Best Zoho Books Alternatives Shortlist
Here’s my shortlist of the best Zoho Books alternatives:
Our one-on-one guidance will help you find the perfect fit.
Every business faces the pressure of managing their finances efficiently and accurately. To do this, you need reliable accounting software that fits your unique business needs. You may have tried Zoho Books and found it lacking in specific areas, or you are in the market for an accounting software and still vetting your options.
That’s why I've done the work of reviewing and testing various alternatives to Zoho Books, to bring you the best options as well as details like pros and cons, best use cases, pricing, integrations, and more. In this listicle, you'll find unbiased insights and practical solutions to meet your financial management challenges better.
What is Zoho Books?
Zoho Books is an accounting software that helps you manage invoices, expenses, and other financial tasks. It is used by small business owners, accountants, and finance teams because of its automated invoicing, expense tracking, tax compliance, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness, which simplifies financial management. Overall, Zoho Books offers a user-friendly solution for efficiently handling your business's financial needs.
Why Look For a Zoho Books Alternative?
While Zoho Books is a popular and good choice of accounting software, there are several reasons why some users seek out alternative solutions. You might be looking for a Zoho Books alternative because…
- You need more advanced reporting features
- Your team requires multi-currency support
- You're looking for better customer service
- Your business needs industry-specific functions
- You want software with better integration options
If any of these sound like you, you’ve come to the right place. My list contains several accounting software options better suited for teams facing these challenges with Zoho Books and looking for alternative solutions.
Best Zoho Books Alternatives Summary
This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for my top Zoho Books alternative selections to help you find the best one for your budget and business needs.
Tools | Price | |
---|---|---|
BlackLine | Pricing upon request | Website |
FreeAgent | From $13.50/user/month | Website |
Multiview ERP | Pricing upon request | Website |
Xledger | Pricing upon request | Website |
Envoice | From $7/company/month | Website |
Patriot Accounting | From $20/month | Website |
Iris Kashflow | From $12/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
Akaunting | From $8/month (billed annually) | Website |
Wave | From $14/user/month | Website |
MYOB | From $10/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
Compare Software Specs Side by Side
Use our comparison chart to review and evaluate software specs side-by-side.
Compare SoftwareWhy Trust Our Software Reviews
We’ve been testing and reviewing accounting software since 2023. We know how critical and difficult it is to make the right decision, which is why my team of software analysts and I have put together this software list. We invest in deep research to help our audience make better software purchasing decisions.
We’ve tested more than 2,000 tools for different finance and accounting use cases and written over 1,000 comprehensive software reviews. Learn how we stay transparent & check out our software review methodology.
Best Zoho Books Alternatives Reviews
Below are my detailed summaries of the best Zoho Books alternatives in my shortlist. My reviews look at each tool’s key features, pros & cons, integrations, and ideal use cases to help you find the best one.
BlackLine automates key functions like account reconciliation, financial close management, and transaction matching. It enhances the efficiency and accuracy of a business’s accounting process and helps control its financial workflow.
Why BlackLine is a good Zoho Books alternative: BlackLine offers advanced features like the Studio360 Platform for streamlining record-to-report and invoice-to-cash workflows. It supports real-time tracking and reconciliation of accounts for accuracy and visibility over financial data. Its close management tools help you speed up your financial close while maintaining compliance and control. Additionally, BlackLine focuses on enterprise-level automation and strategic financial management.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include real-time visibility into financial data, automated account reconciliation, and centralized financial reporting. The platform's real-time data visibility ensures you always have the latest information at your fingertips. BlackLine also focuses on enterprise-level automation and strategic financial management.
Integrations include SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Workday, Microsoft Dynamics, QuickBooks, Xero, Sage, JD Edwards, and Infor.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Comprehensive audit trails
- Real-time data processing
- Automated reconciliations
Cons:
- Not ideal for small businesses
- Limited workflow flexibility
FreeAgent simplifies financial management with invoicing and project accountancy while offering features tailored for UK businesses. Its HMRC-compliant payroll system ensures accurate and timely employee payment, tax, and pension processing.
