Pilot vs Zeni: two bookkeeping services priced side by side
Pilot costs less to start: its Essentials plan is $99 a month for AI bookkeeping up to $100,000 of monthly expenses, and Core, with a bookkeeper, delivers reports by the 10th business day. Zeni starts at $549 a month per business, or $494 billed annually, and includes a dedicated finance team, bill pay and reimbursements. Both sell tax filing and CFO help: Pilot's C-corp tax starts at $2,450 a year, Zeni's at $2,499.
Updated · 3 min read · By the Accountable team
- Zeni Growth$719 billed annually$799/mo
- Zeni Starter$494 billed annually; a finance team included$549/mo
- Accountable ProSoftware, 2 companies included$149/mo
- Pilot EssentialsAI bookkeeping, up to $100,000 of monthly expenses$99/mo
List prices on each vendor's pricing page, September 30, 2026. Pilot's plans with a bookkeeper are quoted by your expenses.
The short version
- Pilot Essentials is $99 a month for companies with up to $100,000 of monthly expenses; plans with a bookkeeper are priced by your expenses.
- Zeni Starter is $549 a month ($494 billed annually) and Growth $799 ($719), and each business needs its own subscription.
- Pilot Core delivers monthly reports by the 10th business day and Pilot's custom plan by the 6th; Zeni's pricing page states no report date.
- Zeni includes a controller, a bookkeeping manager and an analyst, plus free bill pay and reimbursements, and runs your books in QuickBooks Online Plus.
- Tax filing for a C corporation starts at $2,450 a year at Pilot and $2,499 at Zeni; CFO plans start at $1,750 a month at Pilot and $1,599 plus a $2,000 setup fee at Zeni.
Pilot is cheaper to start, and Zeni bundles more people
| Pilot | Zeni | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | Essentials, $99 a month, up to $100,000 of monthly expenses | Starter, $549 a month or $494 billed annually |
| Next plan | Core, priced by monthly expenses, billed annually | Growth, $799 a month or $719 billed annually |
| Who does the work | AI on Essentials; a US-based bookkeeper on Core | AI plus a controller, a bookkeeping manager and an analyst |
| Monthly reports | By the 10th business day on Core, the 6th on Custom | No date on the pricing page |
| Several businesses | No published price | One subscription per business |
| C-corp tax return | From $2,450 a year | From $2,499 a year |
| CFO | $1,750, $3,150 or $5,250 a month, billed annually | $1,599 a month plus $2,000 setup, or $2,990 plus $6,000 |
| Extras | R&D credit study for 20% of the credit | Free bill pay and reimbursements, business checking, payroll manager at $199 a month |
Pilot publishes no dollar amount for Core. A third-party review puts Pilot's plans with a bookkeeper at about $399 to $499 a month for a small startup; ask Pilot for a quote on your own expenses.
Pilot's $99 plan is AI bookkeeping, not a bookkeeper
Pilot launched its AI Accountant in February 2026, and Essentials is that product: AI categorization and reconciliation for companies with up to $100,000 of monthly expenses. A person keeps your books from Core up.
Zeni has no AI-only plan. Every Zeni plan includes its finance team, which is why the entry price is higher.
- AI categorization and reconciliation
- Up to $100,000 of monthly expenses
- A bookkeeper from the Core plan up
- A controller, a bookkeeping manager and an analyst
- Free bill pay and reimbursements
- Books kept in QuickBooks Online Plus
Both keep the books in a system you can take with you
Zeni lists QuickBooks Online Plus as the accounting software behind its plans. Its terms say it will try to transfer master admin of the file to you when your subscription ends, so ask for it before you leave.
Pilot's reports come as a monthly financial package. When you leave either one, ask for the general ledger export and the monthly statements for every year.
Choose Pilot, Zeni or neither
Step 1: Choose Pilot if you want the lowest price for a real company with a bookkeeper later, and dated monthly reports.
Step 2: Choose Zeni if you want a finance team plus bill pay, reimbursements and checking in one bill, and the price per business is fine.
Step 3: Choose neither if you want software that closes the books by the 1st and a CPA who reviews them: the cost is lower and the numbers are live all month.
See the Pilot and Zeni comparisons for how Accountable differs from each.
Questions founders ask
Which is cheaper, Pilot or Zeni?
Pilot, to start: Essentials is $99 a month against Zeni Starter at $549. With a bookkeeper, Pilot's price depends on your monthly expenses.
Do Pilot and Zeni file taxes?
Yes. A C-corp return starts at $2,450 a year at Pilot and $2,499 at Zeni.
How fast do I get my monthly reports?
Pilot's Core plan delivers them by the 10th business day, and its custom plan by the 6th. Zeni's pricing page doesn't state a date, so ask before you sign.
Can I use Pilot or Zeni for several companies?
Zeni charges one subscription per business. Pilot publishes no price for several companies, so ask for a quote.
Books closed by the 1st, for $149 a month for two companies
Accountable is software, not a service: it reconciles every account to its statement and closes by the 1st, and your CPA reviews it with a free seat. Moving from Pilot or Zeni is free.
Start freeSources, checked September 30, 2026: