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Award-winning practice management trusted by more than 10,000 accounting firms
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Key takeaways:
- Jetpack Workflow is a popular accounting practice management platform — but it’s by no means the complete package.
- While Jetpack Workflow is a solid tool for managing internal workflows, it is let down by a lack of advanced automation and client-facing features.
- There are plenty of alternatives on the market, each offering its own unique feature set, pricing, and user experience.
- TaxDome stands out as the number-one Jetpack Workflow alternative thanks to its comprehensive capabilities, simple and transparent pricing, and industry-leading support and education.
These days, running an accounting firm without practice management software is a bit like driving a car without a GPS. You’ll get there eventually, but with all sorts of unnecessary detours and stress along the way.
Jetpack Workflow is a popular choice for accounting practices looking for a simple practice management solution. But its limited scope and stripped-back features don’t suit everyone.
Considering the transition to a more complete solution? Switch to TaxDome and get up to 6 months free. Join 10k+ tax, bookkeeping and full-service accounting firms that trust TaxDome.
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In this article, we’ll explore some of Jetpack Workflow’s limitations. We’ll also look at seven of the best alternatives on the market — and why you should consider them for your accounting practice.
Why consider alternatives to Jetpack Workflow?
In what is an increasingly competitive software category, Jetpack Workflow has claimed a not-insignificant piece of the market. More than 6,000 accountants and bookkeepers currently use Jetpack Workflow to systematize workflows, automate tasks, and track client work.
That said, Jetpack Workflow is far from the complete package. In this section, we’ll look at some key factors why you might want to look elsewhere for your practice management needs.
Feature limitations
While Jetpack Workflow is a handy platform for managing workflows, several glaring omissions may put more demanding firms off. Let’s look at some key examples.
Unlike more advanced platforms, Jetpack Workflow doesn’t offer workflow automation. You can automate recurring tasks, but if those tasks aren’t connected, with automatic triggers and dependencies, your processes remain too reliant on manual work.
Where Jetpack Workflow really falls down, however, is the client experience. It’s not a bad tool for organizing internal workflows, but it’s sorely lacking when it comes to external, client-facing tools.
For example, there’s no client portal or secure chats. As a result, all interactions with clients take place via email — from updates to document requests and everything in between. Not only does this provide a clunky client experience, but it also increases the risk of your communications being lost in busy inboxes.
Lack of native integrations
Jetpack Workflow comes with only a handful of native integrations — i.e. integrations built into the software that you can set up in just a few clicks. There’s a QuickBooks Online integration, as well as integrations with Microsoft Office and Gmail.
Beyond that, you’ll have to make use of Jetpack’s Zapier integration. Zapier is a third-party automation tool that connects different apps and services. While this gives you access to plenty of potential integrations, it involves more work on your side to build effective accounting workflows.
Concerns around cost-effectiveness
On the face of it, Jetpack Workflow seems like one of the better value practice management tools on the market. There’s a single plan with two payment options:
- Starter Yearly at $30 per user per month (billed annually)
- Starter Monthly at $45 per user per month (billed monthly)
This price point only tells half the story, however. Because Jetpack Workflow is missing key features, you’ll have to pay for additional software and apps if you want those capabilities. For example, you’ll need separate tools for workflow automation, document management, e-signatures, and client interactions.
This can get very expensive. But more than that, it results in a bloated accounting tech stack. The more software you use, the more complex and disjointed your workflows become.
Outdated interface
The user experience (UX) is one of the most important things to get right in software development. The best software balances powerful features with simple, intuitive user interfaces. Unfortunately, Jetpack Workflow misses the mark in this regard.
In a world where people expect slick digital experiences, Jetpack Workflow’s user interface looks relatively outdated and clunky. The attention to detail and focus on the best possible UX simply isn’t there — as you can see from the screenshot below:
Scalability
Jetpack Workflow is designed primarily for small accounting firms. But what happens if those firms have ambitions of becoming bigger?
