Top 10 Accounting Software for Nonprofit Organizations

The work that non-profits do is admirable 

Regardless of the location or size, a nonprofit will always push itself out of the comfort zone, most of us are familiar with and seek solutions for social issues. 

Altruistic as it is, nonprofits need resources to function. Managing fundraising campaigns, receiving and administering donations, creating accurate reports…Every nonprofit organization must handle these operations with complete transparency. 

But how? 

Well, having accounting software implemented certainly helps.  

However, choosing the right one can seem daunting, so we have compiled a list of the top 10 best accounting software for nonprofits.

Should we start now?

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Xero

Xero presents itself as a cloud-based accounting software that it’s ideal for small and not-so-large businesses.  Among its features, you can find invoice management, expense tracking, and even help to create financial reports.  What makes Xero an excellent choice for nonprofits, it’s that it really emphasizes collaboration. Xero allows multiple users to access the system simultaneously, making it easy for your team to work together.

Features 

• Custom  reporting: Build reports to track specific financial data or generate forecasts tailored to your needs.
• Payment acceptance: Easily accept payments from clients and donors.
• Bank connectivity: Connect to external banks for seamless transactions and reconciliation.
• Payroll services: Manage payroll directly within the platform for added convenience.
• File storage: Store important documents and files securely for easy access
• Integrates with: Mailchimp, banks, Shopify, Stripe, etc. 

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Pros 

Strong mobile app:  Manage your finances from anywhere with a fully functional mobile application.

Customizable dashboard: Personalize your dashboard to show the metrics most important to your organization.

Excellent customer support:  The responsiveness and helpfulness of Xero's support team are some of the features praised the most by clients. 

Limitless number of users in a single account: Need to have multiple people onboard? Great, Xero welcomes all the users you need in your account. 

Cons

• Extra fees: Some additional features require an upgrade in your subscription 

Price

From $15 per month (billed annually)

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Aplos

Aplos is accounting software made just for nonprofit organizations. It provides all the financial management tools you need to track donations, manage grants, and stay compliant with regulations. With Aplos, you can simplify your financial processes and showcase transparency to your stakeholders, making it easier to focus on your mission. That being said we consider that’s this the best choice for nonprofits, if your priority is donor management. 

Features

• Fund accounting: Track income and expenses by different funds, ensuring compliance and clarity.
• Donation management: Easily record and manage donations, including recurring donations and one-time gifts.
• Custom reporting: Generate reports that are tailored to the unique financial requirements of nonprofits.
• Integrated email marketing: Aplos allows you to manage your donor communications all in one place.
• CRM tools: You can create detailed donor profiles to track communication and relationship history.
• Integrates with: Community Builder, Bloomerang, PayPal, and Sage Payroll among others 

Pros

• User-friendly interface: Aplos is designed to be straightforward, making it accessible if you or your team don’t have extensive accounting backgrounds.
• Focused on nonprofits: All features are tailored to nonprofit needs, ensuring compliance with regulations and helping you manage your donors with ease. 

Cons

• Limited third-party integrations: It may not integrate with as many external applications as some competitors.
• Not the most suitable for big organizations: Larger nonprofits may find some features lacking once they grow the level of their operations.

Price

From $29.50 per month

Fresh Books

Do you run a small organization? Do you want to manage your nonprofit better but don’t see the necessity of investing in software with complicated features? Then Fresh Books is the option for you. Fresh Books is known for its simplicity and ease of use, making it another ideal choice for smaller nonprofits.  Another great advantage is that compared to other options is quite accessible. 

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Features

• Tracking funds: You can easily keep tabs on restricted funds, making sure donations are used just the way they were intended.
• Time tracking:  This one is useful if your organization needs to keep a record of the hours worked on specific projects.
• Basic reporting: Generate simple reports that provide an overview of your financial health, even if you aren’t a master of finances. 
• Expenses management:  If you want to have a better handling of your budget, then you are going to need to keep track of where your money is going. 
• Integrates with: Hubspot, Gusto, and others. 

