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ZipBooks

zipbooks.com

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Spec score 9.0 #15 of 75 in Bookkeeping Software

What it is

ZipBooks is accounting software for small businesses, combining invoicing, bookkeeping, reporting and business intelligence. Users can send invoices and estimates, take card payments, set recurring auto-billing and automate payment reminders. Accounting tools include bank connections, reconciliation, transaction categorization and financial reports; ZipBooks says it can import transactions automatically from thousands of financial institutions, including many banks in the U.S. and Canada. Users can track project and task time in a browser or iOS app and add time entries to invoices. The product lists Gusto integration, and supports digital payments through Square or PayPal. Time entries can sync with Gusto for payroll, with payroll transaction details recorded in ZipBooks. It is available on web, Android and iOS, and the maker is headquartered in Utah, USA. ZipBooks offers a free plan and a free trial. Their described features range from invoices, bank connections and reports to reconciliation, time tracking, team access, client account management and data migration.

Spec sheet

What it does
ZipBooks is cloud accounting software for small businesses and accountants covering invoicing, bookkeeping, payments, reporting and business insights.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Product
ZipBooks describes itself as accounting software with invoicing, bookkeeping, reporting, and business intelligence for small businesses.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Free plan
YesRead 19 Sep 2026 · zipbooks.com
API
The public API uses JSON API responses, JWT authentication and documented contacts, estimates and invoice endpoints under api.zipbooks.com/v2.Read 15 Oct 2026 · developer.zipbooks.com
Integrations
Official pricing names Gusto integration, while the product accepts payments through Square or PayPal; reviewers also mention Stripe, Google Drive and Slack.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Security
ZipBooks says it uses 256-bit TLS for data in transit and AES256 or AES128 encryption for stored data.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Support
Support is offered through in-product chat and [email protected], with live-chat hours stated as 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mountain time.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Headquarters
Utah, USARead 28 Sep 2026 · zipbooks.com
Company
ZipBooks says its mission is to provide tools and intelligence to help small businesses succeed and that it is made in Utah, USA.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Account protection
Two-factor authentication is available by contacting ZipBooks support to enable it.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Accounting
The accounting tools provide bank reconciliation, reports, automatic categorization and color-coded transaction views.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
API documentation status
ZipBooks warns that its API documentation can become outdated and that future API changes may be incompatible.Read 15 Oct 2026 · developer.zipbooks.com
Bank connection
Bank and credit-card connections import transactions daily to support bookkeeping and reconciliation.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Bank connections
ZipBooks says it supports automatic transaction imports from thousands of financial institutions, including many top banks in the U.S. and Canada.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Business intelligence
ZipBooks says its data-driven insights help users get paid faster, retain customers and compare performance with competitors.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Company legal name
Crunchbase identifies the legal entity as Phlo, Inc.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
Company location and founding
Crunchbase places ZipBooks in American Fork, Utah, while LinkedIn lists the company as founded in 2015.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
Company size
LinkedIn lists ZipBooks as a privately held financial-services company with 11–50 employees.Read 15 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Documentation
The help center covers invoices, transactions, reports, contacts, tracking, accountant workflows, account settings and FAQs.Read 15 Oct 2026 · help.zipbooks.com
Gusto integration
ZipBooks says time entries can sync with Gusto for payroll and payroll transaction details are recorded in ZipBooks.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Invoices
Users can send invoices and estimates, accept card payments, set recurring auto-billing, and automate payment reminders.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Invoicing
Users can create invoices and estimates, accept card or PayPal payments, automate recurring billing and send payment reminders.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Licence
The terms identify ZipBooks software and site content as company or licensor property and restrict copying, resale and modification, indicating a proprietary licence.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Limit: customization
Capterra reviewers mention limited dashboard, invoice branding and recurring-invoice customization, including difficulty with payment terms and part payments.Read 15 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Limit: free tier depth
Reviewers say the free version or trial becomes restrictive for advanced accounting needs and deeper reporting.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Limit: integrations
Independent reviews characterize the integration ecosystem as small, with about seven integrations and less breadth than QuickBooks or Xero.Read 15 Oct 2026 · merchantmaverick.com
Limit: mobile apps
TechRadar reports no Android edition and says the iOS experience is only adequate; Merchant Maverick says ZipBooks currently lacks a mobile app.Read 15 Oct 2026 · techradar.com
Limit: payment reliability
A Trustpilot reviewer reported recurring Square auto-billing failures that required disconnecting and reconnecting the integration.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
Mobile
ZipBooks describes an optimized mobile web experience and native mobile application for invoicing, payments, receipts, and expense categorization.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Mobile access
The company describes an optimized mobile web experience or native mobile application for invoicing, payments, receipts and expenses.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Ownership news
Crunchbase records ZipBooks as acquired by Divvy, with the announcement date obscured on the public profile.Read 15 Oct 2026 · crunchbase.com
Payment data
ZipBooks says it does not handle sensitive card data; payment processors such as Stripe, Square, or PayPal handle it.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Payment-data handling
ZipBooks says it does not handle sensitive card data; payment partners such as Stripe, Square and PayPal process it.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Praise: ease of use
Reviewers repeatedly describe the interface as clean, intuitive, simple to navigate and suitable for people without accounting expertise.Read 15 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Praise: support
TrustRadius summarizes support feedback as friendly and helpful, while GetApp reports fast and responsive chat support accessible to free users.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustradius.com
Praise: value
Reviewers commonly praise the free Starter plan, unlimited invoicing and low-cost paid tiers as strong value for freelancers and small businesses.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Rating on Capterra
4.5 out of 5 from 115 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Rating on G2
4.7 out of 5 from 99 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on GetApp
4.5 out of 5 from 115 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · getapp.com
Rating on Trustpilot
3.5 out of 5 from 3 reviews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustpilot.com
Rating on TrustRadius
7 out of 10 from 20 reviews and ratings.Read 15 Oct 2026 · trustradius.com
Security at rest
Stored data is encrypted in layers using AES-256 or AES-128 with separately managed encryption keys.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Security in transit
ZipBooks states that data transmissions use 256-bit TLS encryption.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Smart tagging
Paid plans can tag transactions by customer, project, location or custom tags and report on those tags.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Team management
Team permissions can be applied to invoicing, accounting, time tracking and reports.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Team permissions
Users can set team member permissions for areas such as invoicing, accounting, reporting, and time tracking.Read 8 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Time tracking
Projects and tasks support live or manual time tracking, with tracked time importable into invoices.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Two-factor authentication
Two-factor authentication is available on request through support rather than presented as a self-service setting.Read 15 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com

