20 Best Cloud Accounting Software in 2027

Running a business means sending invoices, chasing payments, matching bank transactions and keeping receipts. Doing it all by hand eats hours you could spend on customers. That is why cloud accounting software has become the backbone of so many small businesses.

With cloud accounting software, your books live online. You open them in a browser or a phone app, and your accountant can log in to the same records. Nobody emails spreadsheets back and forth, and you can check your cash flow from anywhere.

The market is crowded, though. A freelancer sending ten invoices a month needs something very different from a company with several entities and a finance team. So we compared the 20 best cloud accounting software options for 2027. Each one has a price, user ratings, pros and cons, an expert opinion and links so you can check reviews yourself.

Pricing note: Prices are list prices in USD, mostly verified around November 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on the official pricing page before you pay. Promos, annual billing, taxes and add-ons can change the final bill.

Related:Here are 15 Best Payroll Software for Small Businesses in 2027

How We Picked the Best Accounting Software

We looked at core features such as invoicing, expenses, bank reconciliation and reporting. We also checked how easy each tool is for non-accountants, how far it scales, how good the integrations are, and whether the pricing is clear. User ratings on G2 and Capterra, plus professional reviews, shaped the final list. Where vendors publish customer stories, we included them.

1. QuickBooks Online: Best Overall Accounting Software for Small Business

Price: Simple Start $38 · Essentials $85 · Plus $140 · Advanced $340 per month
Rating: 4.0/5 on G2 (3,600+ reviews)

QuickBooks Online is the name most accountants already know. It handles invoicing, expense tracking, bank feeds, reporting and inventory in higher plans, with payroll as an extra. NerdWallet calls it the best choice for most small businesses, and PCMag gave it an Editors’ Choice nod for companies.

Pros

• Huge accountant and bookkeeper network
• Strong reporting and a big integration ecosystem
• AI that reconciles books, chases invoices and flags anomalies

Cons

• Higher cost than many alternatives; the August 2026 increase hit Essentials, Plus and Advanced renewals
• Charges by tier, so costs rise as users grow
• Can feel like too much for a very small business

Success story: Malaysian accounting firm InTune Outsourcing moved to QuickBooks Online in 2016. During the pandemic, the cloud setup let the team work remotely, and the firm reportedly doubled in size by taking on new clients. Read QuickBooks customer stories.

Expert opinion: QuickBooks is usually the safest choice when your accountant already uses it. Check user limits before growing your team, and know it may be more than a freelancer with a few invoices needs.

Official pricing · G2 reviews

2. Xero: Best Online Accounting Software for Unlimited Users

Price: Early $27 · Growing about $55–$59 · Established $97 per month
Rating: 4.4/5 on G2 (1,600+ reviews)

Xero’s big selling point is unlimited users on every paid plan. That helps if you work with outside bookkeepers, advisors or a remote team. NerdWallet names Xero alongside QuickBooks as a top pick for most owners.

Pros

• No per-user fees
• Intuitive interface and clear cash-flow view
• Solid bank reconciliation and multi-currency in higher plans

Cons

• Early plan caps you at 20 invoices and 5 bills a month
• US payroll runs through a partner
• Some advanced features cost extra

Success story: Accounting firm PFK Hamilton used Xero practice products during a merger and streamlined operations by 38%. Small Business Accounting rolled Xero out across 50 offices. Browse Xero customer stories.

Expert opinion: Xero is excellent if you expect to add team members without adding per-user fees. It’s especially attractive for companies sharing books with an offshore or external accountant.

Official pricing · G2 reviews

3. FreshBooks: Best Invoicing Software for Freelancers

Price: Lite $23 · Plus $43 · Premium $70 per month · extra team members about $11/month
Rating: 4.5/5 on Capterra (about 4,500 reviews) · 4.5/5 on G2 (981 reviews)

FreshBooks is built around getting paid. Invoices, time tracking, project billing and online payments are easy to find. PCMag gave it Editors’ Choice for service businesses in 2026.

Pros

• Easy, professional invoicing
• Time tracking and project billing
• Simple interface

Cons

• Billable client limits (Lite covers five, Plus covers 50) push you up tiers fast
• Extra team members cost more
• Weak for inventory; no payroll

Expert opinion: Pick FreshBooks if invoicing is your main financial job. If you need inventory or complex reporting, Xero or QuickBooks fit better.

