Mozilla Firefox was introduced in 2004 and hit 100 million downloads in less than a year after launch. However, things began to go downhill for it after Google Chrome was launched and heavily promoted in lieu of Firefox.

Still the default web browser on virtually all Linux distros, Firefox, at one point, had over 350 million users. But its market share has now dropped significantly, pushing it to the fourth spot behind Chrome, Safari, and Microsoft Edge.

Although Chrome might have gained immense popularity, the speed and security provided by Firefox remain unbeatable to date.

If you’re looking for a privacy-friendly browser that’s lightweight and kind on your system, read on till the end, as we believe Firefox might just be the best browser for you.

Mozilla Firefox: Features

Firefox has been proven to use less memory than Chrome, for a majority of users. When using multiple apps along with Firefox, they won't lag or freeze, which is a common problem with other slow browsers.

Firefox uses the bare minimum memory so that it works fine without slowing down the entire system. It also automatically blocks ad trackers and third-party cookies from collecting your personal data.

Like most other popular browsers, Firefox also has its own built-in password manager.

As you create a new account on a website, it’ll ask whether you want to save its credentials or not. If you do, the next time you log into that account, it’ll give you the option to autofill the password on your behalf.

Firefox offers much more security and privacy than any other browser. There’s the Private Browsing mode that deletes your history and cookies after every browsing session. Each time you close the tab, all links that could trace back to your searches will be erased automatically.

While many other browsers let you bookmark your favorite websites, Firefox goes a step ahead and lets you create separate folders. You can customize the names and categorize similar links into the same folder. This way, you’ll save a lot of space, plus it'll be much easier to look for the bookmarked page.

You can also pin tabs in Firefox to keep your favorite and often visited websites, like email, always open. The browser will also notify you when the content of a pinned tab is updated, for instance, when you get a new email.

Firefox's built-in language translator lets you translate the web pages in the results into 100 different international languages of your choice — a truly global browser that erases language barriers.

Firefox also has a built-in screenshot tool that gives you several options for capturing a web page. Using this feature you can save the entire page, including the sections that aren’t visible without scrolling.

It also includes the Pocket app by default. You can use it to save content as you browse the web and access it later, even when offline.

Like some of its peers, Firefox also has a PDF reader that’s good enough to eradicate the need for having a dedicated app, for most users.

Most web browsers can pop out videos into their own individual floating windows, thanks to a feature called Picture-in-Picture mode. However, Firefox’s implementation offers more functionality than many of its peers. You can turn it on by clicking the Picture-in-Picture button when you hover over a video.

Firefox is indeed a highly functional and powerful web browser, but there’s always room to improve, right? That’s why it lets you add extensions to the default browser to make your life easier.

Mozilla Firefox: Privacy

We cannot emphasize enough that Firefox is one of the most secure and privacy-friendly browsers out there.

Even on its FAQ page about privacy, you’ll see that it has addressed the issue and stated that Firefox neither sells your data nor buys it from other parties. It wants you to have a truly authentic and unbiased browsing experience.

On top of that, while other popular browsers such as Chrome are swimming in privacy violation lawsuits, Firefox has hardly ever landed in any such scandal.

If you’re still unsure about how safe it is, you can use its Private Browsing mode, which automatically wipes off every trace of your browsing session once you close the tabs.

Firefox also has a Forget functionality that you can use to wipe your recent browser activity. When used, the “Forget” button can help you quickly delete the last five minutes, two hours, or 24 hours of activity.

Security advocates will also appreciate the fact that Firefox automatically tries to upgrade any images, audio and video content from HTTP to HTTPS if they are embedded within an HTTPS page. If they do not support HTTPS, they will no longer load.

Firefox users on MacOS and Windows can also tweak Firefox to ask for a device sign in, such as your operating system password, fingerprint, face or voice login, every time you access and fill in stored passwords.

Mozilla Firefox: Ease of use

One of the most important features of a good browser is a simple user interface so that everyone, regardless of their technical expertise, can use it. Thankfully, Firefox flairs quite well in that department.

The design of the main page is a lot like Chrome. It has the search bar in the center of the page, and the tabs are lined up horizontally at the top, which makes the first few steps simpler.

Firefox also offers a high level of customization. You can, for instance, change the appearance, layout, and functionality of the browser with lots of themes and add-ons. While this is possible with other browsers as well, the ability is implemented more extensively in Firefox.

In the same vein, while not as large as Chrome's extension store, Firefox still has a wide variety of extensions available for added functionality.

New users will also appreciate Firefox’s strong default privacy features that’ll help them stay safe straight out of the box. Firefox is also hailed for being one of the first browsers to rope in accessibility features.

Mozilla Firefox: Competitors

Firefox might not be as popular as Chrome or Edge, but it certainly stands out with a few unique features under its belt.

For example, it's one of the few browsers that automatically blocks trackers from collecting your personal data. At a time when the market leader, Chrome, is accused of selling consumer data, Firefox is your best bet for safety.

Also, compared to Chrome, Firefox takes much less memory space, which in turn, helps it run faster. On top of that, using Firefox does not affect the speed or performance of any other apps you might be running simultaneously.

Firefox not only uses the Google Safe Browsing database but also automatically blocks pop-ups. You can also add more extensions to keep away ads and trackers. Since these things are known to hide malicious links, blocking them will also reduce your overall vulnerability.

On the downside though, unlike some of its peers like Opera and Edge, Firefox does not have a built-in VPN. Similarly, its AI assistant, Orbit, is also available as an extension, and isn’t part of the browser.

Mozilla Firefox: Final verdict

Firefox, one of the best web browsers in the industry for a long time, is certainly a great choice for any internet user. It comes with a diverse range of features, beats popular peers like Chrome and Safari in terms of privacy, is easy to use, and is also lightning-quick.

Plus, it doesn't ask for too much space either, so you don't have to think twice before installing it. What's more, Firefox also has multiple customization options — whether you want to stick to the default theme or experiment with a thousand other themes, the choice is yours.

Also check out our roundup of the best anonymous browsers.

Edge is Microsoft’s latest web browser, and it looks its best when you use it as it was intended to be used: by running Bing, which is Microsoft’s search engine.

