It’s intentionally lightweight, perfect for those looking for simplicity and low cost, but if you’re looking to scale, it may be time to consider switching your software as ZipBooks is known for covering just the basics.

In this article, we’ll take a look at three alternatives to using ZipBooks; QuickBooks, FreshBooks and Pandle.

QuickBooks compared to ZipBooks

QuickBooks is one of the most widely used accounting platforms globally. It offers a full suite of tools far beyond what’s available in ZipBooks, making it an attractive option if you want to scale.

Key features QuickBooks has in comparison to ZipBooks

• Integrated payroll: QuickBooks has fully integrated payroll solutions automating the process for you, sorting out things like payslips, pensions and Statutory Sick Pay. To use payroll with ZipBooks, you’ll need to use third party software.
• Advanced inventory management: With QuickBooks you’ll find real-time inventory tracking, as well as low stock alerts and inventory valuation. ZipBooks does not have this type of advanced inventory management, but it can be used for simple invoicing rather than in-depth product tracking.
• Industry-specific solutions: QuickBooks is well suited to a wide range of industries, including contractors, manufacturing and wholesale, nonprofits, retail, and professional services – thanks to its robust toolset. It offers industry-specific charts of accounts and tailored reports, helping businesses manage their finances more effectively and meet their unique operational needs.

QuickBooks is ideal for businesses that need scalability and deeper financial insights. It also integrates with a wide range of third-party apps, making it highly flexible. There are 5 plans available, ranging from ‘Sole Trader Plus’ to ‘Advanced’.

It’s more expensive than ZipBooks, with plans ranging from £10 – £123 per month. It doesn’t have a free plan but could be worth the investment as you scale.

See our full review of QuickBooks

FreshBooks

FreshBooks is a well-known accounting platform designed with service-based professionals, freelancers and small businesses in mind. It focuses heavily on invoicing, time-tracking and client management – a good alternative for users who have outgrown ZipBooks’ basic features.

Key features FreshBooks has in comparison to ZipBooks

• Advanced automation: FreshBooks offers more automated features than ZipBooks – including recurring invoices you can review before sending (ideal for when fees fluctuate).
• MTD compatible tax features: FreshBooks is approved by HMRC and works with Making Tax Digital (MTD) in the UK, making it better for staying compliant than ZipBooks (where you’d need to use bridging software).
• Expense management: While ZipBooks provides basic expense tracking, FreshBooks stands out for its more advanced expense workflows, including robust validation, streamlined approvals, and comprehensive management features.

FreshBooks is widely praised for its simplicity and user experience, particularly for those who invoice clients regularly. It includes essential accounting features but it’s not as comprehensive as more advanced tools – perfect if you are looking for an upgrade without all the unnecessary features.

Freshbooks has 4 plans, with their cheapest package starting at ‘Lite’ for £16 per month, and their premium package available at £42 per month. You can also customise your package by chatting with a consultant.

See our full review of FreshBooks

Pandle

Pandle is one of the closest alternatives to ZipBooks. Like ZipBooks, it offers a free plan, but it’s more tailored to UK compliance and tax requirements.

Key features Pandle has in comparison to ZipBooks

• MTD-recognised: As an HMRC-recognised solution, Pandle delivers powerful automation for Making Tax Digital (MTD) for both Income Tax and VAT, enabling users to submit accurate data directly to HMRC quickly and effortlessly.
• Powerful automation capabilities: Renowned for its powerful automation capabilities, it significantly reduces the need for manual data entry. Key features include seamless automatic bank feeds, real-time transaction categorisation, and automated invoice reminders. It also provides advanced batching tools for purchase invoices, making it especially well-suited for handling high volumes of transactions efficiently.
• Support from real bookkeepers: Pandle offers built-in live chat support, giving users direct access to qualified bookkeepers who can answer questions and provide guidance in real time, all from within the app – whereas ZipBooks customers report slower and less comprehensive support.

Whilst both bookkeeping softwares are similar, Pandle is designed to make your life easier with its robust automation, and intuitive interface that can flag errors before they become a problem.

There are two plans, one which is completely free and ‘Pandle Pro’ which is £5 per month plus VAT.

See our full review of Pandle

Still looking for more options? See all our accounting software reviews.

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What other alternatives are there to !Coconut?

