BankTree is another one of several personal finance software packages on the market, which allow you to keep tabs on your money with ease. Despite the way that its website doesn't really sell the product quite as well as you might expect, BankTree is powerful, performs well and comes with a wide variety of features that make it appealing to users across the board. 

You can choose from BankTree Mobile for Android and iOS as well as either a desktop downloadable software edition, or an online variation on the theme. This is compatible with any system that supports a web browser. There are trial versions of both packages and a good level of security is built into either option. The competition includes Mint, You Need a Budget (YNAB), AceMoneyLite, Money Dashboard or Moneydance if you want to check those out too.

• Want to try BankTree? Check out the website here

BankTree: Pricing

You can get the BankTree download for £35 currently, and for that the company says it will provide you with free email support, free updates along with any bug fixes needed to boost the performance of BankTree Desktop Personal Finance Version 3.0. The price allows you to install the software on one computer, although additional installations are priced at just £5, which seems reasonable enough. 

There’s a fully functioning 30-day trial of the software available too, which gives you the ability to road test it first before signing up for the paid-for edition. The other option is to go for the BankTree Online Personal Finance Software package, which is browser-based rather than being downloadable software. 

Pricing for BankTree Online can be broken down into three options. There’s a free trial for 7 days. The ‘value’ Starter package comes in at £3.50 per month or £35 per year, while a Premier option is £4.50 per month or £45 per year.

BankTree: Features

One of the least appealing aspects of BankTree is the supporting website that delivers your initial taster of what to expect. If you can bear with the slightly annoying web pages though you’ll find that there’s plenty of appeal from the service itself. Fans of downloadable desktop software will be happy with its conventional edition. 

However, the really good stuff comes from within BankTree Online, the personal finance package that works via any web browser and on any platform. It’s got a stack of features that include the ability to setup cash or investment accounts, plus there’s the capacity for importing bank statements from your online bank or other financial packages, including the likes of Quicken or Microsoft Money. Major UK and US banks are supported along with over 2,500 other financial institutions covering 55 countries. 

Once you’ve configured it, BankTree lets you record your income and expenditure, keep an eye on your balances and also budget with precision-level accuracy. There’s also support for multiple currencies, making it appealing to a wider audience.

BankTree: Performance

BankTree Desktop Personal Finance Software can be used on Windows machines, including Windows operating systems including Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. Version 3.0 has been improved and shouldn't deliver any major surprises, while the accompanying app works on both Android and iOS and is also able to work with both the downloadable software and the online system. BankTree also uses 2048 bit encryption and supports two-factor authentication. Expect dependable performance if you’ve opted to go for the Online edition.

BankTree: Ease of use

BankTree has a main dashboard area, which might not be the most inspiring of workspaces but does give easy access to all of the features and functions. The menu system is pretty simplistic and allows you to tackle core tasks, such as splitting transactions so you can more accurately file them into suitable categories. When it comes to producing reports then the service is also easy to work with. 

If you want to augment the online service with a more mobile option then the app is ideal, which comes with solid capabilities, though requires some time to get to grips with.

BankTree: Support

Rather like its website, the support that comes from BankTree is a little bit of a hotchpotch of ideas. While there is plenty of tutorial support in the shape of instructional videos and suchlike, the documentation proves rather testing to get through. 

The knowledgebase, for example, does have a lot of information lurking inside, it’s just that the delivery is a little bit lacking. The YouTube tutorial videos are rather easier to sit through and there’s one for just about any aspect of the service. 

You’ll find a ticketing system too, for anyone needing to drop the support team a line. You can get ahead of the queue with the £10 premium ticket option, otherwise you’ll have to just wait in line by submitting a free ticket instead. At the time of writing there doesn’t appear to be any phone support available.

BankTree: Final verdict

BankTree is a bit of a mixed bag, with numerous positives going for it along with a few negatives that might put off more casual users. The features and interface are all generally good, but some tweaks to the package might make it more widely appealing. Anyone using BankTree for the first time will find that it takes a while to get setup and running. 

If BankTree can do a little bit of fettling to minimize the list of manual intervention needed and spruce up sections of the software then this could become much better than it is currently. It’s worthy of a free trial inspection nonetheless.

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Adminsoft Accounts will immediately appeal to anyone who doesn't have much in the way of budget to work with when it comes to taking care of bookkeeping. That could be very useful during the coronavirus crisis. This is a completely free to use package that has a huge stockpile of accounting tools, all within a Windows-based interface, which can be mastered without too much in the way of software experience. 

All you need to do is put up with some advertising, which justifies the completely free tag, and navigate past the Adminsoft Accounts website that is a little too busy for its own good. With no real outlay involved needed Adminsoft Accounts works well for small business owners who also have tax matters to sort, or the likes of clubs or charities that need a practical solution without having to pay for it.

