QuickBooks Online named top pick in ZDNet's 2026 small‑business accounting review

ZDNet's expert testing of small‑business accounting platforms names QuickBooks Online the top pick for most small businesses in 2026. The review says QuickBooks strikes a balance between powerful features and user‑friendly design, offering inventory management, mobile apps and an app store with more than 750 third‑party integrations.

It highlights bank‑feed automation that categorizes transactions, AI assistance for expense categorization and mobile receipt capture, and notes that pricing starts higher than competitors but can be justified for companies needing advanced reporting, multiuser access and inventory tracking.

Other recommended platforms include FreshBooks, Xero, Puzzle.io and Sage 50, each with trade‑offs. FreshBooks is praised for time tracking, client portals and proposal tools but faces scalability limits and higher per‑user costs; Xero offers unlimited users, 1,000+ integrations and strong multicurrency support but lacks phone support; Puzzle.io targets startups with AI transaction categorization reported at 90–95% accuracy and startup metrics tracking but is newer and startup‑focused; and Sage 50 is a desktop‑first option with more than 150 reports and industry‑specific tools but is complex, pricier and requires training.

The reviewer tested each platform across real‑world scenarios and prioritized learning curve, mobile accessibility, integrations, feature value and support.

Key Topics

Business, Quickbooks Online, Freshbooks, Xero, Puzzle.io, Ai Transaction Categorization