8 Best Financial Management Software Reviewed In 2024
Best Financial Management Software Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 5 best software from the 8 tools reviewed.
Our one-on-one guidance will help you find the perfect fit.
Financial management software is a valuable asset for any company. With the right software, teams can improve financial accuracy and streamline budgeting processes. But finding the right financial management software can be a challenge, especially with so many options available.
Using my experience with finance and accounting software, I tested and compared several of the top financial management software available. From there, I compiled my results into in-depth reviews to help you find the best software for your unique needs. I’m confident that you’ll discover your next financial management software in the list below.
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Best Financial Management Software Summary
| Tools | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks | From $35/month | Website |
| Quicken | From $8.90/month (billed annually) | Website |
| NetSuite | Pricing upon request | Website |
| Xero | From $15/month (billed annually) | Website |
| Sage Intacct | Pricing upon request | Website |
Compare Software Specs Side by Side
Use our comparison chart to review and evaluate software specs side-by-side.
Compare SoftwareHow To Choose Financial Management Software
It’s easy to get bogged down in long feature lists and complex pricing structures. To help you stay focused as you work through your unique software selection process, here’s a checklist of factors to keep in mind:
| Factor | What to Consider |
| Scalability | Will the software grow with your business? |
| Integrations | Does it integrate with your existing tools? |
| Customizability | Can you tailor it to fit your specific needs? |
| Ease of Use | Is it user-friendly for you and your team? |
| Budget | Does it fit within your financial constraints? |
| Security Safeguards | Are there robust security measures in place? |
| Support | What kind of customer support is available? |
| Reporting | Does it provide the reports you need? |
Best Financial Management Software Reviews
Below are my detailed summaries of the best financial management software that made it onto my shortlist. My reviews offer a detailed look at the key features, pros & cons, integrations, and ideal use cases of each tool to help you find the best one for you.
QuickBooks is a financial management software tailored for small to medium-sized businesses. It supports key business functions like bookkeeping, invoicing, payroll, expense tracking, and tax preparation.
Why I picked QuickBooks: The platform’s live expert assistance helps you get set up quickly and provides ongoing bookkeeping guidance. Once you’re up and running, software offers automated bookkeeping to reduce manual entry, receipt capture for expense tracking, and mileage tracking for business travel. You can also create customizable estimates and manage your invoices directly through the platform.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include automated bookkeeping, receipt capture, mileage tracking, and customizable estimates. You can manage payroll, handle expense tracking, and even get live expert assistance for setup and bookkeeping guidance.
Integrations include TurboTax, Shopify, PayPal, Square, Amazon, Etsy, Stripe, WooCommerce, eBay, and BigCommerce.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Customizable estimates
- Receipt capture and mileage tracking
- Automated bookkeeping
Cons:
- Learning curve for new users
- Limited reporting capabilities
Quicken offers a suite of financial management tools tailored for personal and small business use, focusing on budgeting, investment tracking, and debt management. It’s a good solution for those seeking wealth management solutions for both their personal and business needs.
Why I picked Quicken: Quicken's range of products includes budgeting software, investment tracking, and bill management. You can set custom savings goals and track your spending in real-time using Quicken Simplifi, which comes alongside the business product. The software also provides tax-related transaction tracking and account reconciliation tools. For small business owners who want to consolidate their financial data, it’s a good option.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include budgeting tools, investment tracking, and bill management. You can set custom savings goals and track spending in real-time. It also offers tax-related transaction tracking and account reconciliation tools.
Integrations include Dropbox, PayPal, and Zillow.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Detailed investment tracking
- Tax-related transaction tracking
- Real-time spending tracking
Cons:
- Requires setup assistance
- Limited mobile app features
NetSuite is a comprehensive cloud-based business management suite that offers ERP, financial management, CRM, and ecommerce solutions. It serves various industries including retail, manufacturing, healthcare, and professional services, helping businesses manage operations, financials, and customer relations.
Why I picked NetSuite: The platform offers a unified solution that handles everything from inventory and order management to global business operations. Its real-time analytics and reporting help you make informed decisions quickly. With NetSuite, your team can efficiently manage financials, while the built-in CRM software helps maintain excellent customer relationships. Additionally, the ecommerce capabilities ensure that your online sales channels are fully integrated with back-office systems.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include real-time analytics, financial management, CRM, and ecommerce capabilities. You can manage your inventory and orders, and also handle global business operations from a single platform. The real-time reporting function helps you make data-driven decisions.
Integrations include Shopify, Salesforce, Magento, WooCommerce, Zendesk, HubSpot, PayPal, Stripe, Mailchimp, and ADP.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Integrated ecommerce
- Comprehensive financial management
- Supports global operations
Cons:
- Complex implementation
- Steep learning curve
Xero is a cloud-based accounting software designed for small businesses, accountants, and bookkeepers. It offers features like invoicing, expense tracking, and payroll management, consolidating multiple aspects of your money management in a single place.