Microsoft Edge is undoubtedly the second-biggest fish in the pond, as of now. But it offers virtually everything users need to put up a tough fight to its long-time competitor, Google Chrome.

After dragging its feet with Internet Explorer, Edge is Microsoft’s best answer to the competition. It has all the features and enhancements users expect from a modern web browser. Windows users swear by Edge’s speeds and performance improvements. With the introduction of AI-powered functionalities on Edge, the user experience is way more personalized than before.

For the ones looking for a reliable browser that comes with security, user data privacy, and an easy user interface, Edge is a great choice. If you want to know more about the browser and how it can make a difference to your online experience, read on!

Microsoft Edge: Features

Microsoft Edge offers one of the fastest browsing experiences in the industry, thanks to its performance features such as “Sleep Tabs”. Thanks to this feature, Edge will put the tabs that haven't been used in a while to sleep, opening up more space and power for your CPU and RAM so that they can take on the active tabs.

Edge is also one of the quickest browsers as far as launching is concerned. That’s because it uses a special feature called “Startup Boost.”

Whether you’re opening the browser from the main menu, taskbar, or a link, the Edge window will open up almost instantly, whereas Opera and Safari usually take a lot longer.

So if you’re in a hurry to look up something or open a link, Edge won't stand in your way. This feature is available on all current versions of Windows.

Edge is highly battery-efficient. Microsoft is constantly working to optimize energy usage so that Edge can function on minimal battery power.

Current tests show that Edge’s efficiency mode helps you save up to 25% of your battery life. Features like putting your tabs to sleep further contribute to it. Even for your active tabs, Edge uses a rather tiny portion of the battery to keep them running in the background.

With Edge’s Clarity Boost protocol, all the visuals on your screen look much clearer and life-like. For avid gamers or movie enthusiasts, this feature is a huge win. Currently, this feature is available on devices running Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Speaking of gaming, if you’re looking for a browser that’s masterfully crafted for gamers, Edge is a must-try. With its “Efficiency mode”, Edge keeps your PC running fast and smooth even when you’re playing a demanding game.

The Efficiency mode is turned on by default. But if you want to turn it off, go to “Settings,” click on “More,” select “System & Performance” and turn off the “Improve your PC gaming experience with efficiency mode” setting. However, if you’re keen on getting the best browser performance, we don't recommend turning it off. After all, it's not going to take up any extra power or space.

When comparing Microsoft Edge and Chrome for gaming performance, most benchmarks favor Edge primarily due to its integration with the Windows operating system. This is even true for machines with less powerful hardware since the browser tends to use less system resources than its peers.

Also of note are Edge’s AI features, primarily the “Copilot” functionality. When enabled by clicking its icon, you can interact with Copilot using natural language. You can ask it to summarize the content of a page, ask questions about the content of a web page, and more. Copilot can also help you compose social media posts and emails.

Microsoft Edge: Privacy

Microsoft Edge comes equipped with several privacy-enhancing features. For starters the browser ships with three Tracking Prevention mechanisms to block trackers from tracking your movement through the web.

By default, the browser uses the Balanced Mode where it blocks trackers from websites you haven’t yet visited. If you are truly paranoid about tracking, you can toggle the Strict Mode, which will block a majority of the trackers, but could potentially degrade the browsing experience on some websites.

Some users prefer to use the Strict Mode of tracking when using the browser’s InPrivate browsing mode. This is similar to the Incognito mode in other browsers, and prevents the browser from storing any browsing history, or cookies.

Additionally, you can also choose to clear all cookies and block all or certain websites from saving cookies during browsing sessions. Remember however that while this does enhance your privacy, it can also potentially prevent some webpages from displaying correctly.

The browser’s headline privacy protection feature is the “Defender Smartscreen”. It helps you stay away from malicious websites and can also block phishing and malware attacks.

Edge also includes 5 GB of free VPN data protection that renews every month. The protection obscures your location and IP address, and kicks in automatically when you connect to an open Wi-Fi network or visit a non-HTTPS secured website.

Talking of visiting insecure websites, you can use Edge’s “Enhanced Security Mode” that automatically applies stricter security settings on unfamiliar sites. The opt-in feature isn’t enabled by default, but will adapt to your browsing habits once you toggle it.

The browser also includes a Password Monitor that alerts you if any of your saved passwords have been exposed in a data breach anywhere.

Microsoft Edge: Ease of use

If you’re not a fan of complex browsing applications, you’ll certainly appreciate Edge’s simple interface. The biggest advantage here is that Edge comes pre-installed on most devices running Windows 10 and 11. This means that you won't have to go through the hassle of downloading and setting up a new browser.

Once you open the browser, you’ll have everything you’ll need at your fingertips. Granted, at first, it might be a little overwhelming because there are too many options, but you’ll soon get the hang of it.

You can also ask Edge to display Vertical tabs. This is a space saving functionality that puts tabs on the left side of the screen instead of across the top.

You can also use the browser in the “Immersive Reader” mode that makes the text easier to read by removing all distracting elements from the webpage. There’s also the AI-powered “Read aloud” feature that helps you listen to the content on a webpage in multiple languages. You can control the pace of the speech, and even the voice accent.

There’s also the Collections feature using which you can collate webpages, images, text snippets, and more from different websites into a single location. This comes in handy when you’re researching on the web for a holiday, or planning an event.

Microsoft Edge: The competition

Edge and Google Chrome are the two most popular browsers, and although they share a lot of similarities, many people consider Edge to be easier to use.

This is primarily because of features like vertical tabs, Collections, Immersive Reader, and a whole gamut of AI-powered functionalities. Edge has also been designed to be familiar to Windows users with a similar design philosophy, giving it an advantage over its peers.

What’s more, Edge is also faster than Google Chrome. When it was initially launched, Microsoft claimed that it was 112% faster than Chrome. While we cannot confirm that exact number, tests run by Avast show that Edge is faster than Chrome, Opera, Firefox, and many other popular browsers.

It's also the default browser for Windows, unlike others like Opera or Mozilla Firefox, which have to be downloaded and installed separately.

