AI accounting software pricing: what startups pay in 2026
AI accounting software costs a startup from $0 to $494 a month for one company, on list prices checked September 30, 2026. Accountable Free and Kick Free are $0, Pilot Essentials is $99, and Zeni Starter is $494 billed annually. Three companies cost $177 on Xero Growing, $198 on Accountable Pro, $300 on Digits Core, $360 on Puzzle Complete and $420 on QuickBooks Plus.
Updated · 4 min read · By the Accountable team
- a month for one company on Accountable Free or Kick Free
- $0
- a month for three companies on Accountable Pro
- $198
- a month for one company on Zeni Starter, billed annually
- $494
List prices, checked Sep 30, 2026. Prices change; see each vendor's page.
The short version
- One company costs $0 on Accountable Free, Kick Free and (through 2026) Mercury Books, and $30 to $149 a month on the paid software plans in the table.
- Three companies cost $177 on Xero Growing, $198 on Accountable Pro, $300 on Digits Core, $360 on Puzzle Complete and $420 on QuickBooks Plus.
- A service where a person does the work starts at $99 a month at Pilot Essentials and $494 at Zeni Starter.
- The sticker price leaves out AI limits, annual billing, agent write access and the tax return, which no plan includes.
- Export, moving in from another tool and your CPA's seat are free on every Accountable plan.
Nine tools priced for one company and for three, list prices checked September 30, 2026
Every price is the vendor's own list price per month before trials and discounts. AI accounting software for startups carries the same table with sources and what each tool does.
| Tool and plan | 1 company, a month | 3 companies, a month | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accountable Free and Pro | $0 on Free, or $149 on Pro | $198 (Pro covers 2, the third is $49) | Sep 30, 2026 |
| Digits Core | $100 ($65 on Essentials) | $300 (each company needs its own subscription) | Sep 30, 2026 |
| Zeni Starter | $494 billed annually ($549 list) | $1,647 at list (each business needs its own subscription) | Sep 30, 2026 |
| Puzzle Complete | $120 (Starter $30, Core $72) | $360 (each company is its own subscription) | Sep 30, 2026 |
| Pilot Essentials | $99 for up to $100,000 of monthly expenses (Core is priced by quote) | Not published | Sep 30, 2026 |
| Kick Basic and Plus | $0 for 250 transactions a year, then $40 on Basic | $100 to $200 on Plus, depending on each extra company's transactions | Sep 30, 2026 |
| QuickBooks Online Plus | $140 (Simple Start $38, Essentials $85) | $420 (priced per company) | Sep 30, 2026 |
| Xero Growing | $59 from October 1, 2026 | $177 (priced per organization) | Sep 30, 2026 |
| Mercury Books Books | $0 for all of 2026, then $35 a month; a Mercury account is required | Covers one company | Sep 30, 2026 |
DualEntry publishes no price and sells through sales, so it is not in this table.
The sticker price leaves out four things that change the bill
- AI limits: Accountable Free categorizes the first 100 transactions a month and answers 20 AI accountant questions, and Pro answers 300. Puzzle meters its AI in credits, with 100 a month on Complete.
- Billing: Zeni's $494 is billed annually, and Kick Basic's price is billed annually. Xero's prices rose on October 1, 2026.
- Agent write access: Claude and ChatGPT can read your books on every Accountable plan and change them on Pro. Digits, Puzzle and Mercury Books give agents read-only access.
- The tax return: no plan prepares it. Your CPA prepares and signs it, and that is a separate cost (see the bookkeeper or CPA guide).
Three companies for a month: $177 on Xero to $420 on QuickBooks
Xero Growing: $59 × 3 = $177.
Accountable Pro: $149 for 2 companies + $49 for the third = $198.
Digits Core: $100 × 3 = $300.
Puzzle Complete: $120 × 3 = $360.
QuickBooks Online Plus: $140 × 3 = $420.
On annual billing Accountable Pro for three companies is $1,980 a year. Kick Plus is $100 to $200 a month depending on each extra company's transactions, and Pilot, Zeni and Mercury Books publish no three-company price.
Pick the cheapest plan that covers the next twelve months
Step 1: Count your companies, now and in a year. Per-company pricing is cheapest at one company and costs most at three or more.
Step 2: Count your monthly transactions against the free caps: 100 a month at Accountable and 250 a year at Kick.
Step 3: Decide who does the work. Software-only plans expect you to answer the AI's questions each month, and Pilot or Zeni cost more because a person does part of it.
Step 4: Decide whether Claude or ChatGPT should change the books or only read them.
Step 5: Book your CPA for the return. See the cheapest bookkeeping for a startup and the best AI accounting software for small businesses for more.
Questions founders ask
How much does AI accounting software cost for a startup?
From $0 to $494 a month for one company, depending on who does the work. Software you run yourself runs $0 to $149, and three companies cost $177 to $420 across the five tools that bill each company.
Is there free AI accounting software?
Yes. Accountable Free covers one company and categorizes the first 100 transactions a month, and Kick Free covers 250 transactions a year. Mercury Books is free through 2026 for Mercury customers, then $35 a month.
Is AI accounting software cheaper than a bookkeeper?
The software-only plans are, from $0 to $149 a month. Services where a person works on your books start at $99 a month at Pilot Essentials and $494 at Zeni Starter.
Does the price include my tax return?
No. No plan on this page prepares your return. Your CPA prepares and signs it, and it is a separate cost.
Why do prices rise so much with several companies?
Most tools bill each company in full, so three companies cost three subscriptions. Accountable Pro covers 2 for $149 and each extra is $49.
Free for one company, $149 a month for two
Accountable (accountable.im) is free for one company, $149 a month for 2 on Pro and $198 for three. See every price, the price comparison, the Digits alternatives page and AI accounting software for startups, or browse all startup accounting guides.
Start freeSources, checked October 4, 2026:
Read next
- Best AI accounting software for small businesses and startups (2026)
- Cheapest bookkeeping for a seed-stage startup: free plans, $30 software and what each leaves out
- AI accounting software for startups: what to look for before you buy
- Accounting software for multiple businesses: the monthly price for 2, 3 and 5 companies