PayAnywhere is an American company that has been in existence for around a decade or so now, although it's only in the last couple of years that it has been improved enough to be called a serious player in the card processing stakes. 

There’s no doubt that on face value if you take a tour of the PayAnywhere website that this could be an interesting and useful prospect, especially during the coronavirus crisis. So does PayAnywhere have what it takes to become an option if your business needs to process payments, or is it best avoided?

Similar products include the likes of Square, SumUp, QuickBooks Payments, Shopify and iZettle.

• Want to try PayAnywhere? Check out the website here

Pricing

PayAnywhere currently comes with two different packages for the mobile market, so currently you can opt for their pay-as-you-go package, which has a 2.69% transaction fee attached to it. That covers transaction processing of under 10k per month for swiped, dip or tap payments. 

Meanwhile, keyed entries cost 3.49% plus $0.19 each while there’s also an apparent inactivity fee of $3.99 per month. However, PayAnywhere states on its site that this is applicable only to merchants who do not process a transaction for 12 months. When processing resumes, the inactivity fee will no longer be charged. 

The other package, if you’re in the realms of 10k and over each month, involves a chat with PayAnywhere that will hopefully result in your business securing a reasonable fee base.

Features

PayAnywhere certainly seems to be catering for business users right across the board as it currently has a whole selection of hardware devices to let you process payments. There are a smart terminals, smart point of sale devices, and in the interest of relevance right here, a brace of card readers. There’s the 2-in-1 option and a 3-in-1 reader unit too, as well as miscellaneous accessories designed to make the acceptance of customer funds all the more straightforward. 

Of the two readers then the 3-in-1 obviously does that little bit more as it is able to process magstripe payments (swipe), EMV chip card payments (dip) and also handle NFC contactless payments including the likes of Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. Meanwhile, the Smart Terminal can process PIN debits, print receipts and has a built-in barcode scanner. Both the Smart Flex machine and the Smart Point of Sale hardware add on a customer facing second screen.

Performance

Mobile payments solutions invariably revolve around small portable card readers and PayAnywhere has two of these units that do the job pretty well it has to be said. 

The 2-in-1 is compatible with iOS and Android operating systems and uses Bluetooth, but it can also talk to desktop computers, which is an added bonus. Simply pair it with your smartphone or tablet and it will be able to process payments from EMV chip cards and magstripe cards too. 

The first reader comes free, while additional units cost $29.95 each. The 3-in-1 credit card reader is a little more beefy but essentially works along the same lines, while it can accept payments from EMV chip cards, magstripe cards and process NFC contactless payments from Apple Pay and Samsung Pay. It costs $49.95.

Ease of use

The PayAnywhere boffins have done a neat job in designing their systems to work across the board and with a variety of hardware. So you’ll be pleased to hear that, while the kit works with your iPhone or iPad, it’ll also work with desktop Macs, Windows and data is stored in the cloud. 

Therefore, you should find actually using the system pretty straightforward as long as everything is running as it should. As you’d expect, there’s a PayAnything app that works hand-in-hand with the hardware and when you add it all together there don't appear to be any real weak links in the payment processing chain. 

A standout feature is its capacity for displaying a library of items for customers to see in addition to their purchase, thereby boosting the potential for extra sales and offer tie-ins.

Support

Customer support, or the apparent lack of it, used to feature quite frequently in old reviews of PayAnywhere, but it appears that things have changed for the better. PayAnywhere does use its slick bells-and-whistles website to indicate that assistance comes via email, phone and a live support source, which should help you get to the bottom of any issues you might have while using both its hardware and software.

Final verdict

PayAnywhere has worked hard to beef up its range of products and services, while retaining its original vision as a provider of payment processing for small, medium and large businesses. 

Low volume turnover users, such as freelancers as an example, should find PayAnywhere an attractive possibility too just as long as you do your homework prior to signing up. 

PayAnywhere also seems suitably robust in the security stakes, with data encryption and tokenization being used to protect each transaction, which is all the more reassuring in the case of processing mobile payments. 

There are also a lot of additional features, such as invoicing and reporting that add value here, while we also like the option to bypass using the PayAnywhere hardware and simply process transactions on your phone instead if you prefer.

• We've also highlighted the best budgeting software  

Shopify will be instantly familiar if you've ever been considering an e-commerce platform for your business as that’s where it started out. However, aside from catering for all kinds of business on the selling front Shopify has also expanded its products and services and now includes mobile card reading.

Back in 2017 the company unveiled its first card reader, allowing business owners to take payments and process transactions in much the same way as other players in the market, such as Square, SumUp, QuickBooks Payments, PayAnywhere and iZettle.

So, as of now and despite the coronavirus pandemic, Shopify has an end-to-end solution for people who need a website, content to go in it and a subsequent means of processing customer payments. While there are geographical variations on the theme in terms of hardware, the core experience works around the Shopify POS app.

• Want to try Shopify? Check out the website here

Pricing

Due to the fact that Shopify offers an array of services on what amounts to a global scale there are territorial and geographical differences when it comes to costs too aside from the basic WisePad 3 Reader device. Moving on from the hardware though and you’ll need to look at the backbone of the processing system, which is Shopify POS and there are three variants. 

First up, there’s Basic Shopify, which is suited to people who sell in person at pop-ups, markets and suchlike. That’s $29 a month. The mid-range Shopify costs $79 per month and that is suited to small to medium-sized businesses. 