!Coconut is a beginner-friendly option, ideal for self-employed individuals and landlords who need the essentials, such as automatic bank feeds, transaction categorisation, invoicing, and receipt storage. The software is deliberately designed to be jargon-free and easy to use.

But, if you’re looking for software that can grow alongside your business, with features like unlimited user access, and the ability to submit VAT returns directly to HMRC – it may be time to consider a more scalable solution.

In this article, we weigh up Pandle and Xero as strong alternatives to !Coconut as your business needs evolve.

Comparing !Coconut to Pandle

Pandle is similar to !Coconut in that it’s well suited to sole traders and landlords. Both platforms offer strong income and expense tracking, along with automated bank feeds to help keep your records up to date with minimal effort.

Switching from !Coconut to Pandle would be a smooth transition. Both platforms are user-friendly and avoid complex financial jargon, so you won’t feel like you’ve been thrown in at the deep end.

Key features Pandle has in comparison to !Coconut

• Full bookkeeping & reports: !Coconut doesn’t offer things like detailed balance sheets, in-depth profit and loss statements, or a general ledger report like Pandle does. This type of information gives you the complete financial picture of your business – not just what you’ve earned, but how healthy and sustainable your business is.
• Direct VAT filing: !Coconut doesn’t allow direct filing of VAT returns, so you’d need to prepare your VAT return on !Coconut, and then use bridging software to send it. With Pandle you can send your VAT returns straight to HMRC.
• Unlimited collaboration: Pandle includes unlimited multi-user access (which you can control with user permissions), whereas !Coconut is designed for a single-user experience (although this does provide access for your accountant).
• Multi-currency conversion: Pandle users can handle foreign currency transactions automatically (as well as invoices and bank feeds – all using live exchange rates). !Coconut currently does not support other currencies; all of their invoices are set in GBP for the time being.

Plans & pricing comparison

Pandle offers two plans: a completely free plan that includes core accounting features, and Pandle Pro, priced at £5 per month plus VAT. Pandle Pro adds extra functionality such as receipt uploads, a mileage tracker, project reporting, cash flow forecasting, and bank feeds, which are not available in the free version.

!Coconut provides four plans: Essentials, +MTD, +Self Assessment, and Full. The Essentials plan, starting £16.99 per month, covers the basics, while the Full plan at £159.99 per year offers comprehensive support, including filing Self Assessment to HMRC, submitting Making Tax Digital (MTD) quarterly updates, and completing the MTD end-of-year tax return.

See our full review of Pandle

Comparing !Coconut to Xero

Now Xero is similar to !Coconut in that it supports sole traders and small businesses, but it’s built to scale – offering you more comprehensive accounting.

Both platforms offer income and expense tracking, along with bank feeds to keep your records up to date, though Xero goes further with full bookkeeping and reporting.

Switching from !Coconut to Xero may feel like a bigger step, as Xero has more features and can seem slightly more complex at first. However, it’s still designed to be approachable for small business owners, ditching the unnecessary financial jargon.

Key features Xero has in comparison to !Coconut

• Advanced features: Xero includes options like payroll, project tracking, inventory management, and cash flow forecasting, which !Coconut does not offer. (In comparison, Pandle includes all of these except for payroll, although you can still create payroll journals to record this in your accounts)
• Full bookkeeping & reports: Unlike !Coconut, Xero provides detailed balance sheets, in-depth profit and loss statements, a general ledger, and full accounting reports. This gives you a complete financial picture of your business – not just your income and expenses, but also your overall financial health and sustainability.
• Direct VAT & MTD filing: Xero allows you to file VAT returns directly through the platform without needing any bridging software, while !Coconut requires you to prepare VAT reports and submit them via bridging software.
• Third-party integrations & extensions: Xero has a large app ecosystem including CRM, inventory, payment processors, time tracking, ecommerce, etc. as well as automations that link with business tools like Stripe, Square, HubSpot, Shopify and more.

Plans & pricing comparison

Like !Coconut, Xero offers four plans; Ignite, Grow, Comprehensive, and Ultimate. Prices start at around £15–£16 per month for sole traders, scaling up to £37–65 per month for businesses needing payroll, multi-currency, and full-featured accounting.

See our full review of Xero

 
Still looking for more options? See all our accounting software reviews.

