What is cloud accounting?
Cloud accounting is the process of storing the data for your business’ books and records in an “cloud” instead of hard drives. The term describes any business that stores its data, including its financial records, on a network – as opposed to storing it on computers or hard drives that are owned by the company (either co-located or at another location).
The 13 Best Cloud Accounting Services for Your Business
Whether you’re just starting out with basic bookkeeping tasks or your business’s needs have evolved to include more complex accounting functions, there’s a cloud service for you.
Cloud accounting services are becoming more popular by the day, especially among small-business owners. And for good reason. These online services are usually affordable, easy to use, and offer a variety of useful features that make doing your books far easier than it has ever been before.
But with so many options out there, it can be hard to know which are the best cloud accounting services are for you. That’s why we’ve reviewed some of the most popular ones in detail in this article. Read on to learn about our top 20 picks, their features and prices, and how they compare with each other according to current customer feedback at the time of writing this article.
1. Xero
Xero is a cloud-based accounting software service that offers a range of features, including invoicing, full payroll integration, multi-currency support, point of sale functionality. The software is available in free and paid versions. Both allow you to import Microsoft Excel or CSV files and integrates with both Google Sheets and Salesforce, so you can easily track sales data for each customer. Both the free and paid versions offer access to unlimited users, which means more than one person can use the same account. The free version also has unlimited projects for small businesses with up to three projects. You can also share Xero books between different users without having to buy additional licenses.
There is a 14-day free trial to Xero and a 30-day free trial for QuickBooks.
Although it’s easy to use, the service is not as comprehensive as some of the competition. Lots of features are missing from the free version, such as invoice approval and lack of mobile integration. Still, as long as you don’t expect it to do everything, Xero may very well suit your needs.
2. SuiteCRM – Workforce Management Solutions (Free)
SuiteCRM is a web-based accounting software application that provides business administrators with tools that can be used to manage and track employee relationships and payroll data with ease. The web-based application can also be used to create, edit, and send emails, which makes it the perfect solution for companies with employees.
SuiteCRM’s email automation features allow you to send automated messages to your team members based on various triggers. For example, you could automatically send a message every time a customer comes online for the first time or when someone uses your services for the first time. This feature offers great flexibility, but does require some work on your part by setting up emails as triggers.
SuiteCRM is available in free and paid versions.
The free version of the software is limited to 14 modules and 1,000 emails per month. Businesses with more than 50 users and 4,000 emails sent per month will need to upgrade to create a paid account. You can find out more about pricing and features here.
SuiteCRM has a variety of tools for tracking inventory, such as inventory levels via barcodes and automatic updates using the SCM (Supply Chain Management) feature. For most small-business owners, this will be more than enough for managing day-to-day operations.
3. FreeAgent (Free)
FreeAgent is an accounting software application that can be used by any type of business, from freelancers such as graphic designers to small businesses. The web-based platform offers a range of features, including invoices, expenses claims, split payment tracking, time tracking and even a full reporting suite. This makes it suitable for businesses that have only a few employees or more than a dozen employees. The free version has a number of restrictions that will prevent you from being able to manage the more robust features offered by the paid version of the application, but it is very suitable for small businesses with fewer than five employees.
One limitation is the number of users you get with the free platform. This is capped at two people and the number of projects that you can work on using the free version of the software is also limited to two. Additionally, there is no mobile integration with this app, which limits its utility for freelancers and small businesses that want to manage their business from remote locations.
Businesses with more than five team members and more than 5,000 transactions per month will need to upgrade to the paid version of the application. You can find out more about pricing and features here.
4. Intuit QuickBooks (Free Trial)
Intuit QuickBooks is a cloud-based accounting software solution that can be used for any type of business, from sole proprietorships to large corporations. The software can be used to manage accounting, payroll, and invoicing needs for both commercial and personal use. The application allows you to perform a wide range of tasks from any web browser. This includes viewing finances from anywhere in the world, exporting data into a variety of systems, and printing financial statements.