That said, Opera does outperform Edge in some parameters, particularly VPN. While Edge's VPN has a limited monthly data allowance and automatically connects to the nearest location, Opera bundles a more flexible free VPN with no data cap. Another potential downside is that Edge doesn’t offer as vast a selection of extensions as Google Chrome.

However, in short, if we consider its ease of use, speed, features, and overall performance, Edge is by and large at-par, if not ahead, of most of its competitors.

Microsoft Edge: Final verdict

Considering all the reviews, facts, and results from our own evaluation, we find Microsoft Edge to be a good browser and certainly worth your time.

Thanks to its beginner-friendly yet uncompromising nature, it's the perfect browser for people who aren't-tech savvy. Another point to consider here is that it’s the default browser for Windows, so you won't have to put any effort into setting it up.

As the cherry on top, the Edge browser is battery plus internet usage efficient. For people who are constantly on their laptops/computers, a power and data-saving browser is a must-have. No matter how many tabs you have running at any given moment, Edge will always minimize power usage.

We've listed the best business VPN.

Macrium Reflect is the product of Paramount Software UK Ltd (trading as Macrium Software), a British software company, as its name suggests. It was founded over two decades ago and is currently based in Manchester.

Macrium released the first version of Reflect in 2006 and the most recent update in 2024. The software enables users of Windows-powered PCs or servers to create data backups and retrieve them when needed.  

It's a multi-lingual backup software available in over a dozen languages, helping it maintain its position as one of Windows users' most popular backup utilities globally.

We've also highlighted the best disk cloning software right now.

Plans & pricing

We’ve tested Macrium Reflect Workstation, which provides one of the broadest range of features we’ve seen from a backup tool.

Elsewhere, Macrium Reflect is available in Server, Server Plus and Technician variants for businesses of all sizes alongside Macrium Reflect Home.

Macrium Reflect Workstation costs $78 for a one-year, one-PC licence, and the price rises to $162 per device if you buy a lifetime licence – a reasonable upgrade if you use this app for several years.

The Server options cost more than those Workstation products, with prices rising beyond $200 and $400 for Server and Server Plus one-year packages and almost doubling for lifetime options.

Thankfully, home and smaller business users can buy Macrium Reflect Home, which costs $50 for a one-year licence and $80 for a lifetime deal.

Across the board, these prices are comparable with rival tools, like those from EaseUS and Acronis, so there are no reasons to raise eyebrows.

Macrium Reflect: Features

There’s no shortage of features in Macrium Reflect. Users can backup or clone entire disks or operating systems, or their own selection of files and folders, and you’re also able to create backup templates, schedule them all and deploy full, differential or incremental backups.

Thankfully, Macrium also includes some templates to get you started with extensive backups on varying schedules.

Delve into the backup creation wizard and you can edit the source folders, choose any PC-connected destination, and even specify alternative backups if your preferred choice isn’t available due to a hardware or power failure.

There are a variety of compression, file size and password protection choices, encryption is available, and you can automatically verify your backups, set rules and commands for backups and receive emails and notifications about the status of your operations.

Scheduling options are extensive, restoration is easy, and Macrium users can also create bootable and rescue media and use Macrium Image Guardian to protect against ransomware.

It’s one of the most comprehensive set of backup options we’ve seen, and commercial and enterprise users can deploy a central console to manage backups across a whole suite of machines.

You get even more if you switch to one of the Workstation, Server or Technician products, too.

You can create live images of Windows operating systems boot backups in virtual machines, and some versions even have ReFS support, Windows Server backup and restore, Exchange and SQL backup and PC snapshots.

It’s a tremendous array of features, and Macrium doesn’t skimp on the data, either – open the app and you’ll get the full rundown of your disks and drives, their status, free space and file systems.

The only downside here is the lack of cloud backups. This is by design – Macrium reckons that cloud backups can often be impractical and not as safe as offline or local backup – it could drive customers away if they consider cloud options a vital addition to their backup tool.

Interface & Use

While that’s great for anyone who likes ample information when using a backup tool, it can make Macrium a little intimidating for beginners. Boot the app and you’re overwhelmed with information about your drives and destinations, and it’s hard to initially see how you even start creating backups.

There are certainly apps that look cleaner and less advanced, although a smaller set of features usually accompanies those interfaces.

Get your head around the app, though, and it’s pretty straightforward: operations and options on the left-hand side, information about your drives in the middle, and a pop-up wizard to guide you through the backup process.

Macrium pairs its advanced interface with impressive pace. We tested our latest slate of backup apps with a 42GB document folder, a 2.5GB spreadsheet folder, a 162GB folder of media and an 82GB file that mixes all of those file types. We backed them up to three different SSDs to weed out any inconsistency.

Its document backup time of 3 minutes and 46 seconds was excellent, and only ten seconds shy of our leading tool from EaseUS – and its media backup average of 7 minutes and 40 seconds was another second-place result out of nearly twenty backup tools.

Its Excel average of just over eight minutes is middling, and its mixed media result of nearly sixteen minutes is good rather than great.

Overall, though, it’s a great bill of health when it comes to performance. Macrium Reflect was one of the fastest backup apps we’ve tested, and only slips behind EaseUS for consistent speed.

Support

Macrium offers direct technical support to paid users through email and telephone. Every license includes one year of technical support, and you can renew it for a fee every ensuing year. 

Macrium aims to respond to business users within 12 hours and to home users within 24 hours, and there are US, UK and European phone lines for business users.

Elsewhere, there’s a knowledge base and a busy forum, and premium support options are available for businesses who wish to pay extra.

It’s a solid slate of support options that should resolve most issues relatively quickly, which is essential for enterprise users who need to solve mission-critical problems.

The competition

Macrium’s lack of cloud options are its biggest fault, so if that’s important to you then we recommend Acronis Cyber Protect and EaseUS Todo Backup, as they include cloud options alongside the usual array of local backup destinations  

Final verdict

Put aside the lack of cloud ability, though, and there’s loads to like in Macrium Reflect. It’s absolutely packed with features, its pricing is competitive, and it’s one of the fastest backup tools out there.

The interface can certainly be intimidating, and some business users simply won’t need the level of granularity available from this app, but Macrium Reflect is a top-tier bit of backup software.

