AccountEdge is a locally installed accounting software that lets you create and send invoices to your customers, manage purchases and expenses, track inventory, and more. Its key features include sales and purchase tracking, bank reconciliation, and payroll management. A single-user license costs $20 per month, and you can try it for free for 30 days with no credit card required.
We like AccountEdge’s robust feature set and affordability but find its user interface very outdated and hard to use. See if it’s worth considering through our detailed AccountEdge review.
The Fit Small Business editorial policy is rooted in the company’s mission, which is to deliver the best answers to people’s questions. This serves as the foundation for all content, demonstrating a clear dedication to providing valuable and reliable information. Our team leverages its expertise and extensive research capabilities to identify and address the specific questions our audience has—and this ensures that our content is rooted in knowledge and accuracy.
In addition, we employ a comprehensive editorial process that involves expert writers. This process ensures that articles are well-researched and organized, offering in-depth insights and recommendations. Fit Small Business maintains stringent parameters for determining the “best” answers, including accuracy, clarity, authority, objectivity, and accessibility, and these see to it that our content is trustworthy, easy to understand, and unbiased.
Pros
- Locally installed; doesn’t require internet
- More affordable than other similar desktop software
- Manages unlimited company files
- Comprehensive inventory management features
- Department-level reporting
Cons
- Bank feeds require an additional fee
- Outdated user interface
- No mobile app
- Additional cost for customer support
Monthly Pricing |
|
|---|---|
Annual Pricing | N/A |
Free Trial | 30 days; no credit card required |
Standout Features |
|
Ease of Use | Moderate—due to outdated interface |
Customer Support | Self-help guides, free email support, and live chat, (additional $10 per month for phone support) |
- Businesses operating in areas with unreliable internet: As a locally installed software, AccountEdge doesn’t require the internet to run. This allows you to work and continue on your accounting tasks uninterrupted, regardless of connectivity in your area.
- Companies working with experienced bookkeepers: Given AccountEdge’s outdated interface and flowchart-based navigation, the platform can be advantageous for businesses with experienced in-house bookkeepers. They are likely familiar with desktop accounting processes and can effectively navigate and use the platform without needing extensive external support.
- Businesses managing multiple entities: You can add and manage as many company files as needed without any additional fees.
- Companies needing robust inventory management features: AccountEdge provides advanced inventory tracking features, such as the ability to manage inventory across multiple locations and build items and kits.
Monthly Pricing | Bank Reconciliation | Project Accounting | Inventory Management | Mobile App | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From $20 | 4★ | 2★ | 5★ | ✕ |
 | $30 to $200 | 5★ | 4★ | 5★ | 3★ |
 | $0 to $249 | 4★ | 4★ | 5★ | 5★ |
 | $19 to $60 or custom | 3★ | 4★ | ✕ | 3★ |
Rating Explanation: 5★: Excellent; 4★: Very good; 3★: Good; 2★: Fair; 1★: Poor; ✕: Unavailable | |||||
Best For | Learn More | |
|---|---|---|
| Businesses preferring cloud-based software: If you prefer cloud-based software so that you can access your accounting data anywhere from an internet-enabled device, you should consider QuickBooks Online. It tops our list of the best cloud accounting software. | Read our QuickBooks Online review |
| Businesses needing a powerful mobile accounting app: If you often manage your business on the go and need a mobile app that can keep up with you, we strongly recommend Zoho Books, which tops our list of the best mobile accounting apps. It allows you to invoice customers, track billable time, receive payments, and capture expense receipts on the go. | Read our Zoho Books review |
| Companies requiring robust project management features: If you need excellent project accounting features, including the ability to generate quotes and estimates and manage project profitability, you should consider FreshBooks. It allows you to set up projects and link transactions like invoices, expenses, and time entries to monitor profitability. | Read our FreshBooks review |
| Users Like | Users Dislike |
|---|---|
| Great when you have accounting experience | Plenty of bugs |
| Customizable reports | Unresponsive customer support |
There aren’t any recent AccountEdge reviews as of this writing, but here’s a summary of older reviews, plus our expert insights:
- One user who left a positive AccountEdge review mentioned that it’s a good accounting platform if you have accounting experience. We couldn’t agree more with this, considering the complex nature of the solution. If you have basic accounting knowledge, then you should be able to learn how to use it without much trouble.
