Managing money as a self-employed person can be stressful, especially when you have to handle expenses, invoices, and taxes at the same time. This is where the right accounting software can help. These tools make keeping track of money easier, help you stay organized, save time, and let you focus on growing your business. Whether you are a freelancer, consultant, or solo business owner, this list will help you find the best accounting software for your needs.
If you work for yourself, you know that handling money can be hard—sending bills, keeping track of spending, and paying taxes. That’s why accounting software is helpful. It makes things easier by doing the hard work for you, so you can spend more time growing your business. In this article, we will show the best options for freelancers, gig workers, and small business owners.
Top 7 Best Accounting Software for Self-Employed
QuickBooks
Starting from: $17.50/mo
Limited offer! Get 50% off for 3 months
- Unlimited custom invoices and quotes
- Smart invoicing with automated tracking
- Expense tracking, invoicing, tax deductions, mileage tracking Best For: Freelancers and small business owners needing an all-in-one tool
Xero
Starting from: $20/mo
All in one paperless record keeping
- Streamline onboarding, Global bank connectivity
- Cloud-based platform, multi-currency support
- Project tracking Best For: Self-employed professionals working internationally or on projects
Patriot
Starting from: $10/mo
Powerful cloud-based accounting solution
- Free 60 day trial with unlimited use
- Easy start up wizard, Affordable pricing
- Easy payroll integration, simplified bookkeeping tools Best For: Budget-conscious freelancers needing basic accounting
FreshBooks
Starting from: $7.60/mo
30 day FREE trial with no credit card
- Award-winning customer service
- Seamless integration & user-friendly
- Invoicing, time tracking, payment processing Best For: Freelancers managing client projects and payments
Zoho Books
Starting from: $0/mo
Affordable and flexible pricing packages
- Accounting A to Z, Account reconciliation
- Automated workflows, integrated CRM
- Tax compliance tools Best For: Entrepreneurs needing an integrated business management solution
Square
Starting from: $0 + processing/mo
Send professional invoices effortlessly
- You only pay when you get paid
- Set up tracking & payment reminders
- POS integration, invoicing, expense tracking Best For: Self-employed individuals in retail or service industries
Sage
Starting from: $61.92/mo
Easy-to-use online accounting software
- Serves over 20K businesses
- Custom solutions by experts
- Budgeting tools, cash flow management, customizable invoices Best For: Solo entrepreneurs needing robust financial reporting
1:QuickBooks: Best for Small to Medium-Sized Businesses Needing Comprehensive Accounting
QuickBooks is one of the most popular and complete bookkeeping software for self-employed people.
It is made for freelancers, small business owners, and self-employed workers.
QuickBooks helps with invoices, expense tracking, taxes, and reports — all in one simple platform.
Because it’s easy to use and full of features, many people see it as one of the best accounting tools for self-employed users.
General Features
Business Insights & Reporting
You can quickly make balance sheets, profit & loss reports, and more with one click. Reports can be exported easily anytime.
Customer Quoting, Invoicing & Payment Tracking
QuickBooks helps you create quotes, send custom invoices, and track payments easily.
You can set up recurring invoices, send reminders, and track customer payments.
It also handles discounts, shipping, and taxes for better recordkeeping.
Project Tracking
QuickBooks Plus lets you check each project’s profit and add up to five team members to review it together.
Mileage Tracking
QuickBooks Self-Employed has a GPS tracker that records business miles automatically.
You can mark trips as business or personal and save on tax.
Mileage Tracking Tax Management (TurboTax)
A new QuickBooks Online feature helps you file taxes easily with expert help.
You only pay when you file, starting at $169.
It saves time and ensures accurate, simple tax management.
✅ Pros and ❌ Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ All-in-one tool for income, expenses, and taxes | ❌ Monthly cost may be high for small freelancers |
| ✅ Easy-to-use mobile app for managing finances anywhere | ❌ Some advanced tools take time to learn |
| ✅ Scales well for growing freelancers or small businesses | |
| ✅ Works well with PayPal, Shopify, and other apps |
2:Xero, Best for Growing Businesses and Collaboration
Xero is a popular online accounting software that helps small businesses and accountants manage their money easily. It has tools for invoicing, using many currencies, and connecting to more than 21,000 banks worldwide.
Xero started in New Zealand and is now used globally. It’s one of the best choices for modern, easy, and cloud-based accounting.
General Features
Multi-Currency Invoicing
Xero lets you send and manage invoices in different currencies. It automatically updates exchange rates and helps you see all transactions clearly.
Custom Reports & Dashboards
You can create your own reports and see real-time data on Xero’s dashboard. It helps you understand your business status anytime.
Auditing Features
Xero keeps a record of every change made to your data. This makes your accounting safe and transparent.
