Dec 10, 2014 Even though your data resides on your computer and not in the cloud, With its Mac and Windows versions, with its mobile apps and with some cloud functionality, AccountEdge is, in my opinion, your best desktop (in other words, non-cloud) accountin. Jan 16, 2018 Looking for a recommendation for non-cloud based accounting software that can also be shared with multiple users online (all over the world). I work for a yacht management company and currently one of our yachts uses a cloud-based system which. Cloud-based: The vendor hosts the solution off-site on its own servers, so users don’t need to worry about software maintenance, data backup, upgrades, etc. A user can access the solution from any authorized computer with an internet connection by paying a monthly or annual subscription.
Just because you’re a Mac person doesn’t mean you have to settle for less with your accounting software. Check out these 6 great options.
A few years ago, we published an article on the best accounting software options for Mac users. This is an update of that article, but here’s the thing: There’s no such thing as “accounting software for Mac” anymore.
Sure, there’s plenty of accounting software that you can use on your MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, etc. But while there used to be Mac software and PC software, it’s now virtually all the same with the ever-increasing expansion of cloud-based software that works seamlessly in any browser.
In other words, you’d have a much harder time finding accounting software that doesn’t work on your Mac than a program that works only on Macs. In fact, with more than 100 million active Mac users, if you found an accounting program that somehow wasn’t compatible with Mac, that alone would be cause for alarm.
Cloud software is here to stay, and the market is only getting bigger. Gartner predicts that by 2022, 28% of enterprise IT spending will have shifted to cloud applications, up from 19% in 2018. (Full report available to Gartner clients.)
6 user-friendly accounting software options for Mac
Rather than giving you a generic list of accounting software that works on Macs (which would basically just be our accounting software directory), I decided to determine which top factors users have for choosing Mac over PC and then find accounting software that best suits those users.
- Macs are typically high-end machines with consistently strong reviews from users, so I included only accounting tools with an overall rating of 4.5/5 stars or higher in our directory (based on verified user ratings) and with at least 100 reviews.
- In general, Macs are considered easier to use than PCs, so I’m including only products with an ease-of-use rating on our site of 4.5/5 or higher.
- Finally, I included only products with a native iOS app with a user rating of 4/5 or better on the App Store, since Mac users typically use iPhones and iPads as well as their desktop or laptop computers.
With those factors in mind, here’s what I found, listed in order of rating and reviews from highest to lowest:
Jump to:
QuickBooks
FreshBooks
Accounting by Wave
Zoho Books
FreeAgent
Kashoo
1. QuickBooks
User rating: 4.5/5.0 Ease-of-use rating: 4.5/5.0 Reviews:14,700+ |
It’s no surprise that the big name in accounting software is available on Mac operating systems. QuickBooks has even had a desktop-only (not cloud-based) option available for Macs since at least the mid-1990s, making the company something of a pioneer for cross-platform functionality.
Now, any of QuickBooks’ cloud-based offerings will work fine on your Apple device, and Intuit even still offers a desktop version for Mac. The desktop version for Mac even has a few features designed specifically for Mac users:
- QuickBooks for Mac 2020 takes advantage of the Mojave OS Dark Mode.
- You can upload text searchable images with the iPhone scanner.