Finally, there’s the Advanced Shopify option for well-established businesses that have store locations, plus the need for more complex software solutions. That costs $299 a month. You should also note that there are in-person card processing charges too, currently set at 1.7%, 1.6% and 1.5% respectively.

Features

Interestingly, for the UK Shopify has at its root a Bluetooth-enabled card reader design that is already used elsewhere, so it might look a little bit familiar. In fact, it follows the same build, features and functionality as the original one used by iZettle. 

That’s by no means a bad thing though as it clearly works, and has everything you need to process card transactions including tap, chip and swipe payments. But, because of its size, Shopify is able to supply a wider variety of card readers, depending on what kind of business you’re running. 

So, as an alternative in the US, Shopify has its Tap & Chip Reader, while mobile-based store holders in Canada might want to explore the Swipe, an audio-jack card reader.

Performance

In the case of the Tap & Chip reader that’s available in the US you’ll find that it works with a compatible iPad, iPhone or Android device that supports Bluetooth 4.2 and up. 

You’ll need to check the Shopify website for specific model requirements to be sure the unit will be compatible with your mobile device, while you’ll also need a compatible version of Shopify POS, either 5.12.0 or higher for iOS and 3.4.0 or higher for Android. 

The same goes for compatibility in other geographical regions, so check first before committing.

Ease of use

Once you’ve mastered its features and functions you’ll find the Shopify Tap & Chip reader can accept payments from Visa and Visa Debit cards, Mastercard and Mastercard and Mastercard Debit, American Express and Discover, plus Apple Pay and Google Pay. 

Using the reader is really straightforward as you simply need to press and release the power button, watch for the status lights to appear and then pair it with your device using Bluetooth. Once you’ve been through this procedure initially the unit should connect automatically when you next use it. 

There’s an auto sleep feature too, which helps to conserve power during non-payment-processing downtime. Recharging can be done using a supplied USB cable plugged into a phone charger or computer and takes 1 to 2 hours to charge fully.

Support

Considering that all users are paying for Shopify and its services in one shape or form it’s only reasonable to expect a decent standard of customer support. This comes in a variety of ways, such as email and phone, while the chat aspect proves a practical way of getting to the bottom of queries without being too long-winded about it. 

Shopify also has a huge website and many resources online, so you may be just as well having a look at those if you’re simply a newbie who’s looking to get up to speed with how the POS ticks.

Final verdict

Shopify seems to have a solution for pretty much any market you’re in. The ability to offer sales on-the-go from pretty much anywhere means the Shopify POS app and card reader combination definitely appeals. 

While the app is definitely impressive allowing transactions to take place with a wide variety of cards, it has additional value by offering tracking, synchronization of orders with customers, inventory checks and lots more too. The other benefit is that it can also tie-in these transactions to your online or e-commerce site, meaning that content, customers and stock are managed much more effectively. 

If you’re an existing Shopify customer then it therefore seems like an obvious place to start on the card processing trail.

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QuickBooks GoPayment is a product from Intuit, which is the huge company that has developed many other software solutions for the business community. It’s therefore well placed to offer GoPayment, which allows merchants to process payments and then tie transactions and orders into QuickBooks Online. 

To do this you need an Apple or Android smartphone or tablet plus the free app. Alternatively, you can use a card reader to ‘swipe, dip or tap’ as Intuit puts it. On paper this sounds like the perfect arrangement that should be able to make your business more efficient and hopefully, due to the added flexibility, push up profits despite the current coronavirus crisis. So does it work like that in reality?

• Want to try QuickBooks GoPayment? Check out the website here

Pricing

Considering that GoPayment has the backing of a large company like Intuit there is less clarity when it comes to pricing for the service. On the face of it the QuickBooks GoPayment app is free, so that does at least get you started. From there though you’ll need to get yourself an account with the likes of QuickBooks, TurboTax or Mint in order to get the best from it. 

QuickBooks Online is actually the best way to milk most from the system and ensure you get value as it integrates of a lot of the features found within that package. Currently it’s down from $25 per month to $12 for the Simple Start package, while the Essentials bundle is down from $40 to $20 per month. 

And, at the time of writing you simply pay per transaction, with the QuickBooks website quoting the following figures: ACH bank transfers 1% (max $10), Card – swiped – 2.4% plus 25 cents, card – invoiced – 2.9% plus 25 cents or card – keyed coming in at the most expensive with a 3.4% plus 25 cents cost. 

However, deals change continually on this site and it also says that it’s possible to make additional savings if you’re a larger concern by calling them.

Features

Quickbooks GoPayment is flexible in that it you can accept payments from customers who want to use credit cards, cash or old school cheques too. You’ll need to order the free card reader from them, which will allow you to enter the customers card information, using a variety of options including swiping or tapping it. 

Of course, being part of Intuit means that this large concern has produced an array of solutions for whatever kind of business you run. Using the app-based approach GoPayment is therefore tailored more to an on-the-go or mobile business where you don't necessarily have the traditional point of sale arrangement in place. And, as you would expect, transactions can be handled via Apple or Android devices.

Performance

As you would hope and expect, the performance of QuickBooks as a service has already proven itself over many years. The GoPayment part of this equation adds to that, by allowing business owners to use the card reader to take payments on-the-go, and by having everything linked this means that you can do quick everyday essentials such as generating invoices and receipts in larger volumes. 

