10 Best Accounting Software for CPA Firms Compared for 2025
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The tools you invest in to manage your firm’s finances are just as important as those you use to deliver client work.
From running payroll to meeting your tax obligations, you should choose a tool that can help you efficiently save time by managing your financial admin work while giving you more time for billable work.
To help you find the right accounting software for your firm, we compiled a list of the top solutions we consistently see successful firms use.
In addition to sharing each platform’s offering and pricing, we assessed them based on these helpful features:
- Automated bank reconciliation
- Payroll management
- Expense management
- Project accounting
- Invoice/billing management
- Tax compliance tools
- Financial reporting tools
- Multi-currency support
- Integration with other software
- Client portal
- Mobile app
- Cloud access
Quickbooks Online
Intuit’s QuickBooks Online is a popular cloud-based accounting software that firms can use to manage basic accounting tasks like updating the general ledger, invoicing clients, and generating financial reports.
The platform also offers more advanced capabilities in its higher-tier plans and add-ons, such as creating and sending estimates to clients and logging billable hours.
Whether you’re starting as a sole operator or have already built a solid team of professional accountants, QuickBooks Online offers several plan tiers to accommodate your needs.
Main Features
| Automated bank reconciliation | ✅ |
| Payroll management | ✅ * |
| Expense management | ✅ |
| Project accounting | ✅ |
| Invoicing | ✅ |
| Bill management | ✅ |
| Tax compliance tools | ✅ |
| Multi-currency support | ✅ |
| Integration with other software | ✅ |
| Client portal | ✅ |
| Mobile app | ❌ |
| Cloud access | ✅ |
*Available as an add-on
Pros
- User-friendly interface
- Exclusive platform for accountants with free firm management tools
Cons
- Vast ecosystem of accounting tools sometimes confusing to navigate for new firm owners
- More expensive compared to competitors
Free Trial
30-day free trial
Pricing
The Simple Start plan starts at $35 per month for one user. To support additional users or access advanced capabilities, the Essentials plan is $65 monthly for 3 users, and the Plus plan is $99 monthly for 5 users. The Advanced plan includes all features, which costs $235 per month and supports up to 25 users.
Xero
Xero is a comprehensive accounting solution where firms can maintain all financial data digitally with automated tools to help teams spend less time on critical yet repetitive tasks.
Firms appreciate Xero’s convenient accounting dashboard, which allows them to view real-time data on invoices, bank balances, and bills in one central location.
The platform also offers plenty of tools to help manage the accounting of client work, such as its robust project-tracking tools, professional quoting capabilities, and automatic payment reminders on outstanding invoices.
Main Features
| Automated bank reconciliation | ✅ |
| Payroll management | ❌ * |
| Expense management | ✅ |
| Project accounting | ✅ |
| Invoicing | ✅ |
| Bill management | ✅ |
| Tax compliance tools | ❌ |
| Multi-currency support | ✅ |
| Integration with other software | ✅ |
| Client portal | ✅ |
| Mobile app | ✅ |
| Cloud access | ✅ |
*Available via integration with Gusto
Pros
- Practice management tools through its partner program
- Affordable plans
Cons
- Requires credit card information to begin the free trial
Free Trial
30-day free trial
Pricing
The Early plan starts at $20 per month with limited functionality. The Growing plan is available at $47 per month for expanded capabilities. The Established plan provides access to all platform features and costs $80 per month.
Sage 50
Sage 50 is cloud accounting software built specifically for small businesses, making it a good choice for new accounting firms.
It offers advanced features and analytics that might be important to firm owners, such as cash flow management and project profitability reports, alongside basic capabilities like invoicing, billing, and financial reporting.
Growing firms can graduate to the Sage Intacct platform to tap into more advanced functionality, such as better customization, workflow automation, robust reporting, and more.
Main Features
| Automated bank reconciliation | ✅ |
| Payroll management | ✅ * |
| Expense management | ✅ |
| Project accounting | ✅ |
| Invoicing | ✅ |
| Bill management | ✅ |
| Tax compliance tools | ❌ |
| Multi-currency support | ✅ |
| Integration with other software | ✅ |
| Client portal | ✅ |
| Mobile app | ✅ |
| Cloud access | ✅ |
*Available as an add-on
Pros
- Easy transition to the Sage Intacct platform, if your business needs to scale
- Unlimited phone and chat support for all users
Cons
- Expensive compared to competitors
Free Trial
30-day free trial
Pricing
The Sage 50 Pro plan starts at $61.92 monthly for one user. The Premium plan is available for up to 5 users with expanded capabilities, starting at $103.92 monthly.
The top-tier Quantum plan supports 11+ users, has even more robust features, and starts at $177.17 monthly.
For both the Premium and Quantum plans, pricing for each additional user comes at a discounted monthly rate.
