Accounting Software Reviews

The reviews below are assigned ratings by ConsumerSearch. These ratings are based on credibility in testing, evaluating and identifying the best Accounting Software. See our ratings criteria

For recommendations of best Accounting Software, see our Fast Answers page, which summarizes what these reviews say. A longer summary and analysis appears in our Full Story report for Accounting Software. Our Where to Buy page contains information on retailers and Accounting Software prices.

Where to Buy

Fast Answers

Full Story

All Reviews

Accounting Software Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Accounting Software Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. CNet.com	Accounting and Software Reviews Editors of CNet.com As of Jan. 2008		These concise, highly informative reviews clearly give the nod to Quicken 2008 over Money. The reviews talk about the good, the bad and the bottom line. Extra attention is given to the new features that come with each 2008 version of Quicken or Money. The newest version of Quicken Premier 2008 is "a solid finance package and a great choice for novices," but the editors didn't find a "compelling reason to upgrade from the 2007 version." Still, editors note that all Quicken versions now work with more than 5,300 online financial institutions, offer improved features and interface navigation and a desktop bill alert.
2. PC World >> Details/Subscribe	First Look: Business Tools Help Quicken Edge Out Money Plus Yardena Arar Sept. 21, 2007		According to PC World's Yardena Arar, Quicken 2008 Home & Business edges out Money Plus, mostly because of its overall features such as a new tagging tool for grouping expenses. Money just added the ability to attach electronic documents, which Quicken has done for years, adds Arar. Neither program gets excessive praise, but Arar commends Quicken for letting users download transaction data for three years after you buy the software, while Microsoft wants you to upgrade Money every two years to maintain online services.

Accounting Software Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Accounting Software Ratings Comments on Reviews

3. About.com	Quicken vs. Microsoft Money Shelley Elmblad Not Dated		This review by Shelley Elmblad, About.com's Guide to Financial Software, compares the 2008 versions of Quicken and Money. The article covers lots of ground: navigation, account registers, file attachments, investments, desktop gadgets, ads and sunset policies. The article does not provide ratings or opinions about which package is superior, but the comparisons are helpful when you're looking for specific features. Links lead to full reviews for each of the two main financial software programs; those detailed write-ups compare the 2008 versions to 2007 versions. (Note that ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com.)

Accounting Software Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Accounting Software Ratings Comments on Reviews

4. About.com	Quicken 2008 Review Shelley Elmblad Not Dated		Here, About.com's Shelley Elmblad compares the most recent version of Quicken to its predecessors. Performance and usability issues are discussed, as are the various improvements included in Quicken 2008. Elmblad's conclusion is that while there's no compelling reason for Quicken 2007 users to upgrade this year, there are enough improvements in both Quicken 2008 and Quicken 2007 to make it worthwhile for Quicken 2006 users to upgrade now rather than wait until it becomes mandatory in 2009. (Note that ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com.)
5. About.com	Microsoft Money Plus for 2008 Review Shelley Elmblad Not Dated		This article compares Microsoft Money Plus for 2008 to earlier versions of Microsoft's personal financial software. The discussion is not as detailed as Shelley Elmblad's look at Quicken 2008 (above), but does answer the question of whether you should upgrade. Despite some added bells and whistles, Elmblad finds little compelling reason for users of Microsoft Money 2007 to make the jump, however it is recommended for users of earlier versions. (Note that ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com.)
6. Amazon.com	Personal Finance Software Contributors to Amazon.com As of Jan. 2008		There are several reviews for Quicken 2008 products on Amazon.com, and many of them are surprisingly negative. As with almost any new software, there are some bugs to work out and data to import, and the users commenting here are on the frontline. Most are already Quicken users and the most common complaint is that this upgrade is minor and adds few new features. However, several others say that the software loads easily and that it's easy to use. The same goes for Microsoft Money products. Most of the negative comments are from existing users (almost all new users are happy), and they range from problems with bugs to lots of complaints about the lack of new features added in this upgrade. The most common complaint is a fact pointed out by the experts yet again this year: unless you really dig, it's difficult to find the added value of the 2008 versions, but too easy to experience the glitches inherent to new software.
7. Macworld >> Details/Subscribe	Moneydance 2007 Jeffrey Battersby Dec. 2007		This thorough review states that Moneydance 2007 "is a viable and worthwhile alternative to Quicken." Though the program has a few minor quirks, says reviewer Jeffery Battersby, it offers every feature you need to track and manage money. There are excellent graphing and reporting tools and a checkbook ledger-like interface for adding new transactions. Category entry is not easy, though, notes Battersby. Moneydance 2007 is the current version, but Moneydance 2008 is expected to be released shortly.
8. Money.com >> Details/Subscribe	The Best Personal-Finance software David Futrelle Aug. 30, 2007		This article provides a brief overview of David Futrelle's top picks in personal finance software. Though he didn't test the 2008 versions, Futrelle likes both Quicken and Microsoft. He says they offer many versions with varying features that can simplify your finances. He also recommends AceMoney if you're looking for a simpler, low-cost alternative. He says that for Mac users, Moneydance is a passable alternative to Quicken's offerings, saying that it's "sleek and simple to use." None of the software is compared in any depth, though.

Accounting Software Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Accounting Software Ratings Comments on Reviews

9. The Wall Street Journal >> Details/Subscribe	Financial Software Makes Move To Web Lee Gomes Oct. 23, 2007		Lee Gomes' thesis is that "everyday pieces of software" such as Quicken or Money can now found online. He interviewed the head of Mint.com, chosen by web developers as the best new company. Mint's CEO Aaron Patzer believes that his site offers two main advantages over desktop software: leveraging the web by pulling in data from other sources and constantly changing and upgrading software online weekly. Desktop software packages are usually upgraded once a year. Patzer's conclusion is that in three to five years, all "your core applications will be online." No other web services are mentioned and Mint isn't rated.
10. The New York Times >> Details/Subscribe	A MapQuest for Our Money Michelle Slatalla Nov. 22, 2007		In this review, Michelle Slatalla describes her experiences with Mint.com, an online personal finance site. She says that Mint.com did the job of gathering information from various accounts quickly and seamlessly, and organized everything in a simple manner. The result is that "I now am obsessed with micromanaging our money," Slatalla writes. However, the review does not compare Mint.com to other money management websites or software products.

Accounting Software Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Accounting Software Ratings Comments on Reviews

11. Epinions	Software -- Home and Lifestyle Contributors to Epinions As of Jan. 2008		Shoppers for personal financial software won't find very much enlightenment here. Versions of Quicken and Money are scattered among a host of other types of software, making them hard to find without searching. In addition, the current editions of Quicken and Money have no feedback at all as of our last visit, and even the older editions have just a handful of user reviews at best.