There are currently two readers, the QuickBooks All-in-One and the QuickBooks Chip and Magstripe. The former comes free if you sign up for QuickBooks Payments. However, the All-in-One unit does have the Bluetooth benefit of being able to handle Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay too, plus regular contactless cards or EMV and magstripe variants too.

Ease of use

The good thing with GoPayment is that it’s not essential to have a QuickBooks user account in order to enjoy what it offers. That said, you will find the experience an easier more seamless adventure if you do tie all of your business elements together. 

So, to be honest, you’ll probably find that it’s best to have an account or, perhaps, look elsewhere instead if you don't like the idea of being tied in to one solution. 

Nevertheless, if you do go down the GoPayment path you’ll need to get yourself an Intuit merchant account and from there it’s a case of using the free reader whenever you want to process a card payment.

Support

One of the obvious benefits of being signed up to a large concern like QuickBooks and Intuit is that you should get the bonus of having lots of support. And that’s exactly what you do get via an array of different options. There are online FAQs, tutorials, video explainers, blogs and community resources too.

Final verdict

GoPayment looks to offer much, and it seems to do the job particularly well if you’re a fully paid up member of the QuickBooks community. However, we think it seems rather confusing to get started with, the pricing and different deals that change frequently don't help either. 

While the app is workmanlike and acceptable enough, it could still benefit from improvements. Similarly, while the hardware in the shape of those card readers is suitable for the job in hand, you’ll still find it most appealing if you’re an existing QuickBooks customer. There’s potential, but improvements to the whole package would be welcome. Competition-wise, lookout for Square, SumUp, Shopify, PayAnywhere as well as iZettle.

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Pocketguard is perfect you’re often in the position where you’re feeling a little bit nervous about just how much you're spending and need to do a bit of expense tracking. This is a financial management app, for both Mac OS and Android, plus there’s a desktop edition too and it's particularly useful during the coronavirus pandemic. 

However, if you're looking for a handy quick reference guide to your finances at any time of the day, or night, then the mobile edition of this package is certainly one to try. 

It’s available for both the US and Canadian markets and allows you to get all of your incomings and outgoings into one convenient place and subsequently get budgeting much more efficiently thanks to its central In My Pocket star feature. It sits alongside other similar products in this area including QuickBooks, Rydoo, Expensify, Hurdlr and Zoho Expense.

• Want to try Pocketguard? Check out the website here

Pricing

Pocketguard comes in a basic edition, which is still pretty well stacked, that comes with no cost attached. If you’re suitably smitten with what it does then you may want to boost the usability by plumping for the Pocketguard Plus model, that comes with a $3.99 monthly subscription cost or it can also be had for a one-off $34.99 annual charge.

Features

Pocketguard gets straight to the point when you first download it with a no-nonsense approach of doing a deep dive into your finances and getting you on the straight and narrow. In a nutshell, it’ll provide you with a one-stop money management solution that lets you track spending and develop a clearer picture of your financial situation. 

Highlights include the capacity for tracking your incoming and expenses, seeing just how much you've got spare while it also lets you build up a bigger picture of your money matters over time. Other key features are the options for creating spending limits so you can cap outgoings where needed, as well as the capacity for setting savings goals. 

Add it all together and the picture of your finances becomes very clear indeed. Once you’ve got all your data into the software you’ll have an In My Pocket zone, which is the true strength of the app as it gives an instant overview of your money.

Performance

You’ll find that Pocketguard works with zingy efficiency on both the Mac iOS and Android app editions of the software, with a neat and tidy interface that is suitably tap-friendly. 

While the web-based variation on the theme is similarly speedy you’ll find that Pocketguard is most able when it’s getting on with business on your mobile phone or tablet. There’s very minimal effort involved in setting up the app to link to your bank accounts and once you’ve got that in place you should find that Pocketguard will work very dependably.

Ease of use

There’s very little to get tangled up with when you’re using Pocketguard. In fact, as finance management and budgeting tools go, this is one of the easiest to master there is. 

The developers behind Pocketguard have obviously thought long and hard about how to make money management tools visually interesting and while the app does a lot, it gets the job done in a wonderfully simplistic way. It's hard to make any kind of personal finance or budgeting software interesting, but Pocketguard provides you with a really rather enjoyable way to shuffle through your money matters. 

You might find that there are a few hiccups during the initial setup that involves connecting to your accounts, but the Pocketguard engineers have been working hard at making this just as straightforward as the rest of the user experience.

Support

Like most other budgeting software tools you’ll find that Pocketguard comes with a support option, although currently that doesn't seem to extend to calling them up. Nevertheless, if you head over to the Help section on their website you’ll find that it’s provides a cornucopia of information and answers. 

And, even if all this information doesn't get to the bottom of your query then there is also the ability to email them and ask a question first hand. Another bonus on the support front is the Pocketguard blog, which delivers a neat additional insight into the way the software ticks.

Final verdict

Pocketguard comes highly recommended if you’re after a budgeting software solution that can stay with you wherever you go. Being able to dip into the app on your phone or tablet gives you a safe and secure overview of money going in and out. 

Pocketguard uses 256-bit SSL encoding to safeguard that data, while there’s a neat 4-digit PIN system for keeping sensitive information even more locked down, which makes it ideal for mobile devices. 

With a user interface that has been optimized for the mobile environment, this is also a power-packed budgeting package that should reassure you if you regularly fret about what kind of shape your finances are in.

