As a self-employed professional, keeping your books in order is a critical but often overwhelming task. With the rise in remote work and side hustles, more people find themselves managing their own financial health without the infrastructure of a company behind them.
And that’s why finding the best accounting software for self-employed needs is paramount.
That said, not all bookkeeping software applications are created equal; some may align with your needs and preferences better than others, especially when it comes to project management and the ability to track expenses.
Lucky for you, we’ve done the research and documented our findings. In this post, we discuss 19 of the best accounting software for self-employed individuals and microbusinesses in the US.
Here, we have reviewed and compared the top accounting software, breaking down their offerings and use cases into bite-size chunks. We also discuss the benefits of using accounting software and answer other pressing questions related to the topic.
But first, some quick background information.
We created this list of the best accounting software for self-employed individuals using the following criteria as our measuring yardstick
Here is a list of the best accounting software for self-employed professionals with features, pricing, and other details to help you make an informed choice in 2025.
Image via QuickBooks Solopreneur
QuickBooks Solopreneur is an easy-to-use accounting solution designed specifically for freelancers and solopreneurs. This tool is part of the broader QuickBooks Online ecosystem and seamlessly integrates with its full suite of accounting products.
The platform helps sole proprietors track expenses, maximize tax deductions, manage invoices, capture and upload receipts, log mileage, run expense reports, and calculate estimated quarterly taxes owed.
Here’s a look at some of QuickBooks Solopreneur’s offerings, pricing, USPs, and setbacks.
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You should know that QuickBooks Solopreneur offers a 50% discount for the first 3 months and a 30-day free trial on its single plan.
Image via QuickBooks Solopreneur
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Image via Zoho Books
Zoho Books is one of the best accounting software for self-employed professionals, with a focus on automation and integration. Zoho Books is part of the Zoho suite of products, which offers a range of solutions for project management, productivity, and collaboration.
And you know what that means?
Zoho Books gets access to all Zoho apps, features, and integrations, giving solopreneurs a wider range of features and project management functionalities.
This full-featured online bookkeeping software goes beyond basic small business bookkeeping. It provides a comprehensive set of accounting and compliance features for solopreneurs looking to improve their financial health and manage cash flow.
Take a look at how Zoho Books can serve you.
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Pricing
Zoho Books offers five paid plans:
Image via Zoho Books
Image via Zoho Books
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Image via FreshBooks
FreshBooks is another excellent choice for accounting software for self-employed professionals in 2025. Founded in 2003 in Toronto, Canada, FreshBooks is an early pioneer of cloud accounting software.
One of its primary aims is to provide an easy-to-use solution for independent professionals to track time and expenses, manage cash flow, and gain financial insights.
And FreshBooks backs its status as a veteran in the field with a slew of features and offerings.
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FreshBooks offers a 50% discount on all plans for the first six months.
Image via FreshBooks
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Image via Xero
Xero is one of the best accounting software programs for self-employed professionals and provides online accounting software for small businesses worldwide.
This New Zealand-based cloud-based accounting software connects with your business bank account and financial institutions to automatically import and categorize transactions.
Xero also seamlessly integrates with popular ecommerce platforms such as Shopify and WooCommerce to streamline order and inventory management.
What’s more?
One of Xero’s USPs is its ability to connect freelancers and sole proprietors like yourself with a nearby certified CPA or accounting firm at the click of a button.
Let’s look under the hood to see what you get with Xero.
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Xero offers a three-month, 95% discount window. This could come in handy for solopreneurs on a tight starting budget.
Image via Xero
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Image via FreeAgent
Of course, FreeAgent makes the list of the best accounting software for self-employed individuals. This tool focuses on delivering the core accounting essentials that self-employed freelancers and independent contractors need without complexity. These include estimates, invoicing, time tracking, expense management, and financial insights.
As one of the best freelance accounting software platforms for self-employed professionals, FreeAgent provides an easy-to-use solution optimized for managing the finances of client work. The client dashboards allow for smooth collaboration workflows between self-employed professionals and their customers.
