Zoho Books’s thorough reporting features include expense reports that simplify transparency and fund tracking. Zoho Books excels at collaboration—you can delegate as many tasks as you need to other organization members. (While users are limited by plan, you can add additional users to any plan for $2.50 per month per user.) Like Sage Intacct, Zoho Books uses automated workflows to streamline data entry and consolidate redundant tasks.

Best for Free Basic Accounting Tools

Such features may include the ability to track and allocate restricted funds, process payroll and pull reports to aid you in filing your 990 form. Now, reference your list of considered providers and the plans you can afford. Find the provider and plan that most closely matches the list of features your organization needs.

Using the QuickBooks Online Advanced plan, your nonprofit can keep a close eye on each project’s cash flow via the Cash Flow Dashboard. Reporting tools help you create a spending roadmap so you don’t overextend your cash flow. Finally, the software’s CRM helps you get to know and retain donors via targeted engagement to keep your cash flow healthy.

Nonprofit accounting software runner-ups

Unfortunately, NetSuite’s site is pretty sparse, and it’s definitely on the pricier side of accounting software (third parties estimate it starts at around $499 a month). Still, since Oracle NetSuite focuses on ERP and CRM software, it’s a better fit for midsize to large nonprofits with a bigger budget for accounting. However, Sage Intacct is definitely on the pricy end of the nonprofit software spectrum. Sage Intacct also offers free seminars to help nonprofit organizers get off the ground, which is particularly useful for nonprofits struggling to make ends meet after COVID-19.

Best for Managing Large, Global Nonprofit Financials

With the right bookkeeping software on your side, you’ll be able to make the most of your donations and reach people who support your cause. Still, Zoho Books offers 15% off its starting price for registered nonprofits, which helps lighten some of the fiscal load. If you’re interested in text-to-donate capabilities, you can upgrade to Aplos Core at $139 a month. And if you own a larger nonprofit with multiple ongoing projects, Aplos’s customized solutions start at $189 a month. Today’s leading accounting platforms offer standard security features, such as data encryption, secure credential tokenization and more. While human error will always play some role in security breaches, you can be confident in your accounting platform when it comes to keeping your information safe.

• Intuit QuickBooks offers several plans, ranging from $35 to $235 per month ($17.50 to $117.50 per month for the first three months during the current promotion).
• At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations.
• It should also offer nonprofit-specific accounting functionality, such as the ability to receive donations, manage restricted funds and file Form 990.
• However, Sage Intacct is definitely on the pricy end of the nonprofit software spectrum.
• Also track outgoing funds, such as salaries, wages and other business expenses, and break them down by month.

What should you look for in nonprofit bookkeeping software?

In contrast, nonprofit accounting centers on tracking funds, including responsible oversight of fund management. Fund accounting software’s primary goal is to show you and your shareholders, namely board members and donors, exactly where their money is going. Next, make a list of the features your organization needs to properly track, report and manage its funds and taxes.

But even with its extensive accounting features, QuickBooks’s nonprofit software still doesn’t have as many nonprofit-specific features as Sage Intacct and Aplos. It’s also on the pricier end of accounting software that wasn’t built for nonprofits. If you’re trying to balance a nonprofit budget on, well, a budget, Xero, Zoho Books, and FreshBooks are cheaper options, and Wave Accounting is completely free. Since QuickBooks was also made for non-accountants, it’s easy for first-time nonprofit bookkeepers to get a handle on nonprofit finances. Plus, QuickBooks’s mobile accounting app is at least as user-friendly as its software—so if you plan to do a lot of on-the-go donor management or financial tracking, QuickBooks is one of your best options.

Aplos: Best nonprofit-specific

Plan differences revolve around the number best accounting software for nonprofit organizations of users, customization options, inventory management, automations and expense tracking. You have to pay an extra fee for payroll services, starting at $45 per month. QuickBooks gives nonprofits the ability to perform basic nonprofit accounting functions. All Xero plans offer reporting, payment acceptance, file storage, contact management, tax calculations and the ability to connect Xero to a bank account. Its $15 per month plan (75 cents per month for the first three months during the current promotion) offers invoicing and quotes tools, bill tracking for five bills, bank and Xero syncing and 30-day cash flow snapshots. Its $42 and $78 plans ($2.10 and $3.90 per month, respectively, for the first three months during the current promotion) add bulk transaction reconciliation, higher bill pay limits, project tracking and analytics.

And on the review site TrustRadius, Sage Intacct gets 8.6 stars out of 101 with customers indicating they’re happy with Sage’s fast customer service response time. Need to save money while you get your new nonprofit off the ground? Our list of the year’s best free accounting software can help you keep your books in order while you plan for growth.

• Document incoming funding (donations and fundraised money) throughout the year.
• In addition, they can track expenses and capture receipts to simplify tax filings and report to donors the nonprofits’ overhead-versus-project costs.
• NetSuite, which was purchased by Oracle a few years ago, offers a wide range of accounting, CRM, and ERP (enterprise resource planning) solutions for dozens of industries—including nonprofits.
• Quicken is best for very small nonprofits that do not have employees for whom they have to process payroll.

The best accounting software programs all provide similar features, so when considering which one is best for your business, you need to consider which features are the most important to your situation. This will help you decide which accounting software meets your needs best. Certain software is best for actions, such as accounts payable (A/P) and banking and cash management while others are geared more for retail companies, offering cost tracking, inventory management and collecting and submitting sales tax. Other features you may want to consider include whether the software has a mobile app, how good its customer service is and how well it does with accounts receivable (A/R) and financial reporting. Zoho Books offers a free plan for one user to manage invoices, receive online and off-line payments, track expenses and mileage, import bank and credit card statements, generate accounting reports, chart accounts and manage 1099 contractors. Its other plans range from $15 to $240 per month (if billed annually) and add standout features including custom domain names, workflow automation, recurring expense tracking, project expense tracking and more users.

It supports peer-to-peer fundraising, grant and award management, nonprofit marketing, and donor payment acceptance. Didn’t find the best accounting software for nonprofits (specifically, your nonprofit) on our list above? See if one of these additional accounting software solutions for nonprofit treasurers and bookkeepers meets your needs. Document incoming funding (donations and fundraised money) throughout the year. Also track outgoing funds, such as salaries, wages and other business expenses, and break them down by month. Finally, write an explanation addressing how surplus (profits) will be reinvested into the nonprofit.

Its free accounting tools offer income and expense tracking, reports (such as overdue invoice reports) and a reporting dashboard. Finally, its banking tools allow you to automate bookkeeping, receive instant payments and deposit checks via a mobile app. NetSuite, which was purchased by Oracle a few years ago, offers a wide range of accounting, CRM, and ERP (enterprise resource planning) solutions for dozens of industries—including nonprofits. NetSuite’s cloud-based Social Impact software includes fund accounting, inventory management, and even ecommerce support. Unfortunately, while Aplos’s nonprofit features stand out, its accounting features are more limited.