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Moneydance has been a popular desktop money management solution for a long while now and has lots of Mac users as fans. Whilst it’s certainly a treat to use on the Apple OS platform, this personal finance software is also available for Windows and Linux. 

Whichever flavor you’re keen on the software is undeniably quick and easy to use, which is a bonus during the coronavirus crisis. And, if you’re in the US then it has been continually improved to work with all of your bank accounts, which makes it hugely appealing, as well as credit cards and investments. 

Getting setup is a no-fuss operation and it represents pretty good value, especially as your Moneydance license is able to cover your household, rather than unique machines. If you’re looking for an alternative to something like Quicken then Moneydance is certainly up there in the running. Other similar budgeting software options include Banktree and Money Dashboard.

• Want to try Moneydance? Check out the website here

Moneydance: Pricing

Moneydance comes with a price tag of $49.99 and that covers any of the different versions, so from the Mac OSX edition through to the Windows and Linux versions the cost is the same. There are also editions available for those who prefer a mobile solution, with versions on iOS and Android. 

However, the good news is that when you download the software you do actually get a demo edition, which allows you to discover the features and functionality of Moneydance before committing fully. 

That said, you’ll subsequently need to pay the $49.99 fee for the software in order to lift the limitations that prevent the demo option being a full bells and whistles experience.

Moneydance: Features

Moneydance comes full-to-the-brim with a comprehensive selection of features. Central to getting the best from this software is its ability to hook up with countless American financial institutions. If you’ve got multiple bank accounts and want to streamline your finances then Moneydance is therefore great at tackling the job in hand. 

The best thing about this is that, once configured, Moneydance can download and send payments online, whilst also producing a clean and easy-to-digest overview of what’s going on with your cashflow. The Moneydance interface is comprehensive it has to be said, with a cool hierarchical menu system that lets you dip into every facet of your money, from bank accounts to credit cards to investments and more besides. 

You’ll also find some dazzling multi-colored graphs and reports to pick through once you’ve got the software in top gear, which is brilliant for getting a comprehensive overview of your money.

Moneydance: Performance

Moneydance has been designed to work across multiple platforms and, it has to be said, seems to have been honed perfectly to work on them all. Most notably, the mobile editions have a really nice edge to them and, as well as being enjoyable to use, are also stable and dependable. 

If you're using the software on a desktop machine then the experience is just as good, even if you’ve got mountains of financial data to manage. Indeed, considering how complex a picture Moneydance often has to work with the whole process seems to enjoy being given a run for its money. 

The Infinite Kind Limited, those clever people behind the software, also underline that all of your data is private, encrypted and never shared, which is what you would hope for.

Moneydance: Ease of use

On initial examination novice users might find that Moneydance looks a little bit intimidating. Fear not though, as the software is actually pretty intuitive. As with any money management software solution, there is an element of effort involved in getting the service set up, but once you’ve got it running Moneydance is wonderfully efficient. 

The same can be said of the mobile editions, which have been optimized to work on smaller screens. Considering you are invariably dealing with lots of transactions and plenty of facts and figures this can often be a weakness with software of this ilk. However, Moneydance pulls off this feat beautifully, and works quite happily, whether you’re on iOS or Android.

Moneydance: Support

With such a packed collection of features all jostling for position within the Moneydance interface it might be possible that you end up getting stuck. While Moneydance is actually very easy to master there is also help at hand, with several different options to choose from, depending on the level of your query. 

The ability to open a discussion with its creators is one practical way to go, with the option for keeping these private if you prefer. Elsewhere, you might want to tour the knowledge base, or simply get in touch with any one of several online support staff who will get you back on track. 

Being able to view other public discussions is also a great way to get hints, tips and tricks that you might not otherwise have realized are available within the Moneydance workspace.

Moneydance: Final verdict

Moneydance is one of the better financial management software options out there. It comes bristling with all of the tools you need to get a comprehensive overview of your financial circumstances. 

Better yet, Moneydance is also super-efficient at getting your money sorted, categorized and managed as you move forward. Much of the appeal is the way it can be connected to a raft of American financial institutions, but it also excels and sorting out things like payment schedules and so on. 

In fact, if you're looking for a solution that can take on all of your bill-paying chores and remind you that it’s going to happen then Moneydance could be the software for you. Top marks should also be extended to the developers for producing versions that work seamlessly across a variety of platforms efficiently too.

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Mint is software specifically designed for managing your money and is now part of the Intuit product portfolio. 

Keeping tabs on your finances can get complicated if you have numerous bank accounts as well as investments, pension contributions and savings to monitor alongside your daily outgoings. And that’s why money management app Mint is therefore perfect for covering all bases and joining up those dots. 

Being owned by Intuit, which is also behind TurboTax and Quickbooks, means security is at the forefront of its appeal. It’s therefore reasonable to expect a well-designed and engineered package and that’s exactly what you get. 

Mint generates revenue to cover its free status by delivering affiliate offers, but if you can put up with that aspect of the software then you’ve got a very decent package at your disposal. However, you might also want to try Quicken, Banktree, Money Dashboard or Moneydance.

• Want to try Mint? Check out the website here

Pricing

One of the best things about Mint is that it is absolutely free to use, no matter if you’re signed up to enjoy its charms on iOS, Android or a good old desktop computer or laptop. Considering that Mint comes with a plethora of great features, and delivers a great user experience, the fact that it's free makes the software very appealing. 

