Not just limited to paper and pencil or Excel spreadsheets, Mip Accounting Software For Nonprofits is accounting software designed specifically for nonprofit organizations. It is free accounting software with a full payroll module which includes W-2s and 1099s, as well as year-end tax efiling. Throw out the old clunky software your organization once relied on, and instead choose a more modern alternative that is significantly easier to use.
We make it easy for you to compare best free accounting software for nonprofits 2020 with each other. This report is designed to help you get the details on features, pricing and customer reviews to help you choose the best accounting software.
ACCOUNTS from Software4Nonprofits
For small organizations like churches or community organizations, we selected ACCOUNTS as the best accounting software. It’s affordable and easy to use, with all of the necessary features you need to track income and expenses and create reports.Pros
- 60-day free trial and 30-day money back guarantee
- The standard version costs just $130 for the first year
- The program can be used for the accounting of multiple organizations (up to 5) at no additional cost
Cons
- The desktop program can only be used on Windows
- You have to purchase a separate donation program to track donors
- Only one user can do data entry at a time with the standard version
ACCOUNTS through Software4Nonprofits is a program offered by Cooperstock Software, a small company based in Canada. The company was founded by the treasurer of a religious finance committee because he had difficulties finding software that met his needs. He created ACCOUNTS as an alternative to the more expensive and complex accounting programs available at the time.
ACCOUNTS is an easy-to-use platform designed specifically for small organizations and churches who need basic bookkeeping and accounting services. The program allows you to track income and expenses, track fund balances, associate accounts with lines on your IRS tax forms, and create detailed reports.
If you’re responsible for managing the accounting for multiple organizations, such as the school PTA and your child’s sports team, you can use the software to handle the accounting for both at no additional cost.
The standard version of ACCOUNTS is $130 for the first year. After that, it costs $65 per year. You can try ACCOUNTS for free for 60 days, and you can download the free version online. ACCOUNTS also has a 30-day guarantee if you purchase the program. If you’re not satisfied with your purchase and no longer intend to use it, the company will give you a full refund.
Unfortunately, ACCOUNTS was designed for Microsoft Windows and the desktop version is only available for that operating system. However, there is a cloud-based, browser version called OnDemand that works on most platforms including Mac. Under the standard version, only one user can do data entry at a time. If you upgrade to the local network version—which costs $220 for the first year—up to five users can access the database at once.
If you want to track donations and donor information, you’ll need to purchase additional software. Cooperstock Software offers another program called DONATIONS, which is free if you have 100 donors or less per year. Larger organizations will need the paid version of DONATIONS.
ACCOUNTS has a 4.7-star rating on Capterra.3
Aplos: Best nonprofit-specific
Best nonprofit-specific accounting softwareAplos
4.0
- Starting at $59.00/mo.
Fund accounting
Limited multi-currency support
Donation tracking and support
Data as of 6/18/21. Offers and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.
Aplos’s software has been nonprofit and church-specific since day one. It’s grounded in fund-based accounting, so you don’t need to customize your software’s built-in general ledger for nonprofit-specific accounting needs. Aplos Suite, which starts at $59 a month, includes a full range of features that work for nonprofit and church accounting alike:
- Donor management (CRM software)
- Automated donation receipts, thank-you emails, and donation reminders
- Fundraising campaign management
- Secure online donor portal
- 1099, 990-N, and 990-EZ tax form preparation
If you’re interested in text-to-donate capabilities, you can upgrade to Aplos Suite + Text to Give at $79 a month. And if you own a larger nonprofit with multiple ongoing projects, Aplos’s customized solutions start at $154 a month.
Unfortunately, while Aplos’s nonprofit features stand out, its accounting features are more limited. Only the customized plan includes in-depth income and expense tracking, budgeting by project or fund, asset tracking, and recurring transactions.
Cougar Mountain
Nonprofit Accounting Software Overview
With their extensive and scalable accounting software, Cougar Mountain helps nonprofits save time and money.
Users can create custom reports and modify existing reports if needed.
Other features include integrated modules, one-step backups, and bank reconciliation.
Why We Love this Nonprofit Accounting Software
Cougar Mountain’s “pay-as-you-go” pricing makes it easy for smaller nonprofits to manage their accounting needs.
Pricing of this Nonprofit Accounting Software
Cougar Mountain has three packages based on nonprofit size and capacity.
Learn more about Cougar Mountain
Fund E-Z
Nonprofit Accounting Software Overview
For over 20 years, Fund E-Z has provided superior customer service to nonprofits of all shapes and sizes.
Their comprehensive nonprofit accounting software has features such as automatic backups, crash protection, auditing features, and more!
Why We Love this Nonprofit Accounting Software
Fund E-Z is extremely simple to set up and use.
Pricing of this Nonprofit Accounting Software
Call Fund E-Z or visit their website for a quote and to place an order.
GMS
Nonprofit Accounting Software Overview
For over 30 years, GMS has been a leading accounting and financial management solution for nonprofit organizations.
Their software is designed to meet the highly specialized needs of nonprofit organizations accounting for contracts and grants.
Organizations that use GMS will be compliant with FASB 116 and 117, the Financial Accounting Standards Board requirements that all nonprofits must follow.
Why We Love this Nonprofit Accounting Software
GMS has been in business for over three decades, making them an authority on nonprofit accounting software.
Pricing of this Nonprofit Accounting Software
Visit GMS’s website for a quote for your nonprofit’s specific needs.
NonprofitPlus
Nonprofit Accounting Software Overview
NonprofitPlus’s accounting software is built for nonprofits looking to get a handle on fund accounting and management, budget checking, grant management, and board management.
Features of their software include reporting and budget checking, management of restricted funds, flexible deployment and licensing, and scalability.
Why We Love this Nonprofit Accounting Software
Each package comes with functional customizations and built-in security features.
Pricing of this Nonprofit Accounting Software
Go to NonprofitPlus’s website for a quote for your organization.
Conclusion
Mip Accounting is a free nonprofit accounting software that opens up so many opportunities for nonprofit organizations with no fees, no tracking, and no restrictions at all. Because of the free license, there are absolutely no costs and zero risks in putting Mip to work.