Why FreeAgent is a good Zoho Books alternative: FreeAgent offers a specialized solution that ensures compliance with UK tax regulations. The platform automates tax submissions directly to HMRC, has built-in reminders for payroll deadlines, and can generate payslips, helping you stay organized. It also supports real-time information (RTI) reporting, keeping your payroll activities aligned with UK regulations.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automated VAT calculations and submissions to HMRC, mileage tracking to record business travel expenses, and project tracking to monitor income and costs for specific jobs.
Integrations include PayPal, Stripe, GoCardless, Zapier, Receipt Bank, Mailchimp, HMRC, Basecamp, Dropbox, and Capsule CRM.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Project profitability analysis
- Dividend voucher generation
- Direct HMRC integration
Cons:
- Limited support for complex reconciliations
- Limited to UK compliance
Multiview ERP is a cloud-based ERP for accountants, providing powerful financial management capabilities such as integrated general ledger and real-time financial data access. It is highly scalable and suitable for medium to large organizations.
Why Multiview ERP is a good Zoho Books alternative: Multiview ERP focuses on accountant-centered needs, offering features like an integrated general ledger and detailed multi-entity financial reporting. You’ll get real-time access to financial data that supports complex accounting requirements, customizable financial reports, data consolidation, and budgeting tools with financial planning capabilities.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include built-in financial reporting templates, budget management tools, and real-time audit trails to ensure compliance. Your team can quickly generate financial statements, analyze budgets, and track changes to maintain accuracy.
Integrations include Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, Oracle, QuickBooks, Sage, NetSuite, Xero, Workday, and JD Edwards.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Comprehensive audit trails
- Customizable reporting templates
- Advanced financial consolidation
Cons:
- Requires manual adjustments in reconciliation
- Not ideal for small businesses
Xledger provides a full suite of tools for financial management, supporting businesses as they grow. It is designed to scale and cater to organizations with complex needs, enabling them to manage financial processes while adapting to increasing operational demand.
Why Xledger is a good Zoho Books alternative: Xledger automates key financial processes like multi-entity consolidation and reporting, helping you reduce manual work as your business scales. It offers real-time analytics for monitoring performance, automated workflow and bookkeeping for efficiency, and flexible budgeting and forecasting tools for managing financial performance. This tool can handle complex financial functions and large volumes of data, suited for growing businesses needing more extensive features.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include advanced project accounting to track costs and revenues by project, automated VAT handling to simplify compliance for businesses operating in multiple regions, and a flexible chart of accounts that lets you customize your financial structure to match your organization’s needs.
Integrations include Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, Oracle, QuickBooks, Sage, NetSuite, Xero, Workday, and JD Edwards.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Multi-entity management
- Real-time financial consolidation
- Automated bank reconciliation
Cons:
- Limited advanced tax reporting tools
- Limited support for granular budgeting
Envoice supports bookkeeping for businesses and accounting firms, automating data entry, categorizing, and recording bills and expenses. It offers AI-powered tools and integrates with popular accounting software.
Why Envoice is a good Zoho Books alternative: Envoice uses AI to extract and process data from receipts and invoices and automates approval workflows to streamline expense approvals. The platform’s real-time categorization and expense tracking provide valuable insights into spending and its automated approval workflows increase efficiency.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include smart scanning for automatic data capture from receipts, bulk processing for faster handling of multiple invoices, and customizable expense approval rules to match your business processes. The auto-categorization feature reduces the time spent on manual entry by automatically sorting expenses.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Xero, FreshBooks, Sage, Microsoft Dynamics, NetSuite, Zoho Books, SAP, Oracle, and MYOB.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Customizable invoice templates
- Automated approval workflows
- AI-driven data extraction
Cons:
- No budgeting tools
- No payroll processing
Patriot Accounting provides small businesses with essential accounting features such as income and expense tracking, automatic bank imports, and branded invoicing with recurring invoices and automatic late payment reminders.
