Best Free Accounting Software: Top 10 For 2023

With the best free accounting software, you’ll be able to manage the most important aspect of any business — your books. With organized financials, you’ll save yourself a lot of time (and stress) and you’ll have the means to make informed decisions based on accurate data. With ample free accounting tools, finding one that meets your business’ needs can be hard.

Fear not. We’ve tested and rounded up the 10 best accounting solutions — the cream of the crop is Lendio. It lets you create custom invoices, and manage payments and expenses — amongst other things. Whether it’s your top pick is up to you to decide. Read on for our in-depth reviews to learn more about your options.

The Best Free Accounting Software for 2023: Top 10 List

Here are our top picks for the best free accounting software tools in 2023:

1. Lendio  — Overall, the Best Free Accounting Software for 1 User. Paid Plans Start at Just $19.99/Month.
2. Wave  —  Top Free Accounting Software for Small Business. Allows Unlimited Guest Collaborators.
3. ZipBooks  — Easy-to-Use Free Accounting Software + Includes Unlimited Invoices and Vendors.
4. Akaunting — Completely Free Online Accounting Software with a Client Portal. Paid Plans start at $24/month.
5. SlickPie — Excellent for Automated Receipts + Allows 10 Firms on 1 Account!
6. Brightbook  — Free Accounting Software For Freelancers. Premium Plans Start at Just $4/month.
7. GnuCash — Open-Source Free Accounting Software. Superb Desktop Accounting Solution for Double-Entry Bookkeeping.
8. CloudBooks —  Best For Integrated Time Tracking. Paid Plans Start at $9.99/Month.
9. Zoho Books  — Free Accounting Software for Mac. Has a Client Portal + Automatic Bank Reconciliation.
10. NCH Express Accounts —  Ideal for Desktop. Premium Pricing Starts at $15/month for a Whopping 5 Users.

Best Free Accounting Software  –  Compared

We know that it can be difficult to narrow down your options and choose the best tool for your needs; as such, our team of experts has weighed up the pros and cons of each tool to make your decision easier. Let’s take a closer look.

1. Lendio  — Overall, the Best Free Accounting Software for 2023

Lendio (formerly known as Sunrise) is free online accounting software designed for small businesses that need a simple way to manage income and expenses and invoice customers.

The majority of Lendio’s accounting capabilities are available in the free edition, thus the subscription plan does not include any advanced features.

In addition, Lendio offers a wide range of features, which makes it an ideal solution for businesses. The software is designed to make billing and invoicing easy, with a number of templates available to help get you started. You can also create custom invoices and manage payments and expenses.

Lendio offers integration with a number of other services, such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and Salesforce. This makes it easy to keep your accounting data in sync with the rest of your business data. Lendio is also mobile-friendly, so you can manage your accounts on the go.

Overall, Lendio is an excellent small business accounting software free of charge. It’s easy to use, has a wide range of features, and integrates with other services you may be using.

Special Features:

1. Accounts Receivable – This is the software’s best feature. Its straightforward design displays the invoice status and due date, making it easier for businesses to monitor client bills. It also includes a lot of customization possibilities, such as altering logos, colors, and adding a personal message to invoices.

2. Time Tracking – This tool lets businesses track the time spent on different tasks, which can then be billed accordingly.

3. Reports  –  Lendio offers a wide range of reports, including Profit and Loss, Balance Sheet, and Invoice Aging. These reports can be customized and exported to Excel or PDF formats.

Pros:

• Forever free
• Great customer support
• Bank account integrations

Cons:

• The free version is only for 1 user

Price: Paid Plans Start at $19.99 per month

2. Wave  –  Best Free Accounting Software For Small Business

The Wave free accounting software is a leading accounting software solution that should sit high on anyone’s priority list. You can connect an infinite number of bank and credit card accounts to your books with this tool.

Free features include limitless income monitoring, spending tracking, and guest collaborators.

Wave is one of the most reliable free accounting software across many industries. For example, it is considered one of the best farm accounting software.

Keep in mind that you’ll have to pay if you want your billed clients to be able to pay online immediately through the invoice. Each credit card payment costs 2.9% + $0.30, and each ACH payment costs 1% (with a minimum of $1).

Payroll will also have to be paid via Wave. You’ll pay a monthly base cost of $35 or $20, plus $4 for each employee and contractor on your payroll, depending on where you conduct business.