The software is available in a free version that can be used by 100 users at a time, but is limited to 60 days. Businesses with more than 100 users will need to upgrade to the paid version of the software for access to all features. You can find out more about pricing and features here.
5. FreshBooks (Free)
FreshBooks is a cloud-based accounting software service that can be used to manage small business finances. The web-based platform offers a range of tools, including invoicing, time tracking and expense management among others, and also integrates with a range of other applications such as Salesforce and HubSpot. It is a great tool for those who don’t have the time to learn advanced computer languages such as Python or Ruby. The software can be used by any type of business from sole proprietorships to large corporations.
You can see all IT Sales Industry jobs on Eloplay’s job site – just search for Intuit QuickBooks…
FreshBooks provides a free version of the software. This version allows you to connect to QuickBooks and create invoices and expenses, which can be used by small businesses with less than one hundred users. A paid version has access to all features and unlimited users, which means more than one person can use the same account.
The free version of the software is limited to 25 invoices and 100 expenses per month, but this is more than enough for most small-business owners who only require basic accounting services. A paid account will grant you access to those features as well as reports, an unlimited number of users and more advanced tools such as stock tracking. You can find out more about pricing here.
6. Wave (Free)
Wave is an accounting software application that can be used to manage your finances at home or in your business. The web-based platform allows you to track your accounts receivable and payable, track payments, manage income and expenses, automate payments and even create invoices. The software was designed to offer small-business owners an alternative to self-hosted accounting systems such as QuickBooks or GoDaddy. This means it is suitable for people who are new to bookkeeping or want a cloud-based solution that they can use for free.
The biggest restriction with Wave is the number of accounts you can use at once. This is limited to 20 personal accounts, 50 business accounts and 20 service accounts. If you have more than 20 users or need any of the services that Wave provides, then you will need to upgrade to the full paid version of the application. For most small-business owners, this is more than sufficient for their accounting needs.
7. Sage 50 (Free)
Sage 50 is an accounting software solution that can be used by any type of business. The web-based platform allows you complete a wide range of tasks with its extensive set of features including invoicing, time tracking, expense tracking and budgeting among others. It is ideal for small businesses with fewer than 10 employees, but still offers enough features to be useful to some larger businesses.
Sage 50’s free version is limited to only one user and you can only run one project. If you need more than that or want advanced functionality such as advanced invoicing or billing, then you will need to upgrade to the paid version of the software. You can find out more about pricing here.
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8. Billings (Free)
Billings is an accounting software solution that can be used by any type of business. The web-based platform allows you to create invoices, track expenses and manage your accounts receivable and payable. It was designed with small businesses in mind, so incorporates features such as payment reminders, time tracking and expense management to suit the needs of the average small business owner.
The free version of Billings is limited to one user and can only be used for one project at a time. To upgrade to the paid version you will need to purchase an annual subscription plan that runs from $8 per month for one user or 12 users per month. You can find out more about pricing here.
9. NetSuite (Free Trial)
NetSuite is a cloud-based accounting software solution that can be used for any type of business, from sole proprietorships to large corporations. The software is available as a free trial that can be used by up to 10 users, as well as a paid version that has access to all features. This means it is suitable for small-business owners on a tight budget as well as those who need an accounting solution with more advanced features.
The free version of the software allows you to connect to QuickBooks and Quicken and create invoices and expenses, which can be used by small businesses with less than 100 users. The paid version has access to all features and unlimited users, which means more than one person can use the same account.
The free version of the software is limited to 25 invoices and 100 expenses per month, but this is more than enough for most small-business owners who only require basic accounting services. A paid account will grant you access to those features as well as reports, an unlimited number of users and more advanced tools such as stock tracking. You can find out more about pricing here.