Plans and prices

Starter Free unlimited invoices · unlimited vendors and customers · Square or PayPal payments · basic reports · 1 bank account Read 15 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Smarter $15 a month per month Starter features · recurring auto-bill invoices · automated reminders · multiple bank accounts · time tracking · 5 team members Read 15 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Sophisticated $35 a month per month Smarter features · smart tagging · account reconciliation · locked books · secure document sharing · insightful reports · unlimited users Read 15 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com
Accountant Priced on request client-account time tracking · financial-package export · firm cobranding · bulk transaction editing · client dashboard · data migration Read 15 Oct 2026 · zipbooks.com

Every ZipBooks plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free plan and free trial are available.
  • Supports recurring invoices and automated payment reminders.
  • Time entries can be added to invoices.
  • Works on web, Android and iOS.
  • Team permissions can be set by work area.

Limits

  • Two-factor authentication requires contacting support to enable.
  • Live chat and email support hours are weekdays only.

Who it suits

It suits small businesses looking to manage invoicing, payments, bookkeeping and reporting in one product. Teams that track billable time or use Gusto, Square or PayPal may find the listed connections useful.

ZipBooks in depth

Read the full write-up

ZipBooks is small-business accounting software for owners who want billing, bank-connected bookkeeping and time tracking in one place. It is a stronger fit for service businesses than for buyers who need to compare costs up front: plan capabilities are clear, but the plans use custom pricing.

Overview

ZipBooks brings estimates and invoicing together with payment collection, expense categorization and financial reporting. Automatic transaction imports from thousands of financial institutions, including many major U.S. and Canadian banks, can reduce manual bookkeeping. The Starter plan allows one bank connection, however, so businesses managing several accounts need a higher tier.

Square and PayPal handle digital payments, while the Gusto integration can sync time entries for payroll and record payroll transaction details in ZipBooks. That pairing is useful for businesses billing for project work and keeping payroll activity alongside their books. ZipBooks says payment processors handle sensitive card data; it uses 256-bit TLS for data in transit and AES256 or AES128 encryption for stored data. Two-factor authentication is enabled by contacting support.