But it doesn’t end there.
FreeAgent’s direct integration with tax systems in various regions, including the UK’s HMRC, makes it exceptionally useful for managing your sales tax efficiently at tax time.
FreeAgent also stands out for its user-centric design, prioritizing ease of use and accessibility. This attribute allows even those with little to no accounting experience to effortlessly navigate their finances.
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The “free” in FreeAgent is there for a good reason, as this tool goes all out when it comes to pricing for solopreneurs.
FreeAgent offers a single-paid plan with a 50% discount for the first six months.
Image via FreeAgent
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Image via Wave
Undeniably one of the best accounting software for self-employed individuals and solopreneurs, Wave provides a massive basket of features, including invoicing and payroll management, at a low cost.
Wave takes cost-effectiveness to a whole new level by offering one of the most feature-rich free plans for small business owners and sole proprietors.
Wave’s commitment to cost-effective financial management and bookkeeping democratizes access to high-quality accounting resources. And this makes it one of the top choices for those just starting out or operating on a tight budget.
Take a look at how Wave matches up against the competition.
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Wave has one of the best offerings for its free package users and only offers one paid plan.
Image via Wave
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Image via Fiverr Workspace
Without a doubt, Fiverr is one of the best self-employed professionals and freelancers to get accounting and bookkeeping solutions.
For self-employed professionals who want an all-in-one solution for financial management and running their solo business, Fiverr Workspace has the answers. Fiverr Workspace offers a robust platform combining invoicing, time tracking, client collaboration, and other features that help enhance financial health.
Fiverr Workspace integrates all these features into its online freelancing marketplace to make it even better.
This creates an avenue for independent contractors across various specializations and niches to connect with more clients and showcase their services. It also seamlessly manages workflows, invoices, ACH payments, and accounting in one place.
As one of the best accounting software for self-employed users, Fiverr Workspace simplifies managing the business and finances of freelancing.
The gist of it is that Fiverr Workspace is a one-stop shop for everything freelancing and is a great tool for growing businesses.
Take a look at what Fiverr Workspace is offering.
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Pricing
Like Wave, Fiverr Workspace allows freelancers a lot of room with its free plan and offers only one paid plan.
Image via Fiverr Workspace
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Image via Kashoo
Kashoo is one of the best accounting software for self-employed users looking for financial features that grow with their businesses.
Kashoo positions itself as an accounting solution that grows with your business. It starts with straightforward tools for basic bookkeeping, invoicing, payment management, and reporting. However, it can scale up to handle multi-location inventory tracking, enhanced analytics, and revenue recognition needs.
What’s more?
It aims to deliver robust accounting capabilities for small and medium businesses (SMBs) in an intuitive interface that business owners can easily use themselves. It couples this with fair pricing that smooths the transition as solo businesses grow without overwhelming non-accountant owners.
To sum up, Kashoo suits the end-to-end accounting needs of SMBs from starting out to maturing with seamless transitions and training resources.
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Pricing
Kashoo offers just one pricing plan, and it is an annual plan. Kashoo also displays pricing for a sister accounting tool for small business owners: TrulySmall Accounting.
Image via Kashoo
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Image via OneUp
OneUp provides self-employed entrepreneurs and solopreneurs with an integrated accounting platform tailored to ecommerce businesses selling online.
Beyond just managing finances, OneUp offers freelancers and independent store owners tools to handle taxes, legal paperwork, shipping, CRM, analytics, and inventory under one umbrella.
What’s more?
OneUp aims to provide online merchants, consultants, and digital freelancers with a unified platform to streamline their freelance business operations with automation. This way, they get a unified view of the business and make data-driven decisions.
Take a look at the pros, cons, and pricing of OneUp and decide if it’s what you need.
