The 7 Best Accounting Automation Software Solutions for 2026

CFOs, accountants, and controllers are now expected to provide real-time financial insights, manage risk and optimize growth. In a time when leaner teams are operating under tighter budgets and adjusting to rising regulations, the manual accounting processes of the past are in need of a modern update.

Aside from helping finance professionals spend more of their time on higher-value activities, adopting automated accounting software comes with many benefits. For day to day work, automation saves a considerable amount of time on manual tasks and helps businesses reach a same day close. In the long-run, real-time ledgers improve the forecasting and budgeting process, while real time financial data allows for more strategic financial planning.

In this article, we’ll examine which accounting activities can be automated, what you should consider when choosing an accounting solution, and the best automated accounting software solutions currently available for 2026.

What types of accounting tasks can be automated?

Many recurring tasks can be automated. Some of the most common include:

• Invoice processing and accounts payable
• Expense reporting and reimbursement
• Accruals
• Bank reconciliation
• Financial reporting and month-end close
• Purchase order management
• Taxes
• Payroll integration 

Things to consider when selecting an automated accounting software

Your company’s specific business needs: Do you operate multiple legal entities or manage multiple currencies? Do you need an AI agent to help manage complex transactions? Do you require escalating permissions and exceptions for expense management? Make sure your accounting software can manage them.

Available integrations: From CRM and marketing, to HR and project management, make sure your platform works with all the systems you (and your customers) use every day.

Security: Security has never been more important. Choose an option that offers best-in-class security with things like change logs and secure sign-on (SSO or magic link).

Accuracy: Not only to let you know where you stand financially, but to protect yourself from audit or compliance issues. Make sure your system offers best-in-class accuracy.

Budget: Your budget matters, but you won’t want to cut corners to save money. Get the best option within your budget, and scale your accounting system as your business and your bottom line grow.

The 7 Best Automated Accounting Options for 2026

Rillet

Rillet is an AI-native accounting platform built to automate essential financial operations, including bookkeeping and consolidations. It integrates all accounting data into a single system, applies compliance safeguards, and delivers real-time insights across multiple entities and currencies, all while being supported by best-in-class security.

Rillet helps organizations scale their finance and accounting operations smoothly as the business expands. And by automating many core accounting tasks, the platform allows finance teams to shorten close cycles, simplify reporting, and uphold GAAP compliance.

Finally, users can ask Rillet’s AI assistant (Aura) financial questions in natural language, like “why was my ARR lower this quarter compared to last quarter?” or “who are my top 10 highest paying customers?”

Key features

• Multi-entity / multi-currency reporting: Streamlines the accounting processes for multiple currencies and legal entities.
• Revenue recognition & consolidation: Automatically generates revenue schedules and journal entries across pricing models.
• End-to-end ledger automation: Reduces manual journal entries and accelerates the close.
• Close management: Helps financial teams reach a zero-day close, for real-time financial insights.
• AI agents: Ask Aura AI for insights from your general ledger and let AI automatically match 99% of incoming bank transactions with your invoices and bills. 
• GAAP reporting: Easily create and manage financial statements and investor updates.

Puzzle

Puzzle is an AI-native accounting platform best suited for startups and growing businesses. Puzzle automates bookkeeping workflows for real-time financial analysis with both cash and accrual accounting. The platform automatically detects errors and anomalies, reducing audit risk. 

Key Features

• Automatic transaction categorization: Save time spent on manual tasks by automatically categorizing most transactions.
• Simple integrations: Connects easily with banks, payroll providers, and core business systems to streamline data flow.
• Automatic accuracy checks and anomaly detection: Continuously monitors activity to flag errors and inconsistencies.

NetSuite

NetSuite is a cloud-based accounting platform built to automate all essential functions (bookkeeping, expense management, time tracking, workflows, etc.). And unlike other accounting options, has role-based dashboards with specific key metrics for each user. 

Netsuite’s module-based platform lets businesses configure the exact system that fits their needs, making it a good option for companies with granular financial metrics and robust AP/AR automation. Its project accounting tools support milestone tracking and project-based billing, while the built-in CRM connects sales activity directly to financial reporting. NetSuite is best suited for business owners with a financial or accounting background who are prepared to manage the complexity, 

Key Features

• Automated budgeting and forecasting: Provides rolling budget forecasting based on current performance. 
• Project accounting: Tracks expenses and revenue across multiple projects to help teams manage milestones and deliverables with real-time data.
• Automated payroll: Integrates payroll processing to reduce manual work and ensure accurate, timely compensation.