Pros

• Affordable plans: Cost-effective options for smaller nonprofits make it a popular choice if you are tight on budget.
• Trial period: Having time to trial the program without any costs is another plus of Fresh Books.

Cons

• Pay for extra users: If you want to work with different users, you need to pay an additional fee every month. 
• Not 100% for nonprofits: It’s not the best choice if you want a completely tailored system for nonprofits. 

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Price

From $10 per month (billed annually)

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Sage 

Sage Intacct is oriented towards larger nonprofits that need advanced financial management capabilities. However, we would say that its main attraction is the number of automation options it offers.  Who has time to waste on administrative tasks when you are planning to change the world?  Do you need to see and maybe present the financial status of your organization? Cool, Sage Intacct comes with a digital board book designed to do just that. 

Features

• Advanced financial reporting: Create in-depth financial reports that provide insights into your organization's performance.
• Multi-entity management: Perfect for nonprofits that operate globally, this feature allows you to manage finances across multiple entities or locations.
• Automation: Digitalize routine accounting tasks, reducing the manual effort required for monthly operations.
• Integrates with: Paypal, DonorPerfect, and Gusto, among others.

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Pros 

• Scalable solution: Ideal if your nonprofit  anticipates growth and needs software that can grow with your development. 
• Audit features: Strong compliance and audit functionalities help maintain transparency.
• In-depth analytics: The reporting tools provide valuable insights that can aid in strategic planning.

Cons

• No visible pricing: Sage works on quotes, so unless you get in touch with them you can’t know what the price is. 

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Zoho Books

Zoho is a software that probably doesn’t need much of an introduction, for nonprofits, for example, it offers the program Zoho Books an online accounting software perfect for small organizations. Among its characteristics, you’ll find handy features such as invoicing, expense tracking, and financial reporting. Besides that,  if you are already working with the rest of Zoho products, you can quickly integrate this one with the rest. 

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Features

• Part of other Zoho solutions: Zoho Books can naturally integrate with the rest of the Zoho family services, like HR, marketing, and IT management, just to name a few. 
• Multi-currency support: Ideal for nonprofits that operate internationally.
• Client portal: Transparency is a key value for any nonprofit. Zoho Books allows donors to view their contributions and payment history easily.
• Integrates with: Other Zoho products, Paypal, Stripe, WePay and other payment programs.

Pros 

• Easy to use: For all the features that provides, Zoho Books is really simple to use, something that becomes useful whenever you are using a new program.
• Free for small nonprofits: Nothing more to say here, right?
• Trial period: Do you want to see how it works before committing? Done. 

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Cons

• Customer Support Issues: Some users report slow response times from support services, something that’s far from ideal. 

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Price

From $15 per user and month (billed annually) 

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Quicken

Quicken might sound familiar, more than an accounting software for business, it’s a personal finances management system. It’s really easy to use and the software comes with some solid reporting capabilities, so you can track your spending habits and get a sense of where your money is going. That being side, Quicken can be the right choice for small non profits where only one or max two people are involved. 

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Features

• Automated tracking: Easily automate tracking your expenses using custom spending categories.
• Budgeting tools: Utilize your expense data with budgeting and forecasting tools for better financial planning.
• Customization: Advanced users can design tailored reports to meet their specific needs.
• Forecasting: Use what-if analysis to project your financial future and explore different scenarios.
• Integrates with: Bank accounts and Paypal

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Pros

• Affordable: Quicken offers competitive pricing, making it budget-friendly for your small nonprofit.
• Cash flow reports: Another advantage of using this option is that you gain insights into your cash flow, helping you manage your finances effectively.
• Super easy to use: Very user-friendly so literally anyone can use it.

Cons

• Limited collaboration features: Remember that Quicken is not meant to be used by more than two people. 

