From credit and banking to investing and mortgages, my aim is to simplify the world of personal finance and share tips for looking after your money. We can’t forget the full recipe management system to help you organise your recipes and ingredients. The Forbes Advisor Small Business team is committed to bringing you unbiased rankings and information with full editorial independence.

If you’re searching for accounting software that’s user-friendly, full of smart features, and scales with your business, Quickbooks is a great option. If Xero isn’t your top pick, though, we have nine other recommendations that could fit your needs. Here’s our list of the 10 best accounting software for Mac-using small-business owners in 2023. We researched the best desktop accounting software based on pricing and similarity to QuickBooks. We’ve reviewed the best Mac accounting software for ease of use, core features, cost, and compatibility with Mac OS.

FreshBooks: Best for Service-based Businesses & Freelancers

Leveraging my accounting and bookkeeping expertise, I rigorously assess software using our internal case study that objectively scores key features while upholding editorial independence. Additionally, it makes sure that all tax and regulatory obligations are satisfied with the least amount of human involvement. The platform can enhance the quality of the payment processes for both customers and vendors. The solution has the ability to automate all aspects of your business’s international payment process, from onboarding to tax compliance. For instance, you can easily customize Xero’s default chart of accounts or import an already existing chart of accounts.

QuickBooks Online: Best Overall Accounting Software for Mac Users, Including a Huge Support Network

Other review sites might be used if a score from Capterra or G2 is unavailable. Each QuickBooks Online subscription comes with a free 30-day trial to QuickBooks Live Expert Assisted, where you can get help setting up your QuickBooks best accounting software for mac and learn the basics of bookkeeping. It also has a huge network of local bookkeepers—you can easily find a QuickBooks ProAdvisor if you need professional bookkeeping support since QuickBooks Online is popular in the US.

FreshBooks has been around since 2003 and is now one of the most widely used accounting solutions in the world with over 10 million users in 120 countries. Selecting the right accounting software for your Mac involves considering various features that align with your business needs. By investing in the right software, you can streamline your operations, gain valuable insights, and focus on growing your business. With plans starting at $15 a month, FreshBooks is well-suited for freelancers, solopreneurs, and small-business owners alike.

• GnuCash is a niche pick in this list, and it might not be the ideal pick for most users.
• Yes, migrating data from Windows-based accounting software to Mac is generally possible.
• Compared to other accounting software, FreshBooks stands out with its user-friendly design and efficient time-tracking tools.
• We wanted to see the ability to reconcile bank accounts with or without imported bank transactions and a list of book transactions that have not yet cleared the bank.

On-Premise vs. Cloud Accounting

The software instantly learns your vendors, sorts your expenses and generates a contact list so you don’t have to manually import a lot of data. This is also Making Tax Digital (MTD) compliant for VAT, which means that you can submit tax returns quarterly to HMRC. It offers Optical Character Recognition (OCR) which allows users to take photos of invoices or receipts and accurately extracts the date, VAT, total and supplier name.

FreshBooks is the best choice for freelancers due to its focus on invoicing, time tracking, and ease of use. There’s even a limited free version of Zoho Books for solopreneurs and micro businesses. Xero has been designed specifically to work on Apple devices and claims it’s arguably the closest thing you’ll find to an official Apple accounting application.

But QuickBooks isn’t the only accounting software for Macs, and it might not be the right fit for your particular business. For instance, if your business relies on professional invoices, FreshBooks could work better for you. Or if you manage inventory and value collaboration, Xero could be a better choice. With automated recurring invoices, payment reminders, and customizable automations called workflows, Zoho Books aims to save business owners as much time on accounting as possible. If you have plans to grow your business in the near future, it should also allow you to scale comfortably. If you’re a startup or newer venture, free or inexpensive accounting software is likely your best bet.

What kind of customer support can I expect for Mac accounting software?

When your business scales and you need more advanced features, you can switch to paid accounting software. Excellent alternatives for Quickbooks are Freshbooks, Xero, and Wave Accounting. These three software options are also great for small businesses and offer a wide variety of features, such as invoicing, tracking expenses, and creating reports. In addition, you can use this software to create personalized invoices, create financial reports, and view unpaid invoices. Last but not least, Sunrise can be used as a CRM as it allows you to create quotes and estimates and send them to your customers. This section provides an estimate of average accounting software plans and costs for Mac users.

New to the business world and not sure how to start tracking your finances? Sage Business Cloud Accounting’s Start plan costs just $10 a month and offers essentials like bank reconciliation and professional invoicing. Its well-reviewed iOS app syncs across Apple Watches, iPads, and iPhones. Zoho Books’ comprehensive paid plans start at $15 a month (when billed annually) or $20 a month (when billed month to month). That’s the same as FreshBooks—but unlike both FreshBooks and Xero, Zoho’s cheapest paid plan doesn’t limit your invoices or bills.

We invest in deep research to help our audience make better software purchasing decisions. The cost for basic on-premise Mac accounting systems start at $250-$400 (one time charge) for limited user licenses (more licenses add to the cost). Since MacOS has traditionally been a closed system, they are often considered to be more secure than their competitors.