• Want to try Adminsoft Accounts? Check out the website here

Pricing

Adminsoft Accounts makes a big thing about being completely free to use and it lives up to that admirably. If you really like it the website gives you the opportunity to make a donation. But, of course, to make this sort of software provision viable they have work with advertisers to generate revenue, so if you don't mind ads running in the background as you work then Adminsoft Accounts can be used as is, with all of the features and functions available. 

However, if you'd rather progress to an advertisement-free model then you can purchase a registration key. Pricing for Adminsoft Accounts is £199/£259 for a single user, £369/$479 for three users, £539/$699 for six users and £709/$919 for ten users. 

Adminsoft Accounts with AutoManager functionality comes in at £249/$319 for a single user, £459/$599 for three users, £669/$899 for six users and £879/$1139 for ten users. Adminsoft Accounts with Shop/Café Manager functionality is currently £229/$299 for a single user, three users is £419/$549, six users is £609/$789 and ten users is £799/$1029.

Features

Considering that Adminsoft Accounts is free there is no shortage of features present within the surprisingly impressive interface. As you pick through the inner workings you’ll find that it’s a double entry accounting system that features Accounts Receivable (Sales Ledger), Accounts Payable (Purchase Ledger) and General Ledger (Nominal Ledger) functionality. 

There’s also the ability to manage stock control and inventory, tackle purchase order processing, invoicing and even human resources if your business dictates it. Add on the ability to cover payroll duties and you’ve got an impressive software package that works across multi-currencies too. 

In addition, Adminsoft Accounts has the capacity for using special modules that work specifically for the likes of retail, café and restaurant businesses. It’ll take on point of sale and workshop operations for anyone working in the auto trade too. 

Seeing as Adminsoft Accounts seems to be aimed primarily at UK users it is also fully compliant for the governments Making Tax Digital vision and the VAT functionality is similarly tailored to suit that direction. At the same time, Adminsoft Accounts can still be used in other countries working with different currencies.

Performance

For what is basically a free program that can be run on most Windows machines you’ve got to give credit to Adminsoft Accounts for producing a dependable package. Considering it’s got a lot going on, especially if you’ve decided to configure all of its component parts then Adminsoft Accounts is very robust based on what we’ve experienced. The software publishers also note that you can run the software on Mac or Linux/Unix machines using Windows emulation, if that’s more your thing.

Ease of use

Some freeware programs can be quite painful to both install and use on a daily basis, but not so for Adminsoft Accounts. In fact, the software designers have done a great job with this program, having engineered an interface that’s a doddle to master. 

Getting it onto your machine and fired up is also straightforward, and the user guide that helps you get there is hugely helpful. This walks you through everything from setting up the accounts software through to entering data for the first time and then how to populate all of the relevant sections for customers, plus invoicing, VAT and all the rest of it. In short, it’s very simple but extensive at the same time.

Support

While Adminsoft Accounts is generally a pretty easy software program to get to grips with there’s every possibility that you might want some support along the way. And, if you think because it's a free program that’s going to be virtually non-existent there is actually a good level of help available should you need it. 

First point of call is the website itself, which comes with chunky support pages that deal with many of the everyday aspects of Adminsoft Accounts. The website also features a user guide, plus a community forum too. Add it all together and the levels of assistance are not bad at all really, even though the website itself is a little bit too busy for its own good. 

There’s an email support address should you need to write to them with a query and the site also suggests they have phone support available via a series of partners around the globe. Presumably that comes at a cost depending on the source.

Final verdict

All things considered, Adminsoft Accounts has a lot going for it, especially if you're UK-based and need to get on top of the Making Tax Digital vision for the country. If you’re farther afield then there’s lots to like too, with a simple-to-configure interface that can handle all sorts of currency and a host of powerful tools and functions that allow businesses of all sizes to tackle everyday accounting chores. 

Add on the ability to keep your business running with the nuts and bolts stuff, including invoicing, keeping track of inventory and even handling payroll and HR duties and you’ve got a very decent application.

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Helcim is a Canadian credit card processing company and merchant services provider to small businesses. It also offers a Helcim point of sale (POS) service. 

The company has grown a lot and now, despite coronavirus, boasts $2.5 billion in annual processing, handles 15 million transactions per year and keeps no less than 6000 merchants ticking over nicely.

• Want to try Helcim? Check out the website here

Helcim has continued with its expansion and in 2013 the company started offering its services in the US. 

Business users can take advantage of multiple products and services from Helcim, including:

✔ Affordable payment processing via credit and debit terminals

✔ Mobile phone payments 

✔ Virtual terminal transactions

✔ Merchant QR codes for online store and payment pages

Competitors to Helcim include Sage Pay, PaySimple, Authorize.net, Worldpay, PayPal, Stripe and Clover all of which are worth looking at.

