With a mobile accounting app, you can track your business's finances no matter how far away from the office you are. Not all accounting software companies offer apps, so if you want to do accounting on the go, we recommend checking out these 10 providers.
The 10 Best Small-Business Accounting Apps of 2021
Published on December 18, 2020
Last Updated: 2 weeks ago
We recently reviewed this page to make sure our information was still up to date. Luckily for customers, none of our top 10 picks have changed much recently, and neither have their app reviews. We did make two small changes to our rankings: GoDaddy’s app continued to receive middling reviews, so we bumped it down further on our list. In contrast, Sage Business Cloud Accounting’s full-featured accounting plan is solid with high App Store reviews, so we bumped it up on our list.
View all updates
Small-business accounting apps have improved in leaps and bounds over the past few years, and most cloud accounting software providers now bundle them in with their accounting plans. If accounting on the go is a must for you, keep reading: we've ranked and reviewed the best mobile accounting apps for small-business owners.
Best small-business accounting apps
- : Best overall
- : Best for invoicing
- : Best for collaboration
- : Best automation
- : Best payment options
- : Best invoicing runner-up
- : Best user experience
- : Best customer engagement
- : Best inventory management
- : Best iOS-only
- : Best bookkeeping-only
Best small-business accounting apps
Data effective 12/14/20. At publishing time, pricing and features are current but are subject to change. Offers may not be available in all areas.
QuickBooks Online: Best overall
For a snappy, easy-to-use app that can basically do it all, you can't do better than the QuickBooks Online mobile app.
App Store rating: 4.7 stars (125.2K reviews)1
Google Play rating: 4.1 stars (37.9K reviews)2
The QuickBooks app basically does everything your QuickBooks Online account does—which is a big deal, since many companies’ apps don’t have the heft of their desktop versions. With the mobile app, you can do any of the following things:
- Pull up 50+ common, easy-to-read financial reports and send them to other stakeholders.
- Send invoices with attached receipts via text, email, or messaging app—with the additional security of an encrypted link.
- Automatically track expenses.
- Use GPS to automatically track mileage.
- Set up, accept, and sign estimates for customers even when you’re out of the office.
- Accept payments with your preferred payment gateway.
- Automatically transfer payments to your bank.
Thanks to QuickBooks’ customizable, comprehensive features, it’s a great choice for most types of businesses. For instance, the estimate and quote feature makes it perfect for busy plumbing and HVAC contractors. The GPS mileage tracker is great for companies where employees spend a lot of time in transit, like real estate agents who spend the day traveling from house to house. And the secure invoicing via text feature works well for freelancers who need a quick, easy way to get paid on time.
Strengths
Fast setup and low learning curve
Simple integration with other business apps Weaknesses
Pricier software than many competitors
Poor payroll plans FreshBooks: Best for invoicing
Is accurate, professional invoicing a crucial part of your freelancing business? FreshBooks' fantastic invoicing app makes on-the-go client billing a cinch.
App Store rating: 4.8 stars (8.7K reviews)3
Google Play rating: 4.4 stars (2.3K reviews)4
Are you a hard-working freelancer who needs to track project time, juggle expenses, and send accurate invoices to customers on the go? Then we can't recommend FreshBooks’ cloud-based accounting software highly enough. For $15 a month, FreshBooks includes unlimited customizable invoices that sync easily with its time tracking features so you can bill your clients the right amount per project. FreshBooks also integrates estimates, which you can throw together on the app, pass along for client approval, and transform into an invoice as soon as the project is over.
The app seems to work just as well for Apple users as for Google users. And though it has fewer users overall than QuickBooks, it scores super high for both platforms. Users' main complaints center on the app's lack of features when compared to the desktop version—but FreshBooks is so fully featured that fewer mobile features still means a lot of mobile features. Plus, FreshBooks' customer service team is very active on both review sites: if you have a problem, a customer service rep will usually pass along your complaint to a developer within a few hours.