However, it should be noted that Mint has to earn its keep one way or another and so, as a result, there are affiliate offers to deal with along the way. That’s fine if you’re in the market for another credit card, but it has to be said that some of the offers are less appealing. While we understand the need to turn a profit, this is perhaps the only real downside of the Mint experience.

Features

Mint might sound like a fairly simplistic proposition and it’s certainly not complicated to master, but the options it provides you with are actually many and varied. The action centres on a few main features, with Mint offering the ability to connect to your bank, or banks, and other financial interests along with keeping an eye on your credit score. 

The good thing is that you can also ‘unplug’ these as and when you need to, or if you want to block out specific areas of your finances. Doing all this is really easy and involves nothing more than adding in accounts with the odd screen tap or two. 

As you’d expect, Mint keeps a firm grip on security and uses 256-bit data encryption, plus VeriSign security scanning. In fact, as you pick through the Mint landscape you’ll find that there are plenty of places where its meticulous authentication procedures safeguard both you and your data. 

Fear not; this is most notable on the app editions, which take into consideration what would happen if your phone gets lost or stolen. Mint subsequently allows you to delete your financial data remotely.

Performance

Mint is all about connectivity as it taps into your various financial interests and keeps the picture updated in a dynamic fashion. That’s good news, as you should therefore always have an overview that’s bang up to date. We’d heard some reports that earlier incarnations were subject to connectivity issues, with connecting to specific banks proving problematical on occasions. 

However, these days Mint seems to be in very good shape, with its carefully honed interface being complemented by its ‘always on’ edge. If you're running it on a mobile device, be it an Apple iPhone, iPad, Watch or on the Android platform you should find that it ticks over just fine. In fact, in most respects the mobile edition of the Mint experience is the best way to be using it. The whole thing just works.

Ease of use

Getting to grips with Mint is very straightforward, with nothing major to get your head around. In fact, due to the way the software has been designed it works in a very intuitive manner. 

While it’s easy enough to find your way around the desktop web browser edition, it’s the app route that really bristles with stress-free functionality. Indeed, the Apple Watch version features a crisp and clear interface that gives you all the information you need in a very good-on-the-eyes format. Getting Mint up and running is also wonderfully easy. 

You’ll need to sign up with a username and password and once you're past that stage it’s simply a case of hooking up to your different accounts. This starts with banks, but you can add on every other aspect of your financial world in much the same way.

Support

One of the most appealing aspects of the Mint experience is its ease of use and fuss-free functionality. In that respect there is not too much that requires support, although thankfully its creators have produced a sizeable FAQ area within the application. 

Dipping into this section of the Mint app lets you find answers to most questions, although it requires persistence if you want to get to the bottom of less commonly asked questions. As a bonus, however, there is a chat option that lets you get in touch with staff around the clock at the Mint headquarters.

Final verdict

If you struggle with keeping your finances in order, and even if you don't for that matter, Mint makes a lot of sense. It’s free, despite the downside of being beefed up to make money using affiliate offers within the software, and is very easy to use. In terms of getting started Mint could not be easier. 

With the capacity of adding in some or all of your financial interests, and also removing them where needed, it is super flexible. The mobile editions deliver really good experiences too, with even the Apple Watch option being detailed and delightful to use, with piles of information on your financial status being available at a glance. 

Mint also tops it all off with a safe and secure build, one that provides you with the reassurance that your sensitive data is in good hands.

• We've also highlighted the best budgeting software  

Mint is software specifically designed for managing your money and is now part of the Intuit product portfolio. 

Keeping tabs on your finances can get complicated if you have numerous bank accounts as well as investments, pension contributions and savings to monitor alongside your daily outgoings. And that’s why money management app Mint is therefore perfect for covering all bases and joining up those dots. 

Being owned by Intuit, which is also behind TurboTax and Quickbooks, means security is at the forefront of its appeal. It’s therefore reasonable to expect a well-designed and engineered package and that’s exactly what you get. 

Mint generates revenue to cover its free status by delivering affiliate offers, but if you can put up with that aspect of the software then you’ve got a very decent package at your disposal. However, you might also want to try Quicken, Banktree, Money Dashboard or Moneydance.

• Want to try Mint? Check out the website here

Pricing

One of the best things about Mint is that it is absolutely free to use, no matter if you’re signed up to enjoy its charms on iOS, Android or a good old desktop computer or laptop. Considering that Mint comes with a plethora of great features, and delivers a great user experience, the fact that it's free makes the software very appealing. 

However, it should be noted that Mint has to earn its keep one way or another and so, as a result, there are affiliate offers to deal with along the way. That’s fine if you’re in the market for another credit card, but it has to be said that some of the offers are less appealing. While we understand the need to turn a profit, this is perhaps the only real downside of the Mint experience.

Features

Mint might sound like a fairly simplistic proposition and it’s certainly not complicated to master, but the options it provides you with are actually many and varied. The action centres on a few main features, with Mint offering the ability to connect to your bank, or banks, and other financial interests along with keeping an eye on your credit score. 

The good thing is that you can also ‘unplug’ these as and when you need to, or if you want to block out specific areas of your finances. Doing all this is really easy and involves nothing more than adding in accounts with the odd screen tap or two. 

As you’d expect, Mint keeps a firm grip on security and uses 256-bit data encryption, plus VeriSign security scanning. In fact, as you pick through the Mint landscape you’ll find that there are plenty of places where its meticulous authentication procedures safeguard both you and your data. 