Pricing

On its website Helcim points out that its credit card processing features transparent pricing and there are no hidden fees. In fact, Helcim has streamlined its payment systems so you can enjoy month-to-month processing power irrespective of how many cards you end up processing. 

On signing up for an account you’ll be able to start a new merchant account application. This currently costs $15 per month Retail, $35 per month Online and $50 per month for a Retail+Online combination package. Another bonus with the Helcim setup is that you can rent equipment on a month-to-month basis, or if you prefer just purchase everything you need outright. 

All in all Helcim is to be commended for offering such a flexible range of options and it’s clear that the company realises that the needs of businesses are many and varied. This is certainly better than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Features

If you’re looking to accept major credit cards then Helcim offers a range of options for completing transactions, including in-person payments and those done on the go. This comes in the shape of chip and PIN, tap and pay or swiping. 

Helcim also offers the capacity for processing payments using a manual keying-in method for both online and over-the-phone purchases. 

In addition, Helcim has a range of hardware, which includes virtual terminals, point-of-sale devices, mobile apps plus credit and debit card machines along with a payment gateway. You can also mix and match these options, depending on your business and its requirements.

For added flexibility, Helcim delivers a comprehensive payment processing solution with a built-in merchant account for Visa, MasterCard, Discover, China UnionPay, American Express OptBlue, JCB and Visa Debit cards.

On top of all that, Helcim has now added QR code functionality for merchants who are using its Online Store, Hosted Payment Pages and Online Food Ordering features. 

In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic this offers businesses more options for accepting payments whilst also ensuring social distancing requirements are met.

Performance

Helcim has been nicely honed in order to work fast and efficiently, whether you’re using one of its hardware terminals, its app-based card processing arrangements or navigating the cloud-based website. 

The latter has been very well put together and with a bumper collection of features and functions it performs very impressively on initial setup. 

Quite how it fares with larger amounts of data remains to be seen, but the Helcim system certainly seems more than capable of dealing with the sort of activity generated by most small to medium-sized business operations.

Ease of use

Alongside its hardware offerings Helcim also has its cloud-based web side of things to get to grips with. You’ll find that this is really straightforward with a clean and simple layout that takes little time and even less skill to become familiar with. 

While it soon becomes apparent that the online system might not be quite so good for larger businesses that would have to deal with huge volumes of products, it seems ideally suited for small to medium ventures. 

And, even if you happen to get stuck, there’s a plentiful supply of support files and documentation that should help you sail through the initial setup. 

Helcim’s decision to implement QR code functionality for merchants also boosts its appeal, not only for business owners but for customers too.

Support

As with other aspects of the Helcim credit card processing setup you’ll find that the Canadian operation has a rock-solid support network too. Online-wise you’ll find that its support center has an extensive collection of information that covers anything and everything to do with the operation. 

Alongside the excellent array of online articles you’ll find quick and easy links for either emailing the company with a query or simply calling them directly. 

Indeed, in the top right-hand corner of the website there’s an easily spotted phone number for quick reference should you not find the answer to your question from those internet help files.

Final verdict

Helcim really is a pretty comprehensive solution for small to medium-sized businesses that might have a variety of requirements when it comes to accepting payments. 

With a built-in merchant account and those transparent processing rates Helcim gets off to a great start, but the system is also wonderfully easy to use. 

The Canadian company has done a super job in joining up the dots between physical hardware, with terminals that can be bought or kept on an as-needed basis through to the online aspect with a simple but effective web dashboard that’s a pleasure to use. 

Helcim tops it off with options for integrating QuickBooks, third-party cards and there are developer API opportunities too. Now that the company has added QR code functionality for its merchants the service is built to take on all manner of challenges, including those posed by the coronavirus pandemic. 

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Sage Pay credit card processing is the perfect add-on if you’re already using the other products that come from this perennial accounting software favorite. Sage has been offering accounting solutions for business and individuals for years, since 2001 in fact, so it’s already got a proven track record. 

However, more recently Sage Pay has been acquired by Elavon, which offers merchant processing in the US and also Europe. Therefore, moving forwards, if you’re looking to integrate card payment processing into your operation then this payment gateway option is a great way to get the job done, especially during the coronavirus pandemic.

Sage Pay has competition from the likes of Sage Pay, Stripe, PaySimple, Authorize.net, Worldpay, PayPal, Helcim and Clover all of which are worthy of investigation.

• Want to try Sage Pay? Check out the website here

And, if you’re already using Sage solutions then you should find integrating credit card payment processing into your website pretty straightforward too.

Pricing

Sage Pay credit card processing has been designed to be super flexible, which means that if you have specific needs for your business then it’s best to get the ball rolling my calling them. This is especially so if you run a larger business that needs a more tailored-package approach.

