Are you finding that your accounting system can't keep up as your business grows? Frustrated with exporting financial data to Excel just to create the reports you need? Spending hours reconciling data between QuickBooks and your CRM?
If any of these challenges sound familiar, you may have outgrown QuickBooks.
While QuickBooks works well for many small businesses (holding 44.17% of the cloud accounting software market), growing companies often hit significant roadblocks with this popular accounting solution:
These growing pains have led many businesses to explore cloud-based alternatives that will support an organization of their stage and size. When evaluating these alternatives, one of the most critical factors to consider is how they handle the relationship between your financial data and the rest of your business systems.
The QuickBooks alternatives below generally fall into three categories:
Most QuickBooks alternatives still operate as standalone financial systems that require third-party integration with your CRM and other business software. While these may offer more robust financial capabilities than QuickBooks, they still maintain the fundamental data separation that creates multiple problems: duplicate data entry across systems, data integrity issues when information doesn’t sync properly, lack of real-time visibility into business performance, and the constant need to reconcile conflicting information between platforms.
Some alternatives are part of broader business software ecosystems (like Zoho Books within the Zoho suite). These offer tighter integration within their own family of products but may still require connectors for third-party tools. You’re limited to their choices for each business function, and you may still require connectors for tools outside their ecosystem.
The most advanced approach is accounting software built on the same platform as your CRM and other business systems. This approach eliminates integration entirely, as all applications share the same database and user-interface framework.
With that in mind, let’s examine some of the top QuickBooks alternatives to help you determine which might be the right next step for your business.
Certinia (formerly FinancialForce) targets mid-to-large enterprises, particularly professional services firms, that need integrated PSA/ERP capabilities on the Salesforce Platform. Built on Salesforce, it unifies CRM, project management, and back-office finance operations.
The platform connects sales opportunities through service delivery to invoicing in one continuous workflow. Its comprehensive modules cover professional services automation (projects, resource management, services billing) and full accounting functionality (general ledger, AR/AP, revenue recognition), all connected with existing Salesforce data.
Certinia supports multi-currency and multi-company accounting with consolidated financials, addressing limitations that QuickBooks users face with separate company files and basic currency handling. The platform leverages Salesforce's configuration tools, custom objects, Lightning experience, and extendable functionality from AppExchange apps.
| Feature | Certinia (formerly FinancialForce) | QuickBooks Online | Accounting Seed |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRM Integration | Built on Salesforce; combines CRM, PSA, and financials on a single platform. | Requires third-party connectors for CRM integration; data synchronization required | Built on Salesforce; unified customer and financial data. |
| User Limitations | Permission-based licenses—enabling businesses to easily add and update as teams scale | User-based pricing; limits vary by plan. | Permission-based licenses—enabling businesses to easily add and update as teams scale |
| Customization | Extensive no-code customization via Salesforce platform | Limited customization options; may require third-party apps for extended functionality. | Extensive no-code customization via Salesforce platform |
| Multi-Currency | Advanced multi-currency and multi-company support | Basic multi-currency support in higher-tier plans. | Advanced multi-currency and multi-entity support. |
| Reporting | Comprehensive reporting, customizable templates and real-time dashboards. Includes app built on CRM Analytics for Advanced analytics | Standard reports; advanced reporting may require exports to Excel. | Comprehensive reporting, customizable templates and real-time dashboards. Includes add-ons such as Financial Analytics app built on CRM Analytics for Advanced analytics |
| Market Fit | Large enterprises, particularly professional services firms, needing integrated PSA/ERP capabilities on Salesforce. | Small to medium businesses with general accounting needs. | Growing SMBs in multiple industries on Salesforce needing complex accounting requirements. |
FreshBooks focuses on service-based small businesses, freelancers, and consultants who prioritize invoicing and time tracking capabilities. The platform makes billing and expense management straightforward for non-accountants.
With FreshBooks, users can create professional invoices, accept online payments through built-in processing, and convert time entries or estimates directly into invoices. The solution includes features like branded invoices, recurring billing, and automatic payment reminders.
