Bookkeeping can be tough, especially for small business owners who are already juggling a lot. But with the right software, managing your finances becomes much easier. You can track expenses, send invoices, check profits, and stay ready for tax time—all in one place.
In fact, according to Statista, the global market for accounting software is expected to hit $24.5 billion by 2027, up from $16.8 billion in 2022. A 2024 QuickBooks survey also found that 67% of small business owners saved up to 5 hours a week using bookkeeping software.
In this article, we’ll look at the top 10 best bookkeeping Software for small businesses in 2025, including both free and paid options that are perfect for managing your daily finances.
Why Small Businesses Should Use Bookkeeping Software
- Saves time and reduces manual work by automating tasks like invoicing, expense tracking, and bank reconciliation.
- Minimizes errors in financial records, making tax filing easier and more accurate.
- Gives real-time insights into your cash flow, income, and expenses for better decision-making.
- Improves professionalism with branded invoices and detailed financial reports.
- Supports business growth by helping track profits, forecast trends, and manage multiple clients or projects.
How to Choose the Right Bookkeeping Software
- Check if it matches your business size and needs, whether you’re a freelancer, shop owner, or small team.
- Look for easy-to-use dashboards and interfaces, especially if you don’t have accounting experience.
- Ensure it offers automation features like bank syncing, auto-categorization, or recurring invoices.
- See if it integrates with other tools you use, such as payment gateways, AI CRM tools, or inventory apps.
- Compare pricing and free trials to find the best value without overspending on features you don’t need.
List of 10 Best Bookkeeping Software For Small Business
1. FreeAgent
FreeAgent is a UK cloud-based accounting software for small businesses, which is quickly becoming popular with freelancers and contractors across the globe. It provides an easier way of bookkeeping, including necessities such as invoicing, bank feeds, project tracking, tax filing, and expenses, among others.
All essential things like cash flow, future deadlines, and financial performance have a clear overview in the dashboard, so business owners will not lose control as long as they do not require any advanced knowledge of accounting.
Excellent time-saving and automation tools are one of the major features of FreeAgent. An example would be automatic classification of bank transactions and real time generation of tax estimates. This software is very convenient especially in service based businesses that charge on the hourly basis since it integrates the time tracking and project billing. It is also HMRC-qualified to pay taxes in the UK that instills confidence in businesses that are required to operate strictly within compliance laws.
Top Features:
- Smart dashboard with cash flow insights
- Built-in time tracking and project management
- Tax estimation and filing support
- Automated expense and bank reconciliation
- Ideal for freelancers and service businesses
Website: www.freeagent.com
Pricing: $13.50/mo
2. Manager.io
Manager.io is a multifunctional, offline-first bookkeeping and accounting tool costing nothing, with no monthly charges. It can cater to all kinds of accounting requirements like double-entry bookkeeping, inventory, invoicing, billing, and custom reporting.
The software supports Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems, but an optional cloud version is also provided to those wishing to collaborate remotely and using multiple users.
It is primarily flexible and deep – the user can extensively customize the software to fit the individual requirements. Although Manager.io is a free tool, it does not settle on features too and has more than 70 supported languages, which enables businesses worldwide to use it. It is an effective alternative to business that would like to have its own data sovereignty and complete control over its bookkeeping system.
Top Features:
- Completely free desktop version
- Full double-entry accounting system
- Offline and cloud options available
- Multi-language and multi-currency support
- Customizable reports and modules
Website: www.manager.io
Pricing: Free
3. Akaunting
Akaunting is a free, open-source cloud bookkeeping software with a high variety of functions for the small businesses or freelancers. It has a clean and easy-to-use interface, which allows you to manage invoices, payments, expenses, and customers in one location. It is open-source and, thus, you can host it on your own but have a convenient version of the hosted cloud worth paying an affordable price.
The biggest strength of Akaunting is flexibility and freedom by the use of community-built extensions and modules. Other tools that can be added to the platform are payroll, project management and CRM tools by the businesses. Akaunting is a serious competitor to those who appreciate open systems, transparency, and customization, allowing one to own his or her financial data.
Top Features:
- Free and open-source
- Invoice, expense, and customer tracking
- Self-hosted or cloud-hosted options
- Extendable with paid and free modules
- Multiple currency and tax support
Website: akaunting.com
Pricing:
| Standard | Premium | Elite | Ultimate |
| $8/mo | $24/mo | $56/mo | $145/mo |
4. AccountEdge Pro
AccountEdge Pro is an accounting program that is offered as a desktop application with an extensive platform of bookkeeping functions, a good choice for those small businesses that would like to work on offline modes.
It also has a complete functionality in terms of tracking sales and expenses, payrolls, inventory management and detailed financial reporting. Traditional companies that require greater control over their financial information, and cannot depend on cloud services are particularly fond of the software.
AccountEdge Pro is one of those few programs that allow you to completely customize forms, reports and workflows to fit your business. It also adopts the industry-specific capabilities, but perfectly suits any company that would like a thorough local data storage, but in addition to this remote access can be provided via optional cloud collaboration. This software is very economical in the long term especially to businesses with great need of a powerful desktop tool.
Top Features:
- Full desktop control with offline access
- Payroll, inventory, and sales modules
- Customizable reporting and invoicing
- Remote cloud collaboration option
- Strong data privacy and encryption
Website: www.accountedge.com
Pricing:
| Pro | Network Edition | Hosted |
| $20/mo | $30/mo | $50/mo |
5. GnuCash
GnuCash is a free, open-source desktop accounting software that’s best suited for small businesses and personal finance. While it lacks the modern cloud functionality of newer tools, it compensates with rock-solid reliability and feature depth. GnuCash supports double-entry accounting, budget tracking, bank reconciliation, and even investment portfolio management.