However, at the time of writing Sage Pay has pricing on its UK website that indicates you can get starter pricing as follows: face-to-face payments start from £13 per month, online payments from £27 per month and phone payments from £15 per month. 

Sage Pay also charges transaction fees, which for popular plastic like Visa and Mastercard are 1.99%, while commercial or business cards run at 2.5%. Debit cards are 40p per transaction.

Features

Sage Pay credit card processing is just one part of a suite of products all designed to give your business a boost without the hassle. As you’d expect, this therefore covers all bases, meaning you can accept payments via invoice, face-to-face, online via your website as well as over the phone. 

It’s a beefy collection of features for each option too, with powerful fraud screening tools, lots of security features, customizable payment pages and one-click check-out options amongst other things. One of the big benefits of using Sage Pay though is the way that it can be used to work in tandem with Sage Accounting software, and the powerful integration this offers is worth a lot in terms of efficiency and convenience. 

We’re also impressed with the My Sage Pay analytics portal that delivers lots of useful data back to you on how your business is running.

Ease of use

For face-to-face transactions Sage Pay credit card processing works using either a mobile card machine, portable device or a countertop card machine. There’s also the option of integrating a card machine into your point of sale area. 

While there is clearly plenty of hardware available, the other bonus with using Sage Pay is that it’s a system that works in tandem with the aformentioned Sage Accounts. As the company explains, this means that you can improve your cashflow by integrating it with Sage Business Cloud Accounting, Sage 50cloud Accounts or indeed Sage 200cloud Accounts software. 

Along with the hardware and software muscle, Sage Pay is also able to accept PayPal plus all major debit and credit cards, either online or over the phone. Adding to its wide appeal is the fact that it also supports over 25 currencies.

Support

Sage Pay prides itself on delivering top-quality support that comes in the shape of UK-based 24/7 personnel who are able to deal with all aspects of the system. Support comes via the phone, or you can use online options including email and Twitter. 

Premium subscribers gain priority status, which can be useful if you’re running a larger concern. You will also enjoy the benefit of being allocated your own account manager. In addition, there’s a solid backbone of support content available on the Sage Pay website as well as user-based forums too.

Final verdict

Sage Pay is a great option if you’re in business and already make use of other products in the portfolio of this accountancy specialist. It’ll be interesting to see how things develop now that the company has been taken over, although currently that doesn't seem to have made much difference at all. 

In fact, it may actually be to the benefit of customers thanks to Elavon’s merchant processing power across Europe and the US. We like the idea of no set up fees or contracts that Sage Pay offers, while the face-to-face credit card processing options are more than capable. 

If you want to accept chip and PIN card payments it’s ideal, but Sage Pay has a wealth of other options for processing transactions. All told, it seems to offer a winning formula, especially if you're in a position to speak to them directly and get a personalised solution for your business.

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Authorize.net has a website that spells out its intention from the get go, which is to simplify the credit card payment process. Anything that takes the stress and strain out of financial transactions has always got to be welcome news and Authorize.net has been around long enough to know how to do just that. 

Launched way back in 1996, the Utah-based concern is today owned by Visa and is already a familiar name and popular option for many businesses across the US. As a payment gateway with products and services to suit a variety of users it has a well-proven track record. On top of that, Authorize.net offers a seamless user experience, which if you’re in need of credit card processing will prove very useful indeed, particularly in light of coronavirus.

It shares the marketplace with competitor products such as Sage Pay, Stripe, PaySimple, Worldpay, PayPal, Helcim and Clover.

• Want to try Authorize.net? Check out the website here

Pricing

In order to use Authorize.net you’ll first need a payment gateway, which will let you connect to its services and gain authorization for transactions. You can sign up directly with Authorize.net but you may instead prefer to have a merchant account provider, which will also let you connect to Authorize.net. 

However, if you're going directly to Authorize.net then the current pricing structure is available in three different options. The website recommends its All-in-One option, which is a route that lets Authorize.net get you set up with both a merchant account and a payment gateway. There’s no setup fee, while the monthly gateway costs $25 plus a per transaction charge of 2.9% + 30¢. 

Alternatively, the payment gateway only option is best if you’ve already got a merchant account. This comes with no setup fee, a monthly gateway charge of $25 plus per transaction fee of 10¢ and daily batch fee of 10¢. Finally, there’s a tailored pricing option for businesses who process over $500k annually. 

Features

Authorize.net does come with plenty to offer the medium to large business with a dazzling display of features that work very well. However, anyone signing up will certainly pay for the privilege and it is one of the pricier options for credit card processing duties. 

Nevertheless, for more outlay you get better features, which in the case of Authorize.net means advanced fraud protection. This includes 13 configurable fraud filters relating to IP, transactions, shipping and also velocity. The latter limits the number of transactions allowed per day or hour to stamp out high-volume fraud. Useful if you’re a large concern no doubt. 

