Are you on the hunt for the best Sage accounting alternatives in 2023? You've come to the right place!

In this article, we’ll explore the top Sage competitors and discuss their features, pros, cons, and pricing.

Even though Sage is an impressive cloud accounting platform with a host of features tailored for businesses of all sizes, sometimes, it's just not the ideal choice for everyone.

Fortunately, the market is brimming with top-notch Sage competitors that can rival Sage's offerings. In this blog post, we'll look into 12 amazing alternatives that might just be the perfect match for your financial management requirements.

Let’s dive straight in!

Top 10 Sage competitors with similar products

Here are the options for accounting software like Sage that we think are the best Sage Accounting alternatives. Although they are all fairly similar, some Sage competitors will be better suited to your circumstances than others, so read more about the Sage competition below.

Here’s our full list of the best Sage accounting alternatives 2023:

Let’s get down to our roundup of the best Sage Accounting alternatives, where we'll review top contenders that could potentially suit your business needs. Explore the finest software solutions the market has to offer and discover which of these Sage Accounting alternatives might become your go-to choice for managing finances.

Before we dive into the world of Sage competitors, we highly recommend checking out our extensive Sage Accounting review. By familiarizing yourself with the ins and outs of the software, you'll gain a better understanding of what Sage has to offer and pinpoint the exact features and capabilities you're looking for in an alternative.

Here are 12 good alternatives to Sage Accounting: 

1. QuickBooks Online (best Sage Accounting alternative overall)

QuickBooks Online stands out as the best alternative to Sage Accounting for several reasons. It contains all of the features found in the local, on-premises version of the software, including invoicing, expense tracking, bill management, inventory management, and payroll services. 

What makes it even better than Sage Accounting is its user-friendly interface that simplifies the process of managing finances and seamlessly integrates with numerous third-party applications and other QuickBooks products like Payroll, Time, and Payments. 

You can use the software to automate many routine tasks, such as bank reconciliation and invoice generation to save time and reduce the likelihood of errors. There are even multiple subscription plans to accommodate businesses of different sizes and stages, which means you can easily scale up as your company grows. 

Nonprofits can get substantial discounts. 

Read our Sage Accounting vs Quickbooks comparison article for more details!

QuickBooks Online is best for:

• Startups 

• Small businesses

• Medium-sized businesses 

• Freelancers

Features

• Invoicing

• Income and payments

• Expenses

• Sales tax

• Bill management platform

• Estimates

• Cash flow planner

• Reports

• Project profitability

• Inventory management solution

Pricing

• Simple Start: $15/month for the first three months, then $30

• Essentials: $27.50/month for the first three months, then $55

• Plus: $42.50/month for the first three months, then $85

• Advanced: $100/month for the first three months, then $200

Read our QuickBooks Online review

Visit QuickBooks Online 
 

2. Wave Accounting (best free Sage accounting alternative)

Wave Accounting shines as one of the top free Sage Accounting alternatives that offers a comprehensive basic software package at no cost. Wave's free software includes unlimited income and expense tracking, bank and credit card connections, and the ability to collaborate with partners, collaborators, or accountants. 

You can send invoices, recurring invoices, and payment reminders effortlessly. The exceptional ease of use makes Wave an ideal choice for beginners with no prior experience in accounting systems. 

Wave Accounting is best for:

• Freelancers

• Self-employed contractors

• Startup owners 

• Small business entrepreneurs

Features

• Invoicing

• Accounting

• Banking

• Payments

• Payroll

• Advisors

Pricing

• Invoicing features: $0

• Accounting features: $0

• Banking features: $0

• Credit card payments: starts at 2.9% + $0.60 per transaction

• Bank payments: 1% per transaction

• Payroll: starts at $20

• Advisors: starts at $149

Read our Wave Accounting review

Visit Wave Accounting 
 

3. Xero (most similar to Sage accounting)

Xero stands out as the alternative that's most similar to Sage Accounting. To start with, both Xero and Sage Accounting are designed to cater to small and medium-sized businesses, as well as accountants. 

Both tools offer a wide range of accounting features, such as invoicing, expense tracking, bank reconciliation, inventory management, payroll services, and financial reporting, to meet the diverse needs of different businesses. 

Xero, just like Sage Accounting, supports integrations with various third-party apps to help you streamline your day-to-day operations. The software is also incredibly easy to use, which makes it a good option for users with varying levels of accounting expertise.

Xero is best for:

• Freelancers

• Startups 

• Small businesses

• Accountants and bookkeepers

Features

• Bank connections

• Inventory

• Reporting

• Accept payments

• Purchase orders

• Files

• Sales tax

• Client portal

• Expenses

• Projects

• Multi-currency accounting

• Payroll with Gusto

Pricing

• Early: $25/month

• Growing: $40/month

• Established: $54/month

Read our Xero review

Visit Xero
 

4. Zoho Books (good Sage accounting alternative if you need customization)

Zoho Books emerges as a good Sage Accounting alternative, particularly for those seeking customization options. Zoho Books excels in customization with its customizable templates, personalized workflows, modular design, and flexible reporting. You can create custom roles and permissions, integrate third-party applications, and leverage the API for further customization. 