- Documents can be automatically shared through iCloud.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
QuickBooks is available on virtually every device, so whether your team has Macs, PCs, or smartphones, you know that everyone can use it together. | QuickBooks has very attractive entry-level pricing, but it doubles after three months. |
With hundreds of integrations, QuickBooks is highly customizable. | QuickBooks is an enormous company, and some reviewers find that the customer service isn’t as hands-on as they’d like. |
How much does QuickBooks cost? | |
QuickBooks Online starts at $25/month. QuickBooks Desktop for Mac is a one-time payment of $299. | |
What about the iOS app? | |
The QuickBooks iOS app has a 4.7/5 rating on more than 100,000 reviews. It allows users to create invoices, manage expenses, and view reports. |
The QuickBooks Online dashboard (Source)
2. FreshBooks
User rating: 4.5/5.0 Ease-of-use rating: 4.5/5.0 Reviews:3,000+ |
Designed specifically for small businesses and the self-employed, Toronto-based FreshBooks has been around for more than 15 years. FreshBooks also has Mac users in mind. They say that their easy-to-use accounting software works on any device—desktop, mobile, or tablet—and “plays nicely” with Mac.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Users rave over FreshBooks’ customer support, and the company stakes their reputation on it. | If your company is rapidly growing—for example, if you plan on going public—you may quickly outgrow FreshBooks. |
Even though it’s targeted at smaller companies, FreshBooks has all the important accounting features you would need, so it can handle much more than lemonade stands. | Freshbooks does a great job of keeping your books clean, but if you love forecasting and crunching numbers, it’s a little skimpy on the reporting side. |
How much does FreshBooks cost? | |
FreshBooks starts at $15 per month for five clients and goes up to $50 per month for 500 clients. *At the time of writing, FreshBooks has a fall sale of 60% off for six months on all plans. | |
What about the iOS app? | |
The FreshBooks app has a 4.8/5 rating on almost 8,000 reviews. It allows you to run invoices, record expenses, track time, and accept payments, all while you’re away from your computer. |
The Invoices dashboard in FreshBooks (Source)
3. Accounting by Wave
User rating: 4.5/5.0 Ease-of-use rating: 4.5/5.0 Reviews:800+ |
Accounting by Wave is one of the youngest tools on this list, having launched out of Toronto in 2010 before being acquired by H&R Block earlier this year. Its biggest differentiator is that it has a completely free version, as long as you don’t need to use it to accept payments or run payroll (those are optional, paid features).
So what makes Wave an attractive option specifically for Mac users? As mentioned, it’s free, so it’ll help you save for the next iPhone or MacBook upgrade. It also scores high for ease of use, making it fit in nicely with the intuitive Mac ecosystem.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
It’s free without limitations on users or transactions as long as you don’t need to accept payments or run payroll. | Wave is missing an audit trail feature, leaving it vulnerable to fraudulent employees. |
Wave offers above-average reporting features for a free tool. | The free version offers only email support, and even if you pay for payments or payroll you still only get access to chat support (no phone support). |
How much does Wave cost? | |
Wave is free. Payments are 2.9% + 30 cents per credit transaction, or 1% per bank transaction. Payroll starts at $20 per month plus $4 per employee. | |
What about the iOS app? | |
Invoice by Wave passes the user review test, clocking in at 4.6/5 with almost 2,000 reviews. It doesn’t completely replace the web version of Wave, but it does allow you to keep an eye on your business finances wherever you are. The biggest complaints that users have seem to be related to customer service, which is not unique to the app. |
Recent transactions in Accounting by Wave (Source)
4. Zoho Books
User rating: 4.5/5.0 Ease-of-use rating: 4.5/5.0 Reviews:380+ |
If you’re looking for the peace of mind of an established, international company offering Mac-friendly accounting software and you’re trying to avoid QuickBooks for whatever reason, Zoho Books might be for you. Zoho has been releasing business software since 1996, and Zoho Books is specifically tailored for Mac users, as it is designed to work with iMessage, Apple Maps, Siri, and 3D Touch. It even has an app for the Apple Watch.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Zoho Books is one of the most user-friendly options out there. In fact, it placed fourth—better than any other option on this list—on our Top 20 Most User-Friendly accounting software report earlier this year. | Zoho Books offers integrated payroll in California and Texas for now, but if you’re in any other state you’ll have to use a separate payroll app. |
