Best Accounting Software for Mac (10 Apple Bookkeeping Apps)

If you're Apple user looking for the best accounting software for Mac, you have a range of options to choose from. Accounting software can help streamline your financial management, allowing you to easily track expenses, generate invoices, and monitor cash flow.

However, with so many choices on the market, it can be difficult to determine which one is right for your needs. In this article, we'll explore some of the best accounting software for Mac users, considering factors such as pricing, features, and ease of use. 

Whether you're a freelancer, small business owner, or accounting professional, there's sure to be an option on this list that suits your needs.

Apple Mac accounting software comparison chart (top 10 highest rated)

Are you a Mac user in need of accounting programs for Mac? If so, you're in luck! There are many high-quality accounting programs available for Apple's popular computer platform. In this article, we'll review the best iMac accounting software in 2023.

Don't have the time to read everything? Take a look at the table below for an overview of the best business accounting software for Mac users.

What is the best accounting software for Mac 2023? Here’s our top 10 list:

What is the best business accounting software for Mac? It’s difficult to single out only one accounting solution with so many different types of accounting software available. We bring you the most comprehensive Mac accounting software reviews and each software's features, as well as the pros and cons.
 

1. Quickbooks Online (best accounting software for Mac overall)

What makes Quickbooks Online the best accounting software for Mac? It's cloud-based accounting software that covers all aspects of bookkeeping, from invoicing and bill payments to tracking inventory and preparing tax returns.

If you’re not familiar with what is cloud accounting and how’s it different from regular accounting, we’ve got you covered.

First of all this type of software and this tool is easy to use and has a robust set of features. Designed for small and medium-sized businesses, this accounting solution includes features such as invoicing, billing, inventory tracking, creating financial reports, budget creation, sales and customer management. 

Recently, this online accounting tool has received updates, and now it allows users to simplify payment collection, set up automated reminders, combine multiple invoices in one email, and access an online payment portal. In addition, the customer support is also excellent and it comes in the form of online forum and phone support. With all these remarkable features, Quickbooks Online definitely wins the title of best small business accounting software.

However, Quickbooks is not the cheapest option available. Also, some users have reported performance issues.

Pros:

• Ease of use

• Comprehensive feature set

• Integrates with many popular business applications

• Available for iOS, Mac, Windows, and Android

Cons:

• Performance issues reported by some users

• On the expensive side

Pricing:

Quickbooks Online has four different plans available. 

• Simple Start - starts at $30/month

• Essentials - starts at $55/month

• Plus - starts at $85/month

• Advanced - starts at $200/month

Luckily, the company frequently offers discounts, so you may be able to get this software at a lower price!

Quickbooks Online review

Visit Quickbooks
 

2. Wave Accounting (best free accounting software Mac app)

If you're looking for free accounting software for Mac, then Wave Accounting is the perfect solution. This double-entry accounting website is designed for freelancers, self-employed contractors, and small businesses.

The app offers a user-friendly, feature-rich application that works for those who don't have much accounting experience. It's one of the few really free choices available and may help you handle all of your accounting tasks in one simple location. No matter whether you’re looking for construction accounting software or a bookkeeping tool for the hospitality industry, Wave will cover all your needs!

What makes Wave Accounting the best free accounting software? Well, it offers a wide range of features without charging any monthly fees. This accounting software for Mac includes features such as robust invoicing, tracking expenses, accounting, and receipt tracking functionality. 

Wave Accounting is also great for bank transactions as it integrates with bank accounts and can accept credit card payments as well as online bank transfers to your business. It lets you do payroll and calculate taxes. You can also manage paying outside contractors, and send and manage receipts. 

Plus, it integrates with many popular applications such as Paypal, Stripe, and Zapier. And if you need help, customer support is excellent and available via email, chat, and phone.

However, if you need your accounting software to be able to tackle payroll for free, then Wave Accounting is not the software for you. Wave does come with the Payroll feature, but it needs to be paid for.

Pros:

• Free to use, forever!