The mobile app allows users to capture receipts on the go, making it convenient for business owners who frequently travel. FreshBooks does cap the number of billable clients on lower-tier plans (with entry plans limited to just a handful of clients) and has a smaller ecosystem of integrations compared to QuickBooks, which can be limiting as businesses grow.
| Feature | FreshBooks | QuickBooks | Accounting Seed |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRM Integration | Basic integrations; customer data separate from accounting | Requires third-party connectors | Built natively on Salesforce; unified customer and financial data |
| User Limitations | Caps on billable clients per plan | User-based pricing; limits vary by plan | Permission-based licenses—enabling businesses to easily add and update as teams scale |
| Customization | Limited customization; focuses on simplicity | Very limited customization options | Extensive no-code customization via Salesforce Platform |
| Multi-Currency | Limited multi-currency support | Basic multi-currency in higher tiers | Advanced multi-currency and multi-entity support |
| Reporting | Basic reporting capabilities | Standard reports; advanced reporting requires exports | Multi-dimensional reporting and real-time dashboards without spreadsheets |
| Market Fit | Service-based small businesses, freelancers, and consultants | Small to medium businesses with general accounting needs | Any business on Salesforce needing complex accounting requirements (especially growing companies) |
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central targets small to mid-sized companies within the Microsoft ecosystem, aiming to provide a modern ERP with familiar user experience. The platform combines financial management with sales, purchasing, inventory, and light manufacturing capabilities.
Business Central features guided setup wizards and templates designed to speed implementation compared to traditional ERPs. Its interface resembles Outlook and Excel, potentially reducing the learning curve for Microsoft users. The system offers deep Excel integration for data analysis and connects with Power BI for advanced analytics.
For organizations already invested in Microsoft products, Business Central provides natural extensions like generating invoices and emailing them via Outlook. While it may require partner assistance for complex configurations and has per-user monthly licensing costs, its base price is often more affordable than solutions like Oracle NetSuite.
| Feature | Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central | QuickBooks | Accounting Seed |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRM Integration | Requires connectors for Salesforce; integration maintenance needed | Requires separate CRM solution; data lives in multiple systems | Built natively on Salesforce; unified customer and financial data |
| User Limitations | Per-user monthly licensing costs; base price often more affordable | User-based pricing; costs increase with users/features | Permission-based licenses—enabling businesses to easily add and update as teams scale |
| Customization | Requires technical expertise; longer development process | Very limited customization options | Extensive no-code customization via Salesforce platform |
| Multi-Currency | Supports multi-currency transactions | Basic multi-currency in higher tiers | Advanced multi-currency and multi-entity support |
| Reporting | Deep Excel integration; connects with Power BI for advanced analytics | Standard reports; advanced reporting requires exports | Advanced Financial Analytics available through CRM Analytics |
| Market Fit | Small to mid-sized companies within the Microsoft ecosystem | Small to medium businesses with general accounting needs | Growing businesses on Salesforce needing comprehensive accounting requirements |
NetSuite targets enterprise businesses seeking a comprehensive ERP solution that extends beyond accounting. As one of the first cloud ERPs (launched in 1998), NetSuite integrates financial management with inventory, order management, CRM, and other business functions within the Oracle Platform.
The system offers automated revenue recognition, advanced financial reporting through SuiteAnalytics, and support for multiple currencies and tax regimes. For international operations, NetSuite handles different currencies, languages, and compliance standards in one system.
NetSuite provides industry-specific configurations and third-party SuiteApps to extend functionality. Implementation requires significant planning and investment, with pricing requiring a sales consultation. NetSuite's interface demands more training than QuickBooks, and customizations often require developer support.
| Feature | Oracle NetSuite | QuickBooks | Accounting Seed |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRM Integration | Built-in CRM; many still use Salesforce, leading to disconnected data | Requires separate CRM solution; data lives in multiple systems | Built natively on Salesforce; unified customer and financial data |
| User Limitations | High initial costs; significant price increases after contract | User-based pricing; costs increase with users/features | Permission-based licenses—enabling businesses to easily add and update as teams scale |
| Customization | Requires developer expertise; SuiteScript development needed | Very limited customization options | Extensive no-code customization via Salesforce platform |
| Multi-Currency | Handles different currencies, languages, and compliance standards | Basic multi-currency in higher tiers | Advanced multi-currency and multi-entity support |
| Reporting | Advanced financial reporting through SuiteAnalytics | Standard reports; advanced reporting requires exports | Multi-dimensional reporting without spreadsheets |
| Market Fit | Fast-growing and mid-sized businesses seeking comprehensive ERP solutions | Small to medium businesses with general accounting needs | Growing businesses on Salesforce needing complex accounting requirements |
Sage Intacct targets mid-sized businesses that need advanced financial controls and reporting capabilities. The solution focuses on providing tools for GAAP compliance and sophisticated financial management for organizations that have outgrown QuickBooks in complexity.
Sage Intacct offers customizable reporting with over 150 standard reports and tools for multi-entity consolidation, dimension-based accounting, and automated revenue recognition. It supports continuous close processes rather than rigid monthly closes, allowing for more flexible period management.