Authorize.net is also able to work with multiple card types including Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, JCB, PayPal, Visa SRC, Apple Pay, Chase Pay and E-check. There’s also the capacity for setting up recurring payments and invoicing too. Additional features such as automatic account updating allow your business to stay bang-up-to date with regular customers.

Ease of use

Authorize.net is aimed at more established businesses with a larger commercial footprint, which might make it seem a little ominous if you’re operating a smaller concern. However, Authorise.net has been in existence long enough to realize that businesses grow, so if you’re a middle ground venture then it’s fairly easy to configure and is therefore worth investigating. 

While Authorise.net does offer a complete solution, in that it's able to help you with e-commerce integration, has point of sale options as well as being able to process mobile and phone payments, some parts of the process can be tricky to implement. On the upside, the setting up of mobile card reader services and turning your phone or tablet into a mobile point of sale device is actually stress-free.

Support

Authorize.net has the sort of support infrastructure that you’d expect from a large credit card processing concern, particularly considering that it is owned by Visa nowadays. You’ll find a central support center, which can provide you with many more basic answers. 

Meanwhile, there’s support team also at your disposal 24/7 (though they're closed on major holidays), which goes some way to justifying the additional expenditure you get with Authorize.net. We also rather like the Blog feature of the website, which offers up additional information, plus tips and tricks for getting the best out of the service.

Final verdict

Authorize.net offers slick credit card processing services, but you pay a premium for the experience. If you're starting out, or have what qualifies as a small business then you will probably find something like Square or Stripe more suited to your turnover. 

Being both a merchant services provider as well as a payment gateway means that Authorize.net is convenient if you want it to do all the credit card processing donkey work and, potentially, save a little bit on costs in the long run. 

While actually using Authorize.net on a daily basis is essentially simple and easy to master, you’ll really need to think carefully about committing to it in order to be sure you’re getting best value. That said, Authorize.net benefits from beefy support and also numerous fraud screening features, so there’s a lot here for the money.

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PaySimple credit card processing is based out of Denver, Colorado, and offers a suite of products and services that are well-suited to the smaller business owner, especially during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

Having been in existence for around 15 years PaySimple has refined its business and now offers the ability for companies to process payments in flexible ways, as well as automated billing and adding in customer marketing options to complete the picture. 

PaySimple is a practical solution because it delivers options for accepting payments online, in-person and via mobile, which means if you’ve got a small business it covers all bases within one package. A free 14-day trial certainly makes it worthy of inspection. Similar products are also available from the likes of Sage Pay, Stripe, Authorize.net, Worldpay, PayPal, Helcim and Clover.

• Want to try PaySimple? Check out the website here

Pricing

PaySimple states on its website that it has no contracts and no cancellation fees, which is always a bonus if you’re a small business that has to be careful with its cashflow. Also on its website, PaySimple highlights that credit card processing is 2.49% per transaction plus monthly fees along with $0.60 + .20% ACH / eCheck processing costs. 

It’s worth noting though that there are other charges such as a monthly maintenance fee of $29.95 and numerous other fees for different back-end aspects of the site. It’s a good idea to head to the PaySimple website and look up their Starter pricing page, as well as the more expensive Standard pricing pages. 

While it’s not immediately obvious that there are two different payment plan options, you will want to examine these in detail as they can change the expected overheads you’ll need to pay by quite a lot.

Features

PaySimple has been suitably named as it lets smaller business get up and running with a suite of payment processing tools without too much in the way of fuss or bother. What you therefore get is a merchant account, which lets you process payments, plus a physical card reader for carrying out transactions when the card is present. 

You’ll also be able to process payments using a virtual terminal although it’s worth noting that PaySimple only works if you’re based in the USA. As well as offering the convenience of card processing, the service can also be used to set up recurring credit card payments, alongside those one-off transactions, so automated billing schedules are within reach of anyone.

Performance

PaySimple is predominantly a cloud-based service, which aside from using the physical card reader, is well suited to businesses who might be in less visible or more remote locations. If you’re using the mobile card reader then it’s not currently chip card-friendly, although that is said to be in the pipeline. The system works well, however, with help from the PaySimple mobile app.

Ease of use

PaySimple is as its name suggests is a pretty straightforward service to operate and at its core is the merchant account, which is aided and abetted by the administration panel. This cloud-based setup means that you can control everything in one handy location, and offers all of the tools to configure regularly-used features, such as the implementation of recurring billing. 

PaySimple also has a solid presence on the app front, with both iOS and Android editions present. The iPad version in particular bristles with features while remaining reasonably easy to navigate, although the desktop edition is perhaps the best of the bunch.

Support

Seeing as PaySimple seems to be largely aimed at smaller businesses then the good news is that its support structure is nicely crafted. The people behind PaySimple seem perfectly in tune with the fact that not everyone running a business is on top of every facet of its running. And, crucially, that can often mean taking care of the financial aspect is tough going. 