QuickBooks is an instantly recognizable name in the world of accountancy and bookkeeping. It’s owned by Intuit, which also has other options for small business owners and large ones too, with a diverse portfolio that includes TurboTax, Mint and Proconnect.

QuickBooks also comes in numerous different varieties, from desktop editions through to the hugely popular Online edition.

There are also regular updates to the QuickBooks portfolio of products, with the UK getting a raft of new features to help users keep abreast of tax and other regulatory changes such as MTD. There's an income tax estimator tool, improved tagging and a beefed up employee portal for larger businesses.

Professional accountants have new tools, including a month-end review tool. QuickBooks is, essentially, always evolving. There's a new QuickBooks Business Account digital payment option aimed at small business owners now too.

So, depending on your requirements, you can choose from QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Self-Employed, QuickBooks Online Advanced, QuickBooks Live Bookkeeping, QuickBooks Desktop for Mac, QuickBooks Desktop Pro, QuickBooks Premier and QuickBooks Enterprise. However, it is possible to create a custom package using the help of the QuickBooks team if you need a more bespoke option.

• Want to try QuickBooks? Check out the website here

QuickBooks: Pricing

With such a wide variety of QuickBooks options you’ll find that pricing is similarly expansive and there are often deals to be had too. For example, we've seen deals of 70% for three months, and even up to 90% for six months.

Customers and business owners of all sizes are catered for, starting with the £10+VAT/month Sole Trader plan and £16+VAT/month Simple Start plans.

Larger businesses will more than likely need to upgrade to Essentials (£33+VAT/month), Plus (£47+VAT per month) or Advanced (£115+VAT per month).

Although there's no free plan, there are options to save. For example, you could take out one of QuickBooks' seasonal offers that often give a number of months at a heavily discounted price, or you can sacrifice the longer-term offer by signing up to a month-long trial, after which you'll begin to pay the full price.

Still, to have the option of a whole month's trial is excellent news, and it should give business owners time to fully migrate any data into the MTD-compliant system and tweak settings – many other competitors in this space offer a 14-day trial, if at all.

Features

QuickBooks: Features

QuickBooks covers all the basics across all plans, and because there are no free options, you won't be faced with a highly limited tier.

For example, all subscriptions come with invoice and estimate support, customized reporting and cash flow insights.

You can also capture receipts via the camera on the smartphone, which can then be easily linked to capturing expenses like mileage tracking It also integrates easily with other apps, including PayPal.

In light of changing regulations within the industry both in the UK and globally, QuickBooks will now estimate quarterly taxes, but beware that lower-tier plans lack any advanced invoicing like recurring invoices and project/time tracking.

The higher you go, the more you unlock, beginning with HMRC VAT submissions and multi-user support to employee time tracking and stock tracking.

There's also a payroll add-on for middle tiers and above if you're running a larger business, plus support for multiple users.

QuickBooks: Performance

Gone are the days of tracking income and expenses locally on spreadsheets, and QuickBooks knows this because its platform is a fully fledged SaaS offering – everything runs through the cloud (securely), which means real-time data syncing and multi-device support.

So far we can report strong stability and responsive workflows, but it's worth noting that lower-tier versions are more lightweight so there's less to go wrong in the first place.

QuickBooks: Ease of Use

The QuickBooks Online subscription plans have an advantage that they will work on any platform via the browser, and also have integration with the iOS and Android apps for use on a smartphone or tablet.

For those that prefer the downloadable software, it works for both the Windows and macOS, but unfortunately there is no mobile app support.

We love how intuitive the user interface is – new users can take advantage of a pretty simple onboarding process, and there shouldn't be too much of a learning curve when getting used to this particular platform. Unless you want to explore deeper (which you can do when you're ready), the out-of-the-box experience is simple enough for self-employed individuals who might not have as much accounting experience.

Having the backing of one of the industry's giants – Intuit – also means it's one of the first to get more advanced features, including AI which makes analyzing data and creating custom workflows easier.

QuickBooks: Support

Support has been improved for QuickBooks and it now has a wealth of different options to choose from if you're in need of help.

This includes an online help hub, with lots of documentation, videos and other training resources. There's also a blog, a vibrant community and lots of social media too.

Depending on your package level, you might also have access to a professional advisor. All tiers get free customer support and free onboarding, too, which goes some way towards bridging the gap between non-human software and a fully human accountant.

QuickBooks: Final Verdict

For a small business without a dedicated accounting department, or even a sole accountant, QuickBooks offers an attractive solution to managing the finances because it's both simple to use and packed with powerful financial features.

The fundamental bookkeeping ingredients are all here, covering invoices, payroll, estimates, employee time tracking, sales tax, inventory tracking, and is able to sync bank transactions. The online versions clearly have a better set of features than the downloadable version.

Our concern is that this full feature set comes at a higher price than some competitors, which include FreshBooks, Xero, Sage Business Cloud Accounting, Kashoo, Zoho Books and Kashflow to name just a few. A basic, free tier wouldn't go amiss for smaller-scale self-employed operations.

Compounding this issue is that as the additional services such as payroll and time tracking are added on to the base package, the costs go up even higher. While a seriously cash-strapped business may be better off looking elsewhere for more of a value bookkeeping solution, for the small business that can make use of the wide range of available bookkeeping features, QuickBooks via the online subscription remains an attractive and comprehensive choice.

Read our review of QuickBooks Online here

Read our review of QuickBooks Desktop Pro here

• We've also highlighted the best accounting software in this roundup

Quicken has been around for ages, with budget management roots that date all the way back to 1983 and, thankfully, that means it continues to undergo transitions that keep it reassuringly relevant. That's especially so during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. It also comes with the added benefit of being available as software that will work on a Windows machine or a Mac too, alongside its mobile-based counterparts. 

In fact, Quicken we recently given a boost, having been updated to coincide with the release of Apple’s latest operating system, macOS 11 Big Sur. There's an improved interface along with a raft of features that allows users to exploit the power of the new Apple OS.

There’s also a version that can be used solely online if downloading software isn’t your thing. Whilst Quicken does have some rather more sprightly competitors these days it’s still a super-useful finance management package. Add on other practical features such as the optional ability to synchronize it with your bank accounts, 256-bit security encryption plus cloud-based back-ups and there’s lots to like.

