The best accounting software for freelancers and consultants in the US

Keeping your books, tracking tax and seeing where the money went.

Best all-rounder: our pick

  1. Xero

    1. Xero

    Strongest on works with the rest, local fit and quick to set up

    • Starting price$25/mo (Early plan)
    Visit websiteMore details

How all 4 tools rate

Ranked for “Best all-rounder”, each rated 1 to 5. What each rating means

  • 4 out of 5More filled is better
  • Deal-breaker: 2 or less caps the score
Ratings for every tool for freelancers and consultants in the US, ranked for Best all-rounder
ToolPrice to startPrice as you growQuick to set upEasy day to dayWorks with the restLocal fitDeal-breakerHelp when stuckEasy to leave
1, our pickXeroXeroMomentum: RisingFair3 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Good4 out of 5Good4 out of 5Excellent5 out of 5Good4 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Good4 out of 5
2Zoho BooksZoho BooksMomentum: RisingExcellent5 out of 5Excellent5 out of 5Good4 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Good4 out of 5
3FreshBooksFreshBooksMomentum: StableFair3 out of 5Weak2 out of 5Excellent5 out of 5Excellent5 out of 5Good4 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Good4 out of 5Fair3 out of 5
4QuickBooks OnlineQuickBooks OnlineMomentum: StableWeak2 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Good4 out of 5Good4 out of 5Excellent5 out of 5Good4 out of 5Good4 out of 5Fair3 out of 5

Best on a budget: our pick

  1. Zoho Books

    1. Zoho Books

    Strongest on price to start, price as you grow and quick to set up

    • Starting priceFree, then $20/mo (Standard)
    • Free plan
    Visit websiteMore details

How all 4 tools rate

Ranked for “Best on a budget”, each rated 1 to 5. What each rating means

  • 4 out of 5More filled is better
  • Counts more for this lens
  • Deal-breaker: 2 or less caps the score
Ratings for every tool for freelancers and consultants in the US, ranked for Best on a budget
ToolPrice to startDeal-breakerPrice as you growQuick to set upEasy day to dayWorks with the restLocal fitDeal-breakerHelp when stuckEasy to leave
1, our pickZoho BooksZoho BooksMomentum: RisingExcellent5 out of 5Excellent5 out of 5Good4 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Good4 out of 5
2XeroXeroMomentum: RisingFair3 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Good4 out of 5Good4 out of 5Excellent5 out of 5Good4 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Good4 out of 5
3FreshBooksFreshBooksMomentum: StableFair3 out of 5Weak2 out of 5Excellent5 out of 5Excellent5 out of 5Good4 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Good4 out of 5Fair3 out of 5
4QuickBooks OnlineQuickBooks OnlineMomentum: StableWeak2 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Good4 out of 5Good4 out of 5Excellent5 out of 5Good4 out of 5Good4 out of 5Fair3 out of 5

QuickBooks Online can't be our pick here: it rates weak for Price to start, a deal-breaker here.

Easiest to start: our pick

  1. FreshBooks

    1. FreshBooks

    Strongest on quick to set up, easy day to day and works with the rest

    • Starting price$23/mo (Lite, 5 clients)
    Visit websiteMore details

How all 4 tools rate

Ranked for “Easiest to start”, each rated 1 to 5. What each rating means

  • 4 out of 5More filled is better
  • Counts more for this lens
  • Deal-breaker: 2 or less caps the score
Ratings for every tool for freelancers and consultants in the US, ranked for Easiest to start
ToolPrice to startPrice as you growQuick to set upDeal-breakerEasy day to dayWorks with the restLocal fitDeal-breakerHelp when stuckEasy to leave
1, our pickFreshBooksFreshBooksMomentum: StableFair3 out of 5Weak2 out of 5Excellent5 out of 5Excellent5 out of 5Good4 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Good4 out of 5Fair3 out of 5
2XeroXeroMomentum: RisingFair3 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Good4 out of 5Good4 out of 5Excellent5 out of 5Good4 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Good4 out of 5
3QuickBooks OnlineQuickBooks OnlineMomentum: StableWeak2 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Good4 out of 5Good4 out of 5Excellent5 out of 5Good4 out of 5Good4 out of 5Fair3 out of 5
4Zoho BooksZoho BooksMomentum: RisingExcellent5 out of 5Excellent5 out of 5Good4 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Good4 out of 5

Best as you grow: our pick

  1. Xero

    1. Xero

    Strongest on works with the rest, local fit and easy to leave

    • Starting price$25/mo (Early plan)
    Visit websiteMore details

How all 4 tools rate

Ranked for “Best as you grow”, each rated 1 to 5. What each rating means

  • 4 out of 5More filled is better
  • Counts more for this lens
  • Deal-breaker: 2 or less caps the score
Ratings for every tool for freelancers and consultants in the US, ranked for Best as you grow
ToolPrice to startPrice as you growDeal-breakerQuick to set upEasy day to dayWorks with the restLocal fitDeal-breakerHelp when stuckEasy to leave
1, our pickXeroXeroMomentum: RisingFair3 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Good4 out of 5Good4 out of 5Excellent5 out of 5Good4 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Good4 out of 5
2Zoho BooksZoho BooksMomentum: RisingExcellent5 out of 5Excellent5 out of 5Good4 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Good4 out of 5
3QuickBooks OnlineQuickBooks OnlineMomentum: StableWeak2 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Good4 out of 5Good4 out of 5Excellent5 out of 5Good4 out of 5Good4 out of 5Fair3 out of 5
4FreshBooksFreshBooksMomentum: StableFair3 out of 5Weak2 out of 5Excellent5 out of 5Excellent5 out of 5Good4 out of 5Fair3 out of 5Good4 out of 5Fair3 out of 5

FreshBooks can't be our pick here: it rates weak for Price as you grow, a deal-breaker here.

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