Fear not; this is most notable on the app editions, which take into consideration what would happen if your phone gets lost or stolen. Mint subsequently allows you to delete your financial data remotely.

Performance

Mint is all about connectivity as it taps into your various financial interests and keeps the picture updated in a dynamic fashion. That’s good news, as you should therefore always have an overview that’s bang up to date. We’d heard some reports that earlier incarnations were subject to connectivity issues, with connecting to specific banks proving problematical on occasions. 

However, these days Mint seems to be in very good shape, with its carefully honed interface being complemented by its ‘always on’ edge. If you're running it on a mobile device, be it an Apple iPhone, iPad, Watch or on the Android platform you should find that it ticks over just fine. In fact, in most respects the mobile edition of the Mint experience is the best way to be using it. The whole thing just works.

Ease of use

Getting to grips with Mint is very straightforward, with nothing major to get your head around. In fact, due to the way the software has been designed it works in a very intuitive manner. 

While it’s easy enough to find your way around the desktop web browser edition, it’s the app route that really bristles with stress-free functionality. Indeed, the Apple Watch version features a crisp and clear interface that gives you all the information you need in a very good-on-the-eyes format. Getting Mint up and running is also wonderfully easy. 

You’ll need to sign up with a username and password and once you're past that stage it’s simply a case of hooking up to your different accounts. This starts with banks, but you can add on every other aspect of your financial world in much the same way.

Support

One of the most appealing aspects of the Mint experience is its ease of use and fuss-free functionality. In that respect there is not too much that requires support, although thankfully its creators have produced a sizeable FAQ area within the application. 

Dipping into this section of the Mint app lets you find answers to most questions, although it requires persistence if you want to get to the bottom of less commonly asked questions. As a bonus, however, there is a chat option that lets you get in touch with staff around the clock at the Mint headquarters.

Final verdict

If you struggle with keeping your finances in order, and even if you don't for that matter, Mint makes a lot of sense. It’s free, despite the downside of being beefed up to make money using affiliate offers within the software, and is very easy to use. In terms of getting started Mint could not be easier. 

With the capacity of adding in some or all of your financial interests, and also removing them where needed, it is super flexible. The mobile editions deliver really good experiences too, with even the Apple Watch option being detailed and delightful to use, with piles of information on your financial status being available at a glance. 

Mint also tops it all off with a safe and secure build, one that provides you with the reassurance that your sensitive data is in good hands.

• We've also highlighted the best budgeting software  

CountAbout is pretty simple and straightforward in its structure. It has a web-based design that offers a reasonably comprehensive suite of onscreen tools that cover most bases when it comes to managing your finances. It’s really as simple as that and could come in very useful during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The extra bonus alongside the connected convenience is that it’s very affordable, and is therefore ideally suited to anyone who needs a helping hand with finance management, but needs to do it on a budget. 

There’s a free 15-day trial available on the CountAbout website too, which provides you with the opportunity to try the service before committing to it and without the need to pay any money. So far, so good. It's up against the likes of Mint, YNAB, Quicken, Moneydance and Pocketguard in the budgeting software stakes.

• Want to try CountAbout? Check out the website here

Pricing

Currently, CountAbout keeps things nice and simple when it comes to the pricing and availability of its services. There are, in essence, two options to choose from with a simple-but-effective Basic package that costs $9.99 annually. For that you get full access to most of the CountAbout features and functions, although more advanced elements are off limits. 

That means you can’t enjoy automatic downloading of bank, credit card and other transactions. There’s also a lot more manual input required. The good news though is that you can plump for a Premium edition instead, with a yearly cost of $39.99 and gain access to all of the extra options. For the money CountAbout therefore seems like pretty good value. 

Adding a little more functionality for $10 a year lets you gain the ability to attach images to transactions. Similarly, there’s an invoicing add-on aimed at small-businesses that lets you create, send and track them, all for $60 extra per annum.

Features

CountAbout is certainly a practical solution, not least of which because it lets you import data from Quicken or Mint. When you sign up you're encouraged to do that early on, and there are some decent instructions that walk you through the steps. 

You also get an easy access Account Maintenance approach, which during setup means you can select the option to have transactions automatically downloaded from the financial institutions you deal with. Once you’re into the main working area you’ll find that the interface is clean, fuss-free and easy to navigate. 

The interface is additionally impressive in that it can be customized to suit your individual needs. For example, any kind of additional category can be added into the left-screen menus, while others that you don't need can be removed. If you need it the ability to add in and manage invoices is also another boon, especially if you’re a small business owner.

Performance

There’s an app edition of CountaAbout for both iOS and Android and either of these are decent enough supplements to the online browser edition. They do, of course, provide you with a one-stop option that can bypass the desktop model altogether if you prefer to keep tabs on your budgeting on the go. 

We’re also encouraged about the way CountAbout has been designed and engineered, with a good level of encryption being built in to ensure that your financial data is as secure as can be. Indeed, CountAbout states that the only personal identifying information it collects from users is their email addresses, and these are not made available to anyone else either. 

The other big bonus here is that CountAbout can be used in tandem with something like Quicken, which means that you’ve got a powerful arsenal of financial management tools at your disposal. And, in the case of CountAbout, that’s for a relatively small outlay too.