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What other alternatives are there to Crunch?

Crunch’s software option does offer some useful features and has a clean user-friendly interface, but if you’re looking for a wider array of bookkeeping tools in your accounting software, you might consider some of the options below. In this article we’ll focus on QuickBooks, Pandle, and Zoho Books.

QuickBooks as an alternative to Crunch

QuickBooks is market-leading accounting software – primarily for small to medium sized businesses. It offers tools for invoicing, expenses, bank feeds, reporting and cash flow management.

Comapring key features in Crunch and QuickBooks

• Accounts payable supplier bills and payment scheduling: This lets you manage your outgoing bills, track what you owe, schedule supplier payments and stay on top of payables. Crunch currently doesn’t have an integrated feature for automated payment scheduling to suppliers directly from the platform.
• Third-party integrations & ecosystem: QB connects with tons of payment processors and e-commerce tools, which is especially helpful if you run a bigger or more complex business with detailed workflows.
• More comprehensive financial reporting: You get Profit & Loss, balance sheets, cash flow insights, and even have the option to create custom reports which is great if you work with international clients or manage several branches or income streams
• Create and manage projects: You can set up and manage projects to track your spending accurately (although this feature is only available for Plus and Advanced customers)

There are 4 payment plans available. Starting at £16 per month for the ‘Simple Start’, and increasing to £123 per month for the ‘Advanced’ plan.

Read our full review of QuickBooks here

Comparing Crunch and Pandle

If you’re looking for simple-to-use, inexpensive software, which packs a heavyweight punch then Pandle is one to look at. It offers lots of the same features available with other providers but at a very cost-effective price.

Key features in Pandle and Crunch

• Inventory and stock management: Pandle users can create listings for products and services they buy and sell, and use these to populate documents for faster entry. Importantly, tracked items will update in real time whenever you add or edit a document, and you’ll be alerted if stock is insufficient.
• Multi-company support under one login: If you run more than one business (or you’re an accountant or bookkeeper with multiple clients) you can manage everything under a single login, and just toggle between accounts as needed.
• Built-in mileage tracker: Pandle has a built-in automated mileage tracker which you can access via the mobile app. You can use it to track journeys as they happen, or add the details in later, and convert your trip into a claimable expense in your bookkeeping. Crunch have a similar feature as an integration with the Tripcatcher app.
• Collaborate with unlimited users: Add an unlimited number of users to your account, and set user permissions so you can decide what your team can see, edit, or view. Crunch software is limited to a maximum of 10 users per organisation
• Multiple projects feature: You can create as many separate projects as you like in Pandle. Perfect if you have multiple clients or projects and want to track the profitability of a very particular area, or manage client budgets separately.

Pandle has two plans, a free version and Pandle Pro which is £5 per month plus VAT.

Read our full review of Pandle

Considering Zoho Books versus Crunch

Zoho Books is cloud-based accounting software primarily designed for small businesses to manage their finances. Via their web and mobile app, customers can automate workflows, remain tax compliant, and access detailed financial reports. This service is best for small businesses who also use other Zoho services for their integrations.

Comparing features in Zoho Books and Crunch

• Inventory & stock-level management: Like Pandle, Zoho Books supports inventory tracking. In Zoho Books you can manage items or products, define SKUs, track stock levels, set reorder alerts, and handle purchase orders
• More extensive reporting & analytics: You get detailed reports on everything from cash flow and Profit & Loss to inventory and expenses, giving you far more control over spending and supplier relationships than simple bookkeeping can!
• Project accounting: Similar to QuickBooks and Pandle, you can manage projects, log time sheets, and track project-related costs.
• Flexibility and automation: Zoho Books have bank feeds, auto-categorisation, recurring bills and invoices, workflow automation, and document storage that help small businesses streamline their bookkeeping – reducing manual data entry

There are 6 plans available on Zoho Books, starting from a free version, all the way up ‘Ultimate’ which is £199 per month. It’s important to look at the plans in detail, because if, for example, you need multi-currency transactions for each customer, the cheapest plan which includes this is Premium at £30 per month.

Read our full review of Zoho Books

 
Still looking for more options? See all our accounting software reviews.

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We’ve looked at 3 alternatives to QuickBooks, what features they have to offer in comparison, and how much each of them cost.

