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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Accounting App vs Microsoft Excel

Accounting App 4.8★ · Free + IAP 75
Winner Accounting App
Microsoft Excel 4.8★ · Free to download 60

Accounting App is better for dedicated small business accounting with strong web functionality, while Microsoft Excel is a more versatile spreadsheet tool, though its mobile app lacks full desktop features and can be buggy.

Full reviews: Accounting App · Microsoft Excel

Accounting App is praised for its comprehensive yet easy-to-use accounting tools for small businesses, offering features like invoicing, expense tracking, and reporting, though its mobile app has limited functionality compared to the desktop version and support can be slow. Microsoft Excel is a powerful and widely used spreadsheet application, but its mobile app is frequently criticized for missing desktop features, being clunky, and experiencing bugs like freezing and printing issues.

Head to head

Features & Functionality edge: Accounting AppR3R4R6R7
Accounting App Accounting App users appreciate its comprehensive accounting tools, including invoicing, expense tracking, and reporting, which are suitable for small businesses R17R26R32. However, a significant number of users report that the mobile app lacks crucial features available in the desktop version, such as PDF scanning, manual transaction categorization, full reporting, and the ability to approve timesheets or access charts of accounts R3R4R6R7.
Microsoft Excel Microsoft Excel is lauded for its powerful data management capabilities, spreadsheet creation, and organization, with many users depending on it daily . However, the mobile app is widely criticized for lacking many basic and advanced features present in the desktop version, such as VBA macros, full editing capabilities without a paid subscription, and certain keyboard shortcuts . Users also note issues with printing and exporting files .
Ease of Use edge: Accounting AppR2R5R8R14
Accounting App Many users find Accounting App easy to use, intuitive, and simple, especially for small business needs R2R5R8R14. However, some find it confusing, not as easy as marketed, or complain about too much work creating information across different apps R22.
Microsoft Excel Excel is generally considered a powerful tool, but its mobile app is often described as clunky, not user-friendly, and difficult to use, particularly on Apple devices . Users report issues with cell editing, copy/paste, and navigating menus .
Reliability & Performance tieR1R7R8R22
Accounting App Some Accounting App users report no app errors and consistent performance R8. However, there are significant complaints about bank transaction feeds stopping or being messed up, leading to data issues R1R56. Other issues include bugs with refreshing and the app hanging up R7R22.
Microsoft Excel Microsoft Excel's mobile app frequently experiences reliability issues, including freezing, crashing, and data loss, especially on iPadOS . Users also report problems with files not loading, syncing inconsistently with desktop versions, and the 'Recent' list not updating properly R88.
Price & Value edge: Accounting AppR17R20R25R39
Accounting App Accounting App is praised for being affordable and offering good service at a reasonable rate, with some users loving the free version R17R20R39. However, some users find the free version very limited, with essential features like bank transaction imports disabled R25. There are also complaints that certain features, like the integrated inventory system or payable/bills, require higher-tier paid subscriptions, making the pricing seem off for small businesses .
Microsoft Excel Microsoft Excel is free to download, but many users express frustration that essential editing capabilities and premium features require a paid subscription, making the free version feel limited .
Customer Support edge: Accounting AppR1R10R12R14
Accounting App Customer support for Accounting App receives mixed reviews. Some users find it reasonable, responsive, and encouraging R14. However, a significant number of reviews describe support as poor, with slow response times that can take weeks, and an inability to fix issues like bank feed problems R1R10R12. There are also complaints about being ghosted or charged after attempting to leave the service R28.
Microsoft Excel Reviews for Microsoft Excel do not directly mention customer support experiences. Instead, users frequently complain about issues related to signing in, linking to Microsoft accounts, and the app forgetting credentials, which indirectly points to potential friction with account management .
Pick Accounting App if

Pick Accounting App if you are a small business or solopreneur looking for a dedicated, comprehensive, and affordable accounting solution that is generally easy to use, especially if you primarily use the web version R17R20R26R32. It's also a good choice if you need to manage multiple companies easily .

Pick Microsoft Excel if

Pick Microsoft Excel if you need a versatile spreadsheet tool for general data organization, analysis, and personal projects, and are already familiar with the desktop version . It is suitable if you primarily view or make minor edits on mobile and can tolerate the app's functional limitations and occasional bugs .

Evidence note: Evidence for Accounting App is more focused on its accounting-specific features and mobile app limitations, while evidence for Microsoft Excel highlights its general spreadsheet utility but strong mobile app deficiencies. Customer support for Excel is not directly reviewed, so the comparison on that dimension is based on related account/login issues.