Key Features:

1. Customizable Invoices  – Wave allows you to personalize your invoices with your company logo, colors, and fonts. You can also add terms and conditions and specify the payment methods you accept.

2. Receipt Scanning  – Wave lets you take pictures of your receipts and automatically input the information into your account. This is a great way to keep track of your expenses.

3. Recurring Billing  – Wave lets you create recurring invoices for your regular customers. This can save you time and hassle.

Pros:

• Free invoicing
• Easy to set up
• Offers bookkeeping assistance

Cons:

• No mobile app

Price: 100% Free

3. ZipBooks  – Easy-to-Use Free Accounting Software

ZipBooks is a web-based accounting software tool with a robust set of capabilities. ZipBooks Starter is the company’s free plan, which includes basic bookkeeping functions as well as profit, loss, and balance sheet reporting.

It also includes various invoicing and quote-related features, as well as the option to take credit card or PayPal payments, which is ideal for all businesses. It is also widely used in the construction industry, making it one of the best construction accounting software.

It’s a robust, user-friendly solution; however, the free plan is definitely missing some polish.

The free plan’s features are limited to the point that it’s simple to outgrow them. With the beginner plan, you can only link one bank account and access basic reports. If your requirements are more extensive, you’ll need to subscribe to one of its premium plans.

Special Features:

1. Simple Invoicing  – ZipBooks makes it easy to create and send invoices, with a variety of customization options.

2. Time Tracking  – Keep track of how much time you’re spending on projects with ZipBooks’ built-in time tracking feature.

3. Customer Management  – Build customer profiles and keep track of interactions and transactions

Pros:

• Unlimited invoices
• Unlimited vendors
• Accepts PayPal and Square

Cons:

• Limited to one bank account

Price: Paid Plans start at $15.00 per month

4. Akaunting  – Completely Free Online Accounting Software

Akaunting is another free open-source accounting application with a large user base for small enterprises and freelancers. The whole feature set of the application is free, making it one of the rare “one-stop-shop” options on our list.

Because the platform is totally online, you can use it from any computer, tablet, or mobile device, at any time and from anywhere. It has tools to help you manage cash flow, track spending, handle invoicing, and categorize transactions.

It also has a client portal, which allows you to exchange transactions and invoices with clients, as well as take bulk payments. Akaunting has over 270,000 users and is available in more than 50 languages, making it one of the most widely used open-source solutions on the market.

Special Features:

1. Vendor Management  –  Keep track of your suppliers and payments.

2. Cash Flow Management  –  Get an overview of your cash flow situation and make better decisions about where to allocate funds.

3. Client Portal  – Exchange documents and invoices with your clients, as well as receive payments in bulk.

Pros:

• Forever free
• Cashflow tracking
• Open-source

Cons:

• Steep learning curve

Price: Premium Plan starts at $24.00 per month

5. SlickPie  –  Ideal for Automated Receipts

SlickPie, a free accounting program, is also worth investigating for your small business accounts. This accounting software’s free edition includes unlimited automatic receipt submissions, 10 firms on one account, and email assistance.

It also enables you to generate bids and estimates that can be quickly converted into professional invoices. You can connect your PayPal and Stripe wallets for free with SlickPie; clients will be able to pay their bills online using a credit card or PayPal account, and you’ll pay the usual transaction costs charged by PayPal and Stripe.

Special Features:

1. Online Billing  –  Clients can pay their bills online using a credit card or PayPal account. You’ll just have to pay the usual transaction costs charged by PayPal and Stripe.

2. Unlimited Automatic Receipt Submissions  – You can submit an unlimited number of receipts automatically without having to enter them manually.

3. Generate Bids and Estimates  – You can generate bids and estimates that you can quickly convert into professional invoices.

Pros:

• Multiple integrations
• Unlimited receipt
• Customer management

Cons:

• Limited reports

Price: Paid plan starts at $39.00 per year

6. Brightbook  –  Free Accounting Software For Freelancers

Brightbook is a web-based accounting system designed specifically for freelancers and small company owners; however, it works best for the first two.

The program’s main goal is to make accounting software more accessible to everyone. It contains numerous free services, such as tools for invoicing, cash flow visibility, financial reporting, and financial statement preparation, as well as certain premium features accessible for one-time costs.

Brightbook is a good choice for freelancers and independent contractors, especially those in the creative field. It’s a touch stripped-down, but it still covers a lot of ground that other alternatives on this list would have hidden behind paywalls.

Brightbook is a good option if you want a full accounting package, but don’t mind dealing with a simple tool.