Official pricing · G2 reviews

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4. Zoho Books: Best Value Cloud Accounting Software

Price: Free plan · Standard $20 ($15 annual) · Professional $50 · Premium $70 · Elite $150 · Ultimate $275 per month
Rating: 4.4/5 on G2 (300+ reviews)

Zoho Books is the best value in online accounting software right now. The free plan covers businesses under $50,000 in revenue. You get a client portal, bank reconciliation, e-invoicing and workflow approvals, and it connects to Zoho CRM, Inventory and Payroll.

Pros

• Free plan and a low entry price
• Works smoothly with other Zoho apps
• Multi-currency support; Forbes Advisor keeps it in its top ten

Cons

• Free plan has a revenue limit
• Workflow feels a bit stiff next to QuickBooks
• Support quality varies

Success story: Several Zoho Books customers report saving 20–30% of their time after switching from QuickBooks. One long-term user says the company has grown to nearly 400 employees worldwide on Zoho Books. Read Zoho customer stories.

Expert opinion: Strong features without enterprise pricing. It’s especially good for businesses in Asia, the Middle East and emerging markets that need multi-currency support.

US pricing · G2 reviews

5. Wave: Best Free Accounting Software

Price: Starter free · Pro $19/month
Rating: 4.4/5 on Capterra (1,725 reviews) · 4.3/5 on G2

Wave’s free plan is real: invoicing, expense tracking, bank connections and reports cost nothing. Pro adds automatic bank import. You pay only for payment processing, about 2.9% plus $0.60 per card transaction. PCMag named it an Editors’ Choice pick for budget users in 2026.

Pros

• Genuinely free core accounting
• Easy setup and clean invoice templates
• Low-cost Pro plan

Cons

• US and Canada only
• Payroll costs extra
• Thin support on the free tier

Expert opinion: For a side hustle or brand-new business, start here before spending a cent. When you need multi-currency, inventory or stronger support, move to Xero, Zoho Books or QuickBooks.

Pricing · G2 reviews

6. Sage 50 / Sage Accounting: Best for Inventory-Heavy Businesses

Price: Sage 50 Pro $132.17/month (annual commitment) · Premium $182.50 · Quantum $271.17 · Sage Accounting outside the US from £20/month ex-VAT
Rating: 4.0/5 on Capterra (630 reviews) · 4.3/5 on G2 for the Sage suite (7,787 reviews)

Sage sells two different things, which confuses people. Outside the US, Sage Accounting is a clean cloud tool. In the US, the flagship is Sage 50, with FIFO/LIFO inventory costing, job costing, audit trails and versions for construction and manufacturing.

Pros

• Advanced inventory and job costing
• Industry versions for construction and manufacturing
• Established provider with solid reporting

Cons

• Expensive for small teams
• Confusing product range
• Some products are desktop-based rather than browser-native

Expert opinion: Buy it if inventory complexity is your daily headache. Skip it if you mostly send invoices.

Sage US website

7. Oracle NetSuite: Best When You Outgrow Small-Business Tools

Price: Custom quote · base license from about $999/month plus $129–$199 per full user
Rating: 4.1/5 on G2 (4,600+ reviews) · 4.2/5 on Capterra (2,004 reviews)

NetSuite is a full cloud ERP: financials, inventory, orders, CRM and e-commerce in one database. Mid-market first-year costs can reach $100,000–$250,000 with implementation. Gartner named it a Leader in its 2025 Magic Quadrant for cloud financials.

Pros

• Accounting and operations in one system
• Handles multiple entities and complex operations
• Strong analyst recognition

Cons

• No published price list and a high total cost
• Complex implementation and training
• Far more than a micro business needs

Success story: Sugar Bowl Bakery is one of the customer stories NetSuite shares to show the scale it handles. See NetSuite.

Expert opinion: Think of it as a business operating system, not simple accounting. Negotiate the renewal cap before you sign.

G2 reviews

8. Sage Intacct: Best for Multi-Entity Reporting

Price: Custom quote · typically about $15,000–$60,000 per year
Rating: 4.3/5 on G2 (3,000+ reviews)

Sage bought Intacct in 2017. It uses dimensions instead of a rigid chart of accounts, produces clean GAAP reporting and has dashboards a board can actually read. Sage reports 99+ G2 customer satisfaction scores for eleven straight reports.

Pros

• Strong multi-entity consolidation
• Advanced reporting and automation
• Top satisfaction scores in the category

Cons

• Quote-only pricing and higher cost
• Needs implementation planning
• Overkill below roughly $2 million in revenue

Success story: OneStream used Sage Intacct while growing its CMRR by 800% in four years and preparing for an IPO. SecurityScorecard also reports revenue growth after moving from QuickBooks. See Sage Intacct.

Expert opinion: Shortlist it if you run a nonprofit, a SaaS company or a multi-location group heading north fast.