The cloud-based interface is designed to be more intuitive than traditional on-premise ERP systems while maintaining strong audit trails and permission controls for compliance. Sage Intacct focuses primarily on core financial functions and requires integration with other systems (like Salesforce) for CRM capabilities.
| Feature | Sage Intacct | QuickBooks | Accounting Seed |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRM Integration | Offers Salesforce connector; synchronization issues common | Requires third-party connectors | Built natively on Salesforce; 100% data synchronization in real-time |
| User Limitations | Complex implementation process; may require consultant assistance | User-based pricing; limits vary by plan | Permission-based licenses—enabling businesses to easily add and update as teams scale |
| Customization | Limited customization; may require technical expertise | Very limited customization options | Extensive no-code customization via Salesforce Platform |
| Multi-Currency | Advanced multi-currency and multi-entity support | Basic multi-currency in higher tiers | Advanced multi-currency and multi-entity support |
| Reporting | Advanced financial controls; 150+ standard reports | Standard reports; advanced reporting requires exports | Multi-dimensional reporting without spreadsheets |
| Market Fit | Mid-sized businesses needing advanced financial controls and reporting | Small to medium businesses with general accounting needs | Growing businesses on Salesforce needing complex accounting requirements |
Wave Accounting targets very small businesses, freelancers, and entrepreneurs seeking zero-cost bookkeeping and invoicing solutions. The core accounting, invoicing, and receipt-scanning tools are completely free, with no monthly subscription fees.
Users can create unlimited invoices, track expenses and income, connect bank accounts for transaction import, run basic reports, and support multiple users or businesses on one account. The interface is designed for non-accountants, focusing on simplicity.
Wave monetizes through optional payment processing and payroll services (available only in North America). It lacks more advanced features like inventory management, purchase ordering, budgeting modules, and offers limited customer support for free users. Many growing businesses quickly find Wave's capabilities too basic as their accounting needs become more complex.
| Feature | Wave Accounting | QuickBooks | Accounting Seed |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRM Integration | Requires integration to your CRM (such as Hubspot or Odoo) using tools like Zapier | Requires separate CRM solution; data lives in multiple systems | Built natively on Salesforce; unified customer and financial data |
| User Limitations | Free core features; limited advanced capabilities | User-based pricing; costs increase with users/features | Permission-based licenses—enabling businesses to easily add and update as teams scale |
| Customization | Very limited customization; basic workflow options | Very limited customization options | Extensive no-code customization via Salesforce platform |
| Multi-Currency | Limited multi-currency support | Basic multi-currency in higher tiers | Advanced multi-currency and multi-entity support |
| Reporting | Basic reporting capabilities | Standard reports; advanced reporting requires exports | Multi-dimensional reporting without spreadsheets |
| Market Fit | Very small businesses, freelancers, and entrepreneurs seeking free tools | Small to medium businesses with general accounting needs | Growing businesses on Salesforce needing complex accounting requirements |
Xero targets small businesses seeking robust accounting capabilities without user limitations. With unlimited users on all plans, it offers features like inventory management and fixed asset tracking even at lower tiers.
Xero provides a modern, intuitive interface that non-accountants find approachable, along with multi-currency support for international businesses. Its app marketplace enables workflow automation through third-party integrations.
While Xero's entry-level plan has transaction caps (limited to 20 invoices and 5 bills per month), and its U.S. presence is smaller than QuickBooks (potentially making it harder to find local accounting support), many growing businesses appreciate its straightforward approach and reasonable pricing structure for additional users compared to QuickBooks.
| Feature | Xero | QuickBooks | Accounting Seed |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRM Integration | Requires third-party connectors | Requires third-party connectors | Built natively on Salesforce; no connectors needed |
| User Limitations | Unlimited users on all plans | User-based pricing; limits vary by plan | Permission-based licenses—enabling businesses to easily add and update as teams scale |
| Customization | Limited workflow customization; relies on third-party apps | Very limited customization options | Extensive no-code customization via Salesforce platform |
| Multi-Currency | Good multi-currency support | Basic multi-currency in higher tiers | Advanced multi-currency and multi-entity support |
| Reporting | Reporting tools with predictive analytics, but basic configuration | Standard reports; advanced reporting requires exports | Multi-dimensional reporting without spreadsheets |
| Market Fit | Small businesses seeking robust accounting capabilities | Small to medium businesses with general accounting needs | Growing businesses on Salesforce needing complex accounting requirements |
Zoho Books targets budget-conscious small businesses and startups looking for an interconnected software ecosystem. It offers a free plan for micro-businesses (with revenue caps) and competitively priced tiers that often undercut QuickBooks for comparable features.
Zoho Books includes invoicing, expense tracking, project time tracking, and basic inventory management. Its main advantage is seamless integration with other Zoho applications such as Zoho CRM, Inventory, and Analytics, allowing businesses to manage multiple functions under one umbrella.