Lookout for the likes of Mint, You Need a Budget (YNAB), Banktree, Money Dashboard or Moneydance if you want to check what some of the competition has to offer.

• Want to try Quicken? Check out the website here

Quicken: Pricing

Currently prices for Quicken Starter kick off at $34.99 for a year, with a Deluxe version currently on offer for $29.99, down from $49.99. Meanwhile, a Premier edition is available for $44.99 compared to its usual price of $74.99. On top of that there’s a Home and Business Version for $59.99 instead of the regular $99.99 asking price. 

All of these prices are based on an annual subscription, which could make the package pricey over time. You should also note, however, that while the prices were accurate at the time of writing they may well change as per all of our other software reviews. Nevertheless, Quicken comes in with a reasonably attractive pricing structure, even if you’re considering the product at its more normal cost.

Quicken: Features

The most recent update of Quicken resulted in a few handy new features being added, with some real benefits coming along in the Mac version. You’ll find that it works better on that platform now, more so than it used to, while all users can enjoy the benefits of the familiar-but-friendly interface. 

You’ll begin your financial journey on the Home tab, which delivers a comprehensive snapshot of where you are with your finances. For newbies there is also a neat Wizard-style system that will help you pick your way through getting set up. Of course, once you’ve got a lot of your data into Quicken the processes involved in managing your money gets easier. 

There are core areas that help build up a picture of your money situation, with a Spending tab, Bills and Income section and so on, all of which are pretty easy to get the hang of. Customization of these areas is also key by allowing you to make Quicken completely personal to your needs.

Quicken: Performance

One of the more appealing aspects in the latest incarnation of Quicken is that it can be used as an online-only solution if you prefer. This is good news for anyone who tends to flit from one machine, or device, to another and lacks the inclination to start downloading software on multiple computers. 

As a result, the performance you can expect from Quicken is largely reliant on your internet connection, but if that’s all fine and dandy then you’ll find the software rolls along very nicely. You get less features in this edition however, so for consistent performance and the full suite of tools, features and functions then you’ll still want to go down the downloadable software route.

Quicken: Ease of use

While we do like the multiple options for customization in Quicken, there is a slight downside to this as it can be finicky to get things just how you like them. While usability is generally pretty good, you’ll need to devote some quality time to Quicken in order to shape it to perform as you’d expect. 

However, others areas of Quicken are designed with total efficiency in mind, and this works particularly well for the extra touches you get in the Premier edition and upwards. The bill paying option, for example, is a great way of streamlining your outgoings, but we’re also very keen on the alert tools that really do allow you to get your finances in line and keep them that way. 

This is especially so when it comes to paying bills on time. You’ll need to sign up for an account to do any of this, of course, but that takes mere moments as indeed does syncing the application with your bank accounts.

Quicken: Support

Considering just how long Quicken has been in existence it comes as no surprise to find lots of online advice and video tutorials for getting the best from its charms. Added on to that there are reams of documents that will take you through the inner workings of this occasionally quite complex software. 

We also find the community aspect of Quicken quite pleasing, with lots of user experiences that give you a valuable insight into its trickier corners. If you plump for Quicken Premier or above you gain free access to a premium level of phone support for one year. Alternatively this is currently available as an add-on for $49.99.

Quicken: Final verdict

We think that Quicken ticks a lot of the boxes when it comes down to getting your finances into shape. If you’re happy with the subscription costs and you use it a lot then the package seems to represent pretty good value for money. Although we think it will probably deliver most value to small business types with more to think about than individuals with simpler finances to manage. 

Much has been done to beef up the interface, features and usability with the current edition. As a result, mobile versions are solid, while the access-from-anywhere option is great for people who need to access Quicken via a browser over multiple machines. A good level of security, powerful syncing with bank accounts and the ability to use cloud-based back-ups adds to the value here.

• We've also highlighted the best budgeting software  

Stripe offers online payment processing for internet businesses and is a relatively new name on the cloud-based payment-processing front, but the provider has swiftly gained many users thanks to its appeal for businesses of all sizes. With its headquarters in San Francisco and satellite offices in key cities around the world Stripe has grown a lot since its launch back in 2011. 

What sets Stripe apart from many others who offer payment processing is its keenness to involve people who like to get under the hood of its products and services. It's expanded a lot too, having acquired TaxJar to home in on tax compliance as well as producing a new tool for verifiying user identities for starters.

There’s a real developer feel in the air as you get to grips with Stripe, and while that makes it dynamic and a little more interesting than your average payment processing setup, it can also be a challenging proposition if you’re looking for a simple solution for your business. 

Competitor options currently include Sage Pay, PaySimple, Authorize.net, Worldpay, PayPal, Helcim and Clover all of which are worthy of investigation during the ongoing coronavirus crisis.

• Want to try Stripe? Check out the website here

Pricing

In its basic form, before you’ve customized it to suit your needs, Stripe currently has an integrated pricing structure. This gives you access to a complete payments platform while also offering pay-as-you-go pricing according to its website. That means costs in the US of 2.9% + 30c per successful card charge (1.4% and 20p in the UK by way of a comparison). 

As is often the case however, if you’re a business owner that has a lot of high-volume transactions to contend with then Stripe recommended you contact them in order to get a more tailored arrangement. Stripe is also being expanded all the time and while it is already in many countries, progress is such that it’s becoming even more widely available with well over 120 territories now offering it as a payment processing solution.

Features

Stripe might be based around third-party processing, but it comes with a huge range of options that make it a useful route for business of all sizes. In terms of accepting payments then Stripe has a full suite of options, including online, mobile and also in-person. 

The great thing is that you can also accept payments from right around the globe, with Stripe automatically converting the transaction. Keep an eye out for additional charges, though these aren't enough to dissuade you from offering the option altogether. Dig deeper into Stripe’s arsenal of tools though and you’ll find many more useful features, including smart invoicing and subscription management and multi-party payments for platforms and marketplaces.

Performance

Stripe feels distinctly as though there are very keen developers leading the push to make it more widely known. Just heading around the Stripe website delivers a feeling of speed, efficiency and the sort of minimalism that allows you to be more productive. 