Key Features:

1. Invoicing  – Brightbook lets you create and send invoices in minutes, with automatic reminders to customers when an invoice is overdue.

2. Instant Insights  –  Brightbook’s cash flow visualization tool provides you with a real-time view of your business’ incoming and outgoing money.

3. Safe & Secure  – Your data is always backed up and secure with bank-level encryption.

Pros:

• Multiple clients
• Intuitive interface
• Features are free

Cons:

• No mobile access

Price: Paid plan starts at $4.00 per month

7. GnuCash  –  Open-Source Free Accounting Software

GnuCash is a strong candidate if you’re seeking desktop accounting software for small business free. All you have to do to get this free small business accounting software is to head to the GnuCash website and download it — it’s simple as that.

GnuCash is not just a free personal accounting software; it also includes customer and vendor monitoring, works pricing, and invoicing suitable for small businesses too.

GnuCash is an open-source accounting tool unlike any other. While GnuCash’s financial management tools are impressive, the rest of the software is difficult to use. Businesses who wish to personalize their accounting software can utilize the open-source code in GnuCash to do so.

However, businesses that are able to utilize the code can create a unique accounting experience for their company.

Key Features:

1. Double Entry  –  GnuCash supports double-entry bookkeeping, which is the standard for businesses and accounting professionals. This ensures that all your financial data is accurate and reliable.

2. Checkbook-Style Register – The chequebook-style register is an easy way to keep track of your transactions and account balances. You can also export your data into other formats for further analysis.

3. Scheduled Transactions  – You can set up recurring transactions so that your accounting is always up-to-date. This is especially helpful for businesses with regular expenses and bills.

Pros:

• Open-source
• Free forever
• Customizable

Cons:

• Needs programming expertise

Price: Free

8. CloudBooks  –  Best For Integrated Time Tracking

Technically, CloudBooks is not accounting software. It is a cloud-based bookkeeping and invoicing solution that helps small businesses manage their finances.

However, it does offer a lot of features that are beneficial for accounting, such as the ability to create invoices, track expenses, and manage your budget.

One of the best things about CloudBooks is that it is free to use. There are no monthly fees or subscription costs. You can access the software from any device with an internet connection, and you can share your books with other users, such as your accountant or bookkeeper.

Overall, CloudBooks is an excellent option for free business accounting software that needs a simple and affordable accounting solution. It is easy to use; it has a wide range of features, and it’s free.

Special Features:

1. Free Invoicing  – CloudBooks offers free invoicing for small businesses. You can create, send, and track invoices from any device with an internet connection.

2. Time-Tracking  – CloudBooks also offers an incredible time-tracking feature for small businesses. You can track employee hours and generate reports to help you manage your budget.

3. Reports and Estimates  – CloudBooks offers a variety of reports and estimates to help you track your finances. You can generate reports on your income, expenses, and budget, and you can create estimates for future projects.

Pros:

• Free to use
• Track and create invoices
• Easy to use

Cons:

• Limited accounting features

Price: Paid Plans start at $9.99 per user per month

9. Zoho Books  –  Free accounting software for Mac

Zoho Books is one of the best-performing accounting software systems. Small enterprises or freelancers with yearly revenues of less than $50,000 can use the free plan.

Zoho Books is an excellent piece of software for growing organizations. Though the Starter and Standard plans have restricted invoicing, you can always upgrade to the Professional plan as your business expands.

In addition, there are no long-term contracts or hidden fees, and you can cancel your subscription at any time. All in all, Zoho Books is an affordable, easy-to-use accounting software system that’s ideal for small businesses and freelancers. It’s also one of our top picks for the best accounting software for Mac.

Special Features:

1. Client Portal  – Clients can log in to a secure portal to view and pay invoices, access statements, and other account information, and even collaborate on projects.

2. Estimates – Clients can request quotes from you that you can convert into invoices with just a few clicks.

3. Automatic Bank Reconciliation  –  Zoho Books can automatically reconcile your bank and credit card transactions with just a few clicks, so you can keep your finances in order with little effort.

Pros:

• Free customizable invoices
• Easy to use
• Bills and invoice tracking

Cons:

• Bank reconciliation needs works

Price: Free

10. NCH Express Accounts  –  Ideal for Desktop

NCH Express Accounts is a remarkably user-friendly desktop program. The easy navigation and comprehensive help file make it a perfect choice for small businesses that need to keep track of their finances without spending a lot of time or money on training.