10. Xero (Free)
Xero is a cloud-based accounting software solution that can be used for any type of business, from sole proprietorships to large corporations. The software is available as a free trial that can be used by up to 25 users, as well as a paid version that has access to all features. This means it is suitable for small-business owners on a tight budget as well as those who need an accounting solution with more advanced features.
The free version of the software allows you to connect to QuickBooks and Sage 50 and create invoices and expenses, which can be used by small businesses with less than 500 users. The paid version has access to all features and unlimited users, which means more than one person can use the same account.
The free version of the software is limited to 25 invoices and 100 expenses per month, but this is more than enough for most small-business owners who only require basic accounting services. A paid account will grant you access to those features as well as reports, an unlimited number of users and more advanced tools such as stock tracking. You can find out more about pricing here.
11. Xero (Free)
Xero is a cloud-based accounting software solution that can be used for any type of business, from sole proprietorships to large corporations. The software is available as a free trial that can be used by up to 25 users, as well as a paid version that has access to all features. This means it is suitable for small-business owners on a tight budget as well as those who need an accounting solution with more advanced features.
The free version of the software allows you to connect to QuickBooks and Sage 50 and create invoices and expenses, which can be used by small businesses with less than 500 users. The paid version has access to all features and unlimited users, which means more than one person can use the same account.
The free version of the software is limited to 25 invoices and 100 expenses per month, but this is more than enough for most small-business owners who only require basic accounting services. A paid account will grant you access to those features as well as reports, an unlimited number of users and more advanced tools such as stock tracking. You can find out more about pricing here.
12. Xero (Paid)
Xero is a cloud-based accounting software solution that can be used for any type of business, from sole proprietorships to large corporations. The software is available as a free trial that can be used by up to 25 users, as well as a paid version that has access to all features. This means it is suitable for small-business owners on a tight budget as well as those who need an accounting solution with more advanced features.
The free version of the software allows you to connect to QuickBooks and Sage 50 and create invoices and expenses, which can be used by small businesses with less than 500 users. The paid version has access to all features and unlimited users, which means more than one person can use the same account.
The free version of the software is limited to 25 invoices and 100 expenses per month, but this is more than enough for most small-business owners who only require basic accounting services. A paid account will grant you access to those features as well as reports, an unlimited number of users and more advanced tools such as stock tracking. You can find out more about pricing here.
13. Freshbooks
FreshBooks is a cloud accounting software for small businesses that offers unlimited users, project-based invoicing, flexible payment structures, and more. It’s easy to install on any operating system, and works with an unlimited number of computers.
All-inclusive solution – you only pay for what you use. There’s no need to think about annual or monthly fees if your only business is your own personal one. You can even install it on multiple computers at one time.FreshBooks has one of the fastest customer support response times in the industry. You can send invoices to clients in multiple formats, including PDF, iCalendar, HTML, and text (or DOC).
You can track time spent on individual tasks with great detail. The FreshBooks mobile app allows users to record billable time or expenses directly from their smartphone. Users also have access to QuickBooks Connect for adding items directly into QuickBooks. The FreshBooks account can be used by multiple users for billing at the same time. Easy to use user interface – users can create expense reports, invoices, and customer reports in a few simple steps. Publish a detailed expense report to a web site or PDF document for your clients. You can use VAT or customs data to enter international invoices. The app even provides a VAT calculator that will calculate the VAT based on your country’s rates.
14. Reach
Reach Online is offered by Intuit who also own a number of other products including Reach Pro, Reach Premier, Reach Desktop, and others. The company offers a premium version of the software which users can extend with add-ons such as cash management, invoice factoring and financial statements. Users can also receive support from the dedicated help desk while using the service.
Cloud accounting can be a great way to manage your business finances, if you’re looking for an easy-to-use system that provides great value for money. Many users found that it was much easier to use than other online accounting software they had previously used. Users might prefer Reach because of the flexibility it offers in terms of how they want to manage their finances. There are several company reports available, as well as the ability to keep track of revenue through time sheets and invoices.