- Accounting is important in a small business. While desktop software options may offer more functionality, accounting apps offer accessibility and convenience.
- Features vary by app, and Android and iOS versions may differ.
- You can choose apps that offer basic or sophisticated capabilities.
- This article is for small business owners looking for accounting apps to help manage their business.
Though accounting apps lack the full functionality of web and desktop software applications, the convenience and accessibility they offer make them valuable assets for busy entrepreneurs. Apps help you keep tabs on your business and accomplish basic accounting tasks when you're away from the office.
The features vary from app to app, and sometimes the Android and iOS versions differ. Some mobile accounting apps are primarily for capturing receipts for expense reports, while others let you view reports, create and send invoices, and reconcile transactions.
Here are our top seven picks for the best small business accounting apps. Most are companion apps included as part of a paid subscription for accounting software, but there are stand-alone options as well.
1. QuickBooks
QuickBooks accounting software is one of the most popular accounting apps for small businesses. It's a companion app to QuickBooks Online, which is available for a free 30-day trial and costs $20 a month for the entry-level version. You can download the app for free once you've subscribed to a QuickBooks Online plan.
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QuickBooks app features
A clean interface and practical functionality make QuickBooks Online and the Invoicing & Expenses app the perfect combination for business owners who want comprehensive accounting on any device. The software subscription comes loaded with features, most of which you can use on the mobile app.
The basic features include the ability to manage expenses by taking photos of receipts. You can also use the app to generate invoices, add and search customer contact information, view reports, track invoices and reconcile transactions. [Read related article: Which Version of QuickBooks Is Right for Your Business?]
If you're an independent contractor, the QuickBooks Self-Employed: Mile Tracker and Taxes app is a good alternative. This is the companion app to the Self-Employed version of QuickBooks Online. The app is free to use after you pay $10 per month for the accounting software subscription.
The self-employed app has several of the same features as the accounting app, such as expense tracking and receipt image capture, but it also includes a GPS-enabled mileage tracker and a tax-filing assistant that integrates with TurboTax.
QuickBooks app pricing
- Simple Start: $25 per month
- Essentials: $50 per month
- Plus: $80 per month
- Advanced: $180 per month
QuickBooks app platforms
The app is available on iOS and Android devices.
2. Xero
The Xero cloud-based accounting software is comparable to QuickBooks in many ways, with a lower price. It has a number of advanced accounting features and makes a great option for midsize and large companies. However, the app itself seems to have more issues than QuickBooks, and users often complain of bugs.
Xero app features
One of the biggest advantages of using Xero is that the app allows unlimited users at all subscription levels. This is a significant perk for bigger companies, since paying an additional charge per user quickly adds up. And you can control the level of access employees have to your Xero account.
You can also use the app to create and send invoices, reconcile bank transactions, and view any available bills. It also allows you to capture receipts and attach those receipts to an expense.
Xero app pricing
- Early: $12 per month
- Growing: $34 per month
- Established: $65 per month
Xero app platforms
The app is available for iOS and Android devices, though Android users seem to have a better experience overall.
3. Sage Accounting
Sage doesn't boast the same name recognition as some other apps on this list, but it's a good option and its functionality is consistent across the software and mobile app.
One of the biggest benefits of Sage is the company's robust customer support. You can contact customer service through phone, chat or email. The company also provides a knowledge base with articles, product documentation and news about recent software updates.
Sage Accounting app features
One of the most unique features Sage offers on its mobile app is a chat function that lets you send texts to manage your transactions. That chat feature can help you track receipts, log recent payments and check your current balance.
The mobile app also lets you reconcile bank transactions and create and send invoices. Once invoices are sent, you can monitor the payment status from the app and follow up on overdue payments.
Sage Accounting app pricing
- Sage Accounting Start: $10 per month
- Sage Accounting: $25 per month
Sage Accounting app platforms
The app is available on iOS and Android devices.
