Zipbooks

What is ZipBooks

ZipBooks is cloud-based accounting and invoicing software designed for small businesses, freelancers, and independent professionals. It combines core bookkeeping functions — invoicing, payments, bank connection and reconciliation, expense tracking, and basic financial reports — into a single web application and native mobile experience. The interface is intentionally simplified compared with enterprise accounting packages, prioritizing fast invoicing, easy payment collection, and practical reporting for users who do not need advanced accounting complexity.

ZipBooks supports essential workflows for managing receivables and payables, tracking time and projects, and collaborating with accountants or teammates. It integrates bank and card feeds to simplify reconciliation and uses rules and auto-categorization to reduce manual entry. The product is positioned for businesses that need a lightweight accounting system that still covers the primary operational needs of invoicing, payments, and monthly bookkeeping.

For feature details, see ZipBooks' feature descriptions on their official site: their product features page describes the available modules and integrations.

ZipBooks features

ZipBooks provides a focused set of features intended to cover day-to-day bookkeeping, billing, and small business reporting. The platform emphasizes ease of use and automations to reduce repetitive tasks.

What does ZipBooks do?

ZipBooks enables businesses to create and send invoices and estimates, accept credit card and ACH payments, and reconcile bank and card accounts. Users can track time by project and employee or contractor, convert billable time to invoices, and record expenses with receipt attachments. Reporting features include profit and loss, balance sheet, accounts receivable aging, and customized reports using tags.

The product automates routine work through transaction auto-categorization, recurring invoices, and scheduled reminders for unpaid invoices. Team collaboration and permission management allow owners to share access with accountants, bookkeepers, or contractors and limit access to financial data where appropriate.

ZipBooks also offers mobile-optimized workflows to create invoices, capture receipts, and log payments while away from the desk. For specifics on bank connections and mobile support, review their bank connection and mobile capabilities on the official site.

Key feature areas include:

• Invoicing and estimates: Customizable invoice templates, logo inclusion, recurring invoices, and automated reminders.
• Payments: Integrated card and ACH processing to accept payments directly on invoices.
• Banking and reconciliation: Daily transaction pulls from connected accounts plus reconciliation workflows.
• Time and project tracking: Project/task organization, time entry, and one-click conversion of billable time to invoices.
• Tags and reporting: Custom tags for departments, locations, or projects and reporting based on those tags.
• Team access controls: Permissions to restrict or grant access to billing, reports, and time tracking.

For developers and integrators, ZipBooks publishes information about integrations and programmatic access on their site; consult their integration and developer resources for up-to-date technical details.

ZipBooks pricing

ZipBooks offers flexible pricing tailored to different business needs, from individual users to small teams and enterprises. Their pricing structure typically includes monthly and annual billing options with discounts for yearly commitments; plan tiers vary by feature set such as invoicing volume, advanced reports, payment processing rates, and dedicated support.

Commonly offered plan categories used by accounting SaaS providers and represented on ZipBooks include:

• Free Plan: entry-level features for basic invoicing, limited reports, and payment acceptance for very small businesses or sole proprietors.
• Starter: expanded invoicing and basic automation, additional reporting, and time tracking capabilities for growing freelancers or microbusinesses.
• Professional: expanded accounting reports, project and time management, advanced automations, and priority support for established small businesses.
• Enterprise: custom onboarding, advanced security and compliance options, multi-user administrative controls, and account management for larger teams.

ZipBooks offers competitive pricing designed for different team sizes and use cases; exact monthly and yearly prices, discounts for annual billing, and merchant processing fees are available on their official pricing information. Check ZipBooks' current pricing options for plan-by-plan details and to compare monthly vs annual savings. Visit their official pricing page for the most current information.

How much is ZipBooks per month

ZipBooks offers competitive pricing plans with monthly billing available for most tiers; monthly rates depend on the chosen plan and the number of users or added services such as payroll or merchant services. For precise monthly rates and any current promotions, review ZipBooks' monthly plan breakdown.

How much is ZipBooks per year

ZipBooks offers annual billing options that typically provide a discount compared with monthly billing. Annual pricing varies by plan tier and included features; consult ZipBooks' official pricing page to calculate exact yearly costs and percentage savings for annual commitments.

How much is ZipBooks in general

ZipBooks pricing ranges from a free entry tier to paid plans that add advanced reports, increased automation, and team features. The overall price depends on the selected tier, number of users, and whether add-ons (like payroll or higher-volume payment processing) are enabled. For businesses with specific needs or higher transaction volumes, ZipBooks offers higher tiers and custom enterprise quotes—see their pricing and plan comparison for details.