Wave Accounting
Wave Accounting is an accounting solution known for its sleek and modern interface and extensive financial management tools. With all Wave accounts, users get access to an in-house team of bookkeeping and accounting experts, which affords them an extra set of eyes as the firm gets up and running.
There is a generous free plan available, which might be appealing to new firm owners looking to keep overhead costs low while still being able to maintain bookkeeping records, invoice clients, and receive online payments.
Main Features
| Automated bank reconciliation | ✅ |
| Payroll management | ✅ * |
| Expense management | ✅ |
| Project accounting | ✅ |
| Invoicing | ✅ |
| Bill management | ✅ |
| Tax compliance tools | ❌ |
| Multi-currency support | ✅ |
| Integration with other software | ✅ ** |
| Client portal | ❌ |
| Mobile app | ✅ |
| Cloud access | ✅ |
*Available as an add-on
**Available via Zapier
Pros
- Free plan available
- Affordable pricing on the paid plan
- Ability to hire an outsourced bookkeeper for extra support
Cons
- No live chat or email support with the free plan
Free Trial
Free forever Starter plan
Pricing
Wave offers a free Starter plan, which includes unlimited bookkeeping records, estimates, invoicing, and payment processing. The Pro plan is $16 per month, with access to more advanced features, additional users, and a discounted rate on credit card payments.
FreshBooks
FreshBooks offers accounting software for self-employed individuals and growing small businesses, with essential features to help you get paid, pay your team, analyze financial performance, and manage client interactions.
Overall, FreshBooks aims to help keep your books organized and well-prepped for a smooth tax season, with several plan tiers available to suit firms at every stage of growth.
Main Features
| Automated bank reconciliation | ✅ |
| Payroll management | ✅ * |
| Expense management | ✅ |
| Project accounting | ✅ |
| Invoicing | ✅ |
| Bill management | ✅ |
| Tax compliance tools | ✅ |
| Multi-currency support | ✅ |
| Integration with other software | ✅ |
| Client portal | ✅ |
| Mobile app | ✅ |
| Cloud access | ✅ |
*Available as an add-on
Pros
- Accounting Partner Program for generating extra income through affiliates and referrals
- Highly rated customer support
Cons
- Invoicing, time tracking, and expensing features not part of the free trial
Free Trial
30-day free trial
Pricing
There are 4 FreshBooks plans, starting with the Lite plan at $19 monthly. You need to request a quote for the top-tier Select plan, which includes features like unlimited invoices and proposals, recurring invoices, and lower credit card transaction fees.
For every FreshBooks plan, you can add more team members for $11 per user per month.
Zoho Books
Zoho offers a range of business support applications, including Zoho Books, a comprehensive accounting solution.
The platform combines core accounting features like income and expense tracking, invoicing, and bill pay with team collaboration tools and a client portal.
Its impressive free plan includes an extensive features list and could be a good option for a solo operator just starting their firm.
Main Features
| Automated bank reconciliation | ✅ |
| Payroll management | ✅ * |
| Expense management | ✅ |
| Project accounting | ✅ |
| Invoicing | ✅ |
| Bill management | ✅ |
| Tax compliance tools | ✅ |
| Multi-currency support | ✅ |
| Integration with other software | ✅ |
| Client portal | ✅ |
| Mobile app | ✅ |
| Cloud access | ✅ |
*Available as an add-on
Pros
- Robust free plan for one user
- Flat monthly rate instead of per-user pricing
Cons
- Maximum of 15 users
- Limited integrations aside from native Zoho applications
Free Trial
14-day free trial
Pricing
Zoho Books has six plans, starting with its Free plan, which includes invoicing, expense and income tracking, a chart of accounts, basic reporting, and more. The first paid package is the Standard plan at $20 per month, which includes features like recurring expense management and bulk account updates.
Firms needing to support additional users or access advanced features can price up to 4 other paid plans that start at $50 per month, with the top-tier Ultimate plan being $240 per month, with annual billing, which supports up to 15 users.
LessAccounting
LessAccounting may be better known for its outsourced bookkeeping services. However, it offers DIY bookkeeping and accounting software that new firm owners can use to manage their books, invoicing, expense tracking, and other essential accounting tasks.
And, if users ever need some backup on bookkeeping tasks, they can easily tap into LessAccounting’s network of bookkeeping partners for more hands-on support.
Main Features
| Automated bank reconciliation | ✅ |
| Payroll management | ❌ |
| Expense management | ✅ |
| Project accounting | ❌ |
| Invoicing | ✅ |
| Bill management | ✅ * |
| Tax compliance tools | ❌ |
| Multi-currency support | ❌ |
| Integration with other software | ✅ |
| Client portal | ✅ |
| Mobile app | ❌ |
| Cloud access | ✅ |
*Available as an add-on service
Pros
- For small businesses with no unnecessary complexity
- Straightforward and user-friendly interface
Cons
- No mobile app
- Not as scalable as other solutions
Free Trial
30-day free trial
Pricing
The Standard plan gives users access to the DIY software solution for $24 per month. Pricing for the Bookkeeping Copilot, which offers users extra support managing their books, starts at $150 per month.