The solution supports multi-currency transactions and multi-language invoices for global small businesses. With a tiny U.S. market share (around 0.5% compared to QuickBooks) and fewer third-party integrations outside its own ecosystem, local accounting support may be harder to find.
| Feature | Zoho Books | QuickBooks | Accounting Seed |
|---|---|---|---|
| CRM Integration | Integrates well within Zoho ecosystem; limited outside integrations | Requires third-party connectors | Built natively on Salesforce; access to entire Salesforce ecosystem |
| User Limitations | Competitive pricing; free plan available | User-based pricing; costs increase with users/features | Permission-based licenses—enabling businesses to easily add and update as teams scale |
| Customization | Limited customization outside Zoho ecosystem | Very limited customization options | Extensive no-code customization via Salesforce Platform |
| Multi-Currency | Supports multi-currency transactions | Basic multi-currency in higher tiers | Advanced multi-currency and multi-entity support |
| Reporting | Robust reporting tools; fewer reports than QuickBooks | Standard reports; advanced reporting requires exports | Multi-dimensional reporting without spreadsheets |
| Market Fit | Budget-conscious small businesses and startups | Small to medium businesses with general accounting needs | Growing businesses on Salesforce needing complex accounting requirements |
Built on the same platform as Salesforce, Accounting Seed (hey, that’s us!) unites front-office (sales, CRM) and back-office (accounting) operations in a single environment. This solves one of the biggest challenges businesses face with QuickBooks: the disconnect between sales, operational, and financial data.
Instead of relying on integrations or connectors that can break or cause delays, Accounting Seed shares the same database as Salesforce. This provides real-time financial visibility and eliminates the need to manually reconcile data between systems.
For businesses already using or planning to use Salesforce, Accounting Seed offers customizable workflows and automation capabilities with minimal to no coding requirements. As companies grow more complex, this shared-platform approach enables them to implement AI and advanced analytics across their entire operation rather than just within isolated accounting functions.
| Feature | Accounting Seed (AS) | QuickBooks Online (QB) |
|---|---|---|
| CRM Integration | Built on Salesforce so all the data of your organization lives within a single platform | Requires third-party connectors for CRM integration; data synchronization may be needed |
| User Limitations | Permission-based licenses—enabling businesses to easily add and update as teams scale | User-based pricing; limits vary by plan |
| Customization | Extensive no-code customization via Salesforce platform | Limited customization options; may require third-party apps for extended functionality |
| Multi-Currency | Advanced multi-currency and multi-entity support | Basic multi-currency support in higher-tier plans |
| Reporting | Multi-dimensional reporting without the need for spreadsheets | Standard reports; advanced reporting may require exports to Excel |
| Platform Type | Platform-based (Salesforce); unified data environment | Integration-dependent; operates as a standalone financial system |
| Market Fit | Ideal for growing businesses using Salesforce needing complex accounting requirements | Suitable for small to medium businesses with general accounting needs |
As we've seen in the comparisons above, as a platform-based solution Accounting Seed offers several key advantages:
When choosing your next accounting system, start with what bothers you most about QuickBooks right now:
Is it the constant data juggling between systems? The Excel export marathons every month? Multiple currencies giving you headaches? Let your biggest frustrations guide your choice.
If Salesforce is already part of your business, Accounting Seed offers the smoothest experience. Using Zoho for other things? Their Books solution might click into place naturally. Living in Microsoft's world? Dynamics 365 Business Central could feel more familiar, but like many former users report, you may find it clunky and outdated.
Make a quick list of everything your accounting needs to talk to—online stores, payment processors, inventory systems, industry tools. How easy or painful will those connections be with each option?
Be honest about your team's bandwidth. Some solutions demand serious time and expertise to set up. Do you have the people and skills in-house, or will you need help?
Monthly subscription fees are just the start. You also need to factor in setup costs, adding users later, extra features you might need, the hidden expense of fixing broken integrations, and ongoing configuration needs as your business changes. With solutions like NetSuite, you often need an engineer when you want to make adjustments. No-code tools like Accounting Seed let you make changes yourself easily with clicks, not code.
AI and automation are changing how accounting works, and having your customer and financial data in one place (instead of scattered across different systems) makes a huge difference in what you can do with these new tools. Whether you’re planning to expand overseas, launching new divisions, or expecting your transaction volume to double or triple, our biggest piece of advice is to pick software that can handle where you're headed, not just where you are today.
Get a close-up view of how accounting on Salesforce can eliminate the need for costly integrations—and silos of mismatched information—by sharing the same database as your CRM.
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