Nonprofit organizations require dedicated accounting software that takes their stringent requirements for financial planning, budgeting, auditing, and reporting into account. Features like grant tracking, nonprofit financial reporting, and donation tracking are some of the most important things to look for in nonprofit accounting software. To help you choose a solution that fits your organization’s needs, we’ve picked the six best nonprofit accounting software:
- Aplos: Best overall accounting software for nonprofits with a website and donation form builder
- NonProfitPlus: Best for restricted funds accounting
- QuickBooks Online: Best customizable accounting software for Form 990 reporting
- QuickBooks Enterprise Nonprofit Edition: Best for desktop accounting software for nonprofits
- Wave: Best free accounting software for nonprofits with less than $50,000 in gross receipts
- Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT: Best nonprofit enterprise resource planning (ERP) software
We are driven by the Fit Small Business mission to provide you with the best answers to your small business questions—allowing you to choose the right accounting solution for your needs. Our meticulous evaluation process makes us a trustworthy source for accounting software insights. We don’t just scratch the surface; we immerse ourselves in every platform we review by exploring the features down to the finest nuances.
For our roundup of church accounting software, we created a special rubric that evaluates the features of our chosen providers, which gives our audience—churches and faith-based groups—an unbiased opinion about the software’s capabilities and fit for your organization.
- Comparison of the Best Nonprofit Accounting Software
- Aplos: Best Overall Accounting Software for Nonprofits With a Website & Donation Form Builder
- NonProfitPlus: Best for Restricted Funds Accounting
- QuickBooks Online: Best Customizable Accounting Software for Form 990 Reporting
- QuickBooks Enterprise Nonprofit Edition: Best Desktop Accounting Software for Nonprofits
- Wave: Best Free Nonprofit Accounting Software for Volunteer Treasurers of Very Small Nonprofits
- Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT: Best Nonprofit ERP Software
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Bottom Line
Comparison of the Best Nonprofit Accounting Software
| Software | Monthly Pricing | Annual Pricing | Number of Users | Price per Additional User | Monthly Bookkeeping Assistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | $79 to $189 or custom priced | ✕ | 2 | $20 per month | Quote-based |
| Visit Aplos | |||||
 | Custom | Custom | Depends on quote | Custom | ✕ |
| Visit NonProfitPlus | |||||
 | $38 to $275 | ✕ | 1 to 25 | N/A | Starting at $300 per month |
| Visit QuickBooks Online | |||||
 | $142 to $1,429 | Starts at $1,481 | 1 to 40 | N/A | ✕ |
| Visit QuickBooks Enterprise Nonprofit Edition | |||||
 | Free or $16 | $170 (paid plan) | 1 or unlimited | N/A | Starting at $149 per month |
| Visit Wave | |||||
 | Custom | Custom | Depends on quote | N/A | ✕ |
| Visit Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT | |||||
Aplos: Best Overall Accounting Software for Nonprofits With a Website & Donation Form Builder
| Number of Users Allowed | 2 included |
|---|---|
| Fund Accounting | ✓ |
| Grant Management | ✓ |
| Donation and Tracking Management | ✓ |
| Encumbrance Accounting | ✕ |
| Average User Review | 4.7 out of 5 Read user comments in our Aplos user reviews for more information. |
NonProfitPlus: Best for Restricted Funds Accounting
| Number of Users Allowed | May depend on quote |
|---|---|
| Fund Accounting | ✓ |
| Grant Management | ✓ |
| Donation and Tracking Management | ✕ |
| Encumbrance Accounting | ✓ |
| Average User Review | 4 out of 5 |
QuickBooks Online: Best Customizable Accounting Software for Form 990 Reporting
| Number of Users Allowed | 1 to 25 |
|---|---|
| Fund Accounting | via class or location tracking |
| Grant Management | via class or location tracking |
| Donation and Tracking Management | via class or location tracking |
| Encumbrance Accounting | via class or location tracking |
| Average User Reviews | 4.3 out of 5 Read our QuickBooks Online user reviews for more information. |
QuickBooks Enterprise Nonprofit Edition: Best Desktop Accounting Software for Nonprofits
| Number of Users Allowed | 1 to 5 |
|---|---|
| Fund Accounting | via class or location tracking |