Starting at $9 per month, Zoho Books is one of the best values in accounting software this side of Wave, which is free. And unlike Wave, Zoho has almost universally praised customer service. | Zoho Books is optimized for use with Zoho’s customer relationship management system, Zoho CRM, so if you’re already using a different CRM, it won’t work as efficiently. |
How much does Zoho Books cost? | |
Zoho Books starts at $9 per month or $90 per year for 50 contacts and two users and goes up to $29 per month or $290 per year for unlimited contacts, 10 users, and more features. | |
What about the iOS app? | |
As mentioned above, the Zoho Books iOS app takes full advantage of iOS-specific features such as messaging and voice assistant, and users love it, giving it a 4.7/5 rating on almost 150 reviews. While some accounting software apps have minimal features, allowing you to basically just check balances and view transactions, Zoho Books allows you to create and send invoices, manage expenses, track time, view reports, and share numbers with your accountant. |
Managing invoices in Zoho Books (Source)
5. FreeAgent
User rating: 4.5/5.0 Ease-of-use rating: 4.5/5.0 Reviews:110+ |
FreeAgent accounting software is based in the U.K. and originally designed for British businesses, but they also have versions customized for U.S. and global businesses, and the software has full multicurrency support. Like any good cloud-based software, FreeAgent works like a breeze on the Mac platform, and its iOS app is a fan favorite.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Users are quite pleased with FreeAgent’s recurring invoice and receipt scanning features, which help take repetitive tasks out of small business accounting. | FreeAgent is designed for small businesses, so if you’re growing fast, you could outgrow it relatively quickly. |
Users also have good things to say about FreeAgent’s customer service, which is available by email or phone. | FreeAgent is 50% off for your first six months, but after that it’s $24 per month, which is a little high compared to other options on this list. |
How much does FreeAgent cost? | |
FreeAgent has a flat-rate of $12 per month for everything (unlimited users and clients) for the first six months, then goes up to $24 per month after that. | |
What about the iOS app? | |
FreeAgent’s iOS app has an average rating of 4.7/5 on 20 reviews. It allows you to view your accounts, manage expenses by snapping pictures of receipts, create and send invoices, and track time. |
The main dashboard in FreeAgent accounting for iPad (Source)
6. Kashoo
User rating: 4.5/5.0 Ease-of-use rating: 4.5/5.0 Reviews:110+ |
Once you’ve stopped giggling about the name, you’ll see that Kashoo is a comprehensive accounting tool that is easy to use right from the start on any web-connected device, including Macs. One of Kashoo’s standout features is their customer support: You get free phone and web support with your subscription, which is much easier than standing in line at the Genius Bar.
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Pros | Cons |
---|---|
The free phone and web support is a real plus for those of us who like to have some expert guidance. | Kashoo integrates with Square for payments and Paychex for payroll in the U.S. (and PaymentEvolution in Canada, where it’s based) but beyond that, it doesn’t have much to offer as far as customization. |
Kashoo has a flat rate, so you get every feature in the basic plan. | Some users have reported issues syncing multiple bank accounts with Kashoo, so it’s a good thing they have easily accessible customer support. |
How much does Kashoo cost? | |
Kashoo is $19.95 per month, or $16.58 per month if you pay for an entire year up front ($199). | |
What about the iOS app? | |
Kashoo’s iOS app has a 4.3/5 rating on more than 50 reviews. It allows Kashoo users to view reports, manage and send invoices, accept payments, and scan receipts. |
The tax management interface in Kashoo (Source)
What’s your favorite accounting software for Mac?
Are you an accountant (either accidental or professional) and a power Mac user? If so, what’s your weapon of choice, whether it’s listed above or something else? (There are plenty of other options out there with iOS apps, as you can see by filtering for iOS deployment in our accounting software directory.)
I’d love to hear what you use and why you use it so I can recommend it to others. Just let me know in the comments or connect with me on Twitter @AndrewJosConrad.
Note: Listed pros and cons are derived from features listed on the product website and product user reviews on Gartner Digital Markets domains (Capterra, GetApp, and Software Advice). They do not represent the views of, nor constitute an endorsement by, Capterra or its affiliates.