PaySimple therefore delivers a beefy backbone of support, with its 9-7 EST live chat option proving particularly useful. There’s also phone support and a useful e-ticketing arrangement for filing more complex issues. More basic enquires can be easily tackled via the FAQ area while there’s also an online help center, comprehensive user guide and blog pages to also enjoy. It’s comprehensive.

Final verdict

PaySimple’s US-based operation is slick, stylish and, for its users, wonderfully straightforward.  With a raft of options at your disposal, including the ability to carry out one-off and also recurring credit card payments, PaySimple is a great little system for many smaller businesses. 

The flexibility of being able to process payments online, using a point of sale system and also with a card reader means it’ll tick a lot of boxes for many. In addition, PaySimple receives a lot of praise for its impressive range of customer support options, including lots of opportunities to speak to real people on the phone, which is always a bonus. 

That 14-day trial is perhaps the best way to see if PaySimple ticks all the boxes for you.

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ZipBooks is a reasonably recent addition to the ranks of cloud-based accountancy, tax and finance software, having first appeared back in 2015. But, in a lot of ways that’s good news. ZipBooks isn't bogged down with lots of baggage accumulated from down the years and, as a result, it comes across as a sprightly cloud-based contender with lots to offer, especially during the coronavirus crisis.

Its basic format revolves around four main areas; accounting, billing, expenses and intelligence. The secret to the latter feature is a powerful collection of reporting tools that deliver practical insights into your financial affairs. Variations on the competitor front include competitors FreshBooks, QuickBooks, Xero, Sage Business Cloud Accounting, Kashoo, Zoho Books and Kashflow.

• Want to try ZipBooks Check out the website here

Pricing

ZipBooks carries on the theme for simplicity with its current pricing structure. That starts out with a Starter package, which is free and lets you send unlimited invoices, manage unlimited vendors and customers, as well as view basic reports and supporting connection to one bank. Not bad at all. 

For the Smarter package, and $15 per month, there’s everything in Starter plus the capacity for scheduling recurring invoices with auto-bill, automated reminders, the ability to save invoice line items, plus multiple bank connections. You also get account notifications, the capacity for tracking time and can add five team members too. 

Next up is Sophisticated, which comes with everything in Starter plus smart tagging, custom categories, the ability to reconcile every account, lock completed books, share documents securely, get complex reports and invite unlimited users. ZipBooks also has an un-priced Account package, which requires you to contact them.

Features

ZipBooks ticks plenty of boxes when it comes to covering all of your financial and accountancy needs. This is also most impressive when you consider that the basic version is free, though to successfully expand its appeal you’ll need to stump up a monthly subscription fee like those outlined above. 

Core must-have features are the likes of online invoicing and the capacity for recurring billing, while you can also keep tabs of time, expenses and more besides. There are natty quick-to-use templates too, which if you need to style up an invoice or other business document prove invaluable. What’s more, it’s all contained inside a refreshingly simple, not to mention quite colorful workspace.

Performance

During our time using it we found ZipBooks to be decidedly sprightly, especially considering that it has quite a lot hidden inside that eye-catching interface. Being browser-based means that as long as your internet connection is steady and constant you shouldn't suffer any issues with usability. 

One area where ZipBooks is probably going to need some work in order to bring it up to the same standard is in the app department. Currently ZipWorks doesn't have an Android edition but the app for iOS is okay, though we found the overall experience most effective when the service was being used via a web browser.

Ease of use

Sign up is really easy as it follows a common theme. You simply press the button to get started and follow the steps, including adding in the name of your business, along with a password. ZipBooks will also flag up any leads from visitors looking for a specialist in your line of work if you're interested. 

Once you’re into the main work area the layout is deliciously simple. Over on the left-hand side of the screen are the core menus, including Invoices, Transactions, Reports, Contacts, Tracking, Payroll and Growth. Over on the right are checkboxes that show how far you’re into the setup process. 

Along the top of the menu bar there’s a More tab that, in essence, lets you access a hierarchical menu route to any, or all, of the features and functions. Overall, ZipBooks is a breeze to get around.

Support

Help is always close to hand within ZipBooks and that’s down to a small tab in the corner of the right-hand side of the interface. Click on it and you get access to a help database. This proves useful in some areas, such as when you’re setting up a connection to your bank. While the database returns answers to frequently asked questions, there is also the provision for chatting to real people during their opening hours. 

We couldn't find the exact times during testing, with a ‘Back later’ note seeming to suffice. Phone support isn’t immediately obvious either, while the cloud-based service also lacks the vibrant online community aspect that rivals have to their benefit. Granted, ZipBooks is still a growing entity, but it would be good to see this implemented as part of the support strategy. Its social media channels make amends for that shortcoming though.