Key Features
Pros
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Pricing
OneUp offers a complete 30-day free trial window that comes with unlimited user slots and features for new entrants. After this honeymoon period, the payment plans include:
Image via OneUp
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Image via ZipBooks
ZipBooks is regarded as one of the most user-friendly accounting platforms for self- employed solopreneurs and freelancers. It provides an intuitive invoicing, payments, expense tracking, reporting, and contact management solution without overwhelming non-accountants with complex general ledger functions.
With a user-friendly interface and a flexible pricing model that includes a free starter option, ZipBooks makes professional accounting tools accessible to a wider range of self-employed individuals.
As one of the best accounting software for self-employed individuals in terms of simplicity, ZipBooks aims to help streamline the core financial operations of solopreneurs.
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Image via ZipBooks
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Image via TrulySmall Accounting
TrulySmall Accounting is designed to cater specifically to the needs of freelancers, microbusinesses, and self-employed individuals who require simple and efficient accounting solutions.
TrulySmall Accounting offers a simplified suite focused on seamless invoice creation for clients, estimates management, payments tracking, expense reporting, and financial insights.
This focus on simplicity and user-friendliness positions TrulySmall as a top player among the best accounting software for self-employed individuals. It also appeals to those who value ease and efficiency over comprehensive, complex features.
TrulySmall Accounting embodies the principle that effective financial management should be accessible to all, regardless of business size or accounting expertise.
Interestingly, TrulySmall Accounting is a product of the folks at Kashoo.
So, take a look at what you get with TrulySmall Accounting.
Key Features
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Pricing
TrulySmall Accounting has three pricing plans with limited features. They include:
Image via TrulySmall Accounting
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Image via Patriot Software
Patriot Software offers a range of accounting, payroll, and tax solutions tailored for the needs of small businesses and their accountants. However, the accounting and payroll solutions come in separate packages, so you might have to purchase them individually if you want the full-range service.
By delivering robust features and guidance without the complexity of enterprise platforms, Patriot Software allows independent contractors and freelancers to manage their finances in a DIY fashion.
Patriot Software aims to deliver comprehensive yet accessible accounting and tax tools for small businesses and the accountants that support them. It caters to users without an accounting background while still providing robust financial features.
Interested? Take a look at what you get with Patriot Software.
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As mentioned, Patriot Software has different packages for its accounting and payroll solutions. The accounting packages include:
Image via Patriot Software
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Image via Neat
Optimized for independent users, Neat offers one of the most innovative automated accounting software for self-employed solopreneurs. As its name suggests, Neat is primarily interested in helping you declutter your financial workspace and enhance spotless bookkeeping.
What’s more?
As a specialist in receipt tracking and expense management, Neat helps transform physical documents into digital data through its sophisticated scanning technology. This feature can dramatically simplify bookkeeping and tax preparation for non-accounting-savvy professionals.
Apart from that, Neat allows for seamless integration with a deluge of business tools, making it one of the best accounting software for self-employed individuals.
Let’s take a look at some critical information on Neat.
Key Features
Pros
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Pricing
Like Kashoo, Neat offers only one pricing plan, and it is a yearly plan. This plan comes with a 14-day free trial period to allow you to test-run the service and decide if it’s what you want.
Neat’s single-plan pricing is:
Image via Neat
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Image via ZarMoney
In ZarMoney, we found one of the best accounting software for self-employed professionals tailored for invoicing, expense tracking, impressive financial insights, and much more. It consolidates core financial workflows for clients into an integrated platform for solopreneurs.
This tool allows you to sync feeds from over 9,500 US and Canadian banks and collaborate with employees and contractors, all from an easy-to-use interface for non-accountants.
Best of all?
We found that ZarMoney is one of those tools carefully designed for freelancing and small business operations but imbued with enterprise-grade functionality and features.
Let’s take a look at some of these features and how they match up.
Key Features
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Pricing
ZarMoney has no free plan but comes with a 15-day trial period.