Note:The applications selected in this article are examples to show a feature in context and are not intended as endorsements or recommendations. They have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable at the time of publication.
Looking for Accounting software? Check out Capterra's list of the best Accounting software solutions.
Toast POS: No. 1 In POS Software
Our score: 9.5User satisfaction: 98%POS systems are behind the entire process of running your store—from when a product arrives in your inventory to when it’s sold. As new business models and sales technologies are developed, the tide has shifted towards cloud-based systems with the boom of eCommerce. This resulted in the emergence of numerous hosted POS tools. Still, some businesses still prefer the control of having a locally-installed POS system. While the options are not as plentiful as its cloud counterparts, on-premise POS systems are still around and with plenty of choices, as you’ll discover here.
What are the top non-cloud or on-premise POS systems?
Retail and non-retail industries, basically anywhere there’s a point of sale, use one of POS software platforms to facilitate their transactions. But as today’s consumer preference shift towards eCommerce, there comes a challenge in looking for a good on-premise point of sale system due to its limited options compared to the variety of cloud-based solutions available.
When it comes to the length of software use, numerous retailers lean towards an installed POS software. This is usually the case for larger companies that face fewer risks and have invested more in their current POS infrastructure. At the same time, it’s worth noting that the popularity of on-premise POS solutions have decreased over the years, while hosted POS systems became more popular.
On-premise vs. cloud-hosted by year of purchase
Source: RSPA
In fact, a Hospitality Technology’s 2018 point of sale (POS) Software Trends Report revealed that 61% of merchants wanted to make their next POS platform to be cloud-deployed. As cloud-based POS becomes a more default option, installed POS still thrives as a solution for specific businesses.
Advantages of an On-Premise POS System
The traditional POS systems are installed on your own servers and maintained on-site. While there are challenges in this type of implementation model, you also gain a variety of advantages. For instance, the system can only be accessed on the infrastructure it’s deployed in. Hence, larger enterprises prefer the security and control of having the tool on-premise POS software.
Furthermore, here are some of the benefits of having an on-premise POS software:
- More freedom to customize. Since you essentially own the software, hardware, and data that runs the system, you can make changes as you prefer. You get more flexibility in supporting and developing custom business systems.
- No downtime. Unlike a cloud-based system, running the system doesn’t depend on internet connection. This makes it a more stable solution to ensure you can process customer transactions without hiccups.
- Deeper integrations with POS hardware. With control over the entire system, you can ensure your POS hardware devices such as barcode scanners, card readers, cash drawers, and payment devices, among others, integrate with each other seamlessly.
- Full system control. In most cases, an on-premise system is purchased on a perpetual, non-exclusive license to install and use it. With this comes the ability to maintain and modify the system as needed with the help of an internal IT team.
Factors to Consider Before Implementing an On-Premise Solution
As mentioned earlier, there are factors worth considering before diving to an on-premise solution. It’s an ideal solution for mature business models that don’t experience rapid growth as its IT infrastructure requires investment and commitment. Listed below are some aspects to be aware of:
- IT maintenance. Since you own the system, you are also responsible for maintaining it. This means requiring to have IT specialists to maintain the hardware and server software, do backups, ensure security, and take care of the entire infrastructure.
- Hardware costs. On-premise solutions require more hardware devices to be deployed—ranging from screens, printers, cash drawers, and cash payment acceptance devices, for a start.
- Upfront costs. It requires higher and more up-front investments for licensing fees compared to the subscription-based models of cloud-based POS systems as its implementation process requires installation and hardware set up. Vendor support also usually comes at additional costs.
- System upgrade. In most cases, system upgrades are an internal responsibility. While you can work on a contract with the vendor regarding upgrades, your internal IT is responsible for the planning and implementation resources used.