Final verdict

ZipBooks is another fine and dandy member of the software-as-a-service ranks for accountancy. The layout and usability factors score highly with us, as it’s pretty hard to go wrong, both during initial setup and moving forwards too. As you build up your accountancy picture there’s also great support on the reporting side of things, and ZipBooks eggs you on with the positive vibes coming from its neatly colored interface flourishes. 

ZipBooks is also keenly priced and stacks up nicely against many of the other cloud-based alternatives that are out there, though it’s weakness is still the app part of the equation. Areas of the support picture could be a little clearer perhaps, but given the easy-to-use structure of ZipBooks that’s actually not too much of a negative. Indeed, overall, ZipBooks leaves us with a real feelgood factor.

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The Wave 2020 edition is a free-to-use online service that combines core functions of accounting, invoicing, payments and receipts to deliver a well-rounded financial solution for all. Working from within your browser you can subsequently track your income and expenditure as well as improving efficiency overall. It’s aimed at everyone from freelancers and sole traders through to small businesses and those with an eye on expansion. 

Wave was started by tech people who’ve had to do battle with their own figures in the past and, as a result, has been nicely tailored to get things done. But, crucially, without the stress. Based on our experience of Wave so far it seems to be a philosophy that’s working really well.

Competitors to Wave include FreshBooks, QuickBooks, Xero, Sage Business Cloud Accounting, Kashoo, Zoho Books and Kashflow.

• Want to try Wave? Check out the website here

Pricing

In its most basic incarnation Wave comes completely free to use, which considering the amount of features and functionality that are included makes it very appealing. The gratis version of Wave therefore delivers comprehensive tools for dealing with invoicing, accounting and receipts. 

However, one aspect of the site service does have a cost attached and that is the Payments area. This works on a pay-per-use basis and adds in the extra functionality of being able to accept credit cards on your invoices. This can be accessed via a large button inside the interface and will let you accept Visa credit and debit, Mastercard credit and debit plus American Express payments too. 

There’s no setup or monthly fee and no hidden fees either. Pricing is currently 1.4% plus 30 cents or 20p for European issued cards, while it’s 2.9% plus 30 cents or 20p for non-European cards.

Features

Wave has been around for a while and so if you’ve ever used it before it will still look pretty familiar. However, if you’re new to it then you’ll find it’s got everything you’ll need. What’s more, the newest addition adds in some extra features in and around the Accounting area in particular. 

This includes a new set of reconciliation tools as well as practical tweaks, such as the ability to search by amount and an instant payment option. Little things maybe; but no less useful. It’s also possible to change account types and, in terms of managing your time more efficiently, the ability to bulk edit accounts is also a boon. 

Combine this with the existing suite of menu options and Wave makes for an impressive package. Wave’s Payroll feature is cool, but can currently only be used by US and Canadian users only.

Performance

Like many services of its ilk, Wave works by allowing you to log in to your pre-registered account and taking on your financial chores through a web browser. While it works absolutely fine and ticks over for most tasks we did find it was a little sluggish to load on occasions. Presumably as you build up a more comprehensive collection of data this might be exacerbated. 

Nevertheless, the lag is generally barely noticeable and the trade-off for this is the enjoyable user experience that you get along the way. Wave’s apps, for iOS and Android, meanwhile, are super slick and work very well. They're the perfect compliment if you’re on the move and don't or can’t access the desktop setup.

Ease of use

Wave is one of the easiest to use services of its kind you can currently find. The interface and user experience is very good indeed and we also like the way it’s possible to add in additional users. So you can hand over the reigns to others in your business, or indeed your accountant if the need arises. 

Even the process of importing financial data you might have in CSV files to populate the system is reassuringly straightforward. This is also a great way of removing much of the legwork involved in getting your accounting area of the Wave service set up and running. 

On top of that it’s also wonderfully easy to integrate other features, such as Google Sheets or Etsy, while we’re also keen on the option for using Wave financial services for bookkeeping and tax work. You have to pay for those as added extras obviously.

Support

Wave offers much of its support on dedicated pages within the company website. There’s a page that allows you to search the Wave help database in order to locate the answer to your query. That’s surprisingly well laid-out and frequently delivers a solution to any technical or user woes you might be experiencing. 

It also has plenty of advice if you’re using either the iOS or Android apps for Wave too. You’ll find another handy Help option that can be accessed from within the interface, and that’s mighty handy too. 

Less useful on the support front, but worth investigating for its overall interest factor, is the community aspect of Wave. A healthy Blog section of the site provides you with more of an insight into the way the service and wider company works. Finally, there’s the capacity for submitting a help request if none of the above options solve your problem.

Final verdict

Wave has to be one of the most enjoyable packages of its kind on the market. For no fee you have access to a powerful suite of tools, which help you navigate any and all of the facets of your business. Anyone who breaks into a sweat when it comes to tax time, or keeping accounts up to date, will find that Wave removes a lot of the mystery and hard work associated with these chores. 