Image via ZarMoney
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Image via AccountEdge Pro
AccountEdge Pro is a desktop-based accounting solution that savvy self-employed professionals like yourself would find very useful. With advanced accounting capabilities built for scalability, AccountEdge Pro is regarded as one of the best accounting software for professional solopreneurs and business owners.
AccountEdge Pro delivers powerful financial controls that are well-suited for self-employed users ready to scale beyond their basic bookkeeping needs. It seamlessly combines advanced accounting tools with inventory, order, and customer management in a complete solution.
Because it features enterprise-grade functionality, AccountEdge Pro is perfect for advanced self-employed professionals running mostly high-transaction product-based businesses.
These are some of the features you will gain access to by using this tool.
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It was not surprising to find that AccountEdge Pro offers no free plan, given its intermediate-expert-focused nature. Also, its monthly subscription plans only offer basic features; additional features, such as payroll processing and bank feeds, have to be purchased.
Image via AccountEdge Pro
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Image via Moxie
Moxie stands out in the accounting software for self-employed by taking an education-first approach to freelance financial management. Unlike traditional accounting platforms that focus solely on transactions, Moxie’s Moxie Academy combines practical tools with a robust learning ecosystem.
What truly distinguishes this platform is its holistic approach to freelance business management.
Beyond standard accounting features, Moxie provides an integrated environment. It allows freelancers to manage client relationships, handle projects, and access educational resources while maintaining their financial health.
The platform’s sales pipeline management includes custom qualification forms and progress tracking, addressing many sole proprietors’ crucial needs in managing potential client relationships.
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Moxie comes with just two pricing plans:
Image via Moxie
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Image via Collective
Collective has made its mark on the accounting software for self-employed space with its comprehensive approach to freelancer financial management.
Founded in San Francisco by Hooman Radfar, Ugur Kaner, and Bugra Akcay, this platform uniquely positions itself as a complete business formation and financial management solution for sole proprietors earning over $80,000 annually.
What sets Collective apart is its integration of AI technology (specifically GPT-4) into financial workflows. Collective leverages AI to automate expense categorization and account reconciliation, allowing freelancers to focus on their work rather than manual data entry.
The platform excels at providing personalized support through dedicated ‘Member Relationship Managers’ who serve as primary points of contact.
This human-AI hybrid approach ensures that growing businesses receive automated efficiency and expert guidance for complex financial decisions.
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Collective operates on a subscription model that includes:
Image via Collective
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Image via CustomBooks
CustomBooks distinguishes itself in the self-employed accounting software market by emphasizing flexibility and extensive customization features. CustomBooks allows sole proprietors to tailor every aspect of their financial management system, from custom fields to conditional formatting across the platform.
One of CustomBooks standout features is its TRUE Inventory Tracking system, which enables businesses to monitor stock across multiple warehouses, handle consignment tracking, and manage assembly from raw materials. This makes it especially suitable for small businesses that combine service offerings with physical products.
The platform’s integration with major ecommerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Amazon, combined with its ability to sync with over 15,000 banking institutions, creates a comprehensive ecosystem for managing online and offline cash flow.
Key Features
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CustomBooks offers flexible subscription options:
Image via CustomBooks
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Image via Quicken
Since its inception in 1984, Quicken has evolved beyond personal finance to become a robust self-employed accounting software solution, particularly through its Home & Business version.
With over 20 million users, it stands out by offering a unique blend of personal and business financial management. This offering is especially valuable for sole proprietors transitioning from traditional employment to self-employment.
Its comprehensive investment tracking capabilities and standard business accounting features set Quicken apart. Freelancers can now manage their business operations and personal investment portfolios on one platform.
The software’s integration with TurboTax streamlines managing sales tax and preparing for tax time.
Unlike cloud-only solutions, Quicken’s desktop-first approach with web and mobile companions offers a robust local data management option while still providing the flexibility of on-the-go access through synchronized apps.
