8 best accounting software for nonprofits in 2026

You know your way around a spreadsheet, but at some point, Excel alone isn’t enough to handle the unique financial needs of your growing nonprofit. Whether you're a finance manager, executive director, or board treasurer, the challenge isn’t about managing numbers. It’s finding software that makes financial management easier and more accurate.

From free tools to dedicated fund accounting platforms, we’ve rounded up eight of the best accounting software options for nonprofits so you can find the right fit for your team.

⚖️ Disclaimer: This is general information, not financial or legal advice. Consult a qualified nonprofit accountant for guidance specific to your organization.

8 best accounting software for nonprofits at a glance

This list highlights the top options for small- to midsize nonprofits seeking practical, mission-aligned accounting solutions.

How we chose these tools 👍

We ranked these accounting platforms based on a combination of nonprofit-specific features, ease of use, affordability, scalability, and how well they integrate with fundraising tools like Givebutter. The listed user sentiments reflect themes across public reviews, not individual quotes.

1. QuickBooks: Best overall for small to midsize nonprofits

QuickBooks Online by Intuit is widely used by nonprofits for its strong reporting, flexible customization, and growing ecosystem of nonprofit-friendly integrations. Givebutter Plus’ native QuickBooks Online integration syncs donation, ticket sales, and recurring-gift data into QuickBooks, with details mapped by campaign, fund, or payment method. Organizations using Givebutter's free plan can connect to QuickBooks through Zapier.

💰 Price: QuickBooks offers a 30-day free trial for new users. Prices range from $38/month (Simple Start) to $340/month (Advanced). Nonprofits can access discounted pricing through TechSoup.

📣 Standout features:

• AI accounting agents
• Customizable invoice templates
• Up to 25 users with custom permissions on Advanced

✅ Best for: Nonprofits that need an intuitive and reasonably priced option to manage their finances

⭐ User satisfaction rating: 4.4/5

🗣️ What users are saying: Users report that they benefit from being able to fully track their finances and access plenty of integrations for donation tracking, purchasing, and more. However, some users note that the reporting features can be limiting, and that QuickBooks is not built for fund accounting.

🔥 Our take: QuickBooks remains a go-to for many nonprofits because of its robust features, reliable reporting, and wide adoption in the sector. While rising subscription costs and limited functionality on lower-tier plans can be challenging for smaller organizations, discounts through TechSoup and strong integration options make it a smart choice for growing teams.

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2. Wave Accounting: Best free accounting software

Wave is free accounting software, and while it’s not built specifically for nonprofits and doesn’t have fund accounting or donor tracking, it offers essential tools like income and expense tracking, invoicing, and basic reporting. For lean teams or newer organizations just getting started, Wave is an easy way to stay organized without breaking the budget.

💰 Price: Wave’s Starter plan is free, while the Pro plan is $19/month.

📣 Standout features:

• Unlimited income and expense tracking
• Invoice and payment tools
• Simple financial reporting

✅ Best for: Small nonprofits with limited budgets and minimal accounting needs

⭐ User satisfaction rating: 4.3/5

🗣️ What users are saying: Users appreciate the free starting price point and simple navigation, making it perfect for small, volunteer-run organizations. However, some report that the lack of integrations can be challenging.

🔥 Our take: Wave offers exceptional value, especially for organizations that don’t need complex fund tracking or integrations. However, the free plan does not include nonprofit-specific features like donor tracking or fund restriction reporting.

3. MoneyMinder: Best for volunteer-run nonprofits & clubs

MoneyMinder is a simple, cloud-based accounting tool for volunteer-led nonprofits, clubs, community groups, PTOs, booster clubs, and groups with rotating treasurers. With flat-rate pricing, a straightforward interface, and tools made specifically for treasurers, it’s a practical option for small groups with basic bookkeeping needs.

💰 Price: $299/year, with a free version available

📣 Standout features:

• Treasurer-specific dashboard
• Donation and dues tracking
• Budget-to-actual reporting

✅ Best for: Volunteer-led nonprofits or clubs that need simple bookkeeping

⭐ User satisfaction rating: 4.6/5

🗣️ What users are saying: Users report great security, reliability, and integration with Google Workspace. However, some users dislike the inability to restore previous budgets.