Strengths
Unlimited customized invoicing
Affordable starting price Weaknesses
Fewer features with app than desktop Xero: Best for collaboration
If collaboration is the name of your game, choose Xero to add unlimited accounting app users at no additional fee.
App Store rating: 4.4 stars (368 reviews)5
Google Play rating: 4.6 stars (3.4K reviews)6
With Xero, accounting is easy and affordable. In fact, Xero’s accounting plans come pretty darn close to competing with QuickBooks’—but at the much more reasonable price of $11 a month. Xero’s app offers these key on-the-go features:
- Bank reconciliation
- Invoicing
- Employee time management
Most impressively, Xero lets you add unlimited users, which is next to unheard of in the world of accounting applications. That feature alone makes Xero perfect for midsize to larger businesses for whom paying an extra $4 to $6 per user per month adds up fast.
In fact, in our accounting software review, we awarded Xero first place over QuickBooks. However, Xero's apps aren't quite as solid as QuickBooks'—Xero has fewer app users, but on the whole, they report more bugs. In fairness, though, no one's accounting apps are as solid as QuickBooks', and Xero's clearly made an effort to up its game: in the last few months, its user base has increased and its Apple score has gone up from around 3.5 stars to nearly 5 stars.5 If it continues improving its app, who knows—Xero could outpace QuickBooks one day.
Strengths
Affordable plans starting at $11/mo.
Unlimited users Weaknesses
iOS app that's not quite up to par
Limited customer support 
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Zoho Books: Best automation
Want to automate your least favorite accounting and bookkeeping tasks? Zoho Books is the app for that.
App Store rating: 4.7 stars (218 reviews)7
Google Play rating: 4.6 stars (5.5K reviews)8
Along with automatic data updates, Zoho Books builds automated workflows into each plan so you can take even more accounting tasks off your plate. An automated workflow is a task or process you usually do by hand—usually something boring but time consuming, like categorizing payments or organizing invoices—that your software or app does for you. With Zoho Books, you can choose which tasks you want to automate, whether that’s billing customers automatically, creating recurring payments, or sending payment reminders to clients who haven’t paid you.
Zoho Books’ biggest downside—and it’s a big one—is that it doesn’t have any payroll capabilities. You can’t even integrate Zoho Books with payroll apps like Gusto. The company is currently rolling out payroll software in India, but the rest of the world is (so far) out of luck.
Still, users worldwide rave about Zoho's accounting app, which is super user-friendly and isn't plagued with bugs or crashes. So if you don't need payroll integration but do need on-the-go bookkeeping, Zoho Books' affordable plans might be worth your while.
Strengths
Plans with inventory management
Multiple workflow automation options Weaknesses
No payroll processing
Limited integration with other apps Hiveage: Best for payments
Want to charge customers conveniently, professionally, and on the go? Hiveage has a payment solution for you.
App Store rating: 4.7 stars (72 reviews)9
Google Play rating: 4 stars (6 reviews)10
We know user numbers are low for Hiveage’s app—but since the company’s only five years old (one of the youngest on our list), that’s to be expected. And if you need a fast, convenient way to charge customers, we definitely recommend Hiveage.
The software and app work with over 12 payment gateways, including popular options like Square and PayPal but also more niche ones like WePay and 2Checkout. Hiveage plans allow you to deal with offline payments too, and the plans come with unlimited clients, bills, invoices, and estimates.
Hiveage’s app does basically everything the software does, which is great if you need the same functionality on the go as you get on desktop. And if you love the word unlimited but not the words monthly fee, Hiveage's new free plan limits only your billable monthly clients. Otherwise, you get unlimited invoicing, expense tracking, time tracking, estimates, and, of course, the free app.
Strengths
Over 12 payment gateways
Offline payments Weaknesses
Limited bookkeeping
Limited accounting 
Find Your Money—and Keep More of It
With plans starting at $15 a month, FreshBooks is well-suited for freelancers, solopreneurs, and small-business owners alike.
