moving money inside the business
The main job of bookkeeping software is to make your work easier. Many software tools connect to your bank account and bring in bank transactions automatically.
Most bookkeeping software is cloud-based, so you can use it anytime, from any place, using a computer, mobile, or tablet. Many also have mobile apps for quick access. You can also upload spreadsheets like Excel files.
Benefits of Using Bookkeeping Software
Saves Time
The software does many daily accounting tasks automatically. It helps with:
Expense tracking
Inventory tracking
Payment and invoicing
Payroll
Tax calculation
Some software can enter repeating expenses for you so you never miss a record.
Saves Money
Because the software does much of the work, you may not need extra staff. This reduces business costs.
Reduces Mistakes
The software helps avoid errors. It checks for problems and fixes many mistakes automatically.
For example, QuickBooks can bring in bank data and sort your transactions automatically.
Safe Storage
Your data stays safe in the cloud, even if your computer stops working.
Helps With Taxes
The software keeps all financial records organized, which makes tax time easier.
Better Business Decisions
The software creates reports that show your business position. You can see expenses, cash flow, income, and money owed. This helps you make smart decisions.
Things To Look For When Choosing Bookkeeping Software
Easy to Use
Choose software that is simple and easy to understand. Many small business owners do their own bookkeeping, so the system should not be complex.
FreshBooks, for example, gives easy tutorials for beginners.
Online Payment Feature
Good bookkeeping software lets you send invoices and receive online payments.
QuickBooks Online allows customers to pay directly from the email invoice.
App Integration
Choose software that connects with tools like Excel, Google Sheets, and other business apps. This saves time and avoids manual entry.
Cloud Access
Cloud software lets you use your system from anywhere and keeps your data safe.
FreshBooks is a well-known cloud bookkeeping tool.
Reports and Dashboard
Choose software that gives useful reports. Reports help you understand business performance and plan better.
NetSuite is known for strong reporting tools.
Other Things To Consider
Is the software simple to learn
Can you add more users as your business grows
Does it have permission settings to control who can access what
How do you choose the right bookkeeping software for your business?
To choose the right bookkeeping software, first think about what your business needs help with.
For example, a freelancer usually needs simple tools like sending invoices and taking credit card payments. A big company needs strong accounting features and software that many people can use at the same time. A startup should pick software that can grow and handle more work as their business gets bigger.
1:QuickBooks
QuickBooks is one of the most popular bookkeeping and accounting software tools for small and medium businesses. It helps business owners track money, send invoices, manage receipts, and understand their business finances without needing advanced accounting knowledge.
Why QuickBooks is a Good Choice
QuickBooks is easy to use and offers many features that save time and reduce errors. New users also get a 30-day free trial to test everything.
Main reasons people choose QuickBooks:
Very simple dashboard and clean design
Connects bank and credit cards automatically
Helps send professional invoices
Stores receipts by taking photos
Makes tax work easier
Good for growing businesses
Works on mobile and computer
Key Features
Income and Expense Tracking
QuickBooks helps you record and categorize all your business income and expenses. You can link your bank accounts and credit cards, and QuickBooks will automatically bring in your transactions.
Invoicing and Payments
You can create custom invoices, send them to customers, and track who has paid and who has not. You can also set automatic invoice reminders and recurring invoices.
Receipt Management
You can take a photo of your receipt using the QuickBooks mobile app and upload it directly to your account. This keeps everything organized for tax time.
Financial Reports
QuickBooks creates important business financial reports like:
Profit and Loss statement
Balance Sheet
Cash Flow Report
These reports help you understand your business performance and make better decisions. You can also download and print them whenever needed.
Automation
QuickBooks saves time by automating many tasks such as:
Matching bank transactions
Sending invoice reminders
Scheduling recurring invoices
Live Bookkeeping Service
If you do not want to do your bookkeeping yourself, QuickBooks offers a live bookkeeping service. Their experts will clean your accounts, organize your records, and manage your books every month. They also give you monthly financial reports.
Payroll and App Integrations
QuickBooks also offers payroll (for an extra fee) to pay employees, calculate taxes, and handle deductions. You can connect QuickBooks with many platforms like:
PayPal
Square
Shopify
Bill.com
POS systems
This makes managing business payments very simple.
Devices You Can Use
| Device | Works? |
|---|---|
| Windows / Mac | ✅ |
| Android / iPhone | ✅ |
| Web browser | ✅ |
| Linux | ❌ |
Who Should Use QuickBooks?
QuickBooks is suitable for:
Small business owners
Medium-sized businesses
Freelancers and self-employed people
Service businesses
Online store owners
Accountants and bookkeepers
Final Verdict
QuickBooks is one of the best bookkeeping software options available in 2025. It offers powerful features, easy-to-use tools, strong automation, and flexible plans. It saves time, reduces mistakes, and helps you understand your business finances clearly.
If you want an easy, reliable, and professional accounting solution for your business, QuickBooks is a great choice to try.
2:Zoho Books
Zoho Books is an online (cloud-based) bookkeeping software that helps small and large businesses manage money, bills, invoices, and reports. It is easy to use and comes at a low price. You also get many helpful tools and can connect it with other Zoho apps and third-party apps.
Features & Tools
Main Features
Create and send invoices
Record income and expenses
Track bills and payments
Bank and credit card connection
Bank reconciliation (match statements easily)
Manage customers and vendors
Convert quotes to invoices
Customizable forms (invoice, packing slip, etc.)