Frequently asked

How do the mobile apps compare to their desktop/web versions?
The Accounting App's mobile version is significantly limited compared to its desktop/web counterpart, lacking features like full reporting, PDF scanning, manual transaction categorization, and the ability to approve timesheets R4R6R7R9. Similarly, Microsoft Excel's mobile app is missing many simple and advanced features found in the PC version, such as VBA macros, full editing capabilities, and certain keyboard shortcuts .
Is either app suitable for small business accounting?
Accounting App is specifically designed for and highly recommended by users for small business accounting, offering strong tools for tracking expenses, managing invoices, and keeping records straight, often at an affordable rate R17R26R29R32. Microsoft Excel, while powerful for data organization, is a general spreadsheet tool and not specifically tailored for comprehensive small business accounting workflows like invoicing and bank reconciliation .
What are the common complaints about customer support?
Accounting App receives complaints about poor customer support, with long wait times for responses (weeks in some cases), an inability to fix recurring issues like bank feed problems, and difficulties when trying to cancel subscriptions R1R10R12R28. For Microsoft Excel, users frequently report issues with signing in, linking to Microsoft accounts, and the app forgetting credentials, suggesting friction with account-related support .
Are there significant issues with bank integration or data syncing?
Accounting App users report significant and ongoing problems with bank feeds, including transactions stopping for months and support being unable to resolve the issues R1R56. Microsoft Excel users complain about the app being buggy and not always staying in sync with the desktop version, with the 'Recent' list often lagging behind R88R105.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R3] Accounting App 3/5 · US Charts: I would love to see more charts for the reports as well even online on the website as well and it would be nice if you could customize the colors of them instead of blue and orange red green maybe even a yellow for pending on the payments etc green not overdue or paid red overdue on both and yellow payment pending awaiting release would be nice on both the app and web on the main charges
  2. [R4] Accounting App 2/5 · US Not enough functionality and data: The app should automatically download data from desktop version and update but it does not. I have almost 100 projects on desktop but app only shows one
  3. [R6] Accounting App 3/5 · US No PDF scanning: No pdf scanning. Only pictures can be uploaded. The response from the developer doesn’t state how to upload scans as a pdf. They only upload as a jpeg.
  4. [R7] Accounting App 2/5 · US App functions are limited.: The desktop version is pretty good. The app is reallly bad. I can’t manually categorize a lot of transactions. It doesn’t automatically learn rules. You have to teach it each one. There is no rule function in the app and it often hangs up after correctly idetifying that some transactions match a rule. But it won’t let you actually save the transaction.
  5. [R2] Accounting App 5/5 · US Amazing app: Highly recommended this app makes life easier
  6. [R5] Accounting App 5/5 · US Very Convenient: I love it
  7. [R8] Accounting App 5/5 · US Simple and Complete: Love the simplicity while still having everything you need. Way better than QB. No app errors to date. Would recommend trying
  8. [R14] Accounting App 5/5 · US It took some practice, but I love it: With zero accounting experince or knowledge, I dove into Books for my solo service business. I stumbled around for a few months while getting familiar with the interface and processes, but now, I love using this app! Keeps me organized with clean books. Customer support is also reasonable. They always respond and encourage our questions.
  9. [R1] Accounting App 1/5 · US DO NOT RECOMMEND: I was a paid member. Transaction from my bank stopped coming in for two months. They couldn’t figure out how to fix it and would not offer a compliment month to offset my expense because it has to be pre paid. Consumer service can fix issues, they tell you they will email you back and it can take weeks.
  10. [R22] Accounting App 2/5 · US Bugs with refresh: It is not as easy to use as marketed
  11. [R17] Accounting App 5/5 · US Great Small Biz Fit: Zoho Books has been a great fit for my business because it offers strong accounting tools in a system that is clean, organized, and easy to use. It makes it much simpler to track expenses, manage invoices, and keep records straight without feeling overly complicated, and it gives me the features I need without the higher cost of some other bookkeeping platforms.
  12. [R20] Accounting App 5/5 · US Price: Good service at an affordable rate
  13. [R25] Accounting App 1/5 · US Can't import bank transactions in free version.: When I try to import bank transactions in the free version, it says bank feeds are disabled. I'm a solopreneur and this is essential. Looks like this app isn't for me.
  14. [R39] Accounting App 4/5 · US Snappy and affordable: Zoho is way under rated. It is snappy and fully featured. The only improvement I would love to see is a documents section that allows me to upload a batch of receipts and have Zoho automatically link them to transactions, just like Digits does.
  15. [R10] Accounting App 1/5 · US Poor support: Support for the product is poor - the turn around on email support is just crazy.
  16. [R12] Accounting App 3/5 · US Terrible: Not really that good. The people don’t get you answers quick enough if you are running a business you never know if you can get in touch with someone. Really not good enough
  17. [R9] Accounting App 3/5 · US New Version is better but still missing feature parity: Both iOS and iPadOS apps are still not feature complete and it’s been years. I still can’t approve timesheets even though I get push notices to do so. Let’s step up and make these apps truly useful and don’t necessitate bouncing between app and web to manage your workflows.
  18. [R26] Accounting App 5/5 · US Best bookkeeping tool: I love the app. I snapshot my bills into it. I can reconcile. I am able to send invoices. All my expenses are customized as well as classifying what is taxable and not. Reporting is easy as pie.
  19. [R29] Accounting App 5/5 · US New to this but…: I’m trying to get ahead of taxes by actively tracking throughout the year. So far experimenting with the app….. It’s intense but I like it. I can see features that are applicable to other business types but tracking expenses, sending invoices as needed, where I draw money to pay for expenses etc etc, is pretty nicely setup. Nice job with the application.
  20. [R32] Accounting App 5/5 · US Excellent: Finally an accounting program that hits the sweet spot for small business. It has everything you need and nothing you don’t.
  21. [R28] Accounting App 1/5 · US Shady Company: If you choose this app. Be prepared to be ghosted if you choose to leave. They make it very hard to leave. On top of this they will continue to charge you. You will have to get an attorney involved to get them to do the right thing.
  22. [R56] Accounting App 1/5 · US Constant problems with bank feeds: Since January 2022, bank feeds have been messed up. Very long wait time for response and unable to fix. Blames third party for problems. Insult to injury they took their annual subscription the day of first bank feed errors.
  23. [R88] Microsoft Excel 1/5 · US Excel syncs “sometimes”: Not a great app. Buggy and doesn’t always stay in sync with desktop version. Prefer Google sheets
  24. [R105] Microsoft Excel 3/5 · GB Necessary tool: When opening the Excel app, the ‘Recent’ (recently opened, viewed, edited, etc.) is not updated very well in line with any documents opened elsewhere such as on a PC… thus slightly lagging behind., , , , , - Microsoft Excel, an invaluable tool for daily use. Having mobile versions of Excel is crucial for entering and monitoring data on the go. However certain limitations on the m

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store