🔥 Our take: If volunteers handle most of your bookkeeping or leadership rotates often, MoneyMinder’s user-friendly platform is a strong fit. That said, it's not ideal for organizations that need advanced reporting or payroll capabilities.

More to explore

Get the free bookkeeping template →

4. Xero: Best for ease of use & mobile

Xero makes it easy to sync with your bank and other third-party apps—including an integration through Zapier with Givebutter. Automated invoicing and reporting enable you to spend more time fundraising and less on bookkeeping. If you're a scaling organization, Xero also offers team-friendly tools that allow employees to submit expenses, send invoices, leave comments, and request time off.

💰 Price: Plans range from $27/month to $97/month. Qualifying nonprofits can request a discount, and every plan comes with a one-month free trial.

📣 Standout features:

• Full mobile app for receipts, expenses, bills, and reconciliation
• Tap to Pay on iPhone via Stripe
• Automated bill entry from mobile with draft conversion

✅ Best for: Small nonprofits that want a simple, mobile-friendly accounting platform

⭐ User satisfaction rating: 4.4/5

🗣️ What users are saying: Users like Xero’s simplicity and smart design, but some note a learning curve for those new to the platform.

🔥 Our take: Xero is loved for its intuitive design, but recent price hikes and plan changes have made advanced features available only on higher tiers. It’s a great starter tool, though some users are frustrated by the rising costs and gated functionality.

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5. Aplos: Best for churches & faith-based organizations

Aplos is an all-in-one platform designed for nonprofits and churches that need more than basic bookkeeping. It combines fund accounting with donation tracking, budgeting, and online event registration, ideal for organizations managing multiple funds, ministries, or campaigns.

💰 Price: Plans range from $79/month to $229+/month. Each plan includes fund accounting. Short-term promotional discounts and special bundle deals are sometimes available for churches and small nonprofits.

📣 Standout features:

• Fund and church-specific accounting
• Donor CRM and giving reports
• Dimensional budgeting and ministry reporting

✅ Best for: Churches or ministries that need purpose-built software to manage giving, accounting, and member engagement

⭐ User satisfaction rating: 4.6/5

🗣️ What users are saying: Users note that the platform is designed for nonprofits, so it has many core tools built right in. However, some users note that the reporting can be a bit clunky.

🔥 Our take: Aplos remains a top pick among faith-based organizations for its simplicity and church-specific tools. However, price increases after the first year and limited reporting flexibility may be a concern for growing teams.

Discover more

Learn to use fund accounting →

6. FastFund Online: Best for budget-friendly fund accounting

FastFund Online by Araize is a cloud-based nonprofit accounting solution with features like fund accounting, donation tracking, and integrated payroll. Designed to meet IRS and FASB compliance standards, it offers built-in tools for managing restricted funds and generating reports like Form 990.

💰 Price: Standard plan is $50/month. Premium is $110/month for accounting, with add-ons starting at $22/month.

📣 Standout features:

• FASB-compliant financial statements and IRS Form 990 generation
• Customizable reports and budget management
• Fund accounting and expense tracking

✅ Best for: Small to mid-sized nonprofits needing affordable fund accounting with strong compliance support

⭐ User satisfaction rating: 4.7/5

🗣️ What users are saying: Users note the platform is fast and helpful for raising funds, while others note that the tool isn’t the most user-friendly.

🔥 Our take: FastFund Online is a budget-friendly choice for compliance-focused nonprofits. It’s solid for managing accounting and tax requirements, but it has limited integrations and no dedicated mobile app.

7. Sage Intacct: Best for growing or multi-entity organizations

Sage Intacct is built for complex nonprofit needs, offering powerful tools for fund tracking, grant management, revenue recognition, and customized reporting. It’s especially well-suited for mid-sized to large organizations that need robust functionality, including multi-entity support and Zapier integrations with Givebutter and Salesforce.

💰 Price: Custom quote required.