You get a similar experience once you start using Stripe itself, with a dashboard interface that is similarly fast and efficient. Stripe as an experience also functions well across a range of devices, meaning that your customers should be able to pay without hassles, no matter how they prefer to do it.

Ease of use

Stripe is by and large pretty easy to use, and that’s not just for you and your business. Customers who need to transact using Stripe don't need to have an account or sign-up, they just make their payment, it’s as simple as that. If you’re a business and running Stripe then you’ll be able to keep tabs on what’s going on transaction-wise via a cloud-based dashboard. 

That also indicates payment processing and when you should get the money from each transaction. Stripe also gets you into this world with ease too, as there is basically just a minor bit of form filling to do initially before you’re up and running. More technically-minded folks though will love its other side, which is full of nuts and bolts developer appeal.

Support

Stripe has certainly done a great job putting together a support infrastructure that has to be one of the best there is in the payment processing arena. Online-wise there is an impressive Stripe Support Center that covers a multitude of topics, and it’s all presented in a clean and easy to digest fashion. 

Boosting that is the real bonus of 24/7 staff support, which can be accessed via the Stripe website initially. Adding extra muscle to the support structure is a huge array of documentation, which covers everything and anything to do with Stripe products and services. All told, Stripe doesn’t miss a beat on the support front.

Final verdict

Stripe is a strong and sensible option that should appeal to plenty of businesses that want a great all-round performer when it comes to payment processing. While the fee structure can tend to be a little counter productive if you’re dealing with a lot of smaller transactions, and the fact that Stripe holds on to money after a transaction for 7 days as an anti-fraud measure, the service still has a lot of appeal. 

You’ll probably want to have a bit of a grounding in coding in order to really exploit the potential of Stripe, or employ someone with said skills. However, even if it’s used in its most basic guise Stripe is solid, dependable and secure too. 

It’s easy to see why some might bypass Stripe in favor of PayPal with its very easy to implement options, but with continual improvements being made to the way it ticks, Stripe looks set to become an even more dominant player in the payment services provider stakes.

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Wise, formerly TransferWise, is a peer-to-peer money transfer service, originally started by two Estonian Fintech innovators, Taavet Hinrikus, (Skype’s first employee) and Kristo Käärmann based in the UK. It offers a variety of products and services resulting in over £5 billion being moved around every month, even in the wake of coronavirus.

Wise states it saves individuals and businesses £3 million in hidden fees every day. Currently the service is available in 59 different countries, although it is also adding to that list and now has offices in 14 different locations around the world. 

Alongside its transfer service, Wise has recently added a multi-currency account, which lets you hold over 50 currencies at once and convert them when you want, along with a Wise debit Mastercard. The service is up against similar products from WorldRemit, Azimo, Venmo, Western Union, PayPal, Zelle and Moneygram to name the key players in the currency exchange marketplace.

• Want to try Wise? Check out the website here

Pricing

The Wise fees page illustrates nicely how its fees are broken down. A percentage of the charge is a fixed fee, followed by a variable fee, which are both added together to give you a total fee on each transaction. There are three different transfer tiers too, with a fast option being the most expensive, an advanced middle-tier option and a low cost transfer to pick from depending on how fast you want to move your funds. 

Wise does also offer Business pricing, which adds in extra features that are free, including the ability to receive money in EUR, USD, GBP, PLN, AUD and NZD currencies for free. This comes with a 0.33%-3.56% fee to convert currencies. The supporting Wise debit Mastercard comes free too, with the same currency conversion fee of 0.33%-3.56% plus a 2% fee of ATM withdrawals over £200 per month. 

Much like others in this marketplace, the Wise website has a dynamic calculator so you can work out your fees in advance of moving or receiving any cash.

Features

If you’re moving money, particularly larger sums, then getting access to mid-market exchange rates like banks enjoy is always a bonus, which is what Wise manages to do as part of its setup. With a straightforward fee structure, that you can see displayed on its website, plus a speedy money moving service, TransferWise is a quick and simple solution. 

The website works well enough on a desktop browser, but there’s also a very good supporting app for iOS and Android, which might be more useful if you’re looking to transfer money on the move, either for business or holiday needs. Wise also prides itself on being safe and secure – it uses a 2-step login process and verification procedure. 

The service is additionally complimented by its business account, along with its multi-currency Mastercard debit card, aimed at keeping costs lower if you're spending overseas.

Ease of use

Much like similar money transfer products and services, there’s not too much in the way of inner workings, at least for the customer to see that hinders progress if you’re using Wise. It’s a web-based system, works out your fees dynamically and does the same with current exchange rates. 

Overall then you’ll find that Wise is very easy to use. Wise has done a really good job with its mobile app editions of the service, with both iOS and Android options available.

Support

The Wise website is the place to head for a comprehensive series of FAQs that should tackle most, if not all of your queries about every aspect of the website and using it. The company also has useful blog, Facebook and Twitter pages.

Final verdict

Wise says that it has three core principles that drive its service, which is to remain transparent, to charge as little as possible and to keep transfers simple and instant. 

Interestingly, Wise wants to put the focus on providing premium features without charging too much for the privilege and highlights its efforts to offer support to customers in their own language and time zone. 

Better still, they aim to make this support real, rather than from automated systems. Bold claims and with what appears to be a transparent fee structure there’s quite a lot here to like. Wise is also authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority and those mid-market rates are perhaps what makes it most appealing of all.

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Erply is the POS system of choice for hundreds of thousands of businesses around the world. Could it be right for your team too?

This powerful, cloud-based POS works on a range of devices both online and offline. It also integrates with many popular hardware solutions and has its own Erply API. It’s designed to be flexible and customizable for all types of retailers and franchises. Extensive features combined with both online and offline functionality make Erply POS a scalable solution that can grow with your business.

In our review of Erply POS system, we look at its impressive feature list to see if it’s still one of the best POS systems on the market.

Erply POS: Plans and pricing

Erply has four different pricing tiers, each targeted at different business models. It offers a 60-day trial of all plans, so you can see if it works for your business without paying any hefty set-up fees. It has reduced its prices in the last couple of years to make its product more accessible, and it now provides better value.

