Which accounting software should I use?

You never run out of things to do when you’re a solopreneur or a freelancer. On top of doing the actual work, you also have to spend time on marketing, taking care of your customers, and your accounting.

Accounting is a crucial part of freelancing or online selling because it’s all about managing your cash flow, keeping your financial records in order, paying your taxes, and making sure you get paid. If your accounting is done properly, your business has a better chance of succeeding.

And since accounting is just one of the many things you have to do every day, using accounting software to make accounting easier and more efficient can be a huge help. It can save so much time and effort in making sure your calculations are correct and in preparing tax forms and other documents for the BIR.

What are the key features of each software brand?

With so many accounting software brands out there, it can be a real challenge to figure out the right one for your needs.

Take a look at the key features and specifications of the top five accounting software brands below to see which features you need the most and to see which software gives you the best value for your money. (Peso equivalents vary according to exchange rate.)

Software	Features/Inclusions	Specifications	Price
Juan Accounting Software	Juan Magic Al Customized Reports Tax Compliance Local Help and Support Multi-Currency Accounting BIR CAS Compliance PH Tax Compliance AI Bookkeeping Invoices, Bills, Payments Financial Reports Web and Mobile App Team Collaboration Bank Reconciliations App Integrations Multi-Organization Access VAT and WTH Codes Credit Notes and Refunds Custom User Permissions Manual Journals Recurring Transactions Trial Balance and Ledgers Nano Classifiers Note: Please note that the availability of features may vary depending on your pricing tier.	Can be accessed through mobile (iOS/Android) Accessible online so you can use it anytime, anywhere All-in-Juan financial app for Accountants and Small Businesses Owners Juan integrates accounting, payments, financial reporting, and tax compliance with JuanTax into one complete solution	Flexible plans range starting from PHP 0.00 (free account). Take a look at their pricing plans HERE.
ZOHO Books	Customized Invoices Convertible Price Quotations to Invoice Client portal Expense Tracker and Reports Bank transactions integration Inventory Tracking Customized Sales/Purchase Orders Tax monitoring feature Reporting	Can be accessed through mobile (iOS/Android) Good for any size or type of business The number of users ranges from 2 to 10 (depending on your chosen paid pricing plan)	$9 to $29 (₱455 to ₱1,466) per month with 14-day free trial Take a look at their pricing plans *HERE*.
Kashoo	Expense Tracking Easily upload images of receipts Customizable Invoices Insightful financial reports for accurate tax filing Credit card payment setup Real-time bank feeds	Accessible through mobile devices Ideal for small businesses Multiple users for paid plans	$19.95 (₱1,008) a month or $199 (₱10,056) per year with 14-day free trial Take a look at their pricing plans *HERE*.
QuickBooks	Expense tracking for faster tax filing Customizable invoices, sales receipts, and estimates/quotes Customizable report dashboard Integrated with cash flow management Automatic backups through cloud Bank-level security (128-bit SSL encryption) Free unlimited support	Accessible online through various devices so you can work remotely Good for small to medium businesses With free mobile app With access sharing One user up to 25 users plus 1 accountant (depending on your chosen pricing plan)	$15 to $31 (₱758 to ₱1,567) per month with free 30-day trial Take a look at their pricing plans *HERE*.
SAP Business One	Financial management integrations Business intelligence Sales and customer management Purchasing and inventory control	Modular structure Ideal for small to midsize businesses Accessible through mobile phones and desktop	Price depends on the numbers of users Check out where to look for SAP Partners *HERE*.
Xero	Easily customizable invoices Cashflow Real-time view Invoice processing Inventory management With 700+ third-party apps With file management feature QuickBooks users can convert their files through the free conversion tool upon signing up Free 24/7 online support	Accessible through mobile phones and desktop Compatible to various apps Access sharing to various team members Optional extras *Projects:* $7 for 1 user/month + $5 for each additional active user/month. First month free for any number of users (only applies to existing Xero subscribers). *Expenses:* $4/month for one user, $4/month for each additional active user/month.	$30 (₱1,516) per month (RECOMMENDED) with 30-day free trial Take a look at their pricing plans *HERE*.

If you can’t afford any of these brands for now, you can always use the free Excel templates you can find online, like those from SmartSheet.

Do you need help with using accounting software or spreadsheets? Ask an accountant from one of our Partner Firms, today.