Jetpack Workflow lacks the tools required to grow an accounting practice seamlessly. To scale a practice, you need to be able to automate not only standalone tasks but entire workflows. This allows you to take on more clients without needing to put in more hours. Jetpack Workflow’s basic task automation doesn’t have the necessary power or scope to do this.
Likewise, Jetpack Workflow lacks more advanced features that larger firms expect — like advanced reporting or secure client portals. So if firms manage to scale while using Jetpack Workflow, they’ll eventually have to consider upgrading to a more complete platform as their needs become more complex. This recent review on G2 reflects Jetpack Workflow’s scalability issues perfectly:
Customer support
While Jetpack Workflow does offer same-day customer support and complimentary team training, there are limits to its free support package.
If you need help configuring the system, migrating your data, or setting up client workflows, you’ll have to pay extra. Jetpack Workflow offers a range of paid add-on services divided into three pricing tiers:
- Kickstarter at $299 — which helps you get the basics set up
- Fast Track at $748 — which offers more advanced configuration and hands-on support
- Done For You at $1,499 — a white-glove setup package that covers complete configuration
For less tech-savvy customers or those who simply don’t have the time, these packages might be the only way to get up and running in Jetpack Workflow. But with the most expensive package costing the equivalent of four annual subscriptions, it’s a huge outlay that will put many off.
7 best Jetpack Workflow alternatives
1. TaxDome
TaxDome is award-winning practice management software and one of the most complete offerings on the market. Launched in 2017, it has emerged as a market leader thanks to its powerful features and commitment to innovation. Today, TaxDome helps power more than 10,000 forward-thinking firms worldwide.
And if switching is something you have on your mind, now’s the perfect time to act. Bring your firm to TaxDome and get up to 6 months free to cover the contract costs of your current software, plus full support to make the transition easy and worry-free.
Learn more about the offer >Key features
TaxDome offers a comprehensive feature set that leaves nothing out. In addition to all the standard practice management tools you’d expect from a leading platform, some standout features differentiate it from the crowd.
We’ll cover some of the most important features here, but for a full breakdown of what TaxDome offers, check out this article and explainer video: Accounting practice management software in action.
Efficiency and collaboration tools
TaxDome comes with powerful tools for organizing your team, projects, and workflows. These tools enable firms to create highly efficient and scalable processes that drive profitability.
- Advanced workflow automation. Break complex workflows down into stages — and automate each stage. Each time an action is completed (e.g. signing an engagement letter) a new action is triggered (e.g. sending a welcome email).
- Team and project management tools. Provide complete visibility into tasks, progress, and deadlines. Improve team collaboration with @mentions and shared inboxes. Create standard operating procedures (SPOs) to standardize workflows.
- AI-powered analytics. Gain valuable insights into team performance, client profitability, and much more with flexible, real-time analytics and reporting. Search for specific data points, and our AI-powered helper quickly provides relevant insights and visualizations.
- TaxDome Marketplace. Streamline your practice with a library of templates created by TaxDome experts worldwide. Implement best practices rapidly with templates for emails, invoices, proposals, folders, and even entire workflows.
Firm, client, and revenue management tools
TaxDome provides a central hub for all your client and firm data, documents, and communications. You also get all the tools you need to manage clients — from onboarding and document gathering to getting paid.
- Accounting CRM. Manage and nurture client relationships. Keep records of all client data and accounting information. Filter contacts using custom tags, send bulk messages to different cohorts, and customize communications using shortcodes.
- Document management. TaxDome provides a central hub for storing, managing, and sharing documents. You get unlimited document storage, as well as legally compliant e-signatures (including KBA, AdES, and QES) and a built-in PDF editor.
- Time and billing. Track and record time, then automatically create custom-branded invoices using that data in just a few clicks. Set up recurring invoices and payments. Get paid seamlessly via integrations with Stripe and CPACharge.
- Firm mobile app. Run your business from the palm of your hand with our firm mobile app. Chat with clients, manage documents and payments, and access client records on the go.
- Proposals & ELs (engagement letters). Market your firm, outline your services and pricing, formalize working relationships, and get paid all in one seamless workflow.