📣 Standout features:

• Grant tracking and billing
• Real-time dashboards and reports
• AI-powered automation

✅ Best for: Mid-to-large nonprofits that need advanced fund tracking, Salesforce integration, and robust reporting

⭐ User satisfaction rating: 4.3/5

🗣️ What users are saying: Users appreciate the cloud-based system that enables teams to work uninterrupted, but note that the software can be expensive.

🔥 Our take: Sage Intacct is highly praised for its powerful nonprofit features and flexible integrations, especially with Salesforce. It’s a strong choice for growing organizations, but the high cost and steep learning curve can be a barrier for smaller teams.

8. Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT: Best for large institutions with complex needs

Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT is a cloud-based accounting platform for large nonprofits with complex funding streams and reporting needs. It offers advanced grant tracking, multi-fund accounting, and in-depth financial analysis, particularly for organizations already using other tools in the Blackbaud ecosystem.

💰 Price: Custom quote required; generally more expensive than entry-level tools.

📣 Standout features:

• End-to-end fund accounting
• Role-based dashboards
• Audit-ready reports

✅ Best for: Larger nonprofits managing multiple programs or grants and needing enterprise-level accounting controls

⭐ User satisfaction rating: 4.1/5

🗣️ What users are saying: Users appreciate the webinars and trainings on new features but note that the product can be expensive, especially for a nonprofit.

🔥 Our take: Financial Edge NXT is worth considering if your nonprofit is scaling quickly or managing a large number of restricted funds and programs. However, its extensive feature set may be too much for teams with basic accounting needs, and the cost can be prohibitive for smaller organizations.

What to look for in nonprofit accounting software

Whether you're choosing your first accounting tool or upgrading to a more powerful solution, it's important to find accounting software for your nonprofit organization that balances usability, affordability, and compliance, especially if you're a new team looking for software that won’t overcomplicate your workflow:

• Fund and restriction tracking: Small nonprofit accounting software should make it easy to separate and track funds.
• Reporting for audits and Form 990: Look for customizable financial statements, report-building tools, and documentation for audits and regulatory filings.
• Integrations with your fundraising platform: Consider whether the accounting software integrates with other systems, like a CRM or fundraising platform. In a Givebutter LinkedIn poll of 40 respondents, more than half said they use three to four tools to manage money, volunteers, and fundraising, making integration capability essential.
• Ease of use for rotating volunteers: Look for a tool that’s accessible to users with different skill levels so your entire team can contribute to the financial process.
• Total cost: Check subscription fees, implementation costs, and any additional charges for support or training.

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Close the books without the copy-paste

When it comes to nonprofit accounting, the ledger is only half the problem. Most reconciliation headaches start upstream, when donation, event, payment, and expense data are scattered across disconnected tools.

That's why choosing accounting software that connects with your fundraising platform can reduce more manual work than switching ledgers alone. Before you compare tools, list where your donation, event, and expense data lives today and how many exports it takes to close a month. That list will show you which integrations matter most.

Givebutter Plus includes a native QuickBooks Online integration, while Zapier connects Givebutter with platforms like Xero and Sage. The Givebutter mobile app also lets you accept checks, automatically tying each check to the donor and campaign and sending funds to your Givebutter Wallet. Givebutter makes all the work before the ledger smooth as butter.

Create your free Givebutter account today to see how easy it is to plug into your financial flow.

FAQs about the best accounting software for nonprofits

Is there a version of QuickBooks for nonprofits?

There is no separate nonprofit edition, but eligible 501(c)(3)s can get discounted QuickBooks Online through TechSoup.

What is the best free accounting software for 501(c)(3) organizations?

Wave is the best free accounting software for simple books, and MoneyMinder's free edition is best for budgeting. However, once nonprofits grow and face greater filing complexity, or audit or grant requirements, these tools can become limiting.

How much should a nonprofit spend on accounting software?

The right amount depends on your organization’s size, accounting needs, and budget. Nonprofit accounting software ranges from $0 (Wave's Starter plan) to $340/month at list price for QuickBooks Online Advanced, while fund accounting platforms like Sage Intacct and Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT are priced by custom quote.