- Track time and expenses
- Create custom invoices
- Accept online payments
More small-business accounting app options
The small-business apps we listed above might be our favorites, but they’re definitely not the only fish in the great app sea. If our first five choices didn’t catch your eye, no worries—scan this list for more accounting solutions that could better handle your needs.
Wave Invoicing: Best invoicing runner-up
App Store rating: 4.6 stars (3.6K reviews)13
Google Play rating: 4.6 stars (19.2K reviews)14
Wave’s accounting plan is completely free, so if affordability is your thing, Wave should be your go-to pick. But while Wave's site is fairly mobile-friendly, the free software doesn’t have a corresponding free accounting app. What it does have is a solid invoicing app—plus a payment app and receipt-scanning app, all of which are fully functional and highly rated. All of Wave's products sync with each other, so if you don't need accounting on the go as much as you need easy invoicing, Wave is a freelancer's dream.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting: Best user experience
App Store rating: 4.4 stars (30 reviews)17
Google Play rating: 2.9 stars (248 reviews)18
Sage Business Cloud Accounting—formerly Sage One—is a thorough accounting application with a smorgasbord of mobile capabilities, including inventory management. Sage Business Cloud Accounting has two price points: $10 per month and $25 per month. But here’s one place where Sage loses points. The website almost entirely promotes the $25 plan and implies that the app is available only with the higher price point, though that’s hard to verify even with customer service (and believe us, we tried).
FreeAgent: Best customer engagement
App Store rating: 4.5 stars (27 reviews)15
Google Play rating: 4.6 stars (395 reviews)16
FreeAgent has all the basics of good accounting apps and software, including on-the-go receipt capturing, invoicing, and billing. But it also has a few perks that set it apart. For one thing, it lists your upcoming tax dates so you can stay on top of deadlines. It also has a time feature so you can track meeting minutes and manage mileage.
Since FreeAgent is a UK-based company, its entire support team is located in the UK. That doesn’t stop agents from getting in touch, though—the FreeAgent app support team responds to almost every comment (positive and negative alike) on both the App Store and Google Play store, thanking users and actively requesting user input.
OneUp: Best inventory management
App Store rating: 1 star (1 review)19
Google Play rating: 4 stars (190 reviews)20
Once you sync OneUp with your bank account, the app automates your books and keeps you up to date with daily profit and cash flow updates. OneUp’s site also lets you toggle between the software’s mobile and desktop views, so if you plan to run your numbers primarily on your phone, you can use the site itself to make sure you like the app interface before you buy.
A few downsides: OneUp’s iOS app is fairly new, and according to the sole review, it’s still pretty buggy. Plus, whether you work with iOS or Android, the OneUp app doesn’t offer loads of integrations—just your basic Google Apps and Square.
Kashoo: Best iOS-only
App Store rating: 4.3 stars (65 ratings)21
We really hate to recommend an app that only works with iOS, so major apologies to all you Android users out there. But not many accounting software providers are as easy to set up and navigate as Kashoo, and the app's simplicity makes it a top bookkeeping app for iPhone users. Sure, it wasn't built for bigger businesses, but freelancers, solopreneurs, and small to midsize businesses should find plenty of convenience with Kashoo . . . as long as they're fine with Apple.
GoDaddy Bookkeeping: Best Bookkeeping Only
App Store rating: 2.9 stars (63 reviews)11
Google Play rating: 3.5 stars (20 reviews)12
Simply want to track your profit, check your balance, and easily input expenses? Don’t pay for more than you need. At just under $5 a month, GoDaddy Bookkeeping’s price is nearly impossible to beat for the features it offers. The app is especially great for freelancers and contractors on a budget. If you only need to track invoices and payments and periodically check your numbers, GoDaddy has you covered.
However, GoDaddy Bookkeeping provides bookkeeping only, so we can’t exactly call it one of the best accounting apps. Plus, the app doesn’t have the most or greatest reviews—it skates by with more middling numbers than our other picks.
Mobile app FAQ
What are the pros and cons of mobile apps versus software?