Tier 1

The first tier is for small shops that don’t need inventory and costs $19 per month on annual billing. It includes two user accounts, one POS license, a POS mobile app, email receipts, and a basic CRM. With this plan, users only have access to limited email support.

Tier 2 

The next tier up costs $39 per month and is designed for ecommerce, with Shopify integrations available. It also comes with stock taking, inventory, and warehouse management functionality. 

Tier 3 

For high-volume retailers or small multi-store retailers, Erply’s $69 per month plan has POS and inventory management capabilities. 

The POS has an inventory license, and there is an inventory database, advanced reporting, a gift card and store credit system, a customer-facing display, and an advanced customer database.

Tier 4

The top-level tier is the Enterprise plan, which is aimed at franchises and large multi-store enterprises. Erply provides a customized quote for all enterprise customers and hands-on support throughout the setup and customization process. Get in touch with them for the best quote for your business. 

Erply POS: Features

The feature list for Erply is quite impressive, which makes it easy to adapt to your business setup.

Erply POS is hardware agnostic, which means that it’s compatible with all the most popular card readers, scales, cash drawers, scanners, customer displays, and printers. This versatility makes it a great choice for businesses that already have hardware in place or that don’t want to be tied to a specific brand.

The inventory management system is an excellent tool for tracking everything that you sell across all your stores or warehouses. Detailed reports can show you everything from how many units you have to how long stock has been taking up warehouse space. You can use the system to easily transfer stock between stores and can even create location-dependent pricing lists.

Erply is compatible with big-hitters like Shopify, QuickBooks, Magento, and WooCommerce.

Erply POS: Interface and in use

While Erply has tried to make the user interface clear for businesses and their customers, the extensive features make it overwhelming on the backend. That's in comparison to point of sale brands like Square or Lightspeed, who are known for their clean, minimalist designs. 

With Erply POS though, inventory and warehouse management can be tricky to master. A demonstration from the support team at Erply can be incredibly helpful.

That said, for customers and customer-facing staff using the POS system, it’s fairly intuitive. With a bit of patience and help from customer support, the backend functions are also manageable, and it’s worth persevering to use Erply to its fullest potential.

Erply POS: Support

Support with Erply is limited when you compare it against other companies who have 24/7 support, unfortunately. This has been noted in customer reviews online, to which Erply have responded with updated support hours. Nonetheless, with its extensive features, it’s not the easiest system to get your head around, so a bit of extra support would go a long way here.

Users of the à la carte pricing plans only have access to limited email support. There are user guides and case uses on the Erply website, each with easy-to-follow instructions and screenshots, but we’d like to see better live support options.

That said, enterprise customers can receive full training, set-up, and personalization support to get their business up and running with Erply. Regular check-ins are included, and the support team will even help optimize your workflow.

Erply POS: Security

All data transfers, including payments, are encrypted to protect both your business and your customers. Erply uses data centers in the same region that their customers operate, unless requested otherwise. All data is backed up in real time in two locations, to ensure that important information is kept secure.

The competition

NCR Silver is the most comparable POS to Erply, but it comes with a big price tag, and its hardware options are less flexible. However, NCR Silver does have impressive features and offer 24/7 support, making it the better choice for brands that need a little hand-holding.

Shopify POS is a strong competitor but is less diverse than Erply, as it is aimed purely at ecommerce businesses. However, Shopify does offer an affordable Lite plan, so it is worth looking into for ecommerce brands that don’t need Erply’s extensive features. 

Final verdict

Erply is an impressive POS system with features to make it both customizable and scalable. 

The pricing and scalability make it a great option for ecommerce businesses and small shops with their eyes set on growth. However, we’d like to see a bit more support and would recommend it only if you’re prepared to spend the time getting to understand how it works. 

For enterprise businesses and large franchises, it presents great value with the support available. We also like the advanced reporting, the offline and online capabilities, and its compatibility with different hardware.

Zoho Expense is another part of a growing range of software products from the India-based Zoho stable. It recently announced a new version of its Expense reporting software that aims to help businesses recover following the coronavirus pandemic.

Several areas of improvement include increased control and compliance capacity with businesses now able to create and track budgets using a dashboard. Customisable alerts prevent budget overspend and automatically block further applications, while the new rule engine allows finance departments to ensure compliance.

There’s upgraded fraud detection in place that can identify and flag fake receipts or duplicate entries, while approval flows are now fully customisable too.

Along with being potent and easy to use, the software also works nicely alongside Zoho’s other accounting tools, making it an obvious choice if you’re already a convert. Other similar products in this area include QuickBooks, Rydoo, Expensify, Hurdlr and Pocketguard.

• Want to try Zoho Expense? Check out the website here

Pricing

If you’re completely new to Zoho’s products then the 14-day trial of its Expense package is an ideal way to get fully acquainted with the controls. If you’re suitably taken with its raft of power tools then the ongoing costs make it very affordable. There’s actually a free plan that costs nothing and allows up to three users to enjoy the potential of the program. 

Next up is the Premium Plan, which costs just £2.50 per month if billed annually, while it’s £3 per month if you prefer to pay as you go. This comes with a minimum 10-user requirement. 

Zoho Expense also comes in an Enterprise Plan incarnation, which requires a minimum of 500 users and Zoho requires you to contact them directly if you have such sizeable requirements.

Features

You’ll find that Zoho Expense has a mountain of features and functions that should suit the needs of most users. Even in its base-level edition, Zoho Expense bristles with appeal. In fact, the freemium edition offers 5GB of receipt storage and features multicurrency expenses, the ability to import card transactions, customer and project tracking, VAT tracking, cost allocation and mileage expenses. 

If you go for the Premium version then you can add in cash advances, delegation, expense tags, pier diem expenses, auto-scans and much more besides. All three editions (Enterprise being the other one) offer power tools such as data and receipt backup plus scheduled backups as well as basic form customization, so you can tailor the package to suit your own needs.

Performance

You’ll enjoy zesty performance from Zoho Expense and adding to the usability of it is the way that it’ll also happily integrate with other items in the Zoho portfolio. That includes Zoho Books, while the software (though not the free version) will also work with other accounting tools including QuickBooks Online and Xero. 

