Free and low-cost accounting and invoicing software for your business

Avantage Progression is a bilingual, multi-company accounting management package that can support several users at once. You can either pay a one-time fee to install the solution on one computer at your company, or pay a monthly fee for the cloud version, which is hosted in Canada. The cloud-based solution includes online backup, software updates and technical support. To help you decide whether it suits your needs, the company offers a free trial.

Concept Caméléon is a fully scalable accounting software package. Available on premises or in the cloud, Concept Caméléon lets you start with entry-level solutions such as General Ledger, Accounts payables and receivables, and then gradually add inventory or payroll modules with or without timesheets. In addition, you can pick and choose more than 90 built-in apps depending on what is more relevant for your industry. The basic monthly plan includes two users.

Connected Core Accounting is a downloadable multi-currency accounting solution. Designed by an Ontario-based company, it is available on both Mac and PC, and meets most of the accounting needs of small businesses. But if you require more advanced functions such as job costing and inventory management, you may need to upgrade to Connected Enterprise Accounting & ERP. The support and Cloud options are optional, but need to be purchased separately.

Dynacom Accounting offers scalable accounting and financial solutions that can grow with you. The product family includes LITE (for start-ups), SMB and ERP editions, and can be customized to fit your needs. The SMB and ERP editions are available on SaaS platforms for an additional fee, and the free trial runs for one month.

FreshBooks is an entry-level online solution, developed by a Toronto-based company. It is particularly suitable for service-based businesses to create and track projects, timesheets, invoices and expenses, all in one place. iPhone and iPad apps are pretty handy for scanning receipts and tracking expenses. Invoices can be sent in both English and French, but the interface is available in English only. The company also has payroll partners in Canada and the United States.

Gestion PME offers an accounting software suite with various editions for freelancers, incorporated businesses, PoS and more. Developed by Winfly Informatique Inc. in Quebec, the software requires Microsoft Windows or Parallel Desktop.

IPSOBiz offers a suite of downloadable business management solutions for small businesses for a one-time fee. These solutions include IPSOBiz solo for freelancers, IPSOBiz Pro for professionals, IPSOBiz Service for service organizations and IPSOBiz Fab for manufacturing companies. The company is based out of St-Lazare, Quebec.

Kashoo is a cloud-based accounting application that was developed in Vancouver. It is particularly affordable if you have multiple users and if you use multiple currencies. It also allows you to track your personal and business accounts separately for a small additional fee. A free version is available, although it is very basic. The iOS apps are very popular and allow you to switch to a French interface via device settings on either an iPhone or iPad.

Kiwili was developed by a Montreal-based company; it offers a business management solution with an impressive breadth of functionalities at an affordable price. The free Discovery plan is ideal for basic functions like time tracking, drafting quotes, creating invoices, managing expenses, and keeping all contact information in one place. As your business grows, you may decide to upgrade to one of the paid plans to meet the everyday needs of your business with more advanced functionalities including task management, as well as cash flow and business analysis. All paid versions come with a 30-day free trial.

Momenteo meets the accounting needs of freelancers. Specifically, it allows them to issue quotes and personalized invoices, travel expenses and get a clear portrait of their financial health. Designed by a company based in Quebec City, it also offers a mobile app for iOS and Android.

Plooto helps you manage US and Canadian payments in one online platform for a small fee per transaction. It is not accounting software per se, but if you’re already using QuickBooks and Xero, you can easily reconcile payments and receivables. And since Plooto is a Canadian company, it works with most banks and credit unions in Canada.

QuickBooks Online is a line of accounting software products designed for self-employed people and small business owners who don’t have any accounting training. There is also a QuickBooks Online Accountant version. These solutions are offered in several versions for varying monthly subscription fees. The iPad and iPhone apps offer some interesting features such as the ability to record sales and payments using a sales receipt, and to add all the customers and vendors stored as phone contacts right into QuickBooks.

RetailMagic: Despite its name, it’s not just for retailers. There are essentially two modules: POS software and accounting, which complement each other, but can also be bought independently. Available for a one-time fee, the downloadable accounting software allows you to track payables and receivables, and reconcile bank transactions. The POS module is free for 10 products or less. Developed by a Canadian company based out of P.E.I, RetailMagic has been on the market for over 25 years.

Sage One Canadian Edition is an affordable online accounting and invoicing solution that seamlessly tracks GST/HST and PST/QST. It offers a 30-day free trial version and a line of accounting software that can evolve with your needs.

SlickPie has been designed to meet the accounting needs of small businesses. While the free version comes with some limitations such as the number of invoices you can issue and storage space, it may be enough for businesses that are just starting off. Their MagicBot can save you precious time by automating the data entry for bills and receipts.

Wave Accounting is a free cloud accounting solution that runs on all major browsers, on both PCs and Macs. Customers can also use its mobile app to invoice clients and accept credit cards on the go. Wave also offers pay-as-you-go services such as credit card processing, payroll and lending. One of its standout features is the ability to set up your accountant, bookkeeper or business partner as a “guest collaborator.” Regrettably, the payroll system cannot accommodate the needs of Quebec businesses.

ZipBooks offers a full suite of accounting software with various subscription plans. Designed to meet the needs of small businesses, it lets you send invoices, track time and expenses, and even provide actionable recommendations based on industry best practices. All these tools are available from your Internet browser on any mobile device, making it easy to track billable hours and send invoices on the go.

Zoho Books handles a range of small business accounting tasks, including reporting, invoicing, time tracking and time sheets, and provides an insightful dashboard. The global edition is available in French, but support is offered in English only. Some features—such as automatic bank feeds—do not work with Canadian banks. Like other Zoho products, Zoho Books offers a 14-day free trial, and integrates easily with other Zoho solutions, such as Zoho Expense, Zoho CRM or Zoho Projects. Zoho Books apps are available for iPad, iPhone, Android and Windows mobile devices and Windows Surface.