Ease of use

You’ll find that CountAbout is really very simple to master, even if you’re something of a novice when it comes to online services. For budgeting and taking care of your finances, CountAbout takes it step-by-step with a very methodical page layout. 

The service features main tabs along the top of the interface, which take you into the core day-to-day management areas of your finances, such as Transactions, Budgets and Reports. You can customize the interface too, with a Widgets option that allows the creations of additional tools aimed at comparing the different aspects of your financial activity. 

We also rather like the Recurring tab, which lets you create and manage regular financial transactions, such as mortgage and rent payments. Meanwhile, the left-hand side of your screen contains other nuts and bolts options, such as an Accounts list, Categories and a Tag list too.

Support

Help is always at hand within the CountAbout interface. There’s a dedicated link to the Help area at the top of the page and this takes you to a comprehensive information area. 

Whilst it might look a bit spartan on first glance this assistance zone packs a decent punch once you get into its inner workings. If you’ve got a specific issue then it’s possible to open a ticket inside here, although you may find many queries and questions can be tackled by dipping into the Knowledge Base. 

We also found the Suggestions area quite a good idea as this lets you tell CountAbout of any issues you think could be tweaked or improved during your experience of the online service.

Final verdict

Overall we think CountAbout has a lot going for it, not least of which is that impressive price tag. Even if you splurge and go for the Premium edition it’s pretty cheap. Combine that with a very easy to master interface, lots of fun and funky options, such as the ability to add custom widgets for even more powerful money management, and you’ve got a winning combination. 

With a free 15-day trial at your disposal it’s really worth giving CountAbout a go and, with it’s minimalistic layout and help on hand when you need it, this budgeting service comes recommended. With a safe and secure design, plus the capacity for co-existing with something like Quicken you’ve got a beefy little option at your disposal if you need to get your budgeting in order fast.

• We've also highlighted the best budgeting software  

CountAbout is pretty simple and straightforward in its structure. It has a web-based design that offers a reasonably comprehensive suite of onscreen tools that cover most bases when it comes to managing your finances. It’s really as simple as that and could come in very useful during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The extra bonus alongside the connected convenience is that it’s very affordable, and is therefore ideally suited to anyone who needs a helping hand with finance management, but needs to do it on a budget. 

There’s a free 15-day trial available on the CountAbout website too, which provides you with the opportunity to try the service before committing to it and without the need to pay any money. So far, so good. It's up against the likes of Mint, YNAB, Quicken, Moneydance and Pocketguard in the budgeting software stakes.

• Want to try CountAbout? Check out the website here

Pricing

Currently, CountAbout keeps things nice and simple when it comes to the pricing and availability of its services. There are, in essence, two options to choose from with a simple-but-effective Basic package that costs $9.99 annually. For that you get full access to most of the CountAbout features and functions, although more advanced elements are off limits. 

That means you can’t enjoy automatic downloading of bank, credit card and other transactions. There’s also a lot more manual input required. The good news though is that you can plump for a Premium edition instead, with a yearly cost of $39.99 and gain access to all of the extra options. For the money CountAbout therefore seems like pretty good value. 

Adding a little more functionality for $10 a year lets you gain the ability to attach images to transactions. Similarly, there’s an invoicing add-on aimed at small-businesses that lets you create, send and track them, all for $60 extra per annum.

Features

CountAbout is certainly a practical solution, not least of which because it lets you import data from Quicken or Mint. When you sign up you're encouraged to do that early on, and there are some decent instructions that walk you through the steps. 

You also get an easy access Account Maintenance approach, which during setup means you can select the option to have transactions automatically downloaded from the financial institutions you deal with. Once you’re into the main working area you’ll find that the interface is clean, fuss-free and easy to navigate. 

The interface is additionally impressive in that it can be customized to suit your individual needs. For example, any kind of additional category can be added into the left-screen menus, while others that you don't need can be removed. If you need it the ability to add in and manage invoices is also another boon, especially if you’re a small business owner.

Performance

There’s an app edition of CountaAbout for both iOS and Android and either of these are decent enough supplements to the online browser edition. They do, of course, provide you with a one-stop option that can bypass the desktop model altogether if you prefer to keep tabs on your budgeting on the go. 

We’re also encouraged about the way CountAbout has been designed and engineered, with a good level of encryption being built in to ensure that your financial data is as secure as can be. Indeed, CountAbout states that the only personal identifying information it collects from users is their email addresses, and these are not made available to anyone else either. 

The other big bonus here is that CountAbout can be used in tandem with something like Quicken, which means that you’ve got a powerful arsenal of financial management tools at your disposal. And, in the case of CountAbout, that’s for a relatively small outlay too.

Ease of use

You’ll find that CountAbout is really very simple to master, even if you’re something of a novice when it comes to online services. For budgeting and taking care of your finances, CountAbout takes it step-by-step with a very methodical page layout. 

The service features main tabs along the top of the interface, which take you into the core day-to-day management areas of your finances, such as Transactions, Budgets and Reports. You can customize the interface too, with a Widgets option that allows the creations of additional tools aimed at comparing the different aspects of your financial activity. 

We also rather like the Recurring tab, which lets you create and manage regular financial transactions, such as mortgage and rent payments. Meanwhile, the left-hand side of your screen contains other nuts and bolts options, such as an Accounts list, Categories and a Tag list too.

Support

Help is always at hand within the CountAbout interface. There’s a dedicated link to the Help area at the top of the page and this takes you to a comprehensive information area. 