There are some shortcomings and missing features that prevent Wave from getting top marks. But, with the gradual evolution of this service from good to great already happening it seems reasonable to imagine the next edition of Wave will be nothing short of awesome.

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Kashoo is a user-friendly accounting service, which is cloud-based and is aimed at small business users along with freelancers and sole-traders. As you’d expect, Kashoo can help you build up a historical overview of all your years of trading, while the initial setup and configuration process delivers no unwanted surprises. It's mighty useful as the coronavirus continues.

In fact, Kashoo takes just a few minutes to sign up and get started. Additional data input can be done as you go, and being cloud-based it all gets stored safely and securely for you to dip into whenever it is most convenient. This is boosted with an iOS app version of the service, though to date Kashoo still has no Android app option.

Rival software services worth considering include QuickBooks, Xero, Sage Business Cloud Accounting, Zoho Books, Kashflow and FreshBooks.

• Want to try Kashoo Check out the website here

Pricing

When it comes to cost then Kashoo has always preferred to keep things simple. It therefore continues to have a one-price package, which is currently set at $199 per year. This compares very favourably to competitors in the accountancy software and services marketplace. Considering the level of features found within Kashoo it stands as good value. 

There are two ways to pay, with the $16.65 monthly/paid annually option being the most cost-effective. However, the monthly fee of $19.95 might work if you prefer a more pay-as-you-go way of working. For the curious there is a free 14-day trial, which at the time of writing also included the option of subscribing and receiving 3 months of the service for nothing too.

Features

Kashoo has plenty of features within its fairly simplistic cloud-based interface. That’s not to do it a disservice either as it follows the same lines as others in the online accountancy field. Indeed, the simple layout makes it very easy to use. Being connected is a big part of the puzzle, so early on you’ll want to make contact with your bank accounts, which can be done from within the service. 

Meanwhile, the Transactions list is the perfect way to keep track of business movements, while you can also categorize items such as miscellaneous expenses yourself. Crucially Kashoo is able to work out your taxes based on the information it gets and everything gets nicely collated at the end of the trail. 

Receipts can also be uploaded into the system, all of which should pull together a complete picture of your business accounts. Another bonus is that Kashoo works in tandem with Sure Payroll should you need it.

Performance

Kashoo has been well-engineered and the real positive is that multiple users can also enjoy its potential once you have an account. The additional benefit of this is that you can also assign different users levels of access that suit their requirements. That removes the worry of anyone getting in and tinkering with figures, either by mistake or intention. 

Being cloud-based means that there is little to worry about locally as the bulk of the action is going on over at the Kashoo servers. We got dependable results trying the service on popular web browsers such as Chrome and Safari, but the iOS app is worthy of investigation too.

Ease of use

Kashoo doesn't deliver any unwanted surprises as you pick your way through the interface, and that’s always a good thing. The layout couldn't be simpler to understand, with a main screen work area plus core menu options down the left-hand side. 

Central to this is the Dashboard, which displays the bigger picture and this can be customized to suit your individual requirements. Other menu options include Transaction, Invoices and Bills to Pay. You also have Contacts and Accounts menu options, plus the all-important Taxes area in order to complete the overall picture of your business affairs. 

At the top, incidentally, there is an Inbox where all your bank transactions will be pulled into. This is the main work space where users can categorize and review their transactions. Once they've ensured that the categorization is correct, they can then post the transaction to their General Ledger, which is the Transactions tab in the software. 

Down at the bottom, there’s a Reports tab too. It’s all very easy to work through.

Support

We didn’t think support options were as immediately obvious to find from within the Kashoo workspace, aside from pop-up boxes to explain each feature as you run through them, which once closed stay closed.  

However, there was a yellow icon in the bottom right of the screen, which unveiled a chat or conversation box, which says Kashoo is available Monday to Friday 6am to 5pm PST. Within this area there’s also a dialog box where you can type in queries in order to pick through a stack of FAQ topics. 

Kashoo also has a very robust site for help too, along with a phone number so you can speak to real people should the need arise.

Final verdict

Kashoo is certainly up there with the competition if you're looking for a simple-to-use cloud-based accountancy solution. It’s good value, has covered most if not all bases on the bookkeeping front, especially if you're running a small business or are a sole-trader. 

Crucially, it has been evolving with the times and now has all of the features you need to keep your business in good shape, without breaking the bank in order to do it. The Dashboard sits at the root of its appeal, with a single location giving you instant access to income, expenses, net income, cash deposits, withdrawals and the all-important net cash. 

With the benefit of Sure Payroll integration Kashoo is potent and ideal for business with not too much complex accounting baggage. That said; larger companies with multiple employees might need a beefier alternative.

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