Client-facing tools
TaxDome isn’t just about improving internal efficiencies. You also get a suite of tools designed to create a slick and intuitive client experience on any device.
- Secure client portal. Provide a secure environment where clients can interact with your firm, upload and e-sign documents, complete tasks, pay bills, and more. Available on desktop or our top-rated client mobile app.
- Customizable organizers. Gather client information and documents seamlessly with customizable digital forms. Automate your onboarding process while providing a slick, digital user experience for clients.
- Secure chats. Chat with your clients in real time with secure integrated messaging. Request information, upload or scan documents, and send auto-reminders directly via the client portal.
TaxDome transforms accounting workflows while providing a next-level client experience. The result? A more efficient and profitable accounting practice.
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What kind of accounting firms use TaxDome?
TaxDome is used by accounting, tax, and bookkeeping firms of all sizes. Its powerful workflow automation and single pricing tier make it particularly popular with modern accounting firms looking to scale their business.
Pros and cons
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
| A complete practice management offering | Broad capabilities mean there’s a lot to learn |
| Powerful workflow automation | |
| Client portal and mobile app | |
| Industry-leading support and education | |
| Simple and transparent pricing |
Pricing
TaxDome takes a transparent approach to pricing. Unlike other platforms on this list, TaxDome has a single pricing plan: Pro. The longer you commit to, the less you play:
- A 3-year subscription costs $700 per user per year
- A 2-year subscription costs $750 per user per year
- A 1-year subscription costs $800 per user per year
With TaxDome, there are no hidden costs or limitations. You won’t be charged extra to unlock advanced features, nor will you be forced to upgrade when you reach a certain number of users or clients. Every TaxDome user has access to all of TaxDome’s features, regardless of their size.
Free trial?
Yes, you can take TaxDome for a test drive with a 14-day free trial.
User ratings
User reviews
TaxDome users are generally delighted with the platform’s ability to streamline and automate their accounting practices. In the G2 “Pros and Cons” section, TaxDome ranks highly for ease of use and outstanding customer support.
The most frequently mentioned feature in positive reviews is TaxDome’s workflow automation, which enables accountants to create highly scalable processes that drive profitability. Here’s a recent example:
The automations were amazing as well!! Not having to manually send clients proposals and invoices makes the onboarding process so much more efficient. Not to mention, the automations will keep clients updated about the status of their return at all stages.
There’s also a lot of love for TaxDome’s client portal, which enables firms to provide a convenient and intuitive client experience — as this G2 review explains.
TaxDome is user-friendly and has greatly streamlined your workflow as a tax professional. The client portal is a major plus, as both you and your clients find it easy to use for securely sharing documents. You appreciate how seamless the platform is, helping with organization, communication, and making your day-to-day operations more efficient.
The most frequently mentioned issues with TaxDome relate to the platform’s broad feature set. Because TaxDome has the tools to run your entire firm, there’s a lot to learn. Setting up the platform can take time too. Thankfully, TaxDome’s top-quality customer support, training, and education resources make it simple to get up and running.
TaxDome or Jetpack Workflow?
For firms who want a relatively simple tool for organizing internal workflows and tasks, Jetpack Workflow isn’t a bad shout. But if you want a complete practice management platform, the only choice is TaxDome.
TaxDome has crucial features that are missing in Jetpack Workflow — including customizable workflow automation and a client portal and mobile app. So if you want to build scalable processes, consolidate your tech stack, and provide a top-level client experience, go with TaxDome.
2. Canopy
Canopy is another popular practice management platform. Launched back in 2014, it offers a range of features designed to get your accounting practice firing on all cylinders.
Key features
Canopy is one of the more complete practice management platforms on the market. It divides its offering into four modules, all of which are priced differently — but more on that later! The Client Engagement module forms the foundation of Canopy’s offering and is included on all plans by default. It offers a range of tools for managing clients, including:
- A custom-branded client portal
- Client and firm mobile apps
- A CRM for accountants
- Engagements and proposals
You can then add additional modules on top of Client Engagement, all of which are optional. These include:
- Document Management. Unlimited storage, e-signatures, document editing, and more.