Whilst it might look a bit spartan on first glance this assistance zone packs a decent punch once you get into its inner workings. If you’ve got a specific issue then it’s possible to open a ticket inside here, although you may find many queries and questions can be tackled by dipping into the Knowledge Base. 

We also found the Suggestions area quite a good idea as this lets you tell CountAbout of any issues you think could be tweaked or improved during your experience of the online service.

Final verdict

Overall we think CountAbout has a lot going for it, not least of which is that impressive price tag. Even if you splurge and go for the Premium edition it’s pretty cheap. Combine that with a very easy to master interface, lots of fun and funky options, such as the ability to add custom widgets for even more powerful money management, and you’ve got a winning combination. 

With a free 15-day trial at your disposal it’s really worth giving CountAbout a go and, with it’s minimalistic layout and help on hand when you need it, this budgeting service comes recommended. With a safe and secure design, plus the capacity for co-existing with something like Quicken you’ve got a beefy little option at your disposal if you need to get your budgeting in order fast.

• We've also highlighted the best budgeting software  

Zoho Invoice is another addition to the growing roster of products from Zoho, the India-based company that has built up a reputation for good value software. With Zoho Invoice they’ve done another fine job, producing software that is aimed at small to medium-sized business owners looking for a powerful yet cost-effective invoicing solution. 

Better still, Zoho Invoice has been tailored towards app use, which makes it an ideal option if you’re trying to keep the wheels of business turning while you’re on the go. With its ability to work alongside other business solutions and payment gateways it makes a good compliment to your existing business infrastructure, especially with the rise of coronavirus.

Other products worth looking at in this marketplace include FreshBooks, Simplybill, Invoicera, Paypal Invoicing, Invoice Expert and NCH Express Invoice.

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

Pricing

As with their other products, Zoho makes it easy to get acquainted with Invoice as there’s a version that’s completely free, although this is a single-user product limited to invoicing five customers. From there you can choose from a variety of options, which moves up to the Basic package, which is $9 per organization a month. This comes with the capacity to invoice up to 50 customers, but is still limited to one user. 

Zoho Invoice also comes as a Standard package, which is its most popular, at $19 per organization per month. That lets you invoice up to 500 customers, with a three-user limit and 10 automated workflows capacity, compared to five with the other two. 

A Professional package rounds it out, which is $30 per organization per month and allows unlimited invoicing, 10 users, 10 automated workflows and a custom domain too. Paying yearly also attracts a two months off discount. 

Additional users can also be paid for, priced at €2 per month or $20 annually. Similarly, extra auto-scans can be purchased, with 50 a month priced at $5 or annually at $50.

Features

Zoho Invoice comes with a full compliment of features and functions aimed at increasing the efficiency of your business. You can use the software to create and send professional-level invoices, as well as setting up your business to issue automated payment reminders and also accept subsequent credit card payments online. 

For a personalised touch Zoho Invoice allows you to choose from invoice templates, which can then be customized to suit your business. Usefully, Zoho Invoice can also be used to create multilingual and multicurrency invoices, meaning it's a very versatile option, especially if you trade across geographical boundaries. 

There is also the capacity for adding digital signatures as well as a suite of distribution options, including the capacity to automate a lot of your invoicing procedures. Zoho Invoice works in harmony with Stripe and PayPal as well as other Zoho products.

Performance

One of the most appealing aspects of Zoho Invoice is the app option, versions of which work for iOS, Android and Windows devices. For anyone wanting to get things done on the road, or who needs to stay on top of invoicing and other office admin on the go, Zoho Invoice thrives in this environment. If you're using it as a desktop application then the software is also plain-sailing. Its lean interface runs like clockwork.

Ease of use

There’s a very gentle learning curve when it comes to getting to grips with Zoho Invoice. The interface has been well thought out and is straightforward to use, even if you're not all that experienced with invoicing and other office administration tasks. In that respect it makes a great option, although the power tools on offer also means it’s suitably powerful enough for larger businesses. 

The ability to generate reports with ease is a real boon, allowing you to drill down into the way your business is running and letting you make tweaks accordingly. Better still, thanks to the earlier-mentioned app version of Zoho Expense, for iOS, Android and Windows, it’s also easy to keep working if you travel a lot for business.

Support

As with the other products that exist under the Zoho brand name you’ll find that Zoho Invoice comes well supported. That begins when you first start exploring the program interface, with lots of useful help files. The software is pretty intuitive anyway, so its unlikely you’ll get too bogged down along the way, but if you do Zoho also has a network of support options, with a Help Hub, Knowledge Base and Community options to choose from. 

As part of its comprehensive Zoho One plan there are also three support routes for ongoing users of Zoho products, which includes Classic, Premium and Enterprise grades, depending on your staff numbers and their ability to get to grips with the software. The latter two options feature fees of 20% and 25% respectively of the licence fee you pay.

Final verdict

Zoho Invoice is a very commendable package that is certain to help small business owners get on top of their invoicing, billing and reporting duties. It’s priced realistically, with a free edition that while being limited is an excellent base-level option. 

Meanwhile, the paid-for editions represent great value and can be expanded and scaled as and when it’s needed. With an impressive interface that can be mastered with ease and a selection of tools inside that allow you to tackle everything from taking payments through to printing out complex reports, Zoho Invoice offers SMBs pretty much all they’ll need.

• Best invoicing software