4. Zoho Books
Though not nearly as popular as the QuickBooks app, this companion app to Zoho Books is a great option for small business owners who want an accounting app with a lot of functionality. It's been downloaded more than 100,000 times and has almost 3,500 user reviews on Google Play – most of which rate the app highly.
The Zoho Books accounting app is free to download and use alongside the Zoho Books accounting software, which has a 14-day free trial and then a monthly subscription that starts at $9 per month for the Basic plan. [Read related article: Find the Best Invoice App for Your Small Business]
Zoho Books app features
Both the software and app have a minimalistic interface that makes it easy to find the features you need. The app shares many features with the software and allows you to set up notifications on your phone that instantly update you with customer activities, such as viewing or paying invoices.
The dashboard shows you an overview of your account. From there, you can create and send estimates and invoices, record and categorize expenses and bills, send purchase orders, track billable time, and download and print reports.
Zoho Books app pricing
- Free: Free for businesses with less than $50,000 in annual revenue
- Standard: $15 per month
- Professional: $40 per month
- Premium: $60 per month
Zoho Books app platforms
The app is available for iOS and Android devices.
5. FreshBooks
Freelancers and service-based small businesses that do a lot of invoicing will appreciate the FreshBooks Invoice+Accounting app. This companion app to the FreshBooks accounting software has been downloaded more than 100,000 times and has a high average rating across almost 1,000 user reviews.
The app is free to download and use alongside FreshBooks accounting software, which has a 30-day free trial followed by a subscription fee starting at $15 per month.
FreshBooks app features
Like the software, the app is easy to use and allows you to track billable time, snap photos of receipts and record expenses, create and send invoices, check invoice status, accept online payments, and review payment records. One notable feature is the ability to chat with clients through the app and review your conversation history.
FreshBooks app pricing
- Lite: $15 per month
- Plus: $25 per month
- Premium: $50 per month
- Select: Custom pricing
FreshBooks app platforms
The app is available for iOS and Android devices.
6. Book Keeper
While it isn't as widely used or robust as QuickBooks, Book Keeper's accounting app has more than half a million users and ranks high among accounting apps.
The Book Keeper app for accounting, GST, invoicing, and inventory features a simple, straightforward design and immediate usability. The app is free to download and use for 30 days, and then costs $70 per year plus $20 for each device you add to your account.
Book Keeper app features
Many users who left positive reviews mentioned trying other accounting apps and being overwhelmed by the number of features and busy interface. If you're looking for a basic accounting and invoicing app that's easy to use and has a lot of features, Book Keeper Accounting + Invoice is a solid solution.
One of the app's more impressive features is inventory management. It tracks stock, supports multiple warehouses, generates barcodes and allows you to scan them with your phone's camera. The app syncs your data across all your work devices through Dropbox.
The downside of this app is that the video tutorials aren't in English, and there isn't a U.S. phone number for customer support. You'll have to contact the company by email, live chat or iMessage if you have questions or experience issues with the app.
Book Keeper app pricing
- Lite: $10 per month
- Pro: $16 per month
Book Keeper app platforms
The app is available for iOS and Android devices. However, if you choose the Lite plan, it will only work on one Android device.
7. Wave
Wave offers a free invoicing app for small businesses to help you track your revenue. It is free to download and use, as is Wave's full accounting software.
The only costs are transaction fees for credit card payments of 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction and ACH transaction fees of 1% (or $1 minimum). If you use the company's optional payroll services, there are also monthly fees.
Wave app features
Invoice by Wave allows you to create, customize and send invoices to customers. You can monitor the status of invoices and see when they've been read, paid or become overdue. You'll also receive notifications on these customer activities.
You can send payment reminders and receipts as well. Invoices and revenue are recorded and backed up to your Wave account.
Wave app pricing
The accounting software is always free, though you will have to pay for add-on features like payroll.
Wave app platforms
The app is available for iOS and Android devices.
Jamie Johnson and Andreas Rivera contributed to the writing and research in this article.