When you’re building a tech startup, the last thing you want is to waste hours on accounting. But the reality is: you need to know where your money’s going, how much runway you have, and what you can afford.
Good accounting software can handle the boring stuff so you can stay focused on building. Here’s a no-fluff breakdown of the best options in 2025—clear pricing, real pros and cons, and who each one is best for.
1. QuickBooks Online
Best for: Startups that want a full-featured, scalable solution
QuickBooks has been around forever, and for good reason. It does pretty much everything—billing, payroll, taxes, reporting—and it plays nice with tons of third-party tools.
Pricing (monthly):
- Simple Start: $35
- Essentials: $65
- Plus: $99
- Advanced: $235
Features:
- Invoicing and payment tracking
- Expense management
- Financial reporting and dashboards
- Payroll add-on
- Bank syncing
- Integrations with Stripe, PayPal, Gusto, and more
Pros:
- Trusted by accountants everywhere
- Scales with your business
- Powerful reporting tools
- Tons of integrations
Cons:
- Gets expensive fast
- Interface can be overwhelming for new users
2. Xero
Best for: Startups with global teams or remote accountants
Xero is sleek, collaborative, and great for managing multiple currencies. It’s also fully cloud-based and accountant-friendly.
Pricing (monthly):
- Starter: $13
- Standard: $37
- Premium: $70
Features:
- Online invoicing and quotes
- Bank reconciliation
- Multi-currency support (Premium only)
- Payroll (in select countries)
- App marketplace for integrations
Pros:
- Intuitive UI
- Strong multi-user access for teams and accountants
- Great for remote teams
- Clean, real-time dashboards
Cons:
- Starter plan has hard limits on invoices and bills
- Support can be hit or miss
- Advanced features locked behind higher plans
3. Zoho Books
Best for: Startups already using Zoho’s suite (CRM, Projects, etc.)
If you’re already in the Zoho ecosystem, this one makes sense. It’s affordable, clean, and surprisingly powerful for the price.
Pricing (monthly):
- Free: For businesses under $50K in revenue
- Standard: $15
- Professional: $40
- Premium: $60
- Elite/Ultimate: $120+
Features:
- Invoicing and estimates
- Client portal
- Time tracking
- Project and inventory management
- Integrates seamlessly with other Zoho tools
Pros:
- Affordable with generous feature set
- Smooth integration with Zoho apps
- Great for project-based startups
Cons:
- UI feels a bit dated
- Not as many third-party integrations
- Takes time to learn if you’re new to Zoho
3. FreshBooks
Best for: Freelancers or service-based startups who bill for time
FreshBooks is super simple. If you’re mostly sending invoices, tracking hours, and need basic expense tracking, this one’s ideal.
Pricing (monthly):
- Lite: $17
- Plus: $30
- Premium: $55
- Select: Custom
Features:
- Invoicing
- Time tracking
- Expense tracking
- Simple reporting
- Client portal
- Mobile app
Pros:
- Very easy to use
- Excellent for time-based billing
- Great mobile experience
- Responsive support
Cons:
- Not ideal for complex accounting or inventory
- Plans limit the number of clients
- Gets expensive if you’re scaling
4. Wave
Best for: Bootstrapped startups who just need the basics
Wave is 100% free for accounting. It’s simple, cloud-based, and perfect if you’re not ready to spend money on software yet.
Pricing:
- Core accounting tools: Free
- Payroll: Starts at $20/month
- Payments: Pay-as-you-go fees
Features:
- Invoicing
- Expense and income tracking
- Bank reconciliation
- Basic reporting
- Receipt scanning
Pros:
- Totally free
- Clean and user-friendly
- Handles basic needs well
Cons:
- Limited features (no inventory, project tracking, etc.)
- No real-time collaboration tools
- Support is minimal unless you pay
5. ZipBooks
Best for: Startups who want a dead-simple, lightweight tool
ZipBooks flies under the radar but does a decent job if your needs are basic. It’s clean, fast, and has a free tier.
Pricing (monthly):
- Starter: Free
- Smarter: $15
- Sophisticated: $35
Features:
- Invoicing and payments
- Time tracking
- Expense management
- Simple reporting
- Basic CRM features
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Free tier includes invoicing and tracking
- Great for solo founders or tiny teams
Cons:
- Not built for scale
- Lacks integrations and advanced features
- Limited support
6. Digits
Best for: Startups that want AI-powered financial insights
Digits is a newer player designed specifically for startups. It’s like QuickBooks meets Notion meets an AI assistant. Smart, real-time, and very slick.
Pricing (monthly):
- Starter: $100
- Full-Service: $350
Features:
- Real-time financial dashboards
- AI-powered categorization
- Collaboration tools
- Burn rate and runway tracking
- Integrates with QuickBooks
Pros:
- Designed for tech founders
- Beautiful, real-time UI
- Great for investor reporting and board decks
- Helps you actually understand your numbers
Cons:
- Expensive compared to traditional tools
- Requires QuickBooks integration
- Still maturing as a product
The Bottom Line
Here’s the cheat sheet:
- QuickBooks = Industry standard, full-featured
- Xero = Great for global or remote-first teams
- Zoho Books = Best bang for your buck if you’re in Zoho land
- FreshBooks = Invoicing and time tracking for freelancers
- Wave = Free and functional for the basics
- ZipBooks = Simple and lightweight
- Digits = Smart, modern, and startup-focused
Pick the one that matches your workflow, not just your budget. The best accounting tool is the one you’ll actually use.
Let me know if you want help comparing two specific ones side by side.