- Workflow. Automation, project and task management, recurring tasks, and more.
- Time & Billing. Invoicing, time tracking, and payment processing.
In addition to the above, Canopy offers some standout features. Canopy AI, for example, offers a ChatGPT-style AI assistant that drafts emails and summarizes communications. Canopy also offers robust data analytics and reporting via its Insights feature.
What kind of accounting firms use Canopy?
Canopy is used by small, medium-sized and large accounting firms looking for a flexible practice management package. That said, its minimum of five users means solo and very small teams aren’t catered for.
Pros and cons
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
| Intuitive user interface | Complex pricing with lots of additional fees |
| Comprehensive feature set | Can get very expensive if you want the full package |
| Handy AI assistant | Frequent issues with email integration |
| Client portal and mobile app | A few bugs and performance issues |
| Robust data analytics | Not suited to very small teams |
Pricing
Pricing is perhaps Canopy’s biggest drawback. There are two overarching plans: Standard and Pro. The latter unlocks more advanced features. But that’s not all.
As we discussed earlier in this section, Canopy takes a modular approach to pricing. In other words, it divides its platform into separate offerings that can be added at an additional cost. Each module is priced separately based on the number of users.
So what does this mean? Well, if you want all the features Canopy has to offer, the costs can soar. On top of this, Canopy offers several add-on features that each cost extra, and there’s an unstated implementation fee for getting started.
Free trial?
Yes, Canopy offers a 15-day free trial.
User ratings
User reviews
Overall, users are happy with Canopy’s broad capabilities. In particular, it receives a lot of praise for its ease of use and tools for managing documents and clients, as this recent review explains:
We switched over to Canopy Document Management about 3 months ago and it has been a great experience. Everything is easier for us now. We can easily drag and drop documents into Canopy and share with our clients with just a click. The client portal feature is easy to use, both for our staff and our clients.
There are a few minor gripes about missing features and issues with existing ones. Several users had problems with Canopy’s email integration, for example. In this recent review, a Canopy customer explains the limitations of Canopy’s client portal:
While clients can send files unprompted, it is not possible for clients to request data or communicate with the firm unprompted. (They can respond to requests that the firm sends, but they cannot ask questions or request information from the firm through the portal.)
Canopy or Jetpack Workflow?
Feature-wise, there isn’t much comparison between the two. Like TaxDome, Canopy offers a broad range of practice management tools. Jetpack Workflow does not. That said, Canopy’s pricing and five-user minimum mean it isn’t a viable solution for small firms or solopreneurs. If such businesses are looking for a basic platform for managing workflows and tasks, Jetpack Workflow fits the bill.
3. Karbon
Alongside TaxDome and Canopy, Karbon is considered one of the big players in the practice management space. Founded in 2014, it has a broad set of features designed to help firms improve productivity, client relationships, and profitability.
Key features
Karbon ticks most of the boxes when it comes to practice management features. In this section, we’ll run through the ones you should know about.
As you’d expect from a leading practice management platform, Karbon provides a central hub for managing documents, billing, and payments. There are a range of tools designed to streamline internal processes and boost efficiency, including:
- Team collaboration. Mentions, shared email inbox, and notes for internal discussions.
- Task management. Kanban board, checklists, and the ability to assign emails as tasks.
- Workflow management. Automated workflows, customizable templates, recurring tasks.
- Client management. CRM, client tasks with auto-reminders, onboarding checklists.
Karbon offers a decent client portal, but there’s currently no client mobile app — a major omission in today’s mobile-first world. You also get a decent AI tool — Karbon AI — that helps speed up client communication, as well as firm-wide analytics and reporting.
What kind of accounting firms use Karbon?
Karbon is used by accounting firms of all sizes, although its pricing structure may put off smaller, fast-growing firms. Karbon’s cheaper plans limit the usage of key features, as well as access to support and education. So as firms grow, they quickly hit a ceiling before needing to upgrade to a more expensive plan.