What other alternatives are there to QuickBooks?

If you’re looking to move away from QuickBooks, the good news is there’s lots on the market for you to choose from. Today, we’ll focus on Xero, FreshBooks and Clear Books.

Xero as an alternative to QuickBooks

Xero is a great option if you feel like your business may have outgrown QuickBooks. It’s a cloud-based tool with a clean, simple interface that isn’t cluttered with financial jargon. It’s a great fit if you’re new to accounting too, and want something that feels welcoming from the get-go.

Key features Xero has in comparison to QuickBooks

• Unlimited users on all plans: Xero offer unlimited user access on all plans, which means as you expand (with bookkeepers, accountants, other staff etc) you can give each of them access without extra license fees
• Strong integration ecosystem: This is good if you already use or plan to use lots of other business tools. Xero integrates with the likes of payment processors, e-commerce platforms, inventory tools and CRMs
• Advanced automation: Xero is generally stronger for complex, cloud-based integrations and multi-currency transactions than QuickBooks
• Strong scalability: Xero can grow with your business, without having to find new software every few years as your business grows

Both Xero and QuickBooks have 4 pricing plans. Both of their basic plans are £16 per month, but, if you need the most unlimited plan Xero is cheaper – their ultimate plan is £65 per month and QuickBooks advanced plan is £123 per month (this doesn’t include any promotional offers).

So all-in-all, Xero is cheaper and more advanced when it comes to integration, collaboration, and scalability.

See our full review of Xero

FreshBooks

We have to include an option for the freelancers and one-person businesses! For some, it isn’t about scalability, or software that has all the integration gadgets. FreshBooks differs from QuickBooks in that it’s built for solo users who need to send invoices and keep track of a small group of clients. You can send as many invoices as you want on any plan, but the lower-cost plans limit how many clients you can work with.

Key features FreshBooks offers which are missing from QuickBooks

• The simplicity and ease of use: FreshBooks is widely praised for having a clean, intuitive user interface and being easy to navigate, even if you don’t have accounting experience. This makes it an attractive option for sole traders and freelancers
• Built in tracking on all plans: If your business charges clients by the hour or tracks billable time (e.g. consultants, designers, freelancers, contractors) – FreshBooks has integrated time-tracking tools included in all plans. You can track time spent on a job, convert it to billable hours, and automatically add it to invoices – without needing a separate add-on or extra cost
• Strong invoicing and billing for service-based work: FreshBooks offers professional invoice templates, automated recurring invoices for repeat clients, late-payment reminders, and even a client portal where your clients can login to make payments and check their billing. This is great for service-based businesses like freelancers and consultants rather than the ‘full accounting’ style tools QuickBooks offer

In a nutshell, FreshBooks is more of a no-thrills approach to bookkeeping, offering the basic tools you need to work with clients. That’s all some people need – and it makes things much cheaper, with their premium plan costing £35 per month. Beware of add ons though; for example, adding an extra team member will cost you an additional £8 per user – but as we said, this is more for people operating solo!

Read our full review of FreshBooks

Clear Books

Clear Books is a good option to consider if you’re looking for software that’s affordable. It offers a range of support features for all business types, and includes useful tools like Optical Character Recognition (OCR) expense entry. This allows users to photograph receipts and invoices, and automatically extract the data accurately – such as the date, supplier name, VAT and total. This is a huge time saver for businesses, so well worth a mention!

Key features Clear Books has in comparison to QuickBooks

• UK focused compliance: Clear Books is designed for UK businesses and has built-in support for VAT, income tax, CIS, etc.
• Cost effective: For the majority of small and medium UK businesses, Clear Books is more affordable – especially if you don’t need all the extra features QuickBooks offer
• Thorough support for beginners: Our research found many small business owners are happy with the onboarding and guidance from staff, especially when completely new to bookkeeping software

Pricing varies depending on the scale of your business, but it’s worth mentioning there are a few free plans available (for example, there’s a basic one for sole traders and one for landlords). Their most popular package is for medium sized businesses, which is £15.50 for the first 3 months, then £31 per month.

Read our full review of Clear Books

 
Still looking for more options? See all our accounting software reviews.

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We’ve looked at 3 alternatives to Ember, the features they have in comparison, and how much they cost.