Additionally, Zoho Books supports multiple currencies and languages that makes it suitable for businesses operating internationally. Its generous free plan includes online invoicing, estimates, online payments, multi-lingual invoicing, expenses, mileage tracking, and bank reconciliation. 

Zoho Books integrates seamlessly with other Zoho products like Zoho Projects and Zoho CRM, providing a cohesive ecosystem.

Zoho Books is best for:

• Freelancers

• Self-employed

• Startups

• Small e-commerce businesses

Features

• Invoices

• Expenses

• Estimates

• Bills

• Client portal

• Banking 

• Online payments 

• Projects

• Sales and purchase orders

• Sales tax

• Inventory

• Mobile apps

• Integrations 

• Reports

Pricing

• Free

• Standard: $15/month billed annually 

• Professional: $40/month billed annually

• Premium: $60/month billed annually

• Elite: $120/month billed annually

• Ultimate: $240/month billed annually

Read our Zoho Books review

Visit Zoho Books 
 

5. myBooks (cheaper alternative to Sage accounting if you’re on a budget)

myBooks is a cheaper alternative to Sage Accounting for those on a budget, thanks to its affordable pricing structure. Developed by the Indian company Zetran, myBooks is part of a broader suite of products, including myPlan (financial planning) and myStaff (Human Resources management software). 

The cloud-based accounting software offers a generous free plan, and two paid plans priced at a modest $4.99 and $9.99 per month. An Enterprise plan is available, but requires contacting support for a custom quote. 

myBooks features a comprehensive accounting dashboard, displaying real-time financial data such as cash flow, expenses, and profit and loss projections, as well as customizable invoice templates. Overall, myBooks is an attractive and budget-friendly option for those seeking a cheap alternative to Sage Accounting.

myBooks is best for:

• Freelancers 

• Startups 

• Small businesses

Features

• Payment Integration

• Multi-Division/Branch

• Transactions

• Profitability Analysis

• Priority Support

• Automatic Bank Feed

• SMS Integration

• Purchase Order

• Android & IOS app

Pricing

• Free plan

• Standard, $4.99/month billed annually

• Premium, $9.99/month billed annually 

• Enterprise, custom quote

Visit myBooks
 

6. Freshbooks (great Sage Accounting substitute for freelancers and independent contractors)

Freshbooks is an excellent web-based Sage Accounting alternative tailored for freelancers and independent contractors that offers an intuitive and beginner-friendly interface.

Key features of this online accounting software include invoicing, client and project management, billable time tracking, online payments, accounts receivable and accounts payable, and general ledger tools. 

While it doesn't have a free version, plans range from $13.50 to $45 per month (billed annually), with a 10% discount on annual subscriptions. Freshbooks incorporates its own payment function called WePay, charging 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction, and integrates with payment gateways like Stripe and PayPal. 

Freshbooks is best for:

• Freelancers

• Self-employed

• Solopreneurs

• Small business owners

Features

• Invoicing

• Time tracking

• Expenses

• Clients

• Payments

• Projects

• Estimates and proposals

• Accounting and reports

• Add-ons 

• Basic automation

Pricing

• Lite: $13.50/month billed annually 

• Plus: $22.50/month billed annually 

• Premium: $45/month billed annually 

• Select: contact vendor for pricing

Read our Freshbooks review

Visit Freshbooks
 

7. Crunch (good option for UK-based businesses)

Crunch emerges as the best Sage Accounting alternative for UK-based businesses. The SaaS business software is a unique blend of business accounting tools and in-house accounting services. 

It comes with features like invoicing, expenses, banking, bank reconciliation, and online payments. Additionally, Crunch offers services within paid subscriptions or for a one-time fee, such as tax relief education, tax registration assistance, and company registration, specifically tailored for UK-based businesses. 

The free plan includes unlimited invoices, expense management, estimates, receipt scanning, open banking, and bank reconciliation. Paid plans unlock advanced features and complimentary services, including unlimited accountancy support, year-end bank accounts, a real-time tax dashboard, a dedicated account manager, and in-app customer support.

Crunch is best for:

• Freelancers

• Independent contractors

• Sole traders

• Startups

• Small businesses 

• UK-based businesses

Features

• Invoices and quotes

• Expenses

• Receipt scanning

• Banking

• Tax and VAT

• Integrations

• Reporting

• Ask an accountant

• Company formation

• Bookkeeping

• Payroll

Pricing

• Free: £0/month 

• Sole Trader Pro: £24.50+VAT/month

• Limited Company Pro: £79.50+VAT/month

• Limited Company Premium: £121.50+VAT/month

• Small Business: £159.50+VAT/month

Read our Crunch Accounting review

Visit Crunch 
 

8. FreeAgent (best Sage Accounting replacement for ease of use)

FreeAgent stands out as the best Sage Accounting alternative for ease of use, and as such, it’s an excellent choice for small businesses, startups, SMEs, medium-to-large size businesses, and e-commerce. 

Every FreeAgent plan lets you add unlimited users, clients, and run an unlimited number of projects. It comes with all the essential features like estimates, invoicing, expense tracking, sales tax management, and reporting. While these tools may not be groundbreaking, they’re efficient and straightforward to use.

