Prices are the real monthly cost at 25 clients with the add-ons each platform forces on you included, from the same engine the shortlist quiz uses.
$59 a month dearer$59 at 5
A freelancer or small agency that wants proposals, contracts, time tracking, projects and invoicing in one client-facing tool, and is happy to hand the books to QuickBooks or Xero through the integration.
- Also lists AI features, bank feeds and multi-currency
Try Bonsai →Same money$0 at 5
A US service business that already takes card payments through Square and wants invoices, estimates and contracts with no monthly fee, paying only when an invoice is paid.
- Also lists AI features and inventory
- Does not list expenses
Try Square Invoices →$70 a month dearer$70 at 5
A freelancer or small service business whose job is getting invoices out and paid, with time tracking and projects attached.
- Also lists bank feeds, payroll and receipt capture
- Does not list an API and integrations
Try FreshBooks →$85 a month dearer$85 at 5
A US business that wants the accounting software its accountant already uses, with a path from one user to a 25-seat finance team.
- Also lists AI features, bank feeds, inventory and VAT or sales tax filing
- Does not list recurring invoices and subscriptions
Try QuickBooks Online →$20 a month dearer$20 at 5
A small US business that wants a real free plan to start on and a ladder it can climb without changing software, up to multi-currency, inventory and a fifteen-user finance team.
- Also lists AI features, bank feeds, inventory, multi-currency, payroll, receipt capture and VAT or sales tax filing
Try Zoho Books →$25.46 a month dearer$25.46 at 5
A UK sole trader, partnership or small limited company that wants VAT, MTD, payroll and Self Assessment handled in one place, especially one banking with NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle, where it is free.
- Also lists bank feeds, multi-currency, payroll, receipt capture and VAT or sales tax filing
- Does not list recurring invoices and subscriptions
Try FreeAgent →$6.70 a month dearer$0 at 5
A UK sole trader or small company that wants free, MTD-ready bookkeeping with unlimited users and only pays once the ledger passes 1,000 entries a year.
- Also lists bank feeds, multi-currency, receipt capture and VAT or sales tax filing
- Does not list project and time tracking and recurring invoices and subscriptions
Try QuickFile →$20 a month dearer$20 at 5
A small business that wants double-entry books with bank feeds, sales tax tracking and unlimited users for one flat price, without a per-client or per-invoice meter.
- Also lists bank feeds, inventory, multi-currency and receipt capture
- Does not list a mobile app and recurring invoices and subscriptions
Try Kashoo →