• No monthly fees

• Excellent customer support

• Integrates with many popular applications

Cons:

• Not as comprehensive as paid accounting solutions

• Lacks some features such as inventory management

Pricing:

Wave Accounting is free to use, forever. There are no monthly fees or hidden charges. 

However, there are some additional features that come at a price. When it comes to Wave payroll, the monthly fee starts at $20 plus $6 for each employee or contractor for states where payroll taxes must be paid and filed manually. 

Credit card processing costs 2.9% plus 60 cents for each transaction. The cost is slightly higher for American Express (3.4% plus 60 cents per transaction). There is a $1 minimum fee and a 1% charge for bank transactions.

Wave Accounting review

Visit Wave Accounting
 

3. Freshbooks Mac App (top cloud-based accounting software)

For all small business owners who like Quickbooks but cannot afford the software, there is an excellent alternative - Freshbooks. 

Freshbooks is one of the most popular cloud-based accounting solutions available, and it's easy to see why. This intuitive software makes it simple to stay on top of income, expenses, invoices, time tracking, and billable hours. You can also create estimates, proposals, and recurring invoices with ease.

Plus, it's designed to save you time - the software can automate tasks such as billing, late payment reminders, and tracking expenses. Freshbooks also allows you to collect online payments as the software supports credit cards, Google Checkout, and PayPal payments. All these features make Freshbooks one of the leading accounting software for small business currently available.

For small business owners who need to be able to do accounting on the go, Freshbooks provides a mobile app for iPhone and Android mobile devices. The app can be used to tackle general accounting tasks and also respond to clients' questions. Last but not least, Freshbooks mobile app notifies you when clients view or pay invoices or when invoices are overdue.

If you need help, customer support is excellent. You can reach them via email, chat, or phone.

However, some users have reported difficulty understanding how to use some of the features. There is also a learning curve when it comes to comprehending the terminology used in the software.

Pros:

• Intuitive and easy to use

• Numerous advanced accounting features

• Saves time with automated tasks

• Excellent customer support

• Smartphones app is available

Cons:

• Some users find it difficult to use

• There is a learning curve

Pricing:

Freshbooks offers four different subscription plans: Lite, Plus, Premium, and Select. The Lite plan starts at $15 per month and is best for businesses with simple accounting needs. The Plus plan starts at $25 per month and is best for businesses that need to track time and billable hours. The Premium plan starts at $50 per month and is best for businesses that need to track expenses. The Select plan is a custom pricing plan that is best for businesses with complex accounting needs.

Users who choose annual payment instead of monthly receive a discount on the mentioned prices.

Keep in mind that all these plans support only one team member. You’ll have to pay $10/month/per person for additional users.

Visit Freshbooks Mac App
 

4. Zoho Books (best small business accounting software for Mac)

Zoho Books is a cloud-based accounting solution that offers a wide range of features at an affordable price. You can try out this small business accounting for Mac free of charge for 14 days. Even better, if your business earns less than 50K per year, then you can use this software completely free of charge

This software is the best small business software for Mac as it’s designed to manage finances and cash flow. Also, this software doesn’t require any accounting knowledge. Even if you’ve never used accounting software before, you’ll be able to figure out how to use Zoho Books in no time.

Some of the features offered by Zoho Books include invoicing, expense tracking, report generation, and bank reconciliation. You can also track time and billable hours, as well as create and send estimates and proposals. Other useful features include P and L, balance sheets, and cash flow statements.

Zoho Books is handy and powerful. You can use it to automate repetitive tasks so that you can focus on more important aspects of your business. For example, you can send recurring invoices to regular customers or payment reminders. 

Plus, Zoho Books integrates with over 80 business applications, so you can use the software to manage your entire business, not just your finances.

The customer support is excellent and you can reach them via email, chat, or phone. There is also a large knowledge base and online community that can be helpful if you need assistance.

Zoho does come with a few disadvantages, though. The paid plans have a limited number of users. And, there is a learning curve to using the software.