Why Patriot Accounting is a good Zoho Books alternative: Patriot Accounting lets you manage unlimited customers and invoices without additional fees, creates and sends professional invoices, and keeps track of who owes you and when payments are due. The platform has an expense tracking feature, an easy-to-use interface, and automatic bank imports that organize your finances.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include customizable invoice templates to match your business branding, automatic late payment reminders to keep customers on track, and recurring billing options for managing repeat invoices with ease.
Integrations include QuickBooks, Gusto, Stripe, PayPal, Square, FreshBooks, Xero, HubSpot, Salesforce, and ADP.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Automatic bank transaction imports
- Unlimited vendor payments
- Unlimited users at no extra cost
Cons:
- No budgeting tools
- Limited third-party integrations
IRIS KashFlow is a cloud-based accounting software for UK small businesses and sole traders. It offers comprehensive invoicing, expense tracking, and VAT management, and excels in UK tax compliance by integrating with HMRC.
Why IRIS KashFlow is a good Zoho Books alternative: IRIS KashFlow offers direct integration with HMRC for VAT submissions, making it easy to meet MTD requirements. You can handle reverse charge VAT and Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) deductions, ensuring your tax filings align with UK-specific needs. Its automation features simplify processes like tax calculations and reporting.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include customizable invoice templates, automated reminders for overdue payments, and multi-currency support for managing international transactions. Your team can easily create professional invoices, stay on top of payments, and handle multiple currencies. It’s user-friendly and designed to save you time on routine tasks.
Integrations include PayPal, Stripe, GoCardless, Dropbox, Mailchimp, Salesforce, Receipt Bank, HMRC, Capsule CRM, and WooCommerce.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Expense tracking with receipt uploads
- Automated VAT submissions
- Direct HMRC integration
Cons:
- Limited payroll features
- No purchase order system
Akaunting is an open-source accounting software that provides invoicing, expense tracking, and client management without subscription costs. It is flexible and customizable, enabling users to tailor the software to their needs.
Why Akaunting is a good Zoho Books alternative: Akaunting allows you to create and send unlimited invoices, track expenses, and manage clients with minimal costs. Its self-hosted option ensures your data remains private and secure, while the open-source model allows you to tailor features to your unique needs. The software supports multi-user access for teams collaborating on accounting tasks and multi-language for businesses operating globally.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include multi-currency support to help you manage transactions in different currencies, detailed financial reporting to track income and expenses easily, and client portals that let your customers view invoices and make payments online.
Integrations include WooCommerce, Stripe, PayPal, Mollie, Authorize.Net, Square, Razorpay, Slack, Mailchimp, and Shopify.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Customizable dashboards
- Recurring invoices and bills
- Unlimited users and companies
Cons:
- No native payroll module
- Requires technical setup
Wave offers core features like invoicing, receipt scanning, and expense tracking for businesses with limited budgets. It integrates with popular payment processors and organizes client communications, making it an excellent choice for small businesses and freelancers.
Why Wave is a good Zoho Books alternative: Wave offers customizable invoices and recurring billing features to help you manage and automate invoicing tasks. It has automated payment reminder features, ensuring you are on top of payment, and accepts credit card and bank payments, so your clients can pay you quickly and efficiently.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automated bookkeeping, receipt scanning, and expense tracking. You can easily connect your bank accounts to import and track expenses automatically. The receipt scanning feature helps you manage and organize your business receipts digitally.
Integrations include PayPal, Etsy, Shoeboxed, Zapier, Google Sheets, Etsy, QuickBooks, Slack, HubSpot, and Mailchimp.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Real-time financial reporting
- Automated bank transaction imports
- Customizable invoicing templates
Cons:
- No multi-currency support
- Limited advanced features
MYOB is an online accounting software that caters to small and medium-sized businesses, offering scalable features accounting features. It provides flexibility with tailored solutions for diverse industries and helps them manage their finances efficiently as they grow.