What is ZipBooks used for

ZipBooks is used primarily to manage invoicing, payments, and basic accounting for small businesses, contractors, and service providers. Common use cases include:

• Billing clients with customizable invoices and automated reminders to improve receivables management.
• Accepting online payments (cards and ACH) on invoices to reduce days sales outstanding.
• Tracking time and expenses for client projects and converting billable time into invoices.
• Connecting bank and credit card accounts for transaction syncing and reconciliation.
• Producing essential financial reports (profit and loss, balance sheet, AR aging) for monthly bookkeeping and tax preparation.

In practice, ZipBooks is frequently chosen by solo entrepreneurs, consultants, small agencies, and microbusinesses that want a straightforward accounting tool without the complexity of full ERP or corporate accounting suites. The tagging and project features make it useful for businesses that need to segment income and expenses by project or location, while the collaboration controls support working with external accountants.

Pros and cons of ZipBooks

ZipBooks has strengths that appeal to small business users, and trade-offs that arise because it targets a simpler use case than larger accounting suites.

Pros:

• Clean, simplified interface that reduces onboarding time and lowers the learning curve for non-accountants.
• Fast invoice creation and integrated payment acceptance to improve cash flow.
• Practical automations (auto-categorization, recurring invoices) that cut repetitive tasks.
• Tagging and project tracking allow more granular reporting without complicated chart-of-accounts restructuring.
• Mobile-friendly workflows let users manage invoices and receipts on the go.

Cons:

• Less depth in advanced accounting features (multi-entity consolidations, complex revenue recognition, or custom GL workflows) compared to enterprise systems.
• Third-party integrations and ecosystem depth may be smaller than larger incumbents such as QuickBooks Online or Xero.
• Advanced reporting, payroll, or industry-specific workflows may require add-ons or external tools.
• Organizations with complex audit, multi-currency, or extensive regulatory requirements may need a more feature-rich accounting platform.

ZipBooks free trial

ZipBooks typically provides a free entry tier to let solo users and small teams test core features such as invoicing, bank connection, and basic reports. The free tier is intended to show how automated categorization, simple reconciliations, and invoicing workflows function before committing to a paid tier.

Paid trial options or money-back guarantees on higher tiers (where available) let teams validate features like advanced reporting, time & project management, and priority support. For any current trial offers and terms, consult ZipBooks' trial and signup details on their pricing page.

Is ZipBooks free

Yes, ZipBooks offers a free entry tier that includes basic invoicing, limited reporting, and the ability to accept payments. The free offering is suitable for sole proprietors and very small businesses that need basic billing and bookkeeping. For expanded reporting, more team members, advanced automations, or premium support, paid plans are available—see ZipBooks' pricing options for the most current breakdown.

ZipBooks API

ZipBooks supports integrations that let bookkeeping workflows connect with other business systems. Many modern accounting platforms expose RESTful APIs and webhooks for automating invoice creation, synchronizing customer records, and pushing payment or transaction data into downstream systems.

If you plan to integrate ZipBooks with CRM, e-commerce, or custom internal systems, consult their developer resources for available endpoints, authentication methods, rate limits, and webhook capabilities. ZipBooks documents integration options and partner connectors on their website; for implementation details see their integration and developer resources.

Enterprise customers often request custom integrations for single sign-on, data export, or advanced reporting; ZipBooks can accommodate these needs through documented APIs or professional services in higher-tier plans.

10 ZipBooks alternatives

Paid alternatives to ZipBooks

• QuickBooks Online — Full-featured accounting platform widely used by small and mid-sized businesses; strong reporting, payroll add-ons, and a large partner ecosystem.
• Xero — Cloud accounting with robust bank reconciliation, multi-currency support, and an extensive app marketplace for integrations.
• FreshBooks — Invoicing-first accounting aimed at freelancers and small service businesses with integrated time tracking and client-facing tools.
• Wave Accounting — Free accounting and invoicing for very small businesses with paid add-ons for payments and payroll.
• Zoho Books — Part of the Zoho suite, offering invoicing, automated workflows, inventory handling in some tiers, and strong CRM integration within Zoho apps.
• Sage Business Cloud Accounting — Accounting and invoicing with scaled features for small to medium businesses and payroll integrations.
• NetSuite (Oracle NetSuite) — Comprehensive cloud ERP with accounting for larger organizations that need consolidated finance and ERP capabilities.

Open source alternatives to ZipBooks

• GnuCash — Desktop double-entry accounting application suited to small businesses and personal finance; supports invoicing and reports but has a different workflow than cloud SaaS.
• LedgerSMB — Web-based open-source ERP and accounting system with double-entry bookkeeping and multi-user capabilities.
• Odoo (Community Edition) — Modular ERP with accounting, invoicing, and inventory modules; strong if you want an extensible, self-hosted platform.
• ERPNext — Open-source ERP with accounting, invoicing, payroll, and project management; suitable for small to medium businesses wanting full-featured on-prem or cloud deployments.
• FrontAccounting — Lightweight web-based accounting system for small businesses, focused on core accounting needs.

