Tools we use
We work in these tools every day. Each pick says who it suits and who it doesn't. US list prices, checked November 2026.
The default ledger for US small businesses; nearly every US accountant works in it. Start on Simple Start unless you need bills, inventory or more than one user.
Clean bank reconciliation, unlimited users on every plan, and multi-currency on the Established plan. The cheapest plan caps invoices and bills.
Runs payroll, pays and files payroll taxes, and pays contractors. Connects to QuickBooks and Xero so each pay run lands in the ledger.
Pay suppliers by bank transfer, card or check from one screen, with a clean record of every payment.
The easiest way for one person to send invoices that get paid on time. Weak on inventory, which is exactly why it suits freelancers.
Free invoicing and double-entry bookkeeping. The free plan has no automatic bank feed, so you'll import bank lines yourself.
Some links above are referral links. If you sign up through them, the vendor may pay Tidy Advisors a fee at no cost to you. It never changes what we recommend.
Still choosing?
Which ledger to pick, what each costs now, and the one question that settles it.
Read the guide → ChecklistTwelve checks that keep your books clean, from what auditors look at first.
Read the guide → GuideWhat Wave and QuickBooks Free really cost you, and when to move to a paid plan.
Read the guide →