What alternatives are there to Ember?

There are a number of alternatives on the market for you to consider, but in this comparison we’re going to focus on a cross-section of the market by looking at FreeAgent, Pandle, and Xero.

Ember have also stopped their accounting services which is a huge change. It means anyone who continues using the platform must now look for a new accountant who is prepared to collaborate on the Ember platform.

Using FreeAgent as an alternative for Ember

FreeAgent is an excellent alternative if your bookkeeping needs are fairly straightforward. For example, if you need the basics covered like invoices, expenses, bank feeds, and VAT etc.

Looking at FreeAgent features which are not available on Ember

Ember also has the same core features, with automated bookkeeping, invoicing and reporting – and it’s also MTD-approved. But it does lack some useful features that you will find in FreeAgent. This includes things like:

• Direct tax submissions: If you’re a micro-entity or limited company, FreeAgent can submit your End of Year accounts and Corporation Tax returns straight to HMRC. Ember is much more limited in comparison.
• Specific VAT schemes: FreeAgent is set up to cater for different VAT schemes, unlike Ember which doesn’t support more complex VAT systems such as the Annual Accounting Scheme for example
• Stock management features: FreeAgent has built-in management features for managing inventory and tracking sales and purchases. Ember doesn’t have this feature built-in which can be a letdown, especially if you run an ecommerce business.

Whilst FreeAgent doesn’t come with an accountant, it’s designed to be used with one – and you can add them as a user free of charge.

FreeAgent packages start out at £16.50 a month for the first six months if you’re a limited company – but the price then increases to £33 a month after this period. This is pricey, especially for small businesses, so we do have cheaper alternatives to get into.

Read our full review of FreeAgent here

Pandle as a replacement for Ember

Pandle is another great choice if you’re looking for similar software to Ember. It has a lot of the same features – along with some additional ones – for free, or with more automated features available for £5 per month.

All the automated tools are there – like recurring invoices, payment reminders, bank feeds, receipt uploads, as well as things like project budgets, a mileage tracker, and stock control.

Compare Ember’s free (for Starling customers) platform to Pandle Pro (£5 per month)

• Live chat bookkeeping support: with Pandle you’ll receive support from bookkeepers who have in-depth knowledge of the software and understand bookkeeping
• Inventory and stock control: Similar to FreeAgent, Pandle has the ability to track inventory and stock levels
• Mileage tracker: Pandle Pro makes mileage tracking easy, with a feature that automatically tracks journeys and converts them into mileage expense claims
• Projects: Pandle allows you to split your projects up so you can manage your expenses and monitor how profitable each project is – perfect for a business with lots of varied clients!
• Unlimited users: As Pandle’s website explains, you won’t be forced to pay extra so your business can flourish. You can add an unlimited number of users without having to kick out any existing users. You also have complete control over who has access to what.

Both offer core accounting tools like invoicing, expense tracking, and MTD VAT compliance. However, Pandle includes more built-in operational and collaboration features.

Read our full review of Pandle

Xero

Xero provides more advanced and scalable accounting tools, while Ember is mainly for self-employed people and small businesses that need basic accounting. So, if you’re planning on scaling up your business – Xero could be the perfect accounting software for you.

Key features Xero has that Ember is missing out on

• Online file storage: You can manage all your shared documents, contracts, bills and receipts securely
• Detailed analytics: This includes short-term cash flow projections (up to 90 days) which is a game changer for lots of businesses (you will need to be on Xero Analytics plus for this though)
• Third-party app ecosystem: Xero’s App Store offers over 1,000 integrations, enabling businesses to build a customised accounting system with tools for CRM, e-commerce, and more. It’s certainly not cheap, but
• Customisable Charts of Accounts: Xero lets you customise your chart of accounts, while Ember uses a fixed, colour-coded one for simplicity.

Xero also has other great features like multi-currency support and detailed user permissions, so you have a lot more flexibility without losing control.

Their packages start off at a fairly decent price of £16 per month – but what you get is limited. The comprehensive plan jumps up to £47 per month, but whilst pricey – if your business needs advanced features this is the tool for you. If you’re a much smaller business though, steer clear of paying for things you don’t need!

Take a look at the full Xero review

 
Still looking for more options? See all our accounting software reviews.

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