Automate tasks and reminders
Financial reports (profit & loss, balance sheet, etc.)
Project and time tracking
Inventory tracking
Mobile apps (Android & iPhone)
Multi-currency support
Multi-user access
Cloud-based dashboard
Receipt scanning and document upload
Tax Features
Calculate tax
Create tax reports
Accountant-friendly system
Automations
Auto invoice reminders
Auto match transactions
Automated workflows
Add-Ons & Integrations
Zoho Books works with:
Zoho apps (Zoho Inventory, Zoho Expense, Zoho Projects, Zoho Sign, Zoho Payroll, etc.)
Payment gateways
POS systems
Other accounting and productivity apps
You can add extra users for a small fee and buy credits for mail-sending and receipt auto-scan.
Supported Devices
Windows & Mac
Android & iOS
Web browser
Ease of Use
Zoho Books is clean and simple to use. Everything is organized in menus.
When you start, Zoho guides you through setup.
There are many help options directly inside the dashboard, so beginners can learn fast.
Final Verdict
Zoho Books is a great bookkeeping tool for freelancers, small business owners, and even bigger companies. It has many strong features, lots of integrations, and very affordable pricing.
If you want a powerful accounting system without spending too much money, Zoho Books is an excellent choice.
3:Square
Square is a very easy-to-use billing and invoicing software made for small businesses. It is perfect for shop owners, freelancers, and service-based businesses who want a simple way to send invoices and get paid on time.
With Square, you can manage bills, send payment reminders, and collect payments online — all in one place. It is beginner-friendly and works great for new business owners.
Why Businesses Use Square
Many small business owners like Square because it removes stress from billing. You can set up your account quickly and start sending invoices right away.
Square helps you:
Send professional invoices
Get paid online or in-person
Auto-charge customers every month
Send reminders for payments
Collect advance deposits for projects
This means less manual work and faster payments in your business.
Key Features
Recurring Invoices
If you charge clients every month, Square allows automatic billing. Customers are charged without needing reminders — saving time and reducing late payments.
Payment Reminders
Square automatically reminds customers to pay. This makes your cash-flow smoother and reduces follow-up work.
Deposits & Milestones
You can ask clients for a deposit before starting work. You can also request payments in stages when projects progress.
Estimate to Invoice Conversion
Send estimates with multiple package options. When the client picks one, turn it into an invoice with one click. This makes work faster and more professional.
Easy Setup & Dashboard
Square has a clean dashboard and a simple setup process. You can test an invoice first to learn how it works.
Even beginners can use it easily.
Integrations & Extra Tools
Square connects with many helpful business tools like:
Scheduling tools
Email marketing platforms
Form builders
Time tracking apps
Payroll tools
So, you can manage many parts of your business using one system.
Device Compatibility
Square works on:
Android phones and tablets
iPhone and iPad
Any device through a web browser
You can use it on the go — making business work flexible and fast.
Final Thoughts
Square is a great choice for small business owners who want simple and fast invoicing. It helps you:
Save time
Get paid faster
Automate billing
Work from mobile or web
If your business needs easy invoicing, automatic reminders, and smooth payment collection — Square is an excellent tool to start with.
4:FreshBooks
FreshBooks is an easy-to-use accounting and invoice tool for freelancers and small business owners. You can send invoices, track expenses, accept online payments, send payment reminders, and see your business money in one place. It is simple and great for beginners.
Key Highlights
Very easy to use
Great for small business and freelancers
Makes invoices fast and professional
Many useful features for accounting
Works with 100+ apps and tools
Features
General Features
Automatic payment tracking
Automatic expense tracking
Fast bank deposits
Sends late payment reminders
Dashboard
The dashboard is simple and easy to understand. You can quickly:
Make invoices
Add expenses
Add services or products
Check payments
Create estimates
Integrations
FreshBooks connects with 100+ apps.
You can use it with many business tools like payment apps, CRM, and more.
Payment Features
Accept credit card payments
Send invoices
Track cash flow
Handle payroll
Take payments in many currencies
Give full or partial refunds
Auto payment reminders
Invoicing Features
Custom invoice design
Repeat invoices (recurring)
Auto billing
Track invoice status
Import receipts and invoices easily
Reporting & Analytics
Cash flow reports
Expense reports
Payment history
Budget tools
Note: No advanced vendor analysis or custom reports.
Verdict
FreshBooks is one of the best accounting tools for small business owners and freelancers.
It is simple, affordable, and full of useful features. If you want easy accounting software with great support, FreshBooks is a strong choice.
Conclusion
Bookkeeping is very important for every business. It helps you save time, reduce costs, and work more efficiently. This means you can make faster and smarter decisions. Bookkeeping software makes this even easier. It saves time, cuts extra costs, and helps you manage everything better.
Many small business owners, freelancers, and self-employed people try free bookkeeping software. But free software has limited features. It may not give you all the tools you need. Also, when your business grows, free software might not be enough anymore. So, choosing a paid and flexible software early is a smart choice.
Every bookkeeping software is different in price and features. Make a list of what your business needs. Then pick software that fits those needs. Read reviews and try free trial versions if available. Good paid bookkeeping software will make your work easier and stress-free. It will also give you more time to grow your business.