Short answer
Zoho Books is our top pick for small businesses, scoring 85/100 when price and ease of use carry more weight. Paid plans start at $15/mo (Standard, 3 users, billed annually ($20 monthly)).
This list uses the same tools and ratings as our main accounting tools ranking, reweighted for teams of roughly 1 to 50 people: price and ease of use count for more, and enterprise depth counts for less. Tools that score 70 or higher on the small-business weights are included.
The reviews
Starting price$15/moStandard, 3 users, billed annually ($20 monthly)
Free trial / planFree plan (under $50K revenue); 14-day trial
Main score86/100
Zoho Books is accounting software priced per organization. The free plan covers businesses under $50K in annual revenue; Standard adds bank feeds and sales tax tracking, and Professional ($40 billed annually) adds inventory, multi-currency and project profitability.
Who it's best for
Small businesses that want full double-entry accounting at a low price, especially those already using Zoho apps.
Strengths
- Free plan for businesses under $50K revenue
- Inventory and multi-currency on Professional
- Extra users from $2.50 a month
Watch-outs
- Less common among US accountants than QuickBooks
- Interface takes longer to learn
Skip it if: Your accountant insists on QuickBooks.
Read our full Zoho Books review →
Starting price$27/moEarly (20 invoices, 5 bills a month), regular price; Growing $59 unlimited
Free trial / planIntro discount for new customers
Main score86/100
Xero is cloud accounting with no per-user license fees. Early caps you at 20 invoices and 5 bills a month; Growing ($59) removes those caps and adds auto-reconcile; Established ($97) adds multi-currency, projects and expense claims.
Who it's best for
Small businesses with several people in the books, and businesses outside the US, where Xero is widely used.
Strengths
- No per-user fees on any plan
- Unlimited invoices and bills from Growing
- Payroll via Gusto as an add-on
Watch-outs
- Early's 20-invoice and 5-bill caps are tight
- Multi-currency and projects need Established ($97)
Skip it if: You send more than 20 invoices a month but only want to pay entry-level prices.
Read our full Xero review →
Starting price$23/moLite, 5 billable clients, regular price; team members $11 each
Free trial / plan30-day trial, no card needed
Main score79/100
FreshBooks is invoicing-first accounting for service businesses. Lite covers 5 billable clients, Plus ($43) 50 clients with proposals and retainers, and Premium ($70) unlimited clients with project profitability.
Who it's best for
Freelancers, consultants and agencies that bill clients for time and projects.
Strengths
- Best-in-class invoicing and proposals
- Rated 4.5/5 on G2
- 30-day trial with no card
Watch-outs
- Plans are capped by number of billable clients
- Each team member costs $11 a month
Skip it if: You sell physical products and need inventory.
Read our full FreshBooks review →
Starting price$19/moPro, billed monthly ($190 a year); Starter is free
Free trial / planFree Starter plan
Main score75/100
Wave offers free invoicing and bookkeeping on its Starter plan, with card processing fees when customers pay online. Pro ($19 a month) adds automatic bank imports, receipt capture and payment reminders.
Who it's best for
Sole proprietors and very small businesses that want basic books for free.
Strengths
- Free plan with unlimited invoices and bills
- Pro is $190 a year
- Simple to use
Watch-outs
- Automatic bank imports need Pro
- Limited reporting and no inventory
Skip it if: You have employees, inventory or more than one person doing the books.
Read our full Wave review →
Starting price$38/moSimple Start, 1 user, regular price; Essentials $85 (3 users), Plus $140 (5 users)
Free trial / plan30-day trial; intro discount for new customers
Main score87/100
QuickBooks Online is one of the most widely used small business accounting tools in the US. Simple Start covers one user with bookkeeping, invoicing and automated bill pay; Plus adds inventory tracking, project profitability and bill approval workflows for up to 5 users, and Advanced supports 25 users.
Who it's best for
US small businesses that want a tool their accountant or bookkeeper is likely to know already.
Strengths
- Widely used by US accountants and bookkeepers
- Inventory, project profitability and bill approvals on Plus
- Up to 25 users on Advanced
Watch-outs
- Regular prices are high once the intro discount ends
- Simple Start is limited to one user
- Lowest G2 rating on this list (4.0/5)
Skip it if: You're a freelancer with a handful of clients; a simpler, cheaper tool will do.
Read our full QuickBooks Online review →
Starting pricePricing on requestPriced by modules and company profile
Free trial / planProduct tour and demos
Main score81/100
Sage Intacct is cloud financial management for mid-sized companies, sold by module and priced by quote.
Who it's best for
Finance teams with multiple entities, a controller and audit or reporting requirements that small business tools can't meet.
Strengths
- Built for multi-entity and complex reporting
- Modular, so you pay for what you use
- Large G2 review base (4,500+)
Watch-outs
- No public pricing or self-serve trial
- Needs implementation and a finance team to run it
Skip it if: You're a small business with one entity and no controller.
Read our full Sage Intacct review →
How we weighted this list
| Criterion | Main ranking | Small business |
|---|
| Core bookkeeping & reconciliation | 25% | 18% |
| Invoicing & payments | 15% | 10% |
| Bills & expenses | 15% | 10% |
| Reporting & room to grow | 15% | 10% |
| Ease of use | 15% | 26% |
| Price & value | 15% | 26% |
FAQ
What are the best accounting tools for small businesses?
Zoho Books scores highest (85/100) once price and ease of use carry more weight, followed by Xero, FreshBooks.
How is this different from your main ranking?
Same tools and the same 0 to 5 ratings, but price and ease of use count for more, because small teams rarely have an admin or a big budget. The weights are in the table on this page. FreshBooks move into the top three as a result.
Which accounting tools are cheapest for a small team?
See the starting prices in the comparison table; free plans and trials are listed next to them. Price the plan that covers your team size, not only the entry plan.
What should a small business look for?
A free plan or low entry price, quick setup without an admin, and the two or three features you need on day one. Avoid paying for enterprise controls you won't use yet.
Vettlo Editorial TeamResearched and written by the Vettlo editorial team using our methodology. Prices and plan details come from each vendor's public pricing page.