Payment Integration
It connects easily with Stripe, PayPal, and other payment systems so you can get paid faster and improve cash flow.
Tax & Accountant Collaboration
You can manage taxes, VAT, and reports easily. Xero also lets your accountant work with you in real time through the “Collaborate” feature.
Access & Compatibility
Xero is cloud-based — you can use it anywhere with the internet. It also has Android and iOS apps for mobile use.
Browser Compatibility
Works smoothly with Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. No need to install or update software manually.
Pros and Cons:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 👍 Smart and helpful assistance | 👎 Layout design could look better |
| 👍 Uses artificial intelligence well | 👎 No option for combining inventory items |
| 👍 Gives useful business insights | 👎 Time tracking not connected to projects |
| 👍 Better way to manage client information |
3:Patriot: Best for Freelancers and Service-Based Businesses
Patriot made its accounting software to be strong, low-cost, and simple to use. It helps new users start quickly with a setup guide and allows easy import of customers, vendors, and trial balances. You can create invoices, pay bills, and see clear financial reports easily.
Features
General Features
Patriot Accounting includes all the key bookkeeping and reporting tools that a good accounting software should have. Users can easily create estimates, purchase orders, sales orders, invoices, and account reconciliations. It is a web-based software that works smoothly on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. There is no separate mobile app because the web version already works perfectly on mobile phones.
Secure Document Storage
With Patriot, you can safely upload and attach your documents and receipts to each transaction. All information is stored securely in the cloud, so there is no risk of losing important files. Keeping paper records and finding them later can be time-consuming, but Patriot makes this process easy and reliable.
Automated Bank Imports
When you connect your bank or credit card account with Patriot, all your transactions are automatically imported into the software. This feature saves time and effort for small businesses. Patriot not only helps organize financial data but also adds value by automating regular accounting tasks and improving efficiency.
Comprehensive Reports
One of the strongest features of Patriot Accounting is its reporting system. The software can generate real-time financial reports such as account reconciliation, profit and loss statements, balance sheets, trial balances, accounts receivable and payable aging reports, and sales tax reports. These reports help business owners and decision-makers understand their company’s financial health more clearly.
Pros and Cons:
| Pros 👍 | Cons 👎 |
|---|---|
| Unlimited users for one plan | No inventory tools |
| Many types of accounting reports | Support only during office hours |
| Auto bank feed import | — |
4:FreshBooks: Best for Freelancers and Service-Based Businesses
FreshBooks is accounting software that saves time and keeps your work professional. It helps businesses of any size grow with easy financial record keeping, unique invoice templates, and flexible business options. Over 30 million people have used FreshBooks.
General Features
Recurring Invoices
Helps you collect payments easily from regular clients. For example, if you are a freelancer, this feature makes sure you get paid on time for retainer contracts.
Automatic Late Payment Reminders and Fees
FreshBooks helps you get paid on time with its late payment features. It automatically sends reminders to clients before the due date and adds a late fee if payment is delayed.
Custom and Easy Invoicing
You can customize invoices to match your brand. You can also change the language and currency for clients in other countries. If you send similar invoices often, you can duplicate an old one and edit it quickly.
Deposits
FreshBooks lets you take advance payments from clients, so you can get paid upfront.
Estimate Management
Saves time when quoting prices to clients. You can easily add vendors, services, discounts, and more with just a few clicks.
Accessibility
FreshBooks is cloud-based, so you can use it from your computer via the web or on your phone through iOS and Android apps.
Pros and Cons:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Easy recurring invoices | ❌ High cost per user |
| ✅ Excellent custom invoicing | ❌ Manual balance sheet creation |
| ✅ Competitive plan pricing | |
| ✅ Award-winning customer support |
5:Zoho Books: Best for Businesses Already Using Zoho Ecosystem
Zoho Books is an online accounting software that helps you manage money, automate business work, and work with your team in one place. It’s cheap and has many features, making it great for handling all your accounting needs.
Key Features
Invoicing and Receivables
Create and send professional invoices easily. It supports recurring billing, multiple currencies, and payment reminders. Clients can view their invoices and pay online through the client portal.
Expense Tracking and Payables
Record and track all business expenses. You can attach receipts, manage vendors, create purchase orders, and schedule payments to avoid missing deadlines.
Banking and Reconciliation
Connect Zoho Books to your bank and credit cards. It automatically imports transactions and helps match them with your records, saving time and reducing mistakes.
Inventory Management
Keep track of your stock in real time. You can set reorder points and get stock value reports—great for retail or product-based businesses.
Reporting and Analytics
Get over 70 ready-made reports like profit & loss, cash flow, and balance sheets. These reports help you see how your business is performing.
