Is QuickBooks still the king of small-business accounting in 2025? If you're starting to feel like it’s not the right fit for your growing business, you’re not alone.
For a long time, QuickBooks has been the trusted choice for small-business owners and accountants. But as your business grows and evolves, it may no longer be the ideal solution. What once worked perfectly might no longer be the ideal solution. Depending on your business size, budget, and bookkeeping experience, there could be better options out there.
While QuickBooks offers an all-in-one approach to accounting, many small-business owners find it overwhelming. Not every business needs advanced features—sometimes, you just need a simple tool to handle the basics like recording transactions, creating budgets, or sending invoices.
Moreover, as businesses grow and their needs evolve, QuickBooks may no longer provide the best fit. With more flexible pricing, better-tailored features, and simpler setups, QuickBooks alternatives are becoming a preferred choice. But with so many options available, choosing the right one can be a challenge.
Here, we’ll explore the best QuickBooks alternatives available in 2025 and beyond. We’ll compare key features, pricing, and ideal use cases to help you find the best solution for your business.
Before jumping into the alternatives, let’s start by looking at why QuickBooks alternatives might be a better fit for your business.
QuickBooks, with its suite of products like QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop, is widely regarded as one of the most reliable accounting tools for small businesses. However, it has limitations that make it less suitable for growing businesses. Here’s why you might want to explore alternatives:
QuickBooks has automation features, but many businesses struggle to fully utilize them, especially when managing multiple users or departments. Setting up automated workflows across teams or configuring specific accounting processes for different business functions can be tricky.
QuickBooks is packed with features, but for some businesses, that can actually be a drawback. If your accounting needs are basic—think simple invoicing, expense tracking, or budget management—the sheer number of features can feel overwhelming. Plus, the troubleshooting process can be time-consuming and frustrating, especially if you're not well-versed in accounting.
As your business grows, you may find that QuickBooks doesn’t meet your specific industry needs. Whether you’re in retail, manufacturing, contracting, or service-based industries, you might find QuickBooks lacking in specialized features. Additionally, QuickBooks may not be as flexible or scalable as some of the newer alternatives on the market.
For many small business owners, QuickBooks’ setup and interface can be intimidating—especially if you don’t have a background in accounting. If you’re looking for a simpler, more intuitive solution, switching to a more user-friendly platform could help your team work more efficiently and avoid unnecessary frustration.
If any of these concerns sound familiar, it may be time to consider a QuickBooks alternative. Let’s dive into the top QuickBooks alternatives for your business in 2024 and beyond.
There are plenty of options to consider when moving away from QuickBooks. These options can offer better fit, affordability, or unique features tailored to your business needs. Here’s a look at some of the best QuickBooks alternatives in Saudi Arabia:
Best For: Saudi businesses that need ZATCA-compliant, cloud-based accounting solutions.
Rating: 4.7/5
Pricing: Starting at 1999 SAR per user/year
The first QuickBooks alternative is HAL Accounting software, which is a cloud-based solution designed specifically for businesses in Saudi Arabia. It provides a fully integrated accounting system that helps manage everything from invoicing to financial reporting. It also supports compliance with ZATCA’s e-invoicing and Saudi VAT regulations. HAL ERP is known for its user-friendly interface, scalability, and advanced automation, making it ideal for businesses of all sizes.
The software simplifies accounting processes with a user-friendly interface and AI-powered tools, ensuring efficiency and control over financial tasks.
Strengths:
Limitations:
Check out the reviews by users who leveraged HAL Software to scale their businesses.
Best For: Small to medium-sized businesses looking for flexibility and scalability.
Rating: 4.4 /5
Pricing: Xero offers three plans:
Xero is a popular alternative to QuickBooks that offers similar features at a lower price. It allows you to manage your finances from any internet-connected device and automatically imports all your transactions. Unlike QuickBooks, Xero allows unlimited users on all subscription tiers, which is ideal for businesses needing multiple users to access the system for reporting or performance analysis.
It also offers a more customizable dashboard, letting users rearrange or hide panels for better usability. Plus, it integrates with over 800 third-party apps, which is great for businesses that use other software.
Strengths:
Limitations:
Best For: Freelancers and small businesses focused on invoicing and time-tracking.
Rating: 4.5 /5
Pricing: Ranges from $19 - $60/month depending on the plan
If you’re a freelancer focused on invoicing, tracking, and managing your income, FreshBooks might offer everything you need in an accounting tool. It simplifies the entire freelancer accounting workflow, from time-tracking to billing. You can automatically generate invoices, accept card payments, and set up automatic payment reminders, making it easy to get paid on time.
If you don’t need advanced features like accounts payable, payroll, or inventory management, FreshBooks might be the perfect fit. It’s user-friendly, mobile-friendly and offers a cost-effective solution for businesses that don’t require extensive scalability or multiple users.
Strengths:
Limitations:
Best For: Businesses needing affordable, feature-rich accounting software.
Rating: 4.4 /5
Pricing: Zoho Books offers six plans from $0 - $120/month
Zoho Books provides an impressive range of features at a more affordable price than QuickBooks. It integrates with other tools like CRM and inventory management and connects with over 100 apps to automate workflows. Plus, with its mobile app available on both Android and iOS, you can manage your accounting on the go.
