5 Best Puzzle Alternatives for Startups in 2025

Team Digits

Published December 29, 2024

Running a startup requires the right tools to stay on top of your finances, and accounting platforms like Puzzle promise to make the job easier. But what happens when a tool no longer meets your needs? Whether it's outdated features, limited customization, or subpar customer support, businesses outgrow their accounting software for many reasons.

If you're exploring alternatives to Puzzle, you're not alone. This guide will walk you through some of the best Puzzle alternatives on the market today so you can find the perfect accounting software for your growing business.

What to look for in your next accounting software

Selecting the right accounting platform can be challenging with so many legacy systems and new options vying for your attention. To make the best choice, focus on features that deliver the full benefits of modern accounting technology.

Here are just a few that can make a difference for businesses of any size:

• Automation and Time-Saving Tools: Features like automated transaction categorization, bill pay, and reconciliation reduce manual effort and save valuable time.
• Customizable Reporting: Businesses appreciate the ability to create tailored, visually appealing financial reports that offer actionable insights without requiring technical expertise.
• Real-Time Financial Visibility: Dashboards with live metrics, like burn rate and runway, allow businesses to make informed decisions with up-to-date information.
• Scalability and Adaptability: Companies need solutions that grow with their business, offering features that support startups, midsize enterprises, and beyond.
• Security and Accuracy: Bank-grade encryption and U.S.-based CPA oversight are increasingly important for data protection and compliance.
• User-Centric Design: Platforms with intuitive interfaces and simple navigation make it easy to carry out complex accounting tasks.

By focusing on these features, businesses can ensure their chosen solution meets their current needs and supports their growth for years to come.

5 best Puzzle alternatives to consider

1. Digits

Digits combines cutting-edge AI-powered software with the expertise of U.S.-based CPAs to deliver a seamless and efficient bookkeeping experience perfect for startups and SMBs.

The power of Digits is that it gives founders and other business owners control of their finances in a way that doesn't overwhelm them. Digits's AI technology, trained on over $750 billion in transactions, automatically categorizes transactions and flags discrepancies in real time. Much of the work you'd pay a bookkeeper thousands of dollars to do can be accomplished right in Digits.

Plus, Digits makes it easier to understand your financial metrics. Our live dashboard includes the most commonly used financial metrics and can be customized to suit your needs. Businesses have instant access to actionable metrics without additional requests or delays.

Another reason so many customers are happy they switched to Digits is that it enables them to close their books faster. Using AI, Digits allows businesses to finalize books within five days of month-end—significantly faster than many other options that can take weeks to close.

By blending AI efficiency with human oversight, Digits caters to businesses of all sizes, making bookkeeping accessible, accurate, and intuitive. It's ideal for startups and growing companies looking for a modern financial solution.

Stand-out features:

• Customizable Financial Reports: Digits delivers draft reports at month-end, complete with AI-powered executive summaries and vibrant visuals. Users can customize their reports with KPIs, charts, and graphs in seconds, making it easy to share with investors or advisors.
• Live Insights and KPIs Dashboard: The drag-and-drop modular widgets let you tailor the dashboard to your business needs, while real-time updates powered by AI integrations ensure that every metric is accurate and up-to-date.
• Verified by U.S.-Based CPAs: We work with a team of experienced accountants (not recent grads or offshore workers), providing a layer of trust, accuracy, and compliance that startups and businesses can count on.

Pros:

• Accelerated Book Closures: Digits closes your books within five business days, significantly faster than industry norms.
• AI-Driven