Key Features
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Pricing
Quicken offers three yearly plans that are billed annually. It currently offers 40%, 25%, and 16% off in the first year of the three plans, respectively. These include:
Image via Quicken
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Q1. What are some of the best accounting software for self-employed professionals?
A. Here are our top 19 picks for the best accounting software for self-employed professionals:
Consider these when looking for the best accounting software for self-employed professionals.
Q2. Why do I need accounting software and what key things should I look for when choosing one?
A. As a sole proprietor or freelancer, having the right accounting software for your business needs is critical. These tools allow you to seamlessly handle financial workflows such as invoicing clients, managing expenses, processing payments, and estimating taxes at tax time.
DIY accounting software optimized for the self-employed allows you to manage your entire freelance or solo business finances in one place and remain compliant. The automated features save time on manual data entry while giving you insights into key financial metrics.
On how to choose the best accounting software for self-employed professionals like yourself, some key features to look for include:
Choosing a platform that aligns with your independent business needs and user experience comfort will ensure you choose an ideal accounting solution.
Q3. Should I use free or paid accounting software?
A. One major consideration when choosing a bookkeeping software tool suited for sole proprietors and freelance business owners is whether to use free or paid self-employed accounting software.
Free plans on tools such as Wave or FreeAgent work well for basic solopreneur accounting needs. However, paid plans provide a more robust docket tailored for the self-employed, such as:
The productivity benefits and specialized tools make paid self-employed accounting software worth the monthly fees for most full-time, self-employed users. However, if you have very limited accounting needs for your small business, then choosing a free platform should be fine.
Q4. How much does self-employed, optimized accounting software cost?
A. Pricing for paid self-employed accounting software can range from as little as $1 (discount included) to as much as $350 per month, depending on the features and platform.
Entry-level plans on platforms such as Xero, FreshBooks, and TrulySmall start around $3.75 to $9 monthly. Mid-tier plans with extra capabilities on platforms such as QuickBooks Self-Employed and OneUp can range from $20 to $35 monthly. And enterprise plans on feature-rich platforms like Zoho Books or ZarMoney can get as high as $350 per month.
That said, the monthly cost of your self-employed accounting software plan may be fully deductible as a business expense for self-employed users.
Q5. What tax features should I look for in a self-employed accounting software?
A. Since self-employed users have to handle their own income taxes when it’s tax season, some important tax-related capabilities to look for include:
Having the right tax handling features maximizes write-offs and smooth, compliant filing for self-employed professionals.
Q6. How often should I expect updates from these accounting software providers?
A. Most self-employed accounting software providers offer regular updates every 1-3 months. These updates typically include security patches, new features, and improvements to existing functionality. Cloud-based solutions usually update automatically, while desktop software like Quicken may require manual updates.
Q7. Can I switch between different accounting software platforms if I’m not satisfied?
A. Yes, most modern accounting software allows you to export your data in standard formats, making it easier to switch platforms. However, some customizations, historical project management data, and specific reports might not transfer perfectly. Switching at the end of a financial quarter or year is best to maintain clean records.
Q8. Should I choose cloud-based or desktop accounting software for my business?
A. For most sole proprietors, cloud-based solutions offer better flexibility with features like automatic updates, remote access, and easier collaboration. However, you might prefer desktop solutions like Quicken if you have limited internet connectivity, specific security requirements, or need to maintain local control over your financial data. Consider your business needs, internet reliability, and security requirements when making a choice.
Choosing the best accounting software for self-employed freelancers, solopreneurs, or independent consultants is critical to effectively managing your finances.
When in doubt, the right accounting software provides easy invoicing, payment collection, expense tracking, tax planning, collaboration, and financial insights, all on an intuitive platform.
With the advancement of easy-to-use yet powerful accounting technology, self-employed users like yourself have more choices than ever before.
Taking advantage of these DIY solutions can save time, effort, and money over brick-and-mortar bookkeeping and accounting. This way, you get more room to focus on growing your solo or freelancing business. Good luck!
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