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Price

From $8.90 per month (billed annually)

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Wave

Wave offers a free accounting solution that includes essential tools for managing your nonprofit’s finances. It’s perfect for small organizations on a tight budget. Affordability and accessibility are the two top values of this system. You can create an account and start managing your finances in just a few minutes.

Features

• Unlimited connections: Link your account to as many bank accounts and credit cards as you need.
• Invoicing but simple: Create and send invoices without any problems.
• Manage multiple organizations: If you run several nonprofits, Wave lets you easily manage them all with a single account.
• Integrates with: Zapier

Pros

• No cost for core features: The free model makes it accessible for smaller nonprofits.
• Easy to use: Simple design allows for quick setup and management.

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Cons

• Not much support: Especially for the free version 
• Traditional restricted funds tracking: No automation here, so it has to be done manually. 

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Price

From $16 per month

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Realm

Realm helps you build responsive and scalable mobile applications with ease. You'll enjoy its straightforward design, strong performance, and compatibility across different platforms. Realm is especially ideal for churches or nonprofits with religious components. 

Features

• Connection for churches: A dedicated app that helps pastors and congregants stay connected, making community engagement easy.
• Financial dashboards: Access financial dashboards full of insights for a clear overview of your church's finances.
• Donor tracking: Keep track of donors and manage contributions effectively.
• Integrates with: Realm is an all-in-one system 

Pros

• 24/7 support: Enjoy 24/7 customer support to assist you whenever you need it.
• Tailored for churches: Realm is designed for churches and worship organizations, ensuring it meets your unique needs.
• User-friendly: The platform is easy to navigate,

Cons

• Not ideal for everyone: May not be the best fit for organizations outside of the church community.
• No clear price: The pricing structure can be unclear, which might make budgeting tricky.

Price

From $29 per month

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QuickBooks

Probably another name that doesn’t require to be introduced. QuickBooks is a trusted name in accounting software. While it doesn’t offer all the specialized features that some nonprofit-focused software does, you can always transition to QuickBooks Enterprise if you find you need more specific tools.

Features

• Fund tracking: Easily categorize your income and expenses by fund or project, this way you get clear visibility on where your money is going.
• Customizable reports: Generate financial reports that meet your nonprofit’s needs, making it easy to report to stakeholders or for grant applications.
• Mobile access: Manage your finances on the go with the mobile app, allowing you to stay connected and make updates anytime.
• Integrates with: Mailchimp, Salesforce,Shopify, Stripe, just to name a few.

Pros

• Extensive support resources: A wealth of tutorials and customer support is available, making it easier to solve any issues that might arise.
• Scalable: QuickBooks can grow with your organization, accommodating additional features as needed.

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Cons

• Lacks customized options for nonprofits: If you want an option that’s more generalized then QuickBooks is the right one, if not, you might need to look for more specific alternatives. 

Price

From $35 

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Serenic Navigator 

Serenic Navigator is a cloud-based ERP solution designed for nonprofit organizations and government agencies alike. If what are you looking for requires scalability and flexibility, then this is the best choice for you. The program  also ensures compliance with regulatory standards, helping improve efficiency and transparency in your financial management. It’s a great choice to keep your organization focused on what matters. 

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Features

• Centralized platform: Access a range of related services, including IT and HR support, all in one convenient place.
• Accounting tools: Rely on powerful reporting tools that help you track your finances effectively.
• Funds management: Manage your funds without complications, ensuring clear and accurate financial oversight.
• Integrates with: Sylogist

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Pros

• Add-on service: Access a wide range of additional services to support your nonprofit’s needs beyond just accounting.
• Ideal for nonprofits: Built precisely for nonprofits, so you can be sure that it  meets your unique requirements and challenges.

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Cons

• Better if you buy the whole package:The software offers you the most benefits when you purchase several services together, rather than just the accounting features.

Price

Upon request only

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