Why I picked Xero: New users can benefit from significant discounts when they sign up for this system, with prices as low as $0.75/month for the first 6 months. You can connect to over 21,000 global banks for automated reconciliation between your bank accounts. Xero also includes expense management tools and integrates payroll with Gusto.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include online invoicing, bank connections, expense management, and payroll integration. You can also track projects, manage purchase orders, and generate financial reports. Xero supports multi-currency accounting for global businesses.
Integrations include Hubdoc, Avalara, Stripe, PayPal, Gusto, Square, Shopify, Bill.com, Expensify, and Google Sheets.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- iOS and Android mobile apps
- Strong integration with Gusto
- Multi-currency support
Cons:
- Discounted prices only for first 6 months
- Limited invoices on basic plan
Sage Intacct is a cloud-based accounting and financial management software tailored for midsize businesses. It provides comprehensive features such as core financials, advanced reporting, project accounting, and payroll management, all designed to enhance productivity and support growth.
Why I picked Sage Intacct: Sage Intacct helps you manage your financial accounts across business entities, streamline payroll, and generate advanced reports. The platform's integration with various business tools ensures efficient data flow and portfolio management. Its emphasis on automation and AI simplifies accounting processes and boosts productivity. With tools for HR and payroll management, Sage Intacct saves your team time and reduces manual data entry.
Standout Features & Integrations:
Features include multi-dimensional reporting, dynamic allocations, and advanced financial consolidation. The platform also provides intuitive budgeting tools and comprehensive payroll solutions. Additionally, Sage Intacct offers project accounting functionalities.
Integrations include Salesforce, ADP, Expensify, Bill.com, Stripe, Avalara, TSheets, Gusto, HubSpot, and Paychex.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Multi-dimensional reporting
- Comprehensive training resources
- Advanced financial consolidation
Cons:
- Requires technical knowledge
- Complex implementation
Other Financial Management Software
Here are some additional financial management software options that didn’t make it onto my shortlist, but are still worth checking out:
- Acumatica
Best for industry-specific ERP solutions
- Mosaic
Best for quick FP&A implementation
- Workday Financial Management
Best for AI-driven financial insights
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:
Financial Management Software Selection Criteria
I considered common buyer needs and pain points when selecting the best financial management software to include in this list. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:
Core Functionality (25% of total weighting score)
- Manage budgets and expenses
- Track income and revenue
- Generate financial reports
- Handle invoicing and billing
- Monitor cash flow
Additional Standout Features (25% of total weighting score)
- Pre-filled timesheets
- Side-by-side reporting
- Tentative allocations for scenario planning
- Granular control over budgets by project phase
- AI chatbots for quick task management
Usability (10% of total weighting score)
- Intuitive navigation and interface
- Easy access to frequently used features
- Context menus for quick actions
- Customizable templates for repetitive tasks
- Drag-and-drop simplicity for scheduling
Onboarding (10% of total weighting score)
- Availability of training videos and webinars
- Interactive product tours
- Quick start guides for new users
- Chatbots to assist during the onboarding process
- Templates to simplify initial setup
Customer Support (10% of total weighting score)
- Availability of live chat and email support
- AI chatbots that can escalate to human agents
- Knowledge base with FAQs and guides
- Screen annotation tools for reporting issues
- Dedicated customer success managers
Value For Money (10% of total weighting score)
- Competitive pricing against similar tools
- Availability of different plans to suit various business sizes
- Inclusion of essential features in lower-tier plans
- Flexible add-ons and extensions
- Discounts for annual payments
Customer Reviews (10% of total weighting score)
- Overall customer satisfaction ratings
- Specific mentions of ease of use and interface design
- Feedback on customer support responsiveness
- Positive comments on the learning curve and user experience
- Value for money perception compared to competitors
Trends In Financial Management Software
In my research, I sourced countless product updates, press releases, and release logs from different financial management software vendors. Here are some of the emerging trends I’m keeping an eye on:
- Micro-Budgeting: More tools offer granular control over budgets, breaking them down by project phases or tasks. This helps empower businesses to manage spending more precisely. For example, Float allows setting and monitoring budgets at the task level.
- Scenario Planning: This deluxe feature helps businesses prepare for potential changes by simulating different financial outcomes. Tools like Parallax enable tentative project allocations to assess their impact on resources and budgets.
- Pre-Filled Timesheets: To save time, some software now automatically populates spreadsheets with assigned tasks and planned hours. Float’s pre-filled timesheets help users quickly log their time, making time tracking less cumbersome.
- Real-Time Dashboards: Real-time data visualization is becoming standard, allowing businesses to make informed decisions quickly. Smartsheet offers real-time dashboards that integrate with major applications, providing up-to-date insights.