G2 reviews

9. Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central: Best for Microsoft-Based Companies

Price: Essentials from about $70 per user per month · Premium plans cost more
Rating: 4.0/5 on G2 (566 reviews)

Business Central is Microsoft’s cloud platform for companies that need more than basic bookkeeping. It connects accounting with inventory, purchasing, project management and day-to-day operations, all inside the Microsoft world. If your team already works in Excel, Outlook, Teams and Power BI, the native connections cut a lot of friction for your finance and operations staff. Its G2 satisfaction score is a little lower than some rivals, but its market presence stays strong because of how well it fits into the Microsoft ecosystem. Keep in mind that the price is per user, and you will likely need setup and training.

Pros

• Strong financial management with accounting and operations in one system
• Works with Excel, Outlook, Teams and Power BI
• Suits growing companies that need ERP features
• Covers general ledger, payables, receivables, inventory and purchasing

Cons

• Costs more than basic accounting software
• Needs setup and staff training
• May require implementation support
• Per-user pricing adds up as your team grows

Expert opinion: Choose Business Central if your team already lives in Microsoft products. The links to Excel, Power BI, Outlook and Teams make daily work smoother. If you only need simple invoicing and expense tracking, a lighter tool like Xero or Zoho Books will cost far less and take less effort to set up.

Official pricing · G2 reviews

10. Odoo Accounting: Best All-in-One Business Software

Price: Free single-app option · paid plans depend on apps and users
Price: Free single-app option · Paid plans depend on the apps and users you choose
Rating: Around 4.2/5 in software comparisons

Odoo is a modular business platform, so you don’t have to buy everything on day one. Start with accounting, then add CRM, inventory, sales, purchasing and e-commerce as the business grows. That makes it a good fit for companies that want one connected system instead of five separate apps. Accounting includes invoicing, bank reconciliation and financial reports, and it links directly to inventory and sales. The trade-off is setup. Odoo takes more configuration than QuickBooks or Xero, and costs climb as you add apps.

Pros

• Accounting, CRM, inventory and sales in one platform
• Flexible modules that grow with your business
• Free single-app option to get started
• Useful inventory integration

Cons

• Setup may need technical help
• More apps mean higher costs
• Steeper learning curve for new users

Expert opinion: Odoo is powerful, but it asks more of you than QuickBooks or Xero. It works best for businesses with in-house technical skills or a good implementation partner who can configure it properly. If you only need simple bookkeeping, a lighter tool will save you time..

Odoo pricing · G2 reviews

11. FreeAgent: Best for UK Freelancers and Contractors

Price: £19 (sole traders) · £27 (partnerships) · £33 (limited companies) per month · free with NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle business accounts
Rating: 4.5/5 on Capterra (179 reviews)

FreeAgent handles VAT schemes, mileage and a tax timeline that shows roughly what you owe HMRC. New customers can get 50% off for six months.

Pros

• Built for UK tax and VAT
• Free with certain business bank accounts
• Praised interface and support

Cons

• UK-first
• Not ideal for complex inventory

Expert opinion: For British one-person businesses, it’s the least stressful route to compliant books.

FreeAgent

12. Bonsai: Best for Freelancers and Consultants

PrPrice: Basic $15/month ($9/month billed annually) · Essentials $25/month · Premium $39/month · Elite $59/month
Rating: 4.6/5 on Capterra (95 reviews) · 4.3/5 on G2 (102 reviews)

Bonsai wraps contracts, proposals, invoicing, time tracking and basic accounting into one workspace, which is why solo consultants keep recommending it. The contract and invoice templates alone can save you hours with every new client. Automated tax-estimate reminders are genuinely handy when April comes around. Annual billing can cut the price by up to 40%. One thing to know: Bonsai is not a double-entry system in the QuickBooks sense, so your accountant may still want a proper ledger running behind it.

Pros

• Contracts, proposals, invoices and time tracking in one place
• Templates that save hours per client
• Tax-estimate reminders
• Annual billing saves up to 40%

Cons

• Not a double-entry accounting system
• Your accountant may still want a separate ledger
• Less suited to businesses with employees or inventory

Expert opinion: As a front office for a one-person business, Bonsai is excellent, and it can replace several separate tools. If you invoice clients, sign contracts and track time every week, it keeps the admin in one dashboard. Once you need full books, pair it with QuickBooks or Xero.

