Compare Karbon vs. ClickUp vs. Jetpack Workflow [2024 Guide]

Every accounting firm juggles deadlines and multiple demands from clients. The trick is keeping your priorities straight and managing client expectations. 

To do this, you need to start by tracking what needs to get done, who’s working on it, and when the client expects the project. Workflow management software can help you track all this (and more), but you need to find the right tool for your firm.

If you’re looking for the perfect accounting or bookkeeping project management tool, this article compares Karbon, ClickUp, and Jetpack Workflow to help you choose.

All three tools offer a variety of features and capabilities that can make your accounting or bookkeeping process easier, faster, and more efficient. However, each tool has its strengths and weaknesses.

What do Karbon, ClickUp, and Jetpack Workflow Do?

Karbon, ClickUp, and Jetpack Workflow are all project management tools. They allow you to track and manage your projects, assign tasks to team members, set deadlines, and more.

Each tool has its own unique set of features. Karbon, for example, offers a robust set of features, making it ideal for teams that want a central place to communicate and collaborate by combining email, discussions, tasks, and workflows. 

ClickUp, on the other hand, is a general project management tool built for any company. 

Meanwhile, Jetpack Workflow is a simple, easy-to-use tool specifically designed for accounting and bookkeeping firms who want to stay organized and know exactly what their team is working on.

A Quick Overview of Each Tool

Karbon

Karbon is workflow management software that helps businesses streamline their operations. It offers a wide range of features, including invoicing, bill pay, expense tracking, and reporting. 

Karbon also provides integrations with popular accounting platforms, such as QuickBooks Online and Xero. This makes it easy for businesses to switch to Karbon without having to learn a new accounting system. 

In addition, Karbon offers a free trial allowing businesses to try out the software before committing to a subscription. Karbon is meant for large businesses, and there might be some sticker shock after the free trial period ends.

ClickUp

ClickUp is cloud-based project management software that can help businesses of all sizes streamline their accounting processes and improve financial visibility. 

The software is designed to be user-friendly and intuitive, with a range of features that accounting professionals can use to manage their clients’ finances more effectively. ClickUp’s features for accountants include invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation, and financial reporting tools. 

The software is available in both subscription-based and one-time purchase versions, and it comes with a free trial allowing users to explore the features before committing to a purchase. Whether you’re a small business owner looking for basic accounting features or a professional accountant needing more sophisticated tools, ClickUp may be a good option for you.

Jetpack Workflow

Jetpack Workflow is a workflow management tool that helps businesses automate their accounting processes. It offers a wide range of features, including task management, invoicing, and expense tracking. 

Jetpack Workflow integrates with a number of popular accounting software programs through the help of Zapier, making it easy to keep track of your finances in one place. 

Best of all, Jetpack Workflow is user-friendly and designed with accountants and bookkeepers in mind, allowing you to get started quickly and easily. Whether you’re a small business owner or a large corporation, Jetpack can help you streamline your accounting process and save time and money.

The Differences Between Karbon, ClickUp, and Jetpack Workflow

Not all workflow management is designed the same way. In order to help you find the right software for your company, we’ve outlined the features of each program.

Features

Karbon: Karbon includes automated client data collection which allows you to spend less time tracking down client paperwork. As with many project management applications, you can easily create recurring tasks on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. 

Clickup: Clickup works with several project management methods, such as Agile, allowing you to integrate the program into existing project management systems. It does include a workflow management chart which can assist with workload management, but the tool is not optimized for accounting projects.

Jetpack Workflow: Jetpack Workflow comes with over 70 predefined workflow templates and checklists for accountants and bookkeepers. The capacity planning tool allows you to reassign projects to team members with excess capacity. The system also contains thorough reporting that allows you to track productivity, billing, and upcoming deadlines.

Ease of Use

Karbon: Getting set up with Karbon often means paying the company to transfer your data and client list into the program. Your other option is to have your staff manually input your lists, which can take considerable time and effort. Once you’ve set up the program, the interface can take a little getting used to.

Clickup: Clickup was not designed with accountants in mind, which means you’ll have to put in some initial effort to create workflow templates and set up your to-do list. It was designed as a general workflow management software. Therefore, it may be a solid option, if you work with non-accounting departments. The software comes with numerous visualization options, which may be useful if you need to create dashboards for your teams. 

Jetpack Workflow: Jetpack Workflow was designed specifically for bookkeepers and accountants. It is optimized for the types of projects accountants regularly encounter. Jetpack Workflow also allows you to import your client list from several accounting and tax software programs, saving you the hassle of manual entry.

Integrations

Karbon: Karbon has 10 integrations included in its standard program, and you can also use Zapier on one of their higher subscription tiers to increase the number of programs that interact directly with the program. 

Clickup: Clickup integrates with Quickbooks, and you can also use Zapier to connect it with your other accounting software. 

Jetpack Workflow: Jetpack Workflow integrates through Zapier with the most popular accounting and tax software.

Customer Service

Karbon: Karbon provides customer service through the chat feature on its website. There is no direct phone number to call for urgent questions. Your alternative is to read through their knowledge base to find solutions.

Clickup. Clickup has a chat feature and email support. There is the option of working directly with a consultant, but you’re charged by the hour for this support service.

Jetpack Workflow: Jetpack Workflow has chat, email, and phone support available under any of their subscription plans. They also have a large number of articles and videos with step-by-step instructions for solutions to common problems.

Price

Karbon: Karbon offers a few different subscription options, starting at $59 per user per month. You’ll need to subscribe to one of the higher levels to obtain access to Zapier integrations and other advanced features. 

Clickup: Clickup has several pricing tiers, ranging from $7 – $12 per user per month. You’ll need to determine which features you need before choosing the right plan. There is a free plan which will get you started without a financial commitment, but you’ll need to upgrade to access large storage, charts, and dashboards. 

Jetpack Workflow: Jetpack workflow offers two pricing tiers starting at $45 per user per month. The upgraded plan ($49 per user per month) includes capacity management and team scheduling features. 

Wrapping Up

Which accounting workflow management software is best for your firm?

Jetpack Workflow is well-suited for small- to medium-sized accounting and bookkeeping firms that don’t want to spend much time on the initial setup. Karbon is a good option if you have a substantial budget and work on larger projects. Clickup might be what you need if budget is your primary concern.

Karbon works hard on automating data collection and client interactions. You can send automatic reminders, allow guest users to upload documentation, and it comes with a steep price tag. Karbon also lacks the workflow approval function of Clickup and Jetpack Workflow.

Clickup’s free tier allows you to get started immediately, but it will take some time to get started. Since it was designed as a general workflow management tool, you’ll need to create custom workflows for each of your projects and work on integrating the software into your accounting practice.

Jetpack Workflow allows you to hit the ground running. Start a free 14-day trial that allows you to test the software for yourself before committing. You can quickly onboard your team using the predefined templates. It’s designed as a hub for your practice, and the capacity planning tool can help you use your team to the fullest.