All three programs will work with Zoho CRM, Zoho Invoice, Zoho People, Zoho Cliq and Zoho Projects. The software has been nicely designed too, with no problems at all encountered during everyday usage. There are also impressive apps for both Android and iOS too.

Ease of use

If you’ve got employees who need to keep track and subsequently submit their expenses for reimbursement then Zoho Expense should keep them pretty happy. The ease of use of the mobile apps is second to none, with the capacity for capturing and submitting receipts proving to be a doddle across the iOS and Android software. 

Equally, if you're working on the other side as an administrator then you’ll find that the desktop Zoho Expense software is solid and stable. It might not always be the greatest looking interface out there, but it works, which is all most people ask for. In fact, it works particularly well on the Google Chrome web browser.

Support

You get the feeling that Zoho is really trying hard to please with its software efforts and that’s backed up with a fine array of support options too. There’s free phone support, Monday to Friday, plus email and a website that comes brimming over with many different resources. It’s all presented in a clear and concise fashion too, which is very useful if you're a first-time user who is getting to grips with the software.

Final verdict

Zoho Expense is an impressive package, even if you plump for its slightly less feature-laden free edition. There’s SSL encryption and two-factor authentication, storage for your receipts, a small mountain of features and functions that cover anything and everything in the expense tracking landscape, plus integration with other programs. 

While it’s great that Zoho Expense works with other Zoho products, the way it has been engineered to also function with popular accountancy software such as QuickBooks Online and Xero means that its appeal isn't just for Zoho devotees. 

Tack on the impressive apps and the top value-for-money pricing structure, which can be scaled with ease for lots of users and it’s easy to see why Zoho Expense gets the thumbs up from so many of its fans.

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SumUp POS is one of the quickest and easiest ways of boosting your business, with the added bonus of little in the way of hoops to jump through. The UK-based mobile point of sale (mPOS) concern is already popular with many businesses thanks to its other products and services, which include the Air Card Reader and the 3G Card Reader. 

The former lets you use this natty bit of tech by mating it with your smartphone in order to accept mPOS payments, which is handy during the coronavirus crisis. The latter allows you to process payments on the go using mobile network connectivity. Another option however, is this, the SumUp point of sale hardware, which can be teamed up with the SumUp app to beef up the selling power of your business.

Other services worth looking at include Shopify, AirPOS, Lightspeed POS, EposNow and Square POS.

• Want to try SumUp POS? Check out the website here

SumUp POS: Pricing

SumUp POS has quite a lot of appeal as it doesn't carry a monthly cost. In the UK, where SumUp is headquartered, you get the easy option of one fee per transaction and with any type of card. Therefore, you get zero monthly costs and just a 1.69% transaction fee. 

Adding further weight to the potential of SumApp is the app and POS hardware combination that gives you a physical device for processing payments, which currently costs £139 and includes a SumUp Stand, Air Card reader and charging station. Sold on its own, the SumUp Air Card reader, which allows you to take payments in tandem with your smartphone costs £59 and if you want that with the accompanying cradle then it’s £69. 

The SumUp 3G card reader is currently £99 while the docking station, which lets you print receipts and keep your card reader charged is £169 (though currently £129 for a limited time offer). All prices exclude VAT. 

In the US, there’s a counterpart, the SumUp Point of Sale, which says the company is powered by the SumUp app. Again, there are no monthly costs and a 2.65% charge per transaction.

SumUp POS: Features

The SumUp POS terminal concept, and indeed the other products in the range, certainly makes a change from many of the other humdrum chunks of hardware out there. There’s a SumUp stand, which in effect is a sustainably sourced and neatly styled bit of kit to hold a tablet. 

There’s also the Air Card Reader, which will let you accept major debit and credit cards, including contactless Chip & PIN, Apple Pay and Google Pay. You can also make use of the SumUp charging stating, which ensures your terminal is ready to go at any given time. In terms of functionality then the SumUp POS revolves around the supporting app, which if you activate the Product Catalogue allows you to utilize it as a point of sale solution. 

The Product Catalogue lies at the heart of the SumUp POS system as it lets you create, manage and customize all of the products and categories in your business. The functionality therefore includes everything needed to itemize your stock, such as pictures, prices and descriptions.

SumUp POS: Performance

SumUp is all about speed and convenience, which is echoed by the super-speedy way you can sign up for an account and order your terminal within 5 minutes. In terms of payment processing then SumUp POS is able to handle Visa, V Pay, Mastercard, Maestro, American Express, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Diners Club, Discover and Union Pay. 

All of these benefit from the SumUp policy of not having any fixed or recurring costs, so you just get charged a small fee per transaction. Performance on all fronts, no matter which route you take, appears to be pretty impressive.

SumUp POS: Ease of use

Like some of the best POS systems, SumUp POS have done a fantastic job of creating a range of easy-to-use hardware that makes getting to grips with the whole point of sale process a doddle. 

Not only has the tech been designed and put together with ease of use at its core, the supporting app is also perfect for people who might not normally enjoy the task of processing payments.

SumUp POS: Support

Much like its hardware and app, the support from SumUp POS looks to be in very good shape too. The website, by way of an example, has an entire Help area that contains a mountain of great information in relation to every aspect of the customer experience. 

There are invaluable guides on setting up the card reader and other POS tips and tricks. You also get valuable insights into security and account information. If you don't find what you’re looking for there then real-time help comes in the shape of phone support Monday to Friday from 8 to 7 and Saturday from 8 to 5. You can also chat with the team during the same hours, or email them with a query. 

For the US, there’s live support via a toll-free number that covers weekdays from 9 to 7, along with an online support center and help email address.

Final verdict

The SumUp POS solution makes a great supplement to the other products and services in this impressive mPOS range. A lot of thought has clearly been put into the useability of the tech here, with little in the way of challenges facing anyone new to the word of POS kit. 

The app is also especially impressive, while the other big bonus with SumUp is the smaller overheads that are involved. Indeed, if you’re a smaller business looking for a quick and easy payment processing solution then SumUp and the associated POS hardware makes a great way to turn your venture into a much more versatile operation. And, realistically, for very little in the way of outlay at that.