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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.

Tool Best For Trial Info Price
1
BlackLine

BlackLine streamlines workflows, automates finances, and ensures accuracy and compliance.

Best for automated financial processes

Free demo available

Pricing upon request Website
2
FreeAgent

FreeAgent automates HMRC tax submissions, payroll reminders, and RTI compliance.

Best for HMRC-compliant payroll

30-day free trial

From $13.50/user/month Website
3
Multiview ERP

Multiview ERP excels in accountant-focused tools like real-time reporting and budgeting.

Best for accountant-focused features

Free demo available

Pricing upon request Website
4
Xledger

Xledger automates financial tasks with analytics, budgeting, and scalability for growth.

Best for mid-sized businesses needing scalable accounting

Free demo

Pricing upon request Website
5
Envoice

Envoice automates data capture, approvals, and expense tracking with AI for efficiency.

Best for AI-driven expense management

14-day free trial

From $7/company/month Website
6
Kashoo

Kashoo organizes transactions, manages invoices, tracks receipts, and syncs bank feeds.

Best for user-friendly bookkeeping

14-day free trial

From $20/month Website
7
Wave

Wave simplifies invoicing with customization, automation, and quick payment options.

Best for small business invoicing

Free plan available

From $14/user/month Website
8
Iris Kashflow

IRIS KashFlow simplifies UK tax compliance with HMRC integration and automation.

Best for end-to-end UK tax compliance

Not available

From $12/user/month (billed annually) Website
9
Akaunting

Akaunting offers free invoicing, expense tracking, multi-user access, and customization.

Best for free open-source accounting

Free trial available

From $8/month (billed annually) Website
10
MYOB

MYOB offers payroll, inventory, project tracking, job costing, and multi-currency tools.

Best for diverse business sizes

14-day free trial

From $10/user/month (billed annually) Website

Why 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.

Best for automated financial processes

  • Free demo available
  • Pricing upon request
Visit Website
Rating: 4.5/5

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

Best for HMRC-compliant payroll

  • 30-day free trial
  • From $13.50/user/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.2/5

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

Best for accountant-focused features

  • Free demo available
  • Pricing upon request
Visit Website
Rating: 4.2/5

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

Best for mid-sized businesses needing scalable accounting

  • Free demo
  • Pricing upon request
Visit Website
Rating: 4.5/5

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

Best for AI-driven expense management

  • 14-day free trial
  • From $7/company/month
Visit Website
Rating: 4.2/5

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

Best for user-friendly bookkeeping

  • 14-day free trial
  • From $20/month

Kashoo simplifies bookkeeping for users with minimal accounting experience. It offers user-friendly tools for invoicing, expense tracking, and income reporting that non-accountants can confidently use to manage finances. 

Why Kashoo is a good Zoho Books alternative: Kashoo has a Smart Inbox feature that automatically organizes and categorizes your financial transactions and invoicing tools for creating and managing invoices, helping you track what’s owed and payment dues. It also has receipt management for accurate receipt recording and automatic bank feeds for improved operational efficiency. 

Standout features & integrations:

Features include real-time reconciliation that lets you match transactions, simplified tax preparation for compliance, and customizable income and expense reporting for clarity on your financial performance. 

Integrations include PayPal, Stripe, Square, FreshBooks, HubSpot, Shopify, QuickBooks, Xero, Microsoft Office, and Google Workspace.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Direct bank reconciliation
  • Mobile receipt capture
  • Real-time transaction categorization

Cons:

  • No payroll processing
  • Limited budgeting tools

Best for small business invoicing

  • Free plan available
  • From $14/user/month

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

Best for end-to-end UK tax compliance

  • From $12/user/month (billed annually)

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

Best for free open-source accounting

  • Free trial available
  • From $8/month (billed annually)

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

Best for diverse business sizes

  • 14-day free trial
  • From $10/user/month (billed annually)

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:

  1. Patriot Accounting

    For unlimited customers and invoices

  2. Sage Intacct

    For project accounting

  3. Bench

    For bookkeeping service add-ons

  4. Acumatica

    For cloud ERP integration

  5. QuickBooks Online

    For freelancers needing tax support

  6. Odoo Accounting

    For modular business apps

  7. FreshBooks

    For time-tracking and invoicing

  8. Hurdlr

    For real-time tax calculations

  9. Certinia

    For project-based financial management

  10. Xero

    For integration with third-party apps

  11. NetSuite Cloud Accounting Software

    For scalable enterprise solutions

  12. Less Accounting

    For minimalistic accounting tools

  13. Pandle

    For expense tracking for small businesses

  14. Brightbook

    For freelancers with simple needs

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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Drew Robertson
By Drew Robertson

Drew currently works as the Financial Controller for Black & White Zebra, leading the finance department for the company. Prior to BWZ, he was at EY for six years, including two as a manager.

He received his undergraduate degree at the Ivey Business School in Canada and MBA from Oxford University.