Automation and Workflows
Automate routine tasks like recurring invoices, payment reminders, and emails. You can also set custom workflows to save time and reduce manual work.
Tax Compliance
Zoho Books helps with tax calculations and filing. It supports VAT, GST, and other tax systems so you stay compliant without extra effort.
Pros and Cons:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Account plans are fairly priced | ❌ Not ideal for very large companies |
| ✅ Can add many extra services | ❌ Need separate accounts for each business |
| ✅ Very easy to use on both desktop and mobile | ❌ No payroll service option available |
| ✅ Saves time through automation |
6:Square: Best for Retailers and Businesses with Point-of-Sale Needs
Square is a versatile accounting software designed for freelancers and self-employed individuals, especially those in retail or service industries. It’s known for its smooth integration with Square’s POS system, making expense tracking, invoicing, and financial reporting easier. For freelancers handling both online and in-person payments, Square offers a simple, user-friendly, and reliable solution.
Key Features
POS Integration: Syncs with Square’s POS to manage sales, track revenue, and create financial reports.
Invoicing: Create and send invoices, accept online payments, and track overdue accounts.
Expense Tracking: Automatically categorizes expenses and connects to bank accounts for real-time updates.
Payment Processing: Accept payments through cards, ACH, and mobile wallets.
Financial Reporting: Offers detailed insights into sales, expenses, and cash flow for smarter business decisions.
Mobile App: Manage invoices, payments, and finances on the go through the intuitive mobile app.
Pros and Cons:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✅ Ideal for freelancers in retail or service industries using Square POS | ❌ Limited advanced accounting features compared to competitors |
| ✅ Seamless payment integration across multiple platforms | ❌ Best suited for users already using Square POS |
| ✅ Very easy-to-use interface with a great mobile app | |
| ✅ Provides clear financial insights for managing cash flow |
7:Sage: Best for Larger Businesses and Advanced Accounting Needs
Sage offers a reliable and scalable self-employed bookkeeping software solution designed to simplify financial management for solo entrepreneurs and freelancers. Known for its powerful reporting and budgeting tools, Sage provides valuable insights to manage cash flow effectively. Its flexibility and strong features make it one of the best accounting software options for self-employed professionals who want detailed financial control.
Key Features
Cash Flow Management: Tracks your cash flow in real time to help plan expenses and maintain stability.
Customizable Invoices: Create professional, branded invoices, send them directly, and track payments easily.
Expense Tracking: Automatically categorizes expenses for accurate tax-ready records.
Financial Reporting: Offers detailed income, expense, and cash flow reports for smarter decisions.
Budgeting Tools: Lets you set goals and monitor progress—perfect for freelancers with irregular income.
Multi-User Access: Allows you to share access with your accountant for easy collaboration.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Strong financial reporting tools for tracking cash flow and profitability. | Slightly difficult to learn for beginners unfamiliar with accounting software. |
| Customizable invoices suit different business needs. | Advanced features might be unnecessary for users with simple bookkeeping needs. |
| Budgeting tools are great for freelancers managing variable income. | — |
| Supports multi-user access for collaboration with accountants. |
Choosing the Best Accounting Software for Self-Employed People
Picking the right accounting software is very important for managing your money easily and saving time. Here’s a simple guide to help you choose the best one for your needs:
1. Features You Need
Choose software that includes the main tools you’ll use — like invoicing, expense tracking, and tax help. If you work with many clients or projects, pick one that has time tracking or project management tools.
💡 Tip: Don’t pay for features you don’t need, like inventory tracking, if you don’t sell products.
2. Easy to Use
Your accounting software should make things simple, not confusing. A clean, easy design helps you learn quickly and manage your money without stress.
💡 Tip: Pick software that has tutorials or beginner help.
3. Tax Support
Good tax tools are very important for self-employed people. Software that can calculate, track, and file your taxes will save time and reduce mistakes.
💡 Tip: Look for software that gives tax reminders and helps you estimate what you owe.
4. Grows With Your Business
If your business might grow, choose software that can grow with you. It’s helpful if it has payroll or allows more than one person to use it later.
💡 Tip: Check how much the bigger plans cost before you choose.
5. Mobile Access
Many freelancers work while traveling or from different places. Choose software that has a good mobile app so you can send invoices, track expenses, and check your income anytime.
💡 Tip: Make sure the mobile app has the same main features as the desktop version.
6. Budget
Free software can be nice but may not have all the features you need. Try to find one that gives you good value for your money.
💡 Tip: Use free trials before paying to see if the software fits your needs.
Final Thoughts
The right accounting software can make your financial work much easier, save time, and help you follow tax rules. From sending invoices to tracking expenses and making reports, these tools are great for freelancers and small business owners.
Take time to think about your needs and pick the one that helps your business grow.