Sage Intacct

Sage Intacct is a cloud-based accounting software designed to deliver real-time visibility and streamline manual workflows. Snap-and-post technology and an AI–enhanced general ledger make billing and reporting easier and allow accounting teams to speed up the close. Sage is a solid option for companies that are ready to upgrade from QuickBooks or Xero.

Key Features

• Snap and post receipts: Automates the expense management process and reduces the chance of human error. 
• Sage CoPilot: Uses AI-driven insights to identify trends and anomalies without the need for specific reports.
• Create, edit, and send invoices from anywhere: Enables faster billing and improved cash flow. 
• Real-time inventory management: Provides up-to-date inventory tracking and valuation to support financial accuracy.
• AI-assisted general ledger: Automates journal entries to improve accuracy and speed up the close.

Microsoft Dynamics 365

Microsoft Dynamics 365 offers basic automated accounting operations (general ledger, real-time insights, and improved systems and workflows), but lacks the complexity and scalability of other options on this list. It’s a strong option for teams already using the Microsoft ecosystem, as it automatically integrates with other 365 products. However, for systems built outside MS 365, integration may be complicated and require third-party apps. 

Key Features

• Automated workflows: Creates custom workflows for the tasks you do regularly, cutting down on manual work and reducing human error.
• General ledger: Accurately captures financial transactions and data across the organization.
• Real-time insights and analytics: Empowers teams to make strategic financial choices with real-time visibility into finances. 

FreshBooks

FreshBooks brings together invoicing, expense tracking, and payments in one easy-to-use system that works on desktop and mobile devices, making it ideally suited for small businesses and freelancers who want to operate without an accounting team. However, FreshBooks is not built for larger, more dynamic organizations with multi-entity reporting or complex workflows. 

Key Features

• OCR receipt scanning and automatic categorization: Lets users snap pictures of receipts and automatically categorizes them, cutting down on manual work and improving accuracy. 
• Time tracking: Manages employee hours to make sure projects and deliverables are all completed on time.
• Recurring invoices and payment reminders: Makes it easy to manage recurring orders and return customers with custom workflows. 

Xero

Xero is best for small businesses and solopreneurs who want to automate financial tasks and get up-to-date insights from anywhere without all the functionality and options of larger accounting platforms. Xero simplifies bank reconciliation and receipt categorization so teams can perform these tasks remotely, and it connects easily with a large range of third-party apps, so accountants can select the apps that make the most sense for their business. As companies scale, however, they can quickly outgrow Xero’s functionality.

Key Features

• Bank reconciliation with machine learning: Automatically suggests categories for transactions to streamline bookkeeping processes. 
• Automated financial reporting: Creates reports that show cash flow in real-time.
• Receipt capture and processing: Lets teams manage receipts via mobile, email, or upload, which is especially helpful for very small remote teams. 
• Extensive app integrations: Connects with third-party tools, making it simple to connect with all the apps and services customers already use. 

FAQ

How many days could I save on my close with automation?

Rillet has had customers go from 20-30 day closes to 1 day close; most customers cut their close time by half or more in their first close after automation.

What percentage of bank transactions can be auto-reconciled with automation?

Individual percentages vary by software. Rillet can auto-reconcile up to 99% of bank transactions. 

How can I trust the automation is accurate?

We always show in the product when automation and AI is acting vs. when content is created or reviewed by a human, so it’s hyper clear who is taking what actions and when. This way, you can choose which content to review. 

Choosing the right automated accounting option in 2026

Rillet offers several distinct advantages over traditional software. Contracts, invoices, and bills automatically generate journal entries, eliminating the need for manual entry. Rillet’s AI-native platform automatically reconciles bank transactions with a 97% match rate, and its AI agents can perform flux analysis and book accruals, saving organizations 5–10 hours every month that would otherwise be spent on routine accounting tasks.

By automating these critical functions, Rillet empowers accounting and finance teams to focus on high-level strategic planning and reach the all-time goal: the zero day close.  

Looking for an accounting solution that can meet your business where it is and take it where you want to go?

See how you can close your books on day zero with Rillet.