Pros:

• Affordable

• Easy to use

• Generous free trial period

• Excellent customer support

• Integrates with over 80 business applications

Cons:

• Plans come with a limited number of users

• There is a learning curve

Pricing:

Zoho offers multiple plans to users:

• Free - $0

• Standard - $20/month

• Professional - $50/month

• Premium - $70/month

• Elite - $150/month

• Ultimate - $275/month

Users who opt for annual payments receive a generous discount.

Zoho Books review

Visit Zoho
 

5. Xero (best Apple accounting software with unlimited users)

One common thing among accounting software for Apple is that they have a limited number of users. However, Xero stands out as it allows unlimited users at every subscription tier. In addition, you can set up different permissions for each user, so employees have access only to what's relevant to their job.

This cloud-based accounting software for Mac offers invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation, and report generation. Some notable features of the Xero financial software include general ledger, double-entry bookkeeping support, invoicing with quotes, bank reconciliation, purchase order, expense management, and tax management. 

Xero accounting software is remarkable for its scalable nature, making it a good choice for both simple and more complex accounting needs. You can start with the most basic plan and then scale up as your business grows. 

The software also offers a good deal of customization. For instance, you can easily customize Xero's default chart of accounts or import an already existing chart of accounts.

The only downside to this Apple bookkeeping software is that the most advanced features are only available with the more expensive subscription plans.

Pros:

• 30-day free trial

• Packed with features

• Onboarding the software is a breeze. 

• Integrations with over 800 business applications

• Unlimited users

• Scalable and suitable for businesses of all types and sizes

Cons:

• Advanced features only available with expensive plans

• Payroll is only available as an add-on

Pricing:

Xero offers three different plans:

• Starter - $22/month

• Standard - $35/month

• Premium - $47/month

It is important to keep in mind that each plan comes with different features.

Xero review

Visit Xero
 

6. Sage 50cloud (great desktop accounting software for Mac)

Formerly known as Peachtree, Sage 50cloud is a trusted desktop accounting platform. It comes with best-in-class accounting features that ensure the most comprehensive and customizable bookkeeping. 

Sage features inventory management tools, online payment processing, purchase order automation, and tax computation features. Similarly to QuickBooks desktop for Mac, Sage features will help you keep track of customers and sales, vendors and purchases, inventory services, and employees and payroll.

What sets Sage50 apart from other accounting software is its integration with Microsoft 365. The desktop application has cloud-based data access and storage, meaning that all accounting data are automatically synced between the desktop application and its cloud servers.

This accounting software offers multiple plans that are suitable for various business needs. For example, if you need a bookkeeping program that supports more than one user, Sage 50cloud Accounting Premium is the way to go. This plan supports up to five users and includes budgeting and inventory management features.

On the other hand, if you’re running a mid- or even large-sized business and you need advanced features and functions, Sage 50cloud Accounting Quantum supports up to 40 system users and includes business insight dashboards, role-based security, project management capabilities, and industry-specific functionality.

The greatest disadvantage of Sage 50cloud Accounting? The software is only available for Windows machines. So, why is it on our list? The official Sage Software website points out that this accounting program can be used on the Mac OS X operating system. However, users need to install Bootcamp on their Mac first. Also, there is no iOS app available for download.

Pros:

• Exceptionally sophisticated feature set

• Great customizability

• Detailed contact and item records

• Remarkable inventory management tools

• Microsoft 365 integration

Cons:

• Available for Windows only, but can be run on Mac with Bootcamp

• Lacks comprehensive mobile app

Pricing:

Sage 50cloud offers three plans:

• Pro Accounting - $56/month

• Premium Accounting - $92/month

• Quantum Accounting - $155.92/month

However, Sage does offer certain discounts to its users. Those who opt for annual payments can purchase plans for a lower price. Also, first-time users receive a 40% discount for their first year of use.

Visit Sage 50cloud
 

7. Sunrise by Lendio (top simple accounting Mac OS software)

If you’re running a small business and you’re just getting started with accounting, your safest bet would be simple bookkeeping software for Mac. And, you should give Sunrise, aka Lendio, a try if you're looking for a free solution that provides the necessary accounting functionality.