Key features

Billing, books and time

Invoices and estimates cover ordinary client billing, with recurring auto-billing and automated payment reminders available for businesses that want less follow-up work. Accounting features include bank connections, transaction categorization, reconciliation and financial reports. Time tracking works in a browser or iOS app, and entries can be brought into invoices; this makes the product more relevant to billable service work than a bookkeeping tool without time capture.

Mobile and team controls

ZipBooks offers native mobile apps and an optimized mobile web experience for invoicing, payments, receipts and expense categorization. Team permissions can limit access to invoicing, accounting, reporting and time tracking. Live chat and email support operate Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. Mountain Time, a useful window for support but not continuous coverage.

Pricing

ZipBooks is freemium, with a free Starter plan and a free trial. Its paid plans have custom pricing, so buyers should confirm costs directly before committing or expanding a team.

Starter: Unlimited invoices, vendors and customers, Square or PayPal payments, basic reports and one bank connection. It suits a small operation with a single account, but lacks the multiple-bank and time-tracking features assigned to Smarter.

Smarter: Recurring invoices with auto-bill, automated reminders, multiple bank accounts, time tracking and five team members. This is the practical step up for service businesses automating billing or tracking billable time, but the five-member limit may constrain a larger team.

Sophisticated: Smart tagging, account reconciliation, secure document sharing, financial reports and unlimited users. It fits teams needing more structured accounting and broader access; unlimited users removes the stated seat ceiling, though the price remains custom.

Accountant: Client account management, financial package exports, bulk transaction editing and data migration. These features target accounting professionals managing client work rather than a business seeking only its own billing and books.

The feature split means the free entry point can cover basic invoicing and a single bank connection, while recurring billing, time tracking and multi-account workflows start at Smarter. Sophisticated adds reconciliation and unlimited users; confirm the price of each tier against the capabilities and team size required.

Platforms

ZipBooks runs on the web, Android and iOS. Time tracking is specifically supported in a browser and iOS app; the mobile app is described for invoicing, payments, receipts and expense categorization.

Who it's for

ZipBooks is best suited to small businesses that invoice clients, want bank imports and reports, and benefit from tracking project time or syncing that time with Gusto. Starter is a sensible fit for a business with one bank connection and basic reporting needs. Businesses with multiple accounts, recurring billing or a small team should compare Smarter, while teams needing reconciliation or unlimited users should assess Sophisticated. It is less suitable when a buyer needs a straightforward published price before selecting a plan.

Pros and cons

Pro: Invoicing, payments, accounting and time tracking connect useful workflows, including importing time into invoices.

Pro: Automatic imports span thousands of financial institutions, helping reduce transaction entry for supported accounts.

Pro: Team permissions cover key work areas, and higher tiers offer up to unlimited users.

Con: The Starter plan allows only one bank connection, limiting its fit for businesses with multiple accounts.

Con: Recurring billing, reminders and time tracking are reserved for Smarter, and reconciliation and unlimited users for Sophisticated.

Con: Paid plans use custom pricing, making tier-to-tier cost comparisons harder before contacting ZipBooks.

Con: Two-factor authentication requires a support request, rather than being self-enabled in account settings.

Alternatives

For a different accounting option, compare FreeAgent, Clear Books, BUSY, Odoo Accounting, Dolibarr, Tryton, Wave and Zoho Books. Wave is worth considering when a reader wants a free plan for invoices and bookkeeping and accepts its stated per-transaction card fee. Dolibarr and Tryton are free open-source options for buyers willing to use self-hosting or third-party hosting; BUSY has a free billing and accounting plan. Clear Books offers a free, no-transaction-limit sole-trader plan, while Zoho Books' free plan is for solopreneurs and micro businesses under its stated annual-revenue condition. FreeAgent and Odoo Accounting are other freemium choices; compare their plan fit and pricing against ZipBooks before choosing. Explore category guides for Gym Accounting Software, Salon Accounting Software, Freelance Invoicing Software and Bookkeeping Software.

Verdict

Choose ZipBooks if your small business needs invoicing tied to bank-connected books and would benefit from billable-time tracking or Gusto payroll syncing. Its connected workflows are the main reason to choose it; custom pricing and feature gates between plans are the main reasons to look elsewhere if cost certainty or multi-account access at entry level matters.

Verdict

ZipBooks covers invoicing and payment workflows as well as bank-linked accounting, reporting and time tracking. The plan features are described, but prices are not, so buyers should confirm costs before choosing.

Where Specifiction places it

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