Express Accounts is a great solution for businesses that need to track income and expenses, create invoices and statements, and monitor inventory levels. This offline accounting software free download is equipped with a number of features that make it easy to manage your finances, including the ability to generate detailed reports, track payments and deposits, and create budgets.

One of the best things about Express Accounts is that it’s free for personal use. If you’re a small business owner or self-employed individual, this software is definitely worth a look.

Special Features:

1. Bank Reconciliation  – This tool makes it easy to track your bank balances and reconcile them with your account statements.

2. Workflow Diagram  – This feature lets you see the flow of money in and out of your business.

3. Budgeting  – You can use this tool to create budgets and track your progress over time.

Pros:

• Unlimited invoices
• Easy to use
• Multiple vendors

Cons:

• No mobile app

Price: Smarter Plans start at $15 per month for 5 users

What is Free Accounting Software?

Free accounting software is a type of program that helps businesses manage their finances without having to purchase a license or pay for upgrades. There are many different types of free accounting software available, and each has its own unique features and benefits.

When choosing free accounting software, it’s important to consider your business’s needs and choose a program that will fit those needs. For example, if you have a very small business, you may not need all the features offered by a more comprehensive program.

However, if you have a larger business, you’ll want to make sure the software you choose has all the features you need to manage your finances effectively.

How Does Free Accounting Software Work?

Free accounting software typically works by tracking income and expenses, creating invoices and statements, and monitoring inventory levels. The software is also equipped with a number of features that make it easy to manage your finances, including the ability to generate detailed reports, track payments and deposits, and create budgets.

How To Choose The Best Free Accounting Software?

When choosing free accounting software, it’s important to consider your business’s needs and choose a program that will fit those needs. Here are some things to look for when choosing accounting software:

1. Easy to use interface – The software should be easy to navigate and have a user-friendly interface.
2. Comprehensive help file – The software should have a comprehensive help file that can answer any questions you may have.
3. Detailed reports – The software should be able to generate detailed reports so you can track your progress over time.
4. Budgeting tool – The software should have a budgeting tool so you can create budgets and track your progress over time.
5. Multiple users – If you have multiple people working in your business, it’s important to choose software that can accommodate multiple users.

What Are The Advantages Of Using Free Accounting Software?

First of all, it’s free — you don’t have to pay for a license or for upgrades. This can save you a significant amount of money, especially if you have a small business.

Another advantage of using free accounting software is that it’s usually very easy to use. This is because the software is designed for businesses of all sizes, so it’s not overly complicated. This means that even if you’re not particularly tech-savvy, you should be able to use the software without any problems.

Finally, free accounting software often comes with a number of features that can be extremely helpful in managing your finances. For example, most programs will let you generate reports, track payments and deposits, and create budgets. These features can save you a lot of time and help you keep your finances in order.

Conclusion: What Is The Best Free Accounting Software?

Here’s a nifty recap of our top 10 free accounting tools:

1. Lendio  — Overall, the Best Free Accounting Software for 1 User. Paid Plans Start at Just $19.99/Month.
2. Wave  —  Top Free Accounting Software for Small Business. Allows Unlimited Guest Collaborators.
3. ZipBooks  — Easy-to-Use Free Accounting Software + Includes Unlimited Invoices and Vendors.
4. Akaunting — Completely Free Online Accounting Software with a Client Portal. Paid Plans start at $24/month.
5. SlickPie — Excellent for Automated Receipts + Allows 10 Firms on 1 Account!
6. Brightbook  — Free Accounting Software For Freelancers. Premium Plans Start at Just $4/month.
7. GnuCash — Open-Source Free Accounting Software. Superb Desktop Accounting Solution for Double-Entry Bookkeeping.
8. CloudBooks —  Best For Integrated Time Tracking. Paid Plans Start at $9.99/Month.
9. Zoho Books  — Free Accounting Software for Mac. Has a Client Portal + Automatic Bank Reconciliation.
10. NCH Express Accounts —  Ideal for Desktop. Premium Pricing Starts at $15/month for a Whopping 5 Users.

We chose Lendio as the best free accounting software for small businesses because it offers the most features and it’s the easiest to use. We also like that Lendio doesn’t limit the number of invoices you can create, which is important if you have a busy business.

All features are important, but we think the ability to track your bank balances and reconcile them with your account statements is particularly valuable. This feature alone can save you a lot of time and hassle.

Try Lendio now, you won’t regret it.

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