Frequently asked questions about ZipBooks

What is ZipBooks used for?

ZipBooks is used for invoicing, payment collection, basic bookkeeping, and time tracking. Small businesses and freelancers use it to create invoices and estimates, accept online payments, connect bank accounts for reconciliation, and run essential financial reports like profit and loss and accounts receivable aging.

How does ZipBooks handle payments?

ZipBooks integrates payment processing directly on invoices so customers can pay by credit card or ACH, which reduces manual reconciliation time. Payment transactions are linked to invoices and reflected in the accounting records automatically; fees and settlement timing depend on the selected payment processor and merchant account.

Does ZipBooks integrate with banks?

Yes, ZipBooks supports bank account connections and daily transaction imports. Linked accounts pull transactions to speed reconciliation, and users can create rules to auto-categorize routine entries for consistent bookkeeping.

Can I track time and bill projects in ZipBooks?

Yes, ZipBooks includes time and project tracking features. You can organize work into projects and tasks, record billable time, and convert that time into invoices with a single action to ensure project billing is accurate.

Is ZipBooks suitable for small businesses or freelancers?

ZipBooks is well-suited for freelancers, consultants, and small businesses. Its simplified interface and focused feature set make it a practical choice for users who need invoicing, payments, and basic accounting without the complexity of larger ERP systems.

Why would I choose ZipBooks over larger accounting platforms?

ZipBooks offers a simpler user experience and faster onboarding for straightforward accounting needs. Businesses that prioritize quick invoicing workflows, easy payment acceptance, and uncomplicated monthly bookkeeping may find ZipBooks reduces time spent on routine tasks compared with more feature-heavy platforms.

When should a business consider moving off ZipBooks to another platform?

A business should consider migrating when accounting needs exceed ZipBooks' scope, such as when needing multi-entity consolidation, advanced revenue recognition, robust inventory management, or enterprise-grade integrations. Growth in transaction volume or complex compliance requirements are common triggers for evaluating more comprehensive systems like QuickBooks Online or NetSuite.

Where can I find ZipBooks reviews and user feedback?

You can find customer reviews on ZipBooks' site and third-party review platforms. ZipBooks publishes testimonials on its website, and independent reviews are available on software review sites; check ZipBooks' testimonials and review listings and recognized review sites for aggregated user ratings.

Does ZipBooks offer an API for integrations?

ZipBooks supports integrations and developer access for automating workflows and syncing data. Developers can use documented endpoints and webhooks to integrate invoicing, customers, and payments with other systems; consult ZipBooks' developer and integration resources on their official site for exact API documentation and usage guidelines.

How much does ZipBooks cost per user?

ZipBooks offers competitive pricing plans designed for different team sizes and needs, from a free entry tier to paid plans with advanced reporting and team features. For exact per-user or per-plan rates and any available discounts for annual billing, consult ZipBooks' official pricing page. Visit their official pricing page for the most current information.

ZipBooks careers

ZipBooks is headquartered in Utah and occasionally publishes job openings for product, engineering, marketing, and customer support roles. Candidates interested in roles at ZipBooks should consult the company's careers or jobs page for current openings, remote options, and information about company culture. For hiring announcements and open positions, see the ZipBooks careers section on their website.

ZipBooks affiliate

ZipBooks operates partner and referral programs that let accounting professionals, consultants, and affiliates recommend the product to clients and earn referral benefits. Details about partner tiers, commission structures, or referral incentives are typically described in their partner program documentation or the business development pages on their site.

Where to find ZipBooks reviews

ZipBooks maintains customer testimonials on its website and listings on third-party review sites that collect user feedback. For verified user reviews, look at established software review platforms and ZipBooks' own testimonial pages to compare ratings, read use-case stories, and evaluate how peers in your industry rate the product.

ZipBooks careers

ZipBooks periodically hires across product, engineering, finance, and customer success functions. Career pages outline open positions, required qualifications, and information about working at the company. If you are interested in remote or local roles, check their official site for current job listings and application instructions.

ZipBooks affiliate

ZipBooks runs partner relationships for accountants, bookkeepers, and consultants who refer clients or resell services. Affiliate and partner programs typically include onboarding materials, referral tracking, and benefits for partners; contact ZipBooks' partner relations or business development team through their site to request details and sign up.

Where to find ZipBooks reviews

To evaluate ZipBooks, consult both the company’s published testimonials and independent review sites that collect user feedback and ratings. Reviews on third-party platforms give broader perspective on usability, support responsiveness, and real-world deployment experiences — search for ZipBooks on major review aggregators and examine sample user stories on their testimonials page.