Yes, you’ve read that right. Sunrise can be used completely free of charge, making this software perfect for freelancers and solopreneurs who need to send invoices and track their income and expenses.

When it comes to the features, Lendio is basic accounting software for Mac, but it has strong invoicing. It lets you create recurring invoices, collect and track sales tax by jurisdictions, and accept short payments from customers.

In addition, you can use this software to create personalized invoices, create financial reports, and view unpaid invoices. The software is advanced enough to track your expenses automatically. All you have to do is link your bank account and credit cards. Last but not least, Sunrise can be used as a CRM as it allows you to create quotes and estimates and send them to your customers.

This accounting software is also available on the App Store, meaning that you can use it on your iPhone or iPad. The app is advanced, and it allows you to perform many accounting tasks, such as creating and sending invoices and entering bill payments on the go.

The downside of this app? Well, since it is basic software, the only disadvantage is the limited features and functions that are necessary for small and mid-sized businesses. Also, not all features are available on the free plan; some can be accessed only when you subscribe to the premium plan. These features include cash flow insights and alerts, auto-categorizing expenses, and payment integrations.

Pros:

• Most features are available in the free plan

• Sending recurring invoices and accepting short payments

• A free mobile app that can perform basic accounting tasks

• Unlimited invoices and quotes

Cons:

• Free version is limited to a single user

• No payroll and inventory management features at all

Pricing:

Sunrise provides only two plans - free and Plus. The paid plan costs $19.99 per month, and it comes with three additional features - cash flow insights and alerts, auto-categorizing expenses, and payment integrations.

Visit Lendio
 

8. Oracle Netsuite ERP (small and large business accounting app for Mac)

Oracle Netsuite ERP is a comprehensive accounting software for businesses of all sizes. This cloud-based app offers a long list of features, such as financial management, order management, inventory management, and much more.

Netsuite ERP is suitable for businesses that need to manage their finances, inventory, orders, and customers in one place. The software is also suitable for businesses that need to track their sales, revenue, and expenses.  

Billing, inventory and order management, fixed assets, and financial administration are all effectively automated by this software. Key performance reports can also be viewed by management as well as personnel on the rank and file. The platform seamlessly connects with other NetSuite applications, such as those for order management, inventory, and e-commerce.

In addition the software features a comprehensive inventory management capability that can give you an effective supply chain. Real-time inventory, procurement, and supplier indicators are all included in this. To understand more about the features of NetSuite ERP, make use of the free trial.

The downside of this app is the fact that it is more expensive than other accounting software on the market. Also, it is not as user-friendly as some of the other options, so you might need some time to get used to it.

Pros:

• A comprehensive accounting software for businesses of all sizes

• Offers a long list of features, such as financial management, order management, inventory management, and much more

• Suitable for businesses that need to track their sales, revenue, and expenses

Cons:

• More expensive than other accounting software on the market

• There’s a learning curve to using the software

Pricing:

$999 One-Time Charge + $99 Per User Per Month

Visit Oracle Netsuite ERP
 

9. Tippalti Approve (accounting app for Mac for financial management)

Tippalti Approve, a cloud-based platform for payment automation and management, was created to assist users in meeting deadlines with perfect precision. It handles issues including late payments, excessive administrative burden, non-compliance, and difficulties brought on by human mistakes. It cuts down on the amount of time spent managing finances, which is perhaps the main issue plaguing accounting teams.

The solution has the ability to automate all aspects of your business's international payment process, from onboarding to tax compliance. Your payment processing can be streamlined in 190 different countries.

Additionally, it makes sure that all tax and regulatory obligations are satisfied with the least amount of human involvement. The platform can enhance the quality of the payment processes for both customers and vendors.

When it comes to ease of use, Approve.com has got you covered. The vendor provides a demonstration during which users can learn how to use all the features, which is something not many accounting apps for Mac do.

