Best Mac Accounting Software
Best Mac Accounting Software: Moneyworks and Quickbooks Online
You can use accounting software on a MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, and so on. But where there used to be Mac and PC software, there’s almost no difference between them now that cloud-based software that works in any browser is becoming more and more popular.
It would be much harder to find accounting software that doesn’t work on your Mac than to find a program that only works on Macs. More than 100 million people use Macs daily, so if you found an accounting program that didn’t work with Macs, that would be reason enough to worry.
Mac users have more than one good choice. Some of them have built-in apps that let you update your finances while you’re on the go. Choosing one depends on which one has the best features, how much it costs, and how well it fits with the way you work.
Why might a small business choose Mac?
People often think that creative people are more likely to use Mac computers. It’s partly true because the Mac has many built-in tools and a wide range of software that make life easier for designers and people in other creative jobs. But Apple computers might be good for some kinds of small businesses. Like running a business on a PC, running a business on a Mac has its pros and cons regarding business software, such as accounting software.
But first, let’s talk about what makes Apple computers different from other PCs.
The Apple operating system, macOS, is easy to use. It makes office work much easier macOS doesn’t assume that users have to know much about technology to use it well.
It’s true that a lot of software for designers and other creative types was made for macOS first, which can make them very loyal to the brand.
Mac computers have good security measures, making them harder to hack. So, a business dealing with sensitive information, like financial data, might use Mac smartly.
Macs are usually more expensive than devices of the same class from other brands, but they require less maintenance, are more reliable, and are easier to fix when they break.
Different kinds of accounting software for Mac
Before we compare the best accounting software for Mac, let’s look at the different kinds of Mac accounting software and what you should pay attention to when choosing the right one.
Accounting software for Mac can be installed on your computer, in the cloud, or on the web, and it can be free, cost a one-time fee, or be a subscription service.

- QuickBooks Online
QuickBooks Online is an accounting program for freelancers and small businesses. It can make all of your accounting tasks easier. Up to five people can use the app at the same time. On the other hand, only a few functions can be used by an unlimited number of users. Small business owners, accountants, bookkeepers, and finance officers all use the product, which shows that it works.
Your business profile is automatically linked to a single dashboard where multiple users can see your reports and company accounts. The solution lets you make trade, profit, loss sheets, billing, and invoices that you can access from your phone. You can make your reports and feeds with the dashboard. It works well with QuickBooks, Intuit GoPayment, and Online Payroll.
There are different ways to pay for QuickBooks Online. A free trial lets you try out the app before buying it.
The A/R and A/P system in QuickBooks Online is great and works well for small businesses. You can manage invoices, turn expenses into bills, add items that can be charged to customers’ invoices, and keep track of payments.
QuickBooks Online makes linking your bank accounts and credit cards easy and smooth. For reconciliation, you can also bring in transactions from your bank accounts. If you don’t want to connect your bank account, you can still do bank reconciliation by entering the ending bank statement balance and matching transactions manually.
Through QuickBooks Live, people who use QuickBooks Online can get help with their books. You can pay extra to have a dedicated bookkeeper help you sort transactions, fix your records, and look at your month-end financial statements.
Since at least the mid-1990s, QuickBooks has had a desktop-only (not cloud-based) option for Macs. It makes the company a leader in cross-platform functionality.
Any cloud-based version of QuickBooks will work fine on your Apple device, and Intuit still has a desktop version for Mac. Even more, the desktop version for Mac has some features that are only for Mac users:
- QuickBooks uses the Dark Mode in the Mojave OS for Mac 2020.
- With the iPhone scanner, you can upload images that can be searched by text.
- Through iCloud, files can be shared automatically.
- QuickBooks works on almost every device, so whether your team uses Macs, PCs, or smartphones, you can be sure everyone can use it simultaneously.
- QuickBooks is very flexible because it can connect to hundreds of other programs.

- The MoneyWorks Gold 7
If you’ve been using Mac accounting software for a while, you probably already know about QuickBooks and AccountEdge, two of the more popular programs. MoneyWorks Gold, from Cognito Software, is the one app you probably haven’t heard of but should have. MoneyWorks Gold is a good, full-featured business accounting program that works on both Macs and PCs, can be connected to a network, and can be used by more than one person at a time.
MoneyWorks Features
- Cashbook for payments and receipts
- General ledger database for products
- Manage contacts with customers and suppliers
- Set up repeating transactions
- Compare actual results to planned ones
- Change the way entry screens and lists look.
- Pick lists to make it easy to enter data.
- Search and sort data quickly. Email receipts, bills, and statements
- Output directly to PDF, Office, and iWork; import bank statements
- Point-and-click bank balances
- Sticky notes can help you get things in order.
- It makes it easy to access all your business information and allows you to share it with Mac and PC users on your network.
- Has an interface that looks like a flowchart. It is similar to what AccountEdge and QuickBooks use for Mac. The application interface comprises a sidebar with links to MoneyWorks’s collection of financial tools and a larger main window with a flowchart that changes depending on what you choose in the sidebar. As with both AccountEdge and QuickBooks 2014, the flowchart tries to show how different business activities are related. It makes all of these applications look a little more interesting, but I’ve rarely used a flowchart to figure out how the different parts of a business relate to each other.
Most of the tools you’ll often use are in the navigation bar’s “Day-to-Day” section. Here, you can make quotes, sales orders, and invoices, balance your bank accounts, make and receive purchase order items, and look at your accounts payable. Each of these tasks can also be done in other parts of the app, and if you choose a different Navigation option, you can get to a complete set of tools and features. When you choose Items and Inventory, for example, you can use tools to receive stock on items you’ve ordered, see a list of all the stock you have on hand, and make new stock items from things you already have in stock.
There are just under 100 reports in MoneyWorks, such as sales tax reports for Canada and VAT reports for the UK. You can make your reports if none of the ones that come with the application meet your needs. Once you have chosen a navigation area, you can get reports from either the Reports menu or the main application window. For example, if you click on Chart of Accounts in the navigation sidebar, you can find links to several reports that have to do with accounts.
Final Words
When choosing accounting software for your Mac, you might want to put your business needs first. So, when you look at the features offered, you’ll think about them in terms of what your business needs. You might want to consider your business, how much business you do, and what information you need for accounting and financial statements. How well you get along with your accountants may also affect your chosen accounting software. Do you have a full-time accountant working for you? Do you like to keep your books, use a CPA for financial advice, and file taxes? As many small businesses do, do you hire a CPA firm to handle your accounting? If you answer these questions, you may be able to figure out what Mac accounting software is best for your business.
Before making a choice, we also want you to look into the other options on the list. They might work better for the way you work or have more features that match what you need. Businesses need accounting software, but you need to take the time to figure out which one will meet the needs of your business. Take advantage of the free trials and see if the platform makes it easier for people to work together remotely. Since COVID-19, most professionals now work from home.