Pricing

13. ZipBooks: Best Simple and Free QuickBooks Alternative

Price: Starter free · Smarter $15 · Sophisticated $35 per month
Price: Starter free · Smarter $15/month · Sophisticated $35/month
Rating: 4.7/5 on G2 (86 reviews)

ZipBooks is the lightweight challenger in this list. The interface is clean, invoicing is smart, and the free Starter plan covers the basics for as long as you need it. Paid plans add auto-reports, payment retries and deeper analytics. Its standout feature is customer health scoring: ZipBooks rates your clients on their payment history, so you know who to chase before an invoice goes stale. With 4.7 out of 5 on G2, it has one of the highest user scores on this list. Just keep in mind that there is no payroll, inventory is limited, and the integration library is smaller than QuickBooks or Xero.

Pros

• Free Starter plan that handles real books
• Clean interface and smart invoicing
• Customer health scores show who is slow to pay
• One of the highest G2 ratings on this list

Cons

• No payroll
• Limited inventory features
• Smaller integration library

Expert opinion: ZipBooks is a strong pick for simple service businesses that want a free or near-free alternative to QuickBooks. If you need payroll, heavy inventory or advanced multi-currency, look at Zoho Books or Xero instead.

ZipBooks · G2 reviews

14. Kashoo: Simplest Cloud Accounting

PPrice: One plan at $30/month or $324/year, with unlimited users and transactions
Rating: 4.5/5 on Capterra (132 reviews) · 4.6/5 on G2 (55 reviews)

Kashoo does one thing and does it well: it keeps simple books simple. There is just one plan, so you never have to work out which tier you need. Underneath is a real double-entry engine, along with income and expense tracking and multi-currency invoicing. The app syncs whether you are online or offline. Reviewers keep using the same phrase, “easy to use,” which tells you a lot. Kashoo now sits inside FBC, Canada’s farm and small-business tax firm.

Pros

• Very easy to use, even without accounting training
• One flat plan with unlimited users and transactions
• Multi-currency invoicing
• App syncs online and offline

Cons

• No inventory management or class tracking
• Reporting is light compared with bigger platforms
• Only 55 reviews on G2, so the feedback pool is small

Expert opinion: Kashoo is a good match for a café, a shop or a freelance practice that wants tidy books without taking a course first. If you sell physical products or need deep reports, look at ZarMoney, Xero or QuickBooks instead.

Kashoo

15. ZarMoney: Best Feature-per-Dollar Value

PrPrice: Entrepreneur $15/month · Small Business $20/month (two users) · Enterprise from $350/month (30+ users)
Rating: 4.6/5 on G2 (29 reviews)

ZarMoney is the tool many accountants suggest when a client has outgrown entry-level apps but can’t justify a full ERP. You get proper double-entry accounting, inventory with FIFO and LIFO costing, and unlimited transactions on every plan. The pricing scales by users, so a small team pays very little while a bigger company can move up to the Enterprise tier. Forbes Advisor’s cloud accounting roundup recommends it for exactly this middle ground. The interface looks dated and the review base is small, but the value for the money is real.

Pros

• Strong feature set for the price
• Inventory tracking with FIFO and LIFO built in
• Unlimited transactions on every plan
• Pricing that grows with your team size

Cons

• Dated-looking interface
• Only 29 reviews on G2, so less feedback to learn from
• Enterprise tier starts at $350 a month

Expert opinion: ZarMoney suits businesses that have outgrown basic accounting software but aren’t ready for the cost and setup of an ERP. Run a free trial with your real inventory data to see whether the older interface bothers you.

Pricing

16. AccountEdge Pro: Best Desktop-Hybrid Accounting

Price: $20/month single user · Network Edition $30/month
Rating: 4.3/5 on Capterra (93 reviews)

AccountEdge went subscription in 2026. Data is stored locally, with optional cloud sync.

Pros

• Real double-entry, inventory and job costing
• Strong reporting; Forbes Advisor scored it 9 out of 10
• Stable for long-time users

Cons

• Not browser-based
• Weaker for remote collaboration

Expert opinion: A lifeline for businesses with poor internet. If real-time remote access is critical, pick a fully cloud-based tool.

AccountEdge

17. OneUp: Best for Automation-Focused Small Businesses

Price: Varies by plan
Rating: Forbes Advisor consumer sentiment score of 8.6

OneUp brings accounting, invoicing, inventory, CRM and cash-flow tracking into one platform. The idea is simple: spend less time on repetitive tasks and fewer dollars on separate apps. Forbes Advisor gave it a high sentiment score of 8.6, which points to good feedback from users. It is not as widely reviewed as QuickBooks or Xero, so you will find fewer user opinions to read before deciding.