Though it requires manual installation and setup, GnuCash is extremely powerful once configured. It’s a favorite among those who value control and data privacy. The software runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and is backed by a passionate open-source community. For technically inclined users or those who prefer local data storage, GnuCash remains one of the best offline bookkeeping tools available.
Top Features:
- Completely free and open-source
- Full double-entry accounting
- Personal and small business finance management
- Support for investments and budgeting
- Multi-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux)
Website: www.gnucash.org
Pricing: Free
6. Bookipi
Bookipi is a modern mobile-first bookkeeping and invoicing solution designed for freelancers, solopreneurs, and micro-businesses. Its app-first strategy enables customers to track spending, create expert invoices, and keep an eye on financial activities all from their smartphones. Because of the platform’s real-time data syncing feature, customers can view their data from several devices.
Bookipi’s user-friendliness has contributed to its appeal, particularly among remote workers and creative professions. Even people without any accounting background may manage their finances because to its clear and uncluttered layout. Additionally, you never lose sight of outstanding payments or client correspondence thanks to integrated reminders and invoice tracking.
Top Features:
- Mobile-first design for invoicing and bookkeeping
- Real-time syncing across devices
- Invoice generation and expense management
- Reminders and payment tracking
- User-friendly for beginners
Website: bookipi.com
Pricing:
| Free | Starter | Professional |
| $0 | $7.60/mo | $39/mo |
7. LessAccounting
LessAccounting does what it promises; it allows small businesses to spend less time doing their books. It focuses on non-accountants and automates major bookkeeping processes of preparing statements such as invoices, balancing bank transactions, and preparing expense reports. Its clear interface with minimum clutter makes no-nonsense navigation of the financial data.
LessAccounting has its human touch that makes it unique. In addition to software automation, it also has optional bookkeeping service in which professionals take care of your books. This mixture-model is particularly appropriate in the case of small business owners who would like to delegate the numbers yet have some measure of control and visibility.
Top Features:
- Incredibly simple and minimal UI
- Expense tracking and bank sync
- Automated invoicing
- Optional bookkeeping service packages
- Designed for non-accountants
Website: www.lessaccounting.com
Pricing:
| Simple | Growth | Business |
| $199/mo | $299/mo | $399/mo |
8. TrulySmall Accounting
TrulySmall Accounting is a member of Kashoo family and is designed to address small groups and solopreneurs. It also provides an efficient, contemporary platform, which employs AI to classify transactions, create invoices and automate bank feed reconciliation. All these are set in a manner so that less time is taken as cost as bookkeeping as well as being more clear.
What makes the software exceptional is the easy interface and immediate financial reporting. You see right through income, expenses and profit margins without having to extract several reports. It is ideal in case of gig workers, consultants, or digital entrepreneurs in search of a painless method to keep things organized all with regard to money matters.
Top Features:
- AI-powered categorization
- Simple dashboard with essential reports
- Instant invoicing and payment tracking
- Optimized for very small teams
- Affordable monthly pricing
Website: trulysmall.com
Pricing:
| Invoice | Expense | Accounting |
| $8.99/mo | $8.99/mo | $20/mo |
9. ZipBooks
ZipBooks is a modern cloud-based bookkeeping software that focuses on smart automation and user-friendliness. It allows small businesses to send invoices, manage vendors, track expenses, and run performance reports. One of its standout features is the “Intelligence” reporting system that scores your business’s financial health, helping you understand your numbers better and make more informed decisions.
ZipBooks is particularly useful for startups and freelancers who want to handle their own books without hiring a professional accountant. Its interface is sleek and clean, making it easy for beginners. There is a free plan with core features like invoicing and basic reports, and affordable premium tiers that include time tracking, team management, and advanced reporting.
Top Features:
- Financial health scoring system
- Clean and modern interface
- Smart categorization and automation
- Time tracking and team collaboration tools
- Free plan available
Website: zipbooks.com
Pricing:
| Free | Smarter | Sophisticated | Accountant |
| $0 | $15/mo | $35/mo | Available on request |
10. Rounded
Rounded is an all-in-one bookkeeping tool tailored for freelancers and sole traders. Built in Australia, it brings together invoicing, time tracking, proposal creation, and basic accounting into a single, intuitive platform. Designed with creative professionals, designers, consultants, and gig workers in mind, it simplifies financial management.
What sets Rounded apart is its seamless, stress-free experience. With automation at its core — including smart features powered by AI tools for finance — it helps streamline recurring invoices, categorize expenses, and provide real-time insights. Everything is built to let you spend less time crunching numbers and more time doing what you love.
Top Features:
- Designed specifically for freelancers
- Recurring invoices and proposals
- Real-time dashboard
- Bank reconciliation and automation
- Mobile and desktop apps
Website: rounded.com.au
Pricing:
| Starter | Pro |
| $23.95/mo | $29.95/mo |
Conclusion
In conclusion, with so many intelligent software choices designed specifically for small businesses, bookkeeping doesn’t have to be difficult or stressful. There is a solution available for you, regardless of your preference for a feature-rich application with automation and reporting or something straightforward and free.
Making the correct choice will help you prevent errors, save time, and gain a better understanding of your company’s financial situation. Good bookkeeping software is not only useful in 2025, but also necessary for expansion, stability, and success.
FAQs
1. Can I use bookkeeping software without any accounting knowledge?
Yes, most modern tools are designed for beginners. They use simple dashboards, step-by-step setups, and helpful tips to guide you through every process.
2. Is cloud-based bookkeeping software safe?
Most cloud-based software uses bank-level encryption and regular backups to protect your data. Always choose a trusted provider with strong security policies.
3. How much does bookkeeping software usually cost?
Prices vary. While some tools are free, some have monthly or yearly fees. Costs can depend on features like payroll, user access, and integrations.