- Another reviewer likes that it can generate customizable reports. We explored its reporting feature, and we figured out different ways to customize reports, such as by applying advanced filters and using custom lists.
- Someone who left a negative review complained that there are plenty of bugs whenever a new update is released.
- Other users pointed out that it’s difficult to contact a customer support agent. We can’t vouch for this, but we believe that the quality of support varies depending on the approach of the agent assigned to you.
At this time, AccountEdge is rated 4.3 out of 5 based on about 100 reviews on Capterra[1].
Fit Small Business Case Study
We formulated an internal case study to see how AccountEdge stacks up against its top two competitors, QuickBooks Online and Zoho Books. Below is the result of the case study.
Touch the graph above to interact Click on the graphs above to interact
-
AccountEdge From $20 per month
-
QuickBooks Online $30 per month; $90 as tested
-
Zoho Books From $0; $24 as tested
Based on the chart above, AccountEdge comes out ahead in terms of affordability. While QuickBooks Online and Zoho Books generally offer a more comprehensive feature set, AccountEdge compares evenly with these two in terms of integration. Additionally, it matches Zoho Books but is slightly behind QuickBooks in terms of sales tax management.
AccountEdge is more affordable than most desktop software options, making it a cost-effective solution for small and midsize businesses. However, we deducted a few points in our evaluation because you have to pay an additional fee to use bank feeds and access phone support.
The AccountEdge pricing table below sums up the available subscription options:
You can also purchase add-ons, including:
- Payroll Process payroll for an unlimited number of employees : $20 per month for unlimited employees
- Telephone support: $10 per month
- Workstation licenses Allows installation on multiple computers, either for simultaneous access or for installation on additional devices : $10 per month
- Bank feeds Connect to an unlimited number of bank and credit card accounts : $5 per month
- AccountEdge Connect Enter sales, purchases, and time entries online and sync it to the desktop version : From $15 per month
- AccountEdge WebPay Send a payment link to customers where they can easily process payments : Included in AccountEdge Connect
- Credit Card Processing Accept credit card payments via the AccountEdge software, AccountEdge Connect, or WebPay : From 1.79% per transaction
- Customized business checks and forms: Custom-priced
AccountEdge Features
All plans include all the core features of AccountEdge, including invoicing, accounts payable (A/P) management, accounts receivable (A/R) management, inventory management, banking, project accounting, and reporting. Below, we discuss these features, as evaluated using our internal case study.
AccountEdge didn’t score well in our rubric for general features, as it falls short in some essential areas. For instance, it doesn’t allow you to import beginning balances into the system, which could be important if you’re transitioning from another accounting software. This limitation can cause additional setup time and possible inaccuracy during transition. Also, you can’t give your accountant direct access to your data unless you upgrade to the hosted version, which adds to the overall cost.
However, the program provides the necessary tools you need to set up your company files effectively. You can manually enter the initial balances of your accounts and import your chart of accounts directly into the software. During setup, you can customize various aspects of your company file, including setting up your business details, like company name, address, and contact information.
We would have awarded AccountEdge a higher mark if bank feeds were free and the bank reconciliation process was more streamlined. When reconciling transactions, you can’t pause and resume your work without losing progress—something you can do with most modern cloud software like QuickBooks Online.
Despite AccountEdge’s weaknesses, the platform still provides many useful tools to help you manage bank transactions, including receiving payments, entering deposits, tracking petty cash expenses, and transferring money between accounts. If you don’t want to connect your bank or credit card accounts, you can import your transactions manually.