The main pro is all in the name: unlike your work computer, mobile applications are . . . well, mobile. They go wherever you go as long as you travel with your phone. Since most of us are attached to our smartphones by the hip (or hand), that shouldn’t be a problem.
In other words, with an app, your business’s data is always with you and easily accessible. You don’t have to wait until you’re back at your computer to email a client, fill out an invoice, or submit an estimate.
The drawback to using apps over software is that most apps only do so much. The desktop versions of most accounting plans have more features and reports than the apps do. Plus, desktop versions are just easier to read—with a bigger screen, it’s easier to see your program’s navigation and options and to read reports.
What's the best app for small-business accounting?
In terms of functionality and ease of use, QuickBooks Online easily rates as the best accounting app for small businesses. The QuickBooks accounting app does everything the software does, from mileage tracking to bank reconciliation. It’s also one of the most user-friendly apps you can find—the learning curve is practically nonexistent.
But you don’t have to take our word for it: both iOS and Android users score QuickBooks’ mobile accounting app incredibly high. On the App Store, QuickBooks gets 4.7 out of 5 stars from more than 100,000 reviewers. And though it’s rated lower on Google Play, Android users still rate QuickBooks’ small-business app above 4 stars—not bad for an app used daily by millions of people around the world.
The takeaway
Accounting software already makes your life easier, your business operations smoother, and your bottom line happier. Honestly, the only way to improve your business’s accounting life is to choose software with an app that lets you do it all—anywhere you like.
Would you prefer to work with an accounting professional instead of using apps and in-house software? Check out our review of the best virtual and outsourced bookkeeping services to find an accounting solution that works for you.
Disclaimer
At zhulitouzi.com, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.
Sources
1. App Store, “QuickBooks Accounting.” Accessed December 10, 2020.
2. Google Play, “QuickBooks Accounting: Invoicing & Expenses.” Accessed December 10, 2020.
3. App Store, "FreshBooks Cloud Accounting." Accessed December 10, 2020.
4. Google Play, “FreshBooks - Invoice + Accounting.” Accessed December 10, 2020.
5. App Store, “Xero Accounting & Invoices.” Accessed December 10, 2020.
6. Google Play, “Xero Accounting Software.” Accessed December 10, 2020.
7. App Store, “Accounting app – Zoho Books.” Accessed December 10, 2020.
8. Google Play, “Accounting App – Zoho Books.” Accessed December 10, 2020.
9. App Store, “Hiveage Invoicing.” December 10, 2020.
10. Google Play, “Hiveage Invoicing.” Accessed December 10, 2020.
11. App Store, “GoDaddy Bookkeeping.” Accessed December 10, 2020.
12. Google Play, “GoDaddy Bookkeeping.” Accessed December 10, 2020.
13. App Store, “Invoice by Wave.” Accessed December 10, 2020.
14. Google Play, “Invoice by Wave.” Accessed December 10, 2020.
15. App Store, “FreeAgent Mobile Accounting.” Accessed December 10, 2020.
16. Google Play, “FreeAgent Mobile.” Accessed December 10, 2020.
17. App Store, “Sage – Accounting.” Accessed December 10, 2020.
18. Google Play, “Sage - Accounting: invoicing & expenses.” Accessed December 10, 2020.
19. App Store, “OneUp Online Accounting: Invoices, Inventory, Sales.” Accessed December 10, 2020.
20. Google Play, “Accounting Invoicing - OneUp.” Accessed December 10, 2020.
21. App Store, "Kashoo Cloud Accounting." Accessed December 10, 2020.
Written by
Kylie McQuarrie
Kylie spent two of the last four years writing for and with small-business owners—from dentists in Australia to plumbers in the Midwest. She spent the other two writing in depth about internet and security. She’s passionate about reading, hiking, and dedicating every spare second to writing for fun (at lunch, between meetings, on the train, before breakfast . . . ). Her content helps small-business owners tackle the logistics of running a business so they can focus more on their passions too.
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