10 Examples of On-Premise/Installed POS Software
1. Toast
Cloud-based restaurant management platform Toast is known for providing US-based businesses with total visibility and control over all their operations. It boasts a host of features, which include CRM, credit card processing, reporting, online ordering, and labor and inventory management. Using the software is most likely to result in cost savings as it gets rid of the need for additional hardware that traditional POS requires. It has integrations with popular third-party apps through its native API.
As for the solution’s restaurant management capabilities, users can benefit from features such as time specific menu pricing, customization and set up. An ordering feature is also present, providing users with the ability to split bills and items among customers while automatically sending out notification once an order is ready.
Toast POS
Try out Toast POS with their free demo
Taking orders with Toast POS is a breeze, effectively accelerating restaurant service. Its ‘pay at the table’ feature simplifies payments, enabling users to print receipts, send emails and tip servers straight from tablet computers.
Toast POS is available in flexible and customized pricing plans. Pricing starts at $79/terminal for the software, $899 for hardware and a flat processing fee. Contact the vendor for a customized quote.
2. TouchBistro
TouchBistro is a robust POS system built for any food service with a menu, ranging from restaurants to coffee shops and bakeries. Its main features include tableside order management, floor plan and table management, mobile payment and processing, menu management, staff management and scheduling, CRM, restaurant inventory management, and reporting and analytics. It also has solutions geared towards full-service and quick-service restaurants and everything in between. The best way to evaluate the features is for you to try them.
The app’s licensing fees are more affordable compared to other products in its niche. Plans are based on the business’ layout, size, and type. For instance, a single license costs $69/user/month billed annually.
TouchBistro
Try out TouchBistro with their free trial
Since it’s locally-installed, you don’t need WiFi or internet to use the system. At the same time, it has a unique hybrid networking support that allows you to use the cloud while still being able to access reports, payments, orders, menu edits, and employee clock-ins and clock-outs offline.
Its supported hardware devices include iPad, iPad Mini, iMac, and Mac Mini Computer, among others.
3. QuickBooks POS
For a retail POS system, QuickBooks POS is a reliable choice. Some of its main capabilities include accepting payments through various methods (cash and credit cards, for a start), ringing sales manually or with a barcode scanner, tracking inventory, and elevating CRM with rewards and loyalty programs. This is also a go-to solution if you have existing QuickBooks systems as syncing is direct and seamless. Additionally, it has a new offering of working with Microsoft Surface Pro 4 tablets.
The installation of QuickBooks POS is fairly easy. Its price point is also simple: three license options are available to choose from starting from $960 for a one-time purchase. It also offers hardware that’s sold separately ranging from barcode scanners, receipt printers, EMV Ready PIN Pad, and cash drawers, among others.
4. NCR Counterpoint
NCR Counterpoint is one of the older and popular on-premise POS systems in the market. Aside from point of sale, it includes features such as inventory management, automated purchasing, and configurable reports. It’s known for its large selection of functionalities to provide solutions for your needs. The platform also connects the front- and back-end offices seamlessly as a specialty retail management system.
It’s a good choice for a multi-site, omnichannel solution that’s equipped with the current retail concepts. The system is touch-enabled and its POS machines and terminals are optimized for any size of retailer business. The hardware can also be used by non-NCR Counterpoint users. Meanwhile, the system supports installation only for Microsoft Windows.
5. AccuPOS
AccuPOS offers POS solutions that are both simple and advanced, depending on your business’ needs. For a start, it’s a robust system that automates accounting with its integration with QuickBooks and Sage. It also offers a wide range of customizability such as enabling you to buy hardware bundles from AccuPOS or use your own compatible hardware. Since the system is scalable, you can easily add terminals and devices as your business grows and you open more locations. Like NCR Counterpoint, AccuPOS supports Window desktops (back-end and front-end). It’s ideal for retailers, restaurants, counter services, and bars, among others.