The bank register in AccountEdge provides a centralized menu for entering various types of transactions, such as payments and even bills and purchases. When you click Bank Register on your dashboard, you can pick the type of transaction you wish to create under the Type dropdown list.
Selecting the transaction type from the bank register in AccountEdge (Source: AccountEdge)
The program did pretty well in A/P management, but we encountered some issues. For example, you can only make immediate payments—without first entering a bill—through the bank register, and you can’t capture expense receipts.
Nevertheless, AccountEdge provides an effective solution for managing your bills. You can:
- Enter and pay bills directly from the program
- View unpaid bills, which can help you stay on top of your obligations
- Record vendor credits and process partial payments to vendors if needed
- Pay independent contractors using service items in AccountEdge
AccountEdge took a hit in A/R management due to its limited invoicing customization options. While you can upload your company logo and choose from several invoice templates, you can’t change the invoice color and personalize the customer message. Additionally, the invoicing form looks outdated and complicated, which may be overwhelming for new users.
Creating an invoice in AccountEdge (Source: AccountEdge)
Meanwhile, there are still many things we like about AccountEdge’s A/R features. For example, you can easily:
- Track outstanding invoices
- Run aging reports to identify customers behind on payments.
- Bill clients for advanced payments
- Track retainer balances
- Apply retainers to future invoices
Another thing we like about AccountEdge is that it has a centralized menu for entering sales transactions. You just need to click Enter Sales on the dashboard and select the type of transaction you wish to create (e.g., quote or invoice) from the dropdown menu.
Selecting a sales transaction type to enter in AccountEdge (Source: AccountEdge)
AccountEdge took a hit in our evaluation of project accounting features primarily because it doesn’t allow users to create estimates—which are an essential part of project management. However, it offers some features that—while not part of our evaluation—are commendable and provide value to users.
For instance, it allows you to set up project templates with cost and revenue budgets, log expenses and time entries against projects, generate profitability reports, and bill clients from project records.
You can create and manage sales tax in AccountEdge, but you have to manually set up sales tax codes for various tax rates and jurisdictions. This is acceptable, but we would have appreciated it more if the platform could automatically calculate sales tax rates based on the customer’s location.
Additionally, you can’t pay sales tax electronically or file sales tax returns through the software. This means you must handle these tasks manually or through another platform.
The only downside we found in AccountEdge in terms of inventory management is that you can’t view inventory levels on purchase orders. This can cause problems like overordering and stockouts.
Despite this weakness, there are many inventory management features you’ll love in AccountEdge. It allows you to:
- Track and monitor the COGS
- Set up pricing based on average or last cost
- Make and track inventory adjustments.
It also provides advanced tools, such as the ability to track inventory by location and build items and kits for businesses that purchase and sell bundled packages. You can also run reports on inventory status, valuation, location-specific stock levels, and pricing analysis.
The range of available reports in AccountEdge is quite impressive. You can generate detailed financial statements, profit and loss reports, balance sheets, accounts payable and accounts receivable aging reports, and more. Also, we appreciate that it offers department-level reporting, which lets you track your business by different attributes, such as product lines and locations where your business operates.
We deducted a few points in our rubric because AccountEdge missed a few essential reports, such as cash flow statements and unbilled charge and unbilled time reports.
Other Features
- Contact Management: From the Cards list menu in AccountEdge, you can add, organize, and manage all your contacts, including leads, customers, vendors, and employees.
- Data Import: You can import various types of data into AccountEdge, including tax code lists, charts of accounts, items, jobs, activities, and mileage logs.
AccountEdge aced the integrations criterion because it provides built-in and third-party integrations for core business functions, like payroll, electronic bill pay, and time tracking. For example, it has a built-in payroll integration, which allows you to manage an unlimited number of employees. Additionally, the AccountEdge Connect integration allows your customers to pay you online.
AccountEdge has no dedicated mobile app, which isn’t surprising given that it’s a locally installed software. If mobile accounting is important to you, consider Zoho Books, which leads our roundup of the best mobile accounting apps.
Many users may find AccountEdge’s user interface outdated compared to modern, cloud-based accounting software. The interface relies on flowcharts and desktop-based navigation, which can feel less intuitive for new users. We could have awarded it a higher score if it had at least assisted onboarding support and a customizable dashboard.
AccountEdge scored poorly in customer support, as users only have access to email support. If you wish to talk to an agent over the phone, then you have to pay an additional fee of $10 per month. Given its complexity, it’s highly likely that new users will require phone support to navigate through the platform and troubleshoot issues.
If you aren’t willing to spend extra money, you can talk to customer support via live chat or browse through its online resources. For minor issues, you might appreciate the vast number of AccountEdge resources available online, from setup guides to troubleshooting tips and videos.
How We Evaluated AccountEdge
We evaluated AccountEdge using the scoring rubric below.
5% of Overall Score
In evaluating pricing, we considered the billing cycle (monthly or annual) and number of users.
7% of Overall Score
This section focuses more on first-time setup and software settings. The software must be quick and easy to set up for new users. Even after initial setup, the software must also let users modify information like company name, address, entity type, fiscal year-end, and other company information.
7% of Overall Score
The banking section of this case study focuses on cash management, bank reconciliation, and bank feed connections. The software must have bank integrations to automatically feed bank or card transactions. The bank reconciliation module must also let users reconcile accounts with or without bank feeds for optimal ease of use. Lastly, the software must generate useful reports related to cash.
7% of Overall Score
The A/P section focuses on vendor management, bill management, bill payments, and other payable-related transactions. A/P features include creating vendors and bills, recording purchase orders and converting them to bills, creating service items, and recording full or partial bill payments.
7% of Overall Score
This takes into account customer management, revenue recognition, invoice management, and collections. The software must have A/R features that make it easy for users to collect payments from customers, remind customers of upcoming or overdue invoices, and manage customer obligations through analytic dashboards or reports.
10% of Overall Score
Businesses with inventory items should choose accounting software that can track inventory costs, manage cost of goods sold (COGS), and monitor inventory units.
10% of Overall Score
Service or project-based businesses should choose accounting software that can track project costs, revenues, and profits. The software must have tools to track time, record billable hours or expenses, send invoices for progress billings, or monitor project progress and performance.
4% of Overall Score
In this section, we’re looking at sales tax features. The software must have features that allow users to set sales tax rates, apply them to invoices, and enable users to pay sales tax liability.
4% of Overall Score
Reports are important for managers, owners, and decision-makers. The software must have enough reports that can be generated with a few clicks. Moreover, we’d also like to see customization options to enable users to generate reports based on what they want to see.
30% of Overall Score
Ease of use gets the highest weight in this case study because we want to give more credit to easy accounting software. For this section, we considered customer service, support network, and a subjective expert opinion score. Users must have easy access to customer service channels in case of problems, questions, or assistance.
Support network refers to a community of software users that can extend professional help to businesses. Having an independent software expert perform the bookkeeping is good for overall ease of use. Lastly, our expert opinion score is our subjective rating based on our experience in trying the software.
5% of Overall Score
The software must also have a mobile app to enable users to perform accounting tasks even when away from their laptops or desktops.
4% of Overall Score
We went to user review websites to read first-hand reviews from actual software users. This user review score helps us give more credit to software products that deliver a consistent service to their customers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes, and you can do so by purchasing the hosted version, AccountEdge Hosted, which is available for $50 monthly per user.
Yes, it allows you to manage unlimited company files.
Yes, it includes integrated payroll, which costs $20 per month for unlimited employees.
Bottom Line
If you are looking for an affordable desktop accounting software with a powerful feature set, you should consider AccountEdge. It’s a solid choice especially if you are working with an experienced bookkeeper who is comfortable navigating its complex user interface.
User review reference:
[1]Capterra