NetSuite
Oracle’s NetSuite cloud accounting software program is part of its enterprise ERP solution. It’s a comprehensive system that gives teams robust financial management tools, allowing them to monitor real-time performance and automate tedious accounting tasks like journal entries and account reconciliations.
One of the platform’s strengths is its compliance-focused reporting, helping firms adhere to GAAP, SOX, and other requirements.
However, the tradeoff for such robust capabilities is a steeper learning curve than more streamlined platforms, which firm owners should consider before implementing.
Main Features
| Automated bank reconciliation | ✅ |
| Payroll management | ✅ * |
| Expense management | ✅ * |
| Project accounting | ✅ * |
| Invoicing | ✅ |
| Bill management | ✅ |
| Tax compliance tools | ✅ |
| Multi-currency support | ✅ |
| Integration with other software | ✅ |
| Client portal | ✅ * |
| Mobile app | ✅ |
| Cloud access | ✅ |
*Available as a separate module
Pros
- A modular platform, giving users control over what they use and pay for
- Highly scalable
Cons
- Pricing not transparent
- Could be too robust for the needs of new firms
Free Trial
No
Pricing
Contact NetSuite for a custom quote.
Thomson Reuters Accounting CS
Global content and technology company Thomson Reuters’ Accounting CS platform is designed specifically for professional accountants and CPA firms.
While other solutions offer basic accounting features tailored to small business owners, this platform enables firms to manage their own general ledger, financial transactions, and reporting with plenty of features to manage client work.
Main Features
| Automated bank reconciliation | ✅ |
| Payroll management | ✅ |
| Expense management | ❌ |
| Project accounting | ❌ |
| Invoicing | ✅ |
| Bill management | ✅ |
| Tax compliance tools | ✅ |
| Multi-currency support | ✅ |
| Integration with other software | ✅ |
| Client portal | ✅ * |
| Mobile app | ❌ |
| Cloud access | ✅ |
*Available as an add-on
Pros
- Seamless integration with other Thomson Reuters tools
- Easy-to-use platform, according to users
Cons
- Outdated interface
- No mobile app
Free Trial
No
Pricing
Contact a Thomson Reuters representative for a custom quote.
Drake Accounting
Drake Accounting is a straightforward accounting software solution targeted at small firm owners. Despite the platform’s simplicity, it still delivers all the essential features firms need to keep track of their finances, like double-entry accounting, pre-built reporting options, and AR/AP management modules.
Main Features
| Automated bank reconciliation | ✅ |
| Payroll management | ✅ |
| Expense management | ❌ |
| Project accounting | ❌ |
| Invoicing | ✅ |
| Bill management | ✅ |
| Tax compliance tools | ✅ |
| Multi-currency support | ❌ |
| Integration with other software | ❌ |
| Client portal | ❌ |
| Mobile app | ❌ |
| Cloud access | ✅ * |
*Available via add-on cloud hosting service
Pros
- Cost-effective solution
- Seamless integration with Drake Tax platform
Cons
- May not be as scalable as other solutions
- Clunky and outdated interface
Free Trial
14-day free trial
Pricing
The Forms plan provides general payroll reporting and year-end tax forms for $395 annually. Most firms are interested in the Professional Edition, which includes bookkeeping capabilities, financial statement generation, and AP and AR management at $795 for the year.
BONUS: Keep Your Firm Organized with Jetpack Workflow
As your firm grows, you may find that managing all the work gets harder without a good project management solution. That’s why we created Jetpack Workflow.
Before launching Jetpack Workflow in 2016, our team interviewed hundreds of firms on what was blocking them from their business growth. Here are the most common responses we got:
- Work continuously falls through the cracks.
- There’s no simple way to standardize client work.
- Trouble tracking progress across their own work and team.
- Lack of options to easily automate and manage recurring tasks.
- Client work is growing faster than the firm can hire.
For a decade, Jetpack Workflow has been the leading workflow and project management platform designed for CPAs, bookkeepers, and firm owners. We help make scaling and organizing your client work easier:
- See upcoming work months before the tasks are due.
- Quickly automate and create organized workflows.
- Get recurring work for multiple clients better organized.
- Improve work/life balance and minimize tedious administrative tasks.
“Missing a client deliverable is the absolute worst, and we are avoiding that with the help of Jetpack Workflow.”
— Brad Schuchardt, BTBK Accounting Services
