best accounting software

There’s no one-size-fits-all “best” accounting software — the right tool depends on your business size, budget, features needed (like GST‑compliance in India, inventory, payroll) and whether you prefer cloud or desktop. Below are some of the top options and what makes them good. If you tell me your budget and what you need, I can suggest a more tailored list.

🏆 Top Accounting Software Options

Here are several highly rated ones, especially in India / for small‑/medium businesses, plus some international players:

Software Strengths / Key Features Best For
Zoho Books Cloud‑based, has GST billing, good automation, integrates with Zoho suite; free/reduced cost plans for small businesses. Startups / small businesses who need a modern, cloud‑first, GST ready tool.
TallyPrime Very popular in India; strong for inventory, GST compliance, multi‑user use. Businesses that want offline/desktop reliability with full accounting + inventory and GST.
QuickBooks Online Good reporting, transaction tracking, bank feeds, scalable, cloud‑based. Small to mid businesses, especially ones that want strong cloud access and integrations.
Xero Clean, modern interface; good for multiple users; international & multi‑currency support. Businesses growing across borders or with remote teams.
Busy Accounting Software Strong for GST, multi‑branch, inventory, etc. SMEs that need more than just simple invoicing, especially with inventory.
Vyapar Lightweight, simple; good for billing, GST, inventory; lower cost. Microbusinesses, shops, freelancers who want something simple & cost‑effective.
GNUKhata Open source / libre software; made for Indian environment; good for small / medium firms. If you prefer open-source, lower cost, and possibly self‑hosting or minimal recurring fees.
⚠️ Things to Watch Out For

When picking accounting software, consider:

Tax / regulatory compliance (e.g. GST in India), and whether the software updates to follow law changes.

Inventory & multi‑location/branch support if you need them.

Payroll capability, or integrations with payroll systems.

Ease of use + mobile access.

Cost structure: subscription vs one‑time purchase; free tiers or trial.

Support & updates.

Cloud vs desktop/offline: if your internet is patchy, desktop/offline options become important.