Pilot Alternatives & Competitors

Well, it’s no secret that outsourcing your bookkeeping is more economical than hiring an in-house accountant.

However, how can you find an ideal bookkeeping service to use? It all comes down to what the business needs and the available solutions.

Pilot is one of the best bookkeeping services, offering an all-rounded accounting solution. However, we know not every business will find its services comprehensive enough.

So, we researched the 7 best Pilot alternatives

1. Bookkeeper360

Best for: Startups and growing businesses that need weekly bookkeeping through a dedicated manager.

Pricing: $125/hr to $549/mo

Bookkeeper360 is a bookkeeping software that entrepreneurs can use to reconcile their account financials.

Features

• CFO advisory – SMEs can access the CFO advisory at $1000. It is a service that gives you  access to a team of CPAs. The professionals analyze your company books and guide entrepreneurs in developing growth strategies.
• Dedicated bookkeeper – After signing up for Bookkeeper360, entrepreneurs access a dedicated bookkeeper. The work of the CPAs is to help you develop a strategy that fits your business and reconciles financials.
• HR and payroll – It is a service that helps SMEs process their staff payroll, including W-2s, benefits, and 1099s. Bookkeeper360 also allows the integration of payroll systems like Gusto.
• Integrations – Bookkeeper360 integrates with Xero and QuickBooks, which comes in handy in tracking accounting metrics. Not only that, both software offers SMEs next-day funding.

Bookkeeper360 Vs Pilot

Criteria	Bookkeeper360	Pilot
Best For	Small and medium enterprises	Small to mid-sized enterprises
Standout Feature	CFO advisory	Sales tax management
Pricing	$125/hr to $549/mo	$499/mo – $699/mo

Conclusion

Bookkeeper360 suits startups that struggle with bookkeeping and need hands-on support on their weekly financials.

Schedule a call with Bookkeeper360

Schedule a call with Bookkeeper360

2. Bench

Best for: Freelancers and SMEs that have simple accounting financials

Pricing: $249/mo – $349/mo

Bench is an online accounting service that provides tax filing and bookkeeping for solopreneurs and startups.

Features

• Integrations – Bench integrates with dozens of platforms, including payroll systems like Gusto. It comes in handy in helping SMEs manage payroll, where it automates filing W-2s.
• Catch-up bookkeeping – SMBs that have overdue books can request catchup bookkeeping. However, the service comes at an extra cost of $199 monthly. The good thing is that it helps avoid missing tax filing due dates.
• Dedicated bookkeeper – When a freelancer or SME signs up to Bench, they get access to a dedicated bookkeeper. The CPA acts as a guide on how Bench works and as a point of contact when issues arise.
• Month-long trial period – Bench offers a 30-day trial period to users who sign up for the service. During the trial period, businesses can access services and features that can help them reconcile their financials.

Bench Vs Pilot

Criteria	Bench	Pilot
Best For	SMBs and freelancers	Small to mid-sized enterprises
Standout Feature	Tax consulting	Sales tax management
Pricing	$249/mo – $349/mo	$499/mo – $699/mo

Conclusion

SMBs that lack an in-house accountant will find Bench ideal since it provides a team of experts, including a tax consultant.

3. Botkeeper

Best for: Professional CPAs and accounting firms that need to automate accounting pipelines and get better financial analysis.

Pricing: $155/mo – $251/mo

Botkeeper is an accounting automation software that uses AI and ML to provide businesses with bookkeeping services.

Features

• Data management and security – Botkeeper has a streamlined file management system where it organizes them in folders and tags. The system also backs the data to the AWS cloud and applies 256-bit encryption.
• Reporting – It allows entrepreneurs to generate custom reports that give a 360-degree view of their books. It can include the P&L, inventory, and more.
• Automated bookkeeping – It uses ML and AI to automate bookkeeping processes like reconciliation and reporting. Experts also review the data to ensure it’s accurate and error-free.  
• Dashboard – It provides a user-friendly dashboard that displays all the bookkeeping metrics. The software also allows sharing the dashboard with a client and gives access permissions.

Botkeeper Vs Pilot

Criteria	Botkeeper	Pilot
Best For	Accounting firms and professional CPAs	Small to mid-sized enterprises
Standout Feature	Automated bookkeeping	Sales tax management
Pricing	$155/mo – $251/mo	$499/mo – $699/mo

Conclusion

Botkeeper fits accounting firms and professional CPAs that need to automate their bookkeeping processes.

4. QuickBooks Live

Best for: Freelancers and all business types needing hands-on bookkeeping support.

Pricing: $200/mo

QuickBooks Live is a bookkeeping service that helps businesses categorize their accounts and reconcile their books.

Features

• Dedicated Bookkeeper – Signing up for the service and providing your business details allows the platform to match you with a dedicated CPA. Entrepreneurs also have access to a bookkeeping team in case of rising issues.
• Data importation – The platform allows you to import any historical transactions your business has conducted onto the software. 
• Customer support – Businesses get unlimited customer support on QuickBooks Live through email, live chat, and phone. Not only that, but it also has extensive self-help resources in articles, guides, and more.
• End-month trial balance – The dedicated accountant will close your account books monthly and prepare a trial balance to ensure accuracy.