Pros

• Accounting, inventory and CRM in one place
• Automation features that cut down manual work
• High sentiment score from Forbes Advisor

Cons

• Less well known than QuickBooks or Xero
• Fewer reviews available to compare
• Pricing depends on the plan, so you need to check the vendor

Expert opinion: OneUp is worth a trial if automation, inventory and customer tracking all matter to your business. Before you switch your books over, check that it supports your local tax rules and that your accountant is comfortable using it.

OneUp

18. Neat: Best for Receipt and Document Capture

Price: Home $18/month · Small Business $30/month · Premium $45/month
Rating: about 3.9/5 on Capterra (roughly 150 reviews)

Neat first became popular for scanning receipts, and that is still what it does best. Take a photo of a receipt and the details go straight into your books, already sorted into categories. Over the years it has also moved toward bookkeeping services, so check what each plan includes before you pay.

Pros

• Receipt capture is quick and accurate
• Turns a pile of paper into organized records
• Plans for home users and small businesses

Cons

• Reviews are average, mostly because of support and changing features
• It is not a full accounting ledger
• Plan tiers can be unclear

Expert opinion: Neat works well when messy receipts are your biggest headache. If you need proper double-entry books, use it alongside one of the stronger accounting tools on this list.

Visit Neat

Neat

19. Patriot Software Accounting: Best Budget Pick With Payroll

Price: Basic $20 · Premium $30 per month · payroll $17/month plus $4 per employee
Rating: 4.8/5 on Capterra (3,967 reviews)

A plain interface sits on top of a real double-entry ledger with bank feeds and invoicing. It won Capterra’s Best Value award for 2026.

Pros

• Cheap, with payroll under one roof
• Accountant-friendly reports
• Frequent half-off promos

Cons

• Limited integrations
• US-only

Expert opinion: Cheap, honest bookkeeping software with payroll included deserves a look.

Patriot Software

20. Akaunting: Best Open-Source Accounting

Price: Free and paid options, depending on hosting and apps
Rating: Check current reviews on the vendor’s site

Akaunting offers invoicing, expense tracking, financial reports and customer and vendor management.

Pros

• Open-source option
• Flexible and customizable
• Free to start

Cons

• Some features need paid apps
• Self-hosting needs technical skill

Expert opinion: Worth exploring if you’re comfortable managing your own hosting.

Akaunting

What Experts Say About Cloud Accounting in 2027

Professional reviewers mostly agree. PCMag’s 2026 roundup gave Editors’ Choice to FreshBooks, QuickBooks Online and Wave. NerdWallet names QuickBooks Online and Xero as top picks. Forbes Advisor’s September 2026 ranking includes FreshBooks, NetSuite, Zoho Books, AccountEdge, Sage Intacct and Xero. Gartner keeps NetSuite in the Leader quadrant. Still, the best tool depends far more on your business than on any leaderboard.

Cloud Accounting Trends for 2027

AI is becoming a coworker. Per Intuit’s 2025 survey, 46% of US accountants use AI daily, nearly double the rate among small businesses.

Real-time cash flow is replacing month-end reports.

E-invoicing mandates keep spreading, which favors cloud tools over desktop software.

Prices keep creeping up. Annual billing helps: Zoho’s saves 25% and Bonsai’s up to 40%.

How to Choose Accounting Software for Your Business

• Count your monthly transactions. Xero’s Early plan caps at 20 invoices and 5 bills.
• Count your users. Xero includes unlimited users; QuickBooks charges by tier.
• Decide on payroll now. It’s bundled in QuickBooks and Patriot, not offered by FreshBooks or ZipBooks.
• Check tax support. FreeAgent is UK-first and Wave is US and Canada only.
• Test with real data during the free trial.
• Note the promo end date. Most “50% off” deals reset within three or four months.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best cloud accounting software for small businesses in 2027?
QuickBooks Online, from $38 a month, is the safest all-round choice. Pick Xero for unlimited users and Wave for free.

What is the cheapest accounting software that’s actually good?
Wave, Zoho Books’ free plan and ZipBooks Starter cost nothing. ZarMoney starts at $15 a month.

QuickBooks or Xero?
US-based with a QuickBooks accountant? Stay there. Trading internationally or need unlimited users? Choose Xero.

Is cloud accounting software safe?
Reputable vendors encrypt data and support multi-factor authentication. Turn on MFA and export regular backups.

Final Recommendation

• QuickBooks Online if accountant compatibility matters most
• Xero if you want unlimited users
• Zoho Books for the best value
• FreshBooks if you invoice clients for a living
• Wave if you need free accounting
• Sage Intacct or NetSuite if you’re scaling past small-business accounting

Test any tool with real data first. Ratings and success stories here are vendor- or platform-reported, so treat them as a guide, not a guarantee.

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