On top of that, Karbon’s lack of a client mobile app might put off firms looking to provide an outstanding client experience on the go. And because it lacks native proposals, Karbon users often combine it with a standalone proposals platform such as Ignition.
Pros and cons
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
| Workflow automation | No client mobile app |
| Handy AI capabilities | Limited firm mobile app |
| Strong task management capabilities | No native proposals |
| User-friendly interface | Strict usage limits on key features |
| Support and education costs extra on cheaper plans |
Pricing
Karbon has three pricing plans:
- Team at $59 per user per month
- Business at $89 per user per month
- Enterprise, which comes with custom pricing
As you’d expect, Team offers a stripped-back set of features compared to more expensive plans. Both Team and Business have strict limits on how much you can use key features — e.g. how many work templates you can use or how many teams or contacts you can have. Only Enterprise offers limitless usage.
At the same time, support during data import, implementation, and beyond is limited on cheaper plans. If you want hands-on support, you’ll need to pay an additional fee. The same goes for education and training.
Free trial?
Yes, Karbon offers a free trial, but it doesn’t say how long the free trial lasts.
User ratings
User reviews
Karbon ranks highly for ease of use, thanks to its well-designed interface. Check out this recent G2 review, for example:
How user-friendly it is. Most of its design is created in such a way that allows new users to navigate through all of the different features it offers. As someone who started a job and took over the management of Karbon, it was very easy to implement its programming into my everyday schedule.
On the more negative side, however, Karbon users frequently point to a lack of core functionality. While Karbon offers a broader feature set than some alternatives, it’s missing important features such as native proposals and a client mobile app. Some users find the firm mobile app to be inadequate as well, leading to a poor user experience, as this review explains:
The biggest downside for us has been the lack of a native desktop app. While Karbon works well in a web browser, a dedicated desktop app could offer a more streamlined experience and better performance, especially for teams juggling multiple tools simultaneously. Additionally, the iOS mobile app is quite limited and doesn’t provide the same level of functionality as the web version, making it challenging to manage tasks and communicate effectively while on the move. A more robust mobile experience and a native desktop app would greatly enhance usability and overall efficiency.
Karbon or Jetpack Workflow?
Jetpack Workflow is a smarter choice if you just want a simple yet powerful tool for managing internal workflows and tasks. If you need more than that, Karbon is the better option. That said, Karbon comes at a much higher price point — especially when you factor in the feature and usage limitations on cheaper plans. This might put smaller or fast-growing firms off.
4. Financial Cents
Financial Cents is a simple-to-use platform for streamlining accounting workflows. Launched in 2020, it’s one of the newer platforms on this list. Today, it helps more than 1,000 accounting, bookkeeping, and CPA firms scale their operations.
Key features
Financial Cents offers a relatively basic feature set compared to some of the more advanced platforms on this list. That said, it provides some decent tools for getting accounting work done faster and more efficiently. Here are some of its key features:
- Workflow management. Create recurring tasks, delegate work, and gain top-down visibility into job progress.
- Client management. Request client docs automatically, send auto-reminders, and exchange files and data securely via a client portal.
- Accounting CRM. Store and organize all your client data, records, and communications in a centralized database.
- Time and billing. Track billable and non-billable hours, send professional invoices via QuickBooks Online, and access relevant reports and insights.
- Email integration. Improve collaboration and visibility by integrating directly with Gmail or Outlook.
- Capacity management. Get a global view of team capacity, reassign tasks, and manage workloads more effectively.
What kind of accounting firms use Financial Cents
Financial Cents is popular with smaller accounting and bookkeeping firms. It has a dedicated pricing plan for solo firms, offering a highly cost-effective — if somewhat limited — solution for accountants working alone. Because you can only send invoices via its QuickBooks Online (QBO) integration, it’s likely to be popular with firms who use QBO.
Pros and cons
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
| Cost-effective for solo firms | Limited automation capabilities |
| Easy to set up and use | No ability to process payments |
| Decent workflow and task management tools | No mobile apps |
| Client portal | No proposals or engagement letters |
| Automated document collection | Invoices only available through QBO integration |
Pricing
Financial Cents has three pricing plans:
- Solo at $9 per month for one user only
- Team at $39 per user per month
- Scale at $59 per user per month
All plans are billed annually. As you’d expect, cheaper plans offer narrower feature sets.