| Grant Management | via class or location tracking |
| Donation and Tracking Management | ✓ |
| Encumbrance Accounting | ✓ |
| Average User Review | 4.5 out of 5 Read our QuickBooks Enterprise user reviews for more information. |
Wave: Best Free Nonprofit Accounting Software for Volunteer Treasurers of Very Small Nonprofits
| Number of Users Allowed | 1 or unlimited |
|---|---|
| Fund Accounting | ✕ |
| Grant Management | ✕ |
| Donation and Tracking Management | ✕ |
| Encumbrance Accounting | ✕ |
| Average User Review | 4.4 out of 5 Read our user reviews of Wave for more information. |
Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT: Best Nonprofit ERP Software
| Number of Users Allowed | 1 or unlimited |
|---|---|
| Fund Accounting | ✓ |
| Grant Management | ✓ |
| Donation and Tracking Management | ✓ |
| Encumbrance Accounting | ✓ |
| Average User Review | 4.2 out of 5 based on Software Advice |
How We Evaluated Nonprofit Accounting Software
We evaluated nonprofit accounting software in this guide using the following criteria:
Accounting software programs for nonprofits come at different price points. That’s why we considered giving price a significant weight to give more credit to account software programs that deliver great nonprofit accounting features at an affordable price.
These features include basic accounting functions that can be found in for-profit accounting software. We considered the software’s ability to offer the accounting functions necessary to keep nonprofit books and transactions organized and properly reported. These are:
We checked for features that help nonprofits manage their activities and comply with nonprofit reporting. Moreover, we looked for specific modules and functions that are present only for the use of nonprofit organizations, such as:
The ability to use nonprofit accounting software easily is our key factor here. We gave high scores to accounting software programs that are easy to understand, even for non-bookkeepers or certified public accountants (CPAs). Aside from that, we also included access to customer support, assisted bookkeeping options, payroll integration within the app, and online payment integration within the app. Being cloud-based is a big plus in our evaluation.
We included user reviews in our evaluation to incorporate actual user feedback. We look at user review websites and assess all the positive and negative comments about the software. We weigh in user comments and ensure that we agree or disagree with what other users have to say based on our understanding of the software.
We looked into the accounting software’s overall features and the quality of user experience. We also gave heavy consideration to the popularity of the software among nonprofit organizations, as this will have a large impact on your ability to find assistance when problems arise.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Fund accounting is a method of accounting that tracks and reports on the financial activity of specific funds or programs within an organization. It is essential for nonprofit accounting software because it allows organizations to stay compliant with grant requirements by keeping detailed records.
You should first evaluate your organization’s financial management needs and then consider the software provider’s features, cost, ease of use, and level of customer support.
Nonprofit accounting software helps organizations track donations and grants, manage budgets, and generate financial reports. It also saves time, reduces errors, and ensures compliance with nonprofit accounting standards.
There is no free version of QuickBooks—even for nonprofits. You can only get the 30-day free trial with no credit card required if you want to try QuickBooks.
Bottom Line
Aplos is our top choice for nonprofit accounting because of its versatility in offering both nonprofit-specific and accounting features. For those seeking a web-based solution that’s easy to collaborate on with an external bookkeeper, QuickBooks Online is a solid option. If you prefer desktop software with built-in nonprofit features, we recommend QuickBooks Enterprise.
For small nonprofits that don’t require detailed accounting, Wave is a great option with its free plan, making it ideal for simple invoicing and bookkeeping. If you’re looking for software with a stronger focus on nonprofit needs, consider Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT or NonProfitPlus.