In addition, Zoho Books provides extras like workflow automation, document storage, and customer/vendor portals to meet various business needs. With six different plan options, businesses can easily find a plan that suits their specific needs without paying for unnecessary features.
Strengths:
Limitations:
Best For: Small businesses preferring desktop-based accounting solutions
Rating: 3.9 / 5
Pricing: From $57/month to $152/month
If you're looking for an alternative to QuickBooks Desktop, your options are somewhat limited. However, Sage 50 (formerly Peachtree) Accounting is a strong choice. Though it requires local installation, it offers features typically found in cloud-based software, such as automated bank reconciliation. This makes it a good option for small business owners who are hesitant to fully transition to the cloud or who don’t have reliable internet access.
Sage 50 is also great for beginners, with dedicated support and free training to help you get started. It includes key features like job costing, payroll, and inventory tracking.
Strengths:
Limitations:
Best For: Large businesses needing an all-in-one cloud-based ERP solution.
Rating: 4.2 /5
Pricing: Contact for a custom quote based on the modules and users you need.
Most of the QuickBooks alternatives mentioned here are great for startups and micro businesses. But what if your company is outgrowing QuickBooks? If you're expanding into new regions or countries, you might want to consider a cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution like NetSuite.
Unlike QuickBooks, which offers a more standardized package, NetSuite is highly customizable, with pricing and software packages tailored to your business’s needs. In addition to accounting, NetSuite includes modules for global business management, supply chain management, marketing, and HR. This makes it a powerful tool for larger companies that require a more comprehensive solution.
Strengths:
Limitations:
Best For: Businesses that need an affordable, open-source, and customizable solution.
Rating: 4.2 /5
Pricing: Free Plan for One app, starting at $31.10 per user/month for all apps
Odoo Accounting is an open-source accounting solution that offers great flexibility and scalability for businesses looking for an affordable and customizable tool. It integrates seamlessly with various business apps, including CRM, eCommerce, and marketing automation, making it an all-in-one platform. However, it’s ideal for business owners with some coding knowledge, as it allows for significant customization.
Odoo’s free plan offers basic features with just one app, but for businesses that need more comprehensive tools, there’s a cost to add additional features.
Strengths:
Limitations:
Best For: Businesses requiring advanced reporting and inventory management.
Rating: 4.2 / 5
Pricing: Starts at $58.92/month, with plans up to $160/month.
Sage Business Cloud Accounting is a great QuickBooks alternative, especially for businesses that require advanced reporting or inventory management. It’s known for its robust features, which include accounting, payroll, inventory management, and tax compliance. This cloud-based solution is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses, with tools designed to support financial management and business growth.
The application excels in providing multi-currency support, making it perfect for businesses that operate internationally. It also integrates well with other Sage products, allowing businesses to manage various functions more efficiently.
Strengths:
Limitations:
Important Note: Keep in mind that prices listed in USD may vary when converted to SAR, and VAT (15%) could apply to software purchases. Always check for local pricing or payment options to avoid surprises.
With so many options available, it can be tough to know which QuickBooks alternative is the best fit for your business. After all, every business is unique—and so are its accounting needs. Let’s take a look at some key factors to help you decide.
To help you decide, here are three key questions to guide your decision:
The features you need depend on your business’s size and nature. Some key accounting functions include:
Understanding these needs will help narrow down software options that offer exactly what your business requires.
Accounting software isn’t just for bookkeeping; it’s a tool to support decision-making. Consider how frequently you’ll use reports to guide your business. Key uses include:
If you rely on visual dashboards or external apps for insights, choose software that integrates seamlessly with those tools.
Your accounting software should align with your growth plans and goals. Consider factors such as:
Also, decide whether you plan to keep accounting in-house or outsource it to professionals like accountants or bookkeepers. This will affect your choice of software.
Take your time to assess your needs and select a solution that streamlines your accounting and supports your long-term goals. Let’s look at some additional tips to help you make an informed decision.
Here are some tips to guide your decision:
For instance, HAL is highly rated for its easy-to-use interface and comprehensive features. Explore customer stories to understand user experiences.
With the insights collected so far, let’s break it down based on the size and industry of your business.
Here are some options that could work for you:
In the end, the best QuickBooks alternative for your business will depend on your unique requirements. Switching from QuickBooks can feel overwhelming, especially with challenges such as data migration, staff training, and ensuring system compatibility.
To make the transition easier, assess your current and future needs, pick software with good customer support, and try free trials or demos. If you’re a business based in Saudi Arabia, HAL ERP could be the perfect fit. It's designed to meet local requirements, is user-friendly, comes with very tight local ecosystem integrations to regional systems, is ZATCA-compliant, and features advanced automation to save you time.
Explore how HAL ERP can make your accounting simple and efficient. Learn more about HAL ERP’s features and how it compares to other popular tools like Odoo.
Don’t just take our word for it. Explore success stories from businesses like yours to see how HAL ERP has made a difference.
Interested in seeing HAL ERP in action? Contact us today for a free demo and see how we can help your business stay on top of its finances.