Free trial?
Yes, Financial Cents offers a free 14-day trial.
User ratings
- G2: 4.8 out of 5 from more than just over 100 reviews
- Capterra: 4.8 out of 5 from just almost 150 reviews
User reviews
Financial Cents’ impressive average ratings show that it’s getting a lot right. Users particularly like its simple user interface, easy setup, and task management capabilities. Here’s a recent review highlighting the platform’s ability to streamline day-to-day workflows:
I love how Financial Cents has streamlined all of my admin tasks for my bookkeeping firm. It has cut down on the amount of time that I have to spend requesting information, collecting documents, and receiving responses with all of their automations. It also allows me to stay on top of projects and tasks for my clients so that items do not slip through the cracks. I have decreased the amount of emails and communications with my clients, which is huge!
There are some issues with feature limitations, however. In addition to having no mobile apps, proposals, or native e-signatures, the platform’s lack of client communication tools is a concern — as this review explains:
Looking forward to a more robust client communication roll-out so I can eliminate another monthly expense for client communication.
Financial Cents or Jetpack Workflow?
Neither platform can be considered a complete practice management system. So whichever one you choose, you’ll either be missing core functionality or will need to invest in additional tools to complete your accounting tech stack.
That said, Financial Cents is a sensible and cost-effective choice for solo or small firms looking for a basic practice management platform — especially those that use QBO.
5. QuickBooks Online Accountant
QuickBooks Online Accountant is the practice management offering from QuickBooks — the leading accounting software provider for small and medium-sized businesses. While Quickbooks has been a pioneer in the accounting tech industry since 2001, its practice management platform wasn’t launched globally until 2023.
Key features
QuickBooks Online Accountant offers an interesting set of tools for running and growing an accounting firm.
You can manage your clients’ books using QuickBooks Online (the accounting software) while using QuickBooks Online Accountant (the practice management software) to manage client relationships, team collaboration, project management, and more. Here are its key features:
- Client management. Access a secure dashboard for sharing documents, messaging clients, and storing client data. Jump between your clients’ QBO accounts without having to log in and out.
- Project management. Create, assign, and track projects. Speed up project creation with templates. Auto-send notifications to keep staff on track.
- Accountant Toolbox. Access a suite of tools and reports inside QuickBooks Online, including bulk processes, charts of accounts, and bank feeds.
- Seamless QBO integration. As you’d expect, QuickBooks Online Accountant works seamlessly with its close relative, QBO — although it’s not compatible with the desktop version of QuickBooks.
In addition to these features, choosing QuickBooks Online Accountant enables you to unlock QuickBooks ProAdvisor resources. Once you are certified, you can list your firm for free and let clients find you.
What kind of accounting firms use QuickBooks Online Accountant?
QuickBooks Online Accountant is used by small and medium-sized accounting firms looking to expand their client base and market themselves as a QuickBooks ProAdvisor — i.e. a certified QBO expert. It’s essentially an extension of the popular QuickBooks Online accounting software, so its users tend to already be part of the QBO ecosystem.
Pros and cons
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
| Seamless integration with QBO | Only a viable choice if your clients use QBO |
| The opportunity to get listed on the ProAdvisor directory | Limited CRM |
| Access to live training and education materials | Limited automation capabilities |
| Secure platform for client interactions | Some users have issues with support |
Pricing
It’s free to sign up for QuickBooks Online Accountant. You only pay when you add clients. You can either bill your clients directly for the cost of the subscription, or you can purchase subscriptions wholesale at a significant discount and sell them to your clients.
Free trial?
Because QuickBooks Online Accountant is essentially free until you add clients, there’s no need for a free trial. Just sign up for an account and see what you think.