Why MYOB is a good Zoho Books alternative: MYOB includes advanced tools for payroll, inventory management, and project tracking, making it an excellent option for businesses with complex requirements. The platform offers industry-specific features, such as job costing for project-based businesses, and point-of-sale integrations for retailers, and supports multi-currency transactions for businesses operating in diverse markets and regions.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include advanced time billing to track billable service hours, automated BAS submissions for easier compliance with Australian tax requirements, and budgeting tools to help you manage and forecast finances effectively.
Integrations include PayPal, Shopify, Square, Stripe, WooCommerce, Adobe Commerce, Salesforce, HubSpot, TSheets, and BigCommerce.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Detailed inventory tracking features
- Multi-currency support
- Comprehensive payroll management
Cons:
- Limited reporting customization
- No automated revenue recognition
Other Zoho Books Alternatives
Here are some additional Zoho Books alternatives that didn’t make it onto my shortlist, but are still worth checking out:
- Kashoo
For user-friendly bookkeeping
- Sage Intacct
For project accounting
- QuickBooks Online
For freelancers needing tax support
- Bench
For bookkeeping service add-ons
- Acumatica
For cloud ERP integration
- Odoo Accounting
For modular business apps
- FreshBooks
For time-tracking and invoicing
- Hurdlr
For real-time tax calculations
- Brightbook
For freelancers with simple needs
- Certinia
For project-based financial management
- NetSuite Cloud Accounting Software
For scalable enterprise solutions
- Less Accounting
For minimalistic accounting tools
- Xero
For integration with third-party apps
- Pandle
For expense tracking for small businesses
Related Reviews
If you still haven’t found what you’re looking for here, check out these other tools that we’ve tested and evaluated:
Zoho Books Alternatives Selection Criteria
When selecting the best Zoho Books alternatives in this list, I considered common accounting needs and pain points related to accounting software products and management software, like scalability and integration with third-party tools. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:
Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:
- Generate invoices
- Track expenses
- Manage payroll
- Reconcile bank accounts
- Produce financial reports
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:
- AI-driven insights
- Industry-specific compliance
- Multi-currency management
- Project accounting
- Custom automation tools
- Mobile app availability
Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:
- Ease of navigation
- Intuitive dashboard
- Clear labeling of features
- Mobile Accessibility
- Customizable interface
Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:
- Availability of training videos
- Interactive product tours
- Access to webinars
- Pre-built templates
- Supportive chatbots
Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:
- 24/7 support availability
- Multiple contact channels and phone support
- Response time
- Quality of online resources
- Personalized support options
Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each software solutio, I considered the following:
- Pricing transparency for pricing plans
- Range of features per plan
- Cost compared to competitors
- Availability of a free trial or free version
- Overall cost-effectiveness
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- Feedback on feature functionality
- Comments on customer service
- User satisfaction ratings
- Reports of bugs or issues
- Overall user experience
Zoho Books Key Features
Here are some of the key features of Zoho Books, to help you contrast and compare what alternative accounting solutions offer:
- Invoicing: Allows you to generate and send professional invoices, helping you get paid faster improving your cash flow.
- Expense Tracking: Simplifies the management of business finances, making it easy to categorize and report.
- Bank Reconciliation: Automates the matching of transactions to ensure accuracy between your bank statements and accounting records.
- Inventory Management: Provides tools for managing stock levels and order fulfillment, ensuring you never run out of essential products.
- Tax Compliance: Facilitates sales tax tracking and reporting, helping you comply with tax regulations.
- Project Management: Offers collaboration and tracking tools to manage projects and track time spent on tasks.
- Payroll Integration: Integrates payroll processing with your accounting data to manage employee payments and taxes.
- Reporting: Gives you access to customizable reports, providing insights into your financial performance.
- Workflow Automation: Automates repetitive tasks, saving you time and reducing the chance of errors.
- Multi-Currency Support: Handles transactions in multiple currencies, making it ideal for businesses with international clients.
What’s Next?
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