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Compare accounting software side by side — pricing, features, pros & cons. Find the best fit for your business with detailed comparisons of QuickBooks, Xero, Wave, FreshBooks and more.

Verdict

The best accounting software depends on your business size, budget, and needs. QuickBooks Online is the industry standard with the most features and integrations. Xero offers unlimited users and strong multi-currency support. FreshBooks has the best invoicing experience for freelancers. Wave is free for US and Canada-based sole proprietors.

Select tools:
FeatureStripeSquarePayPalHelcim
Starting PriceFree · From $620/moFree · From $49/moFree · From $30/moFree
Pay-as-you-goFreeFreeFreeFree
Stripe Billing StandardFree$49/mo$30/moFree
Stripe Billing Volume$620/mo$149/mo——
Best ForSmall Biz, EnterpriseFreelancers, Small BizFreelancers, Small BizSmall Biz
RegionsUS, CA, GB, AU, FR, DE, NL, JP, SG, HK, IE, CH, AT, BE, DK, FI, IT, NO, ES, SE, PT, PL, NZ, AE, BR, MXUS, CA, GB, AU, JPUS, CA, GB, AU, FR, DE, IT, ES, NL, PL, SE, NO, DK, FI, CH, AT, BE, PT, IE, JP, HK, SG, BR, MXUS, CA
PlatformsWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android, DesktopWeb, Ios, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android
Key Features
  • •135+ currencies and 35+ payment methods including cards, wallets, BNPL, and local methods
  • •Developer-first API with SDKs for 15+ programming languages and extensive documentation
  • •Stripe Radar fraud detection with machine learning (included at 2.9% + $0.30; Radar for Fraud Teams $0.02/check)
  • •Stripe Billing for subscription management, invoices, and recurring payments (0.7% of volume)
  • •Free POS software with inventory, employee management, customer loyalty, and reporting
  • •In-person payments at 2.6% + $0.15 (tap, dip, swipe); online at 3.3% + $0.30
  • •Free card reader included on signup; full POS hardware available (Terminal, Register)
  • •Square Online for e-commerce website building with integrated payments
  • •400M+ active consumer accounts with strong brand recognition and trust signals
  • •PayPal Checkout with Venmo, PayPal Credit, and Pay Later (BNPL) options
  • •In-person payments via PayPal Zettle (2.29% + $0.09) with card reader hardware
  • •Seller and purchase protection programs for dispute resolution
  • •Interchange-plus pricing model — pay actual interchange cost + small Helcim markup, not a flat percentage
  • •No monthly fees, no setup fees, no early termination fees, no PCI compliance fees
  • •Subscription billing at 0.4% (vs 0.7% for Stripe Billing)
  • •In-person payments via Helcim POS with card reader hardware
Pros
  • +Developer-first API with best-in-class documentation, SDKs in 15+ languages, and comprehensive testing tools — the gold standard for custom payment integrations
  • +135+ currencies and 35+ payment methods give Stripe the broadest global reach of any all-in-one payment processor
  • +Built-in fraud detection via Stripe Radar uses machine learning and is included in the standard rate, saving thousands in fraud losses compared to manual review
  • +Easiest same-day setup for brick-and-mortar businesses — free card reader ships on signup, no merchant account approval needed
  • +All-in-one POS ecosystem: payments, inventory, staff management, loyalty, and e-commerce in a single dashboard
  • +Free POS software is genuinely capable for most small retail and restaurant operations — no monthly fee for core features
  • +Highest consumer brand recognition and trust in the payment industry — seeing the PayPal logo reduces checkout abandonment more than any other payment option
  • +200+ market availability makes PayPal the most accessible global payment option for businesses selling internationally
  • +Venmo integration gives access to a younger demographic (60M+ US Venmo users) who prefer social payment experiences
  • +Most transparent pricing model in the industry — interchange-plus means your effective rate drops as your volume grows, unlike flat-rate processors where cost increases linearly with volume
  • +Significantly cheaper than Stripe, Square, or PayPal for businesses processing $10,000+/month — savings of 30-50% on processing fees are common at scale
  • +No contracts or early termination fees — you can leave anytime without penalty, which is rare in the payment processing industry
Cons
  • −Requires developer resources to unlock full potential — non-technical business owners may struggle with setup and customization compared to Square or PayPal
  • −Flat-rate pricing (2.9% + $0.30) becomes expensive at high volume compared to interchange-plus or tiered pricing models from Helcim or other processors
  • −FX markup of ~1% is cheaper than PayPal's 3-4% but more expensive than platforms built specifically for cross-border commerce like Wise or Airwallex
  • −Flat-rate pricing becomes expensive at higher volumes compared to interchange-plus processors like Helcim — businesses processing $10K+/month should compare alternatives
  • −Online transaction rates (3.3% + $0.30 on Free plan) are among the highest in the category — Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 for online payments
  • −Limited global availability compared to Stripe — Square operates in only 5 countries (US, CA, GB, AU, JP)
  • −FX fees of 3-4% are the highest among major processors — Stripe charges ~1% for currency conversion, making PayPal significantly more expensive for cross-border transactions
  • −Fee structure is complex with optional add-ons (chargeback protection +0.4%, fraud filters) that stack quickly, making total cost difficult to predict
  • −Less developer-flexible than Stripe — custom payment flows require PayPal Payments Pro ($30/mo) and the API is more cumbersome to integrate
  • −US and Canada only — no global reach for businesses selling internationally or with cross-border payment needs
  • −Less name recognition than Stripe, Square, or PayPal — may be less familiar to customers and business partners
  • −Smaller integration ecosystem — fewer native connections to CRMs, accounting platforms, and e-commerce tools compared to the major processors
Integrations16+ integrations7+ integrations10+ integrations6+ integrations
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