Cheap bookkeeping software that still does the work for you

Cheap shouldn't mean manual

Low-cost bookkeeping options tend to fall into two groups. Free or very cheap tools often make you categorize every transaction yourself, or charge extra for bank connections. Full accounting suites automate more but start around $25 to $38 per month and climb as you add features. For a small service business, neither is ideal.

ConsulBooks Starter costs $12/month and includes the parts that save time: bank and card connections through Plaid, file imports, saved rules, and optional AI suggestions with a confidence score and reason. Only transactions it is unsure about reach your review list.

Where the savings come from

The price is lower because the product is narrower. There is no invoicing module, payroll, inventory or app marketplace to build and support. You get a focused bookkeeping workflow: connect, categorize, review, export. At regular U.S. list prices checked in September 2026, Starter is $26/month less than QuickBooks Simple Start and $13/month less than Xero's entry plan.

Time matters too. Approving one vendor can apply that decision to its other waiting transactions, and the in-app assistant can explain any screen. Year-end exports include P&L, balance sheet, trial balance, general ledger and transaction CSVs.

Is the cheapest option right for you?

If your books are mostly bank and card activity and someone else handles invoicing or payroll, a focused tool is usually enough. If you need everything in one system, paying more for QuickBooks or Xero can be worth it. See the demo workspace with sample data first, then start free with no credit card.