Freeagent is best for:

• Startups

• SMEs

• Medium-to-large size businesses

• E-commerce

Features

• Estimates and invoices

• Expenses

• Time tracking

• Dashboard

• Banking

• Projects 

Pricing

• $10/month for 6 months, then $20/month

Visit Freeagent
 

9. ZipBooks (top alternative for small agencies) 

ZipBooks distinguishes itself as the best Sage Accounting alternative for small agencies and contractors, thanks to its user-friendly interface, comprehensive features, and affordability. With a separate "Accountant" subscription, ZipBooks provides all the necessary tools small accounting agencies need to manage their clients effectively. 

Features such as direct client texting, time tracking for different clients, financial report exporting, bulk transaction editing, and centralized client management make it an ideal choice for small agencies. 

What’s more, ZipBooks offers Smart Insights and Reports that can help you retain profitable clients, ensure timely payments, and evaluate performance against competitors.

ZipBooks is best for:

• Self-employed

• Startups

• SMBs

Features

• Accounting 

• Expenses

• Invoicing

• Time tracking

• Payments

• Estimates

• Projects 

• Contacts 

• Reports and insights 

• Integrations

Pricing

• Free

• Smarter: $15/month

• Sophisticated: $35/month

• Accountant: Contact vendor

Read our ZipBooks review

Visit ZipBooks
 

10. Quicken (great choice for tax planning)

Quicken stands out as the best Sage Accounting alternative for tax planning that’s an ideal choice for individuals, startups, SMBs, and tax professionals. The platform's tax planning features include a tax-related spending tracker, taxable and tax-deferred account management, and seamless import and export of tax documents to tools like TurboTax. 

These features make Quicken a powerful ally when managing taxes. In addition to tax planning, Quicken serves as an effective budgeting app that lets you create one-month budgets, set budget saving goals, transfer budgets between accounts, perform budget rollovers, and even receive saving suggestions based on past spending. 

Lastly, the Quicken Simplifi mobile and web app for iOS and Android boasts a user-friendly interface, which makes tax planning and budgeting more accessible on the go. 

Quicken is best for:

• Individuals

• Startups

• SMBs

• Tax professionals

Features

• Income and expense management

• Debt and mortgage

• Bill management

• Tax planning

• Investments

• Reporting 

• Business and rental property management

Pricing

• Simplifi, $3.99/month, billed annually 

• Quicken Deluxe, $4.99/month, billed annually 

• Quicken Premier is $6.99 per month billed annually 

• Quicken Home & Business, $9.99/month, billed annually

Visit Quicken 
 

11. Buildium (best alternative for brokers and realtors)

Buildium is the best Sage Accounting alternative for realtors and brokers. It’s a cloud-based real estate accounting software with accounting features designed specifically for the real estate industry. It comes with real estate-specific functionality such as tenant screening and evaluation, which can assist you in the tenant application process. 

The platform also includes a property inspections feature that’s very handy for performing inspections, generating reports, and synchronizing all data. Additionally, Buildium facilitates online payments from renters, invoice creation, automatic expense allocation, e-signatures, and more.

Buildium is best for:

• Real estate businesses 

• Brokers and realtors 

Features

• Property accounting

• Collect rent online

• Maintenance requests

• 1099 e-filing

• Resident Center

• Tenant Screening

• Online leasing

• Property management website

Pricing

• Essential: $52/month

• Growth: $166/month 

• Premium: $479/month 

Visit Buildium 
 

12. BuilderTrend (best Sage Accounting alternative for construction businesses)

BuilderTrend is the best Sage Accounting alternative for construction businesses, as it’s a comprehensive construction accounting software built specifically for the construction industry. 

It includes modules for different contractors and builders, along with essential financial management tools like bid requests, bill management, and payment processing. 

Advanced budgeting tools track real-time finances, and insightful financial reports keep businesses informed of their performance.

BuilderTrend is best for:

• Construction businesses 

Features

• Scheduling

• Lead management

• Customer portal

• Email marketing

• Time clock

• Document and photo storage

• Invoices

• Budget

• Bills

• Purchase orders

• Estimating and bid management

Pricing

• Essential plan is $339 per month, billed annually

• Advanced plan is $599 per month, billed annually

• Complete plan is $829 per month, billed annually

Visit BuilderTrend

Which Sage accounting software alternative is a good choice for you?

Choosing the right Sage accounting solution alternative depends on your unique business needs and preferences. While we've crowned QuickBooks Online as the best overall option, other tools might suit you better based on your specific requirements. 

For instance, if you're a UK-based business, Crunch could be the ideal choice, whereas Wave Accounting is perfect for those in need of a free option. If you’re a broker or a realtor and need dedicated real estate accounting software, you can’t go wrong with Buildium. Small agencies should look into ZipBooks as this review has found the software is the most commonly used tool for this type of business. 

Take the time to assess your needs and explore the various alternatives to find the one that aligns with your business's financial management goals.

Don't forget to check out our comprehensive round-up guide on the best business accounting software and discover even more options tailored to your needs.