6. IncoPOS
IncoPOS developed its product with users in mind, especially small and medium businesses. Hence, it created a POS system that delivers a consistent quality no matter your device—whether it’s Mac, Windows, or Linux. It’s able to do so while maintaining ease of use and intuitiveness at an affordable price point for SMBs.
Another great thing about IncoPOS is its low system requirements. With that, slower computers that are running on low system resources (such as Windows 7 and Mac OS X 10.6 or later) can run the newer system. For every workstation, pricing starts from $99/year. Each license, available as subscription-based, can be used in a single system to add features and to renew or extend the license.
7. InfoGenesis POS
InfoGenesis POS is preferred by many users because of its ease of use. Any type of user, both new and inexperienced ones, can easily comprehend and figure out their way around the system. This is due to the intuitive interface that simplifies navigation and customizability based on your needs.
The product is available on flexible deployment options, and it comes as a traditional on-site software deployment. It specializes in next-generation hospitality technology with solutions for food service, retail businesses, and restaurants. It suits environments where their cashiers move from outlet to outlet within their shifts.
8. GoFrugal POS
GoFrugal POS is a robust all-in-one POS solution created for a wide range of industries, specifically retail, restaurants, and distribution. Its main features focus on automation, measurement, management, and growth. Since it supports a wide range of industries, it has various product editions you can choose from—Starter, Standard, and Professional.
Specific solutions are also available under its three main industry categories to ensure the tool provides solutions specifically for your organization’s needs. Additionally, it has Hybrid HQ for real-time monitoring of retail and restaurant businesses as it’s a centralized multi-store management solution.
9. Paladin POS
Paladin POS is an on-premise system built for small and medium-sized businesses. Some of its core features include order management, discount management, inventory management, and CRM. The tool runs on Microsoft Windows. While it’s locally-installed, its cloud server allows your multiple stores to communicate through its Multi Site solution.
For the on-site installation, Paladin POS sends a team member to your location to set up the system. This includes data conversion if you’re using an old POS system, hardware set up, and training conducted by on-site experts until the schedule of your system to go-live. Meanwhile, its pricing scheme is for a monthly subscription.
Postscript to POS: Businesses Moving to the Cloud
Are there any non-cloud based POS system around? While not as plenty as web-based POS systems, yes, there are non-cloud based ones. In this article, we listed 10 on-premise point-of-sale software solutions that are worth looking into if it matches your margin sensitivity, budget, IT sophistication, and business needs, among other factors. For more products to choose from, you may also check out the 15 best POS software systems for small business including both cloud-based and on-premise POS solutions.
While on-premise POS software systems aren’t going away anytime soon, the market trends show hosted POS systems are increasingly becoming the go-to choice. This is due to the shifting preference of many businesses to cloud-based POS systems, especially with its ability to function on mobile devices. This is where the traditional POS software systems are outshined. Cloud solutions are more adaptive to change which is a vital factor to consider as today’s business cycles rapidly change.
Non Cloud Based Accounting Software For Mac Os
Synergy Research Group, in a 2018 report, showed that the SaaS market grew by 32% during the first quarter of the year, reaching a total value of $20 billion. Additionally, the rate of cloud adoption—ranging from POS, eCommerce, sales and marketing, and business intelligence, among others—has been increasing significantly according to the 2018 IDG Cloud Computing Study. The report also revealed that 77% of enterprises have at least one application or some portion of their infrastructure in the cloud. Large businesses were also planning to spend $3.5 million on cloud-based software while most executives in technology-run sectors are pushing for 100% cloud adoption.
What are the factors that contributed to this shift? You may read this comparison of cloud-based and on-premise POS systems to better understand the differences between the two that lead users to choose one over the other.
Non Cloud Based Accounting Software For Mac Computers
Still, on-premise POS systems have their advantages as we’ve pointed out above. In fact, sometimes choosing the right platform may not be a case of the mode of deployment, but going for the most reliable vendor for you.