QuickBooks Live Vs Pilot

Criteria	QuickBooks Live	Pilot
Best For	Freelancers and SMEs	Small to mid-sized enterprises
Standout Feature	Dedicated bookkeeper	Sales tax management
Pricing	$200/mo	$499/mo – $699/mo

Conclusion

Freelancers who have messed up books will find QuickBooks Live ideal because it offers hands-on support on their accounts.

Schedule your free QuickBooks Live consultation!

Free QuickBooks live consultation

5. Xendoo

Best for: Ecommerce, professional CPAs, and franchises that need an all-rounded accounting software.

Pricing: $395/mo – $995/mo

Xendoo is a bookkeeping platform that targets SMEs to help them file taxes and reconcile their books.

Features

• Ecommerce integration – Businesses on marketplaces like Shopify, Amazon, and WooCommerce can easily integrate with Xendoo.
• Dedicated CPA – Signing up to the platform and providing your business details allows the platform to assign a dedicated bookkeeper. They act as a point of contact and a guide in account reconciliation matters.
• Catch-up bookkeeping – Offered as a standalone service priced at $295 monthly, businesses with overdue books can request this service to update the books. 
• Money-back guarantee – After signing up, users get a month-long money-back guarantee if the services don’t serve them well.

Xendoo Vs Pilot

Criteria	Xendoo	Pilot
Best For	Professional CPAs, franchises, and ecommerce	Small to mid-sized enterprises
Standout Feature	Payroll and ecommerce integration	Sales tax management
Pricing	$395/mo – $995/mo	$499/mo – $699/mo

Conclusion

Franchises and ecommerce businesses will find Xendoo ideal because it offers extensive integrations, tax consulting, and more.

6. Fincent

Best for: SMEs and freelancers that need a tailored bookkeeping solution for their financial accounts.

Pricing: $199/mo – $1,049/mo

Fincent is a bookkeeping platform that helps businesses streamline and simplify their finances.

Features

• Intuitive dashboard – Fincent offers a dashboard that acts as a central hub for all activities. It makes it easy for a bookkeeper to review all transactions that happen in real-time.
• Detailed reporting – It offers in-depth reporting where businesses can access their tax-ready financial data to analyze expenditures and view profit trends. 
• Headsup – It is a feature that entrepreneurs can use to track their financials, including overdue invoices, in real-time on the dashboard.
• Integration of payment gateways – Unlike most accounting software, Fincent integrates with Stripe. It comes in handy in collecting online payments from customers. It also simplifies creating and sharing invoices to track all transactions easily.

Fincent Vs Pilot

Criteria	Fincent	Pilot
Best For	SMEs and freelancers	Small to mid-sized enterprises
Standout Feature	Stripe integration	Sales tax management
Pricing	$199/mo – $1,049/mo	$499/mo – $699/mo

Conclusion

SMEs looking for a custom bookkeeping solution to help them fix their books will find Fincent ideal.

7. 1-800Accountant

Best for: SMEs and non-profits looking for an all-rounded accounting solution.

Pricing: $139/mo – $399/mo

1-800Accountant is a comprehensive bookkeeping platform providing businesses with entity formation, bookkeeping services, and tax filing capabilities.

Features

• Catchup Bookkeeping – Businesses running behind on their books can request a catch-up booking service. It is a custom service that requires first contacting customer support.
• Detailed Reporting – Businesses can customize the reporting data on their account financials, whether journal entries, balance sheets, or ledgers.
• Entity Formation – An entrepreneur can use 1-800Accountant services to form an LLC or corporation where they will prepare and file paperwork with the state. The platform also offers post-incorporation services at a fee, like a registered agent, EIN, and more.
• Dedicated CPA – A subscription to any of the packages gives access to a dedicated accountant. The good thing is they’re knowledgeable in multiple industries and services.

1-800Accountant Vs Pilot

Criteria	1-800Accountant	Pilot
Best For	SMBs and non-profits	Small to mid-sized enterprises
Standout Feature	Entity formation	Sales tax management
Pricing	$139/mo – $399/mo	$499/mo – $699/mo

Conclusion

Entrepreneurs looking to form an LLC in any US state and have an accounting service to help streamline their books will find this service ideal.

Schedule your free call today!

Schedule a call with 1-800Accountant

Which Pilot alternative should you use?

Pilot offers one of the best accounting services that small to mid-sized enterprises will find suitable. Besides its bookkeeping service, it provides tax consulting, CFO advisory, and more. 

However, one thing to consider when using Pilot is that businesses have different needs, and this service may not fulfill every demand.

We recommend these 7 best pilot alternatives because each has a unique service. So, sign up for one of these platforms that suits your bookkeeping needs and budget.

Recap of the Pilot alternatives

1. Bookkeeper360
2. Bench
3. Botkeeper
4. QuickBooks Live
5. Xendoo
6. Fincent
7. 1-800Accountant