How We Review and Test Accounting Software

Our Testing Criteria for Accounting Software

We test accounting software against a comprehensive set of hands-on testing criteria, including features and functionality, usability, scalability, security, and value for money. This allows us to assess its strengths and weaknesses accurately and ultimately compare its performance to other accounting tools on the market.

Our testing process includes:

• Hands-on software testing
• Registering for free demos or trials
• Reviewing documentation and video tutorials
• Focus group interviews with accounting professionals
• Third-party reviews and user forums

Our first-hand experience with the software allows us to share informative and helpful information and insights with small business owners who are considering which accounting software to purchase.

Functionality and Features

Why: Most accounting software offers similar key features, which can make it difficult to compare them on a surface level. However, the real difference is in how each software prioritizes different functionalities which impacts how users can manage their finances, streamline processes, and ultimately grow their business.

How: We thoroughly review the software’s core functionality, testing its performance through hands-on evaluation. This ensures the software provides dependable, intuitive tools that enable users to manage their finances accurately and easily.

Core Functionality We Test Hands-On

• Invoicing – We evaluate based on its ability to automatically convert quotes, customize templates, and automate follow-ups, which streamlines billing and payments.
• Expense Tracking – We determine how well it provides a clear overview of expenses and automates imports, helping users monitor spending and manage cash flow efficiently.
• Financial Reporting – We judge on report variety and customization, making sure users can analyze performance and meet compliance needs.
• Tax Management – We analyze its ability to auto-calculate taxes and regulatory compliance, which simplifies tax filing and reduces errors.
• Integrations – We evaluate based on how well the software connects with other relevant business tools like CRM, banking, and payroll.
• Customer Support – We assess customer support on availability, responsiveness, and helpful resources to ensure users can quickly resolve issues and optimize their experience.

Ease of Use

Why: The truth is most users aren’t experts in accounting or technology. That’s why it’s important that accounting software is intuitive and allows users to seamlessly navigate core tasks without the need for external guidance or support. Easy-to-use software saves time, reduces frustration, and minimizes the risk of errors.

How: We assess how intuitive and easy-to-use a product is by undergoing the onboarding process ourselves. This allows us to evaluate whether first-time users can easily follow steps to complete core tasks such as invoicing, reporting, and customizing features independently. Additionally, we examine the navigation, flow, and design to decide whether they feel logical and natural and make it easy for users to find what they are looking for.

Price and Value for Money

Why: Accounting software should offer features that align with its pricing and help users plan their finances and stay within budget. The pricing structure should also give users a clear understanding of costs so they know exactly what they are paying upfront without any surprises. It’s important that there’s a balance between price and functionality so users aren’t overpaying for unnecessary extra add-ons.

How: We evaluate value for money by looking for free trials, money-back guarantees, and flexible pricing plans. Then, we assess if the features match the pricing, compare the cost to similar products on the market, and check for hidden fees to ensure users are getting a fair return on investment (ROI). In addition to affordability, we use our findings from our testing of the core features to determine if the software is delivering the standard expected at its price point.

Reliability

Why: There’s nothing more critical than reliable software when you need it most. Downtime, crashes, or data loss can lead to significant disruptions to business operations and financial loss. Users should be able to rely on their software to perform consistently, be able to handle large volumes of data and be dependable during peak times like tax season.

How: To ensure your accounting software meets this standard, we rigorously stress-test its performance. We do this by generating multiple reports in different formats and checking that calculations are accurate. In addition, we evaluate its consistency when put under pressure by, for example, simulating high transaction volumes and its ability to manage unexpected downtime or data loss effectively with automatic backups and recovery.

Security

Why: Protecting financial data and safeguarding against vulnerabilities is essential for any accounting software as it handles sensitive information. Essentially, users need to be confident that their financial records, personal information, and payment details are safe from unauthorized access.

How: We test if and how the platform uses multi-factor authentication, regularly updates security protocols, and complies with regulations like GDPR, CCPA, and SOX. We also evaluate how securely third-party integrations and APIs are managed to ensure that users and their data is protected from potential breaches.

Compatibility

Why: Your accounting software should deliver a seamless, consistent experience across various operating systems, devices, and web browsers. It’s about making sure that the software works effortlessly within the user’s existing ecosystem.

How: We evaluate whether the software is fully compatible with major platforms like Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS by using the platform on desktops, tablets, and mobile apps (where possible – not all software offers downloadable apps). We evaluate the user experience across all platforms. This includes testing that all core functionality works consistently and that the interface adapts to various screen sizes and operating systems.

Scalability and Future-Proofing

Why: Accounting software should be able to grow with businesses and keep pace with evolving trends and regulations. Users shouldn’t have to change software because they’ve outgrown their accounting solution within a year. With constantly changing regulations and emerging technology, it’s important that the software stays up-to-date to avoid compliance issues and stay competitive.

How: We test scalability by assessing how well the software supports growing numbers of users, the ability to add features without reconfiguration, and whether it adapts to regulatory changes. In addition, we evaluate future-proofing by reviewing how regularly the software updates and adds new integrations and whether it can support globally expanding businesses with multi-currency support and global tax compliance.