User ratings
User reviews
Because QuickBooks Online Accountant is a relatively new platform, there aren’t enough online reviews to get a real sense of what users love and what they struggle with. Overall, however, reviews are positive. As this user explains, the ability to switch between different clients’ QBO accounts without constantly logging in and out is a major perk:
Easily switch between clients, the platform is extremely user-friendly, immediate customer service with remote capabilities, and very flexible to novice users.
On the flip side, some users claim that the platform isn’t the easiest to use. There are also some issues with customer support, as this reviewer explains:
I also have not had a great experience with the phone support team. Sometimes they are able to help, but I have been steered wrong by support in the past and ended up figuring out the fix on my own after spending a long time on a call with support.
QuickBooks Online Accountant or Jetpack Workflow?
These two platforms are quite different, making a direct comparison quite tricky. Jetpack Workflow is a somewhat limited but effective tool for workflow and task management. QuickBooks Online Accountant is almost an extension of QuickBooks Online accounting software. If you and your clients already use QBO, it’s likely the better option. That said, neither platform offers more advanced practice management features.
6. Pixie
Pixie is a relative newcomer to the practice management scene. It takes a user-friendly approach, providing small accounting firms with the tools they need to build more efficient workflows.
Key features
Pixie takes a lean approach to practice management. You get most of the essential features you need to run a modern accounting firm, but there are some major omissions when it comes to more advanced capabilities.
For example, Pixie doesn’t have the tools to track time, send invoices, or receive payments. Its automation capabilities are also rather basic.
Here’s what Pixie offers:
- Accounting CRM. A single source of truth for all your client data, files, and communications.
- Team and task management. Internal notifications, simple reporting, to-do lists, task templates, and email integration.
- Workflow management. Automate recurring tasks, build custom workflows, and add internal deadlines to stages.
- Client management. Automate client onboarding, send auto-reminders, and create and assign client tasks via a secure client portal.
- Document management. Securely manage, request, and store documents. Add e-signature requests to your workflows.
What kind of accounting firms use Pixie?
Pixie is well suited to smaller firms looking to scale. Its lean approach to practice management makes it well suited to firms looking for a relatively simple but effective solution, without the need for more advanced features.
Pros and cons
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
| Client portal | Very limited automation capabilities |
| Simple, attractive user interface | No mobile apps |
| Intuitive and easy to use | No time tracking, invoicing, or payments |
| Easy to set up and decent support | Client-based pricing structure won’t suit new firms |
Pricing
Pixie takes a different approach to pricing than the other platforms on this list. Instead of offering a range of plans with differing capabilities, Pixie users have access to all of its features no matter what. The amount that you pay depends on the number of clients you have, with the following rates:
- Fewer than 250 clients — $129 per month
- 251 to 500 clients — $199 per month
- 501-1,000 clients — $329 per month
- More than 1,000 clients — price is available on request
So, what does this mean? First of all, you can add as many users as you want. Your team growing won’t impact costs. Instead, you’ll eventually pay more as your client base grows. This pricing structure might work for some but not others. For example, if you’re a new solo firm with a handful of clients, you’ll be paying over the odds for a relatively limited platform.
Free trial?
Yes, Pixie offers a 30-day free trial.
User ratings
User reviews
Pixie only has a handful of reviews to choose from, but it’s clear from the limited information that it’s a highly user-friendly platform that simplifies basic accounting workflows. Here’s a recent review highlighting Pixie’s email integration, workflow management, and templates:
Pixie is easy to use, integrates with our email well and gives us the flexibility to create our own workflows, as well as providing us templates to use as we wish. We don’t use our outlook anymore, logging straight into Pixie every morning and receiving daily reminders for outstanding tasks.
While most of the reviews are positive, it’s clear that Pixie’s greatest strength — i.e. its user-friendly simplicity — is also its main drawback, as this review explains:
It’s not a dislike, but through its simplicity, there is a lack of complexity, and sometimes need workarounds in terms of how reports are produced, there are also some development possibilities around statistics and this would be splendid.
Pixie or Jetpack Workflow?