- Comprehensive Financial Graphs: Detailed financial graphs within projects help track progress and profitability. Parallax, for instance, includes graphs in each project’s overview to show the current and projected financial trajectory.
What Is Financial Management Software?
Financial management software is a tool that helps individuals and businesses manage their financial activities, such as tracking expenses, budgeting, and financial reporting. Accountants, financial advisors, business owners, and finance managers generally use these tools to ensure accurate financial management and decision-making.
Expense tracking, budgeting, and financial reporting capabilities help users maintain financial health, plan for the future, and make informed decisions. These tools simplify financial oversight, making it easier to stay organized and efficient.
Features Of Financial Management Software
When selecting financial management software, keep an eye out for the following key features:
- Micro-budgets: Provides granular control over budgets by allowing you to break down the budget by project phase, enhancing control over spending.
- Pre-filled timesheets: Automatically populate tasks and planned hours, reducing the time needed to log work hours.
- Project financials: Manages rate cards, budgets, invoices, and even payments, offering comprehensive financial oversight for projects.
- Time and expense tracking: Facilitates the submission of timesheets and tracking of expenses, aiding in accurate project costing.
- Resource management: Includes settings for creating time-off policies, work groups, and assigning custom permissions, ensuring efficient resource allocation.
- Comprehensive reporting: Offers robust reporting features that help keep projects on track and within budget by providing detailed financial insights.
- Milestone tracking: Enables the monitoring of project milestones, ensuring timely progress and completion of financial goals.
- Risk management capabilities: Assesses and manages potential financial risks, helping to maintain project stability and budget adherence.
- Customizable views: Allows for the customization of views such as Gantt charts and Kanban boards, enhancing financial planning and workflow visualization.
- Integration with other tools: Integrates with tools like Slack, Google Drive, and Dropbox, facilitating smooth data flow and collaboration.
Benefits Of Financial Management Software
Implementing financial management software provides several benefits for your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:
- Improved accuracy: Automation in budgeting apps reduces manual data entry errors, ensuring your financial records are precise.
- Time savings: Features like automated invoicing and expense tracking cut down on time-consuming tasks.
- Enhanced reporting: Real-time financial dashboards and customizable reports offer clear insights into your business's financial health.
- Better compliance: The software helps you adhere to financial regulations by automatically updating tax rates and generating required reports.
- Budget management: Real-time budget tracking and forecasting tools help you stay on top of your financial goals.
- Cash flow management: Tools for monitoring accounts receivable and payable ensure you maintain healthy cash flow.
- Scalability: As your business grows, the software can handle increased transaction volumes and more complex financial needs.
Costs And Pricing Of Financial Management Software
Selecting financial management software requires an understanding of the various pricing models and plans available. Costs vary based on features, team size, add-ons, and more. The table below summarizes common plans, their average prices, and typical features included in financial management software solutions:
Plan Comparison Table for Financial Management Software
| Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
| Free Plan | $0/user/ month | Basic accounting, limited reports, and community support. |
| Personal Plan | $5-$25/user/ month | Advanced accounting, budgeting tools, basic customer support, and integrations. |
| Business Plan | $25-$75/ user/month | Comprehensive accounting, invoicing, advanced reporting, and multi-user access. |
| Enterprise Plan | $75-$150/ user/month | Customizable accounting, dedicated support, enhanced security, and advanced analytics. |
Financial Management Software FAQs
Here are some answers to common questions about financial management software:
Is financial management software cloud-based?
Many financial management software options (especially the best personal finance software) are cloud-based, meaning you can access them from anywhere with an internet connection. This ensures your data is always up-to-date and secure. Cloud-based solutions also often come with automatic updates and backups.
Does financial management software integrate with management information systems?
Integration with your existing management information system is crucial. It ensures data flow between systems, reducing manual data entry and errors. Check with your vendor to see if they offer APIs or other integration tools to connect with your current systems.
Does financial management software offer flexible payments and fee billing?
Look for software that allows you to customize payment plans and billing schedules to fit your needs. Flexible billing helps manage cash flow and accommodates different customer preferences. This feature is particularly useful if you have a diverse customer base with varying payment terms.
Does financial management software include substantial reporting functionality?
Robust reporting features are essential for tracking financial performance. Ensure the software can generate various types of reports, such as income statements, balance sheets, and credit card and cash flow statements. Customizable reporting options can help you get the specific data you need.
Will financial management software support financial auditing?
Financial auditing support is a critical feature. The software should maintain detailed logs and audit trails to help you comply with regulatory requirements. This can simplify the auditing process and provide transparency for stakeholders.
What system support is on offer for financial management software?
Check the level of support provided by the software vendor. Look for options that offer 24/7 customer support, training materials, and a comprehensive knowledge base. Good support can be a lifesaver when issues arise or when you’re onboarding new team members.
What’s Next?
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