Pros:

• Helpful for small businesses that need assistance with their financial management

• Easy to use

• Includes a demonstration tutorial for using the software

• A wide range of features for managing finances

• Can be used to automate international payments

Cons:

• The pricing is unknown and available only upon request

• May not be suitable for large businesses 

Pricing:

Pricing for Approve is quote-based and provided upon request. You can get in touch with the supplier and ask for a price. To familiarize you with the features, the provider provides a free demo.

Visit Approve
 

10. AvidXchange (top Mac bookkeeping software for invoice management and payment automation)

Thousands of businesses across the US rely on the end-to-end accounts payable software called AvidXchange. By automating payments and managing invoices conveniently, businesses may improve their accounting processes. 

The software has integrated B2B payment processing, paperless invoicing, and purchase order automation. Businesses are able to track and review their transactions more effectively while also paying suppliers more quickly.

AvidXchange eliminates paper invoices, automates protracted payment procedures, and lowers processing costs with cutting-edge automation capabilities like B2B payment processing, paperless invoicing, and purchase order automation. 

This software comes with a comprehensive toolkit and a very customizable user interface. With this, companies from a variety of sectors, including real estate and banking, may quickly benefit from a tailored user experience that meshes nicely with their current operational procedures.

Additionally, AvidXchange supports over 180 integrations, making it well-suited to work with your current business software ecosystem. Blackbaud, Microsoft Dynamics GP, Sage Intacct, SAP, Oracle NetSuite, and QuickBooks are just a few of the systems it can connect with.

Pros:

• Eliminates paper invoices

• Automates protracted payment procedures

• Lowers processing costs

• Comes with a comprehensive accounting toolkit

• Customizable user interface

• Supports over 180 integrations

Cons:

• The pricing is unknown and available only upon request

• May not be suitable for large businesses 

Pricing:

Pricing for AvidXchange is quote-based and provided upon request. You can get in touch with the supplier and ask for a price.

Visit AvidXchange

What is the best bookkeeping software for Mac? Our conclusion

After reviewing the ten best accounting software for Mac, we have come to the conclusion that the best software depends on your specific needs. However, the best overall accounting software for Mac, no matter the size of your business, is Quickbooks Online.

Excellent alternatives for Quickbooks are Freshbooks, Xero, and Wave Accounting. These three software options are also great for small businesses and offer a wide variety of features, such as invoicing, tracking expenses, and creating reports.

For small business owners, freelancers, and solopreneurs who are just getting started with accounting and bookkeeping, we recommend starting with free accounting software such as Wave Accounting or Sunrise by Lendio. These provide good invoicing and bookkeeping features, free of charge. When your business scales and you need more advanced features, you can switch to paid accounting software.

For larger businesses, we recommend using NetSuite. This enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solution offers comprehensive financial management features, such as General Ledger (GL), Accounts Receivable/Accounts Payable (A/R A/P), and Fixed Assets.

However, do keep in mind that these tools are most suitable for traditional accounting and bookkeeping purposes. Those who deal with digital currencies should make sure to test out the best crypto tax software currently available.

FAQs

Does Apple have a program like QuickBooks?

No, Apple does not have a program like QuickBooks. However, there are many third-party accounting software options that are compatible with Mac computers and provide similar functionality to Quickbooks. Some of these include Xero, Wave, and FreshBooks, which offer features such as invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting. 
 

Does Apple have a bookkeeping app built in?

Apple doesn’t offer a built-in bookkeeping app for its computers. However, Mac users can choose from a range of third-party accounting software, such as Xero, Wave, and FreshBooks, to manage their bookkeeping needs. These tools are designed to be compatible with Mac computers and provide a range of bookkeeping features.
 

Is Mac good for accounting?

Mac computers are well-suited for accounting tasks, with a variety of accounting software options available that are designed to be compatible with the Mac operating system. Additionally, Apple's hardware is known for its reliability, durability, and high performance, making it an excellent choice for accounting and bookkeeping purposes.