Overall, Pixie is the more well-rounded platform — although both options lack key features. If you’re looking for a relatively simple solution for managing internal workflows and client interactions, Pixie is the better choice. Jetpack Workflow is a decent tool for managing tasks, but its lack of a client portal will be a dealbreaker for many firms.
You’ll also need to carefully consider Pixie’s pricing structure. Depending on the size of your team and client base, you might end up paying significantly more (or less) than for a competitor platform.
7. Xero Practice Manager
As the name suggests, Xero Practice Manager is the practice management offering from popular small-business accounting software provider Xero. Launched in 2014, it offers deep integration with Xero accounting software.
Key features
Xero Practice Manager offers a range of tools designed to streamline and simplify accounting practices. Here are some of its key features:
- Team and task management. Assign work, set deadlines, and track progress.
- Time and billing. Track time and convert the data into professional invoices.
- Custom reporting. Generate reports on clients, productivity, time and billing, and more.
- Xero integration. Connect with Xero accounting software to sync client data, invoices, payments, and more.
Like QuickBooks Online Accountant, Xero Practice Manager is almost like an extension of its related accounting software. As a result, its feature set tends to focus more on practical day-to-day functions such as tracking time and getting paid. There’s less focus on productivity and scalability, however, with limited workflow automation capabilities.
What kind of accounting firms use Xero Practice Manager?
As you’d expect, Xero Practice Manager tends to be used by firms that already use Xero’s accounting software. These tend to be smaller accounting and bookkeeping firms. That said, Xero users aren’t limited to a single choice, and in many cases, they may be better off with a third-party practice management platform that offers superior functionality.
Pros and cons
| 👍 Pros | 👎 Cons |
| Seamless integration with Xero accounting software | No real reason to use it if you don’t already use Xero |
| Like Xero — easy to use | Issues connecting with certain banks |
| Several performance issues and bugs | |
| Dashboard looks a bit dated |
Pricing
Unfortunately, we couldn’t find any information about Xero Practice Manager’s pricing. The Xero website provides pricing plans for its accounting software, but not its practice management software.
Free trial?
Xero offers a free 30-day trial for its accounting software, but it’s not clear whether the same applies to its practice management platform.
User ratings
- G2: 4.4 out of 5 from 36 reviews
- Capterra: there are currently no Xero Practice Manager reviews on Capterra
User reviews
Xero Practice Manager is widely considered easy to use and effective at managing accounting clients, as this review explains:
I love how easy the software is to use, how much information they allow you to enter and how flexible it is for your firm’s needs. We really enjoy the way it allows you to group entities per family group and how easy it is to view the whole group’s returns and activity statements in one section.
That said, users have reported several bugs and performance issues that let the platform down. This is from the same reviewer:
I dislike how often it will create duplicate entities and pull information in from the client’s Xero account. Also frequently has lodgement errors that make no sense and take a long time to resolve the issue.
Xero Practice Manager or Jetpack Workflow?
If you already use Xero’s accounting software, Xero Practice Manager offers seamless integration. But it’s by no means a complete practice management platform. Small firms that are looking for a way to improve internal processes and task management may prefer Jetpack Workflow’s simplicity.
The bottom line
In an increasingly competitive software niche, Jetpack Workflow has carved out a piece of the market thanks to its solid workflow and task management capabilities. That said, some major issues hold it back from being the complete package.
In addition to a lack of advanced automation features, Jetpack Workflow offers very little in the way of client-facing tools. This makes it impossible to offer the sort of slick, digital experiences that modern clients expect. There are also concerns about its cost-effectiveness, outdated user interface, and lack of native integrations.
Thankfully, there are plenty of alternative practice management platforms available. Among those alternatives, only one offers a complete set of features, simple and transparent pricing, and market-leading customer support: TaxDome.
To see how TaxDome can transform your internal workflows while providing an incredible client experience, request a demo today.
Nicholas Edwards
As a content writer for TaxDome, Nicholas combines a deep understanding of accounting processes with a passion for technology. With years of experience in the accounting industry, he enjoys transforming complex financial and tax concepts into accessible, actionable insights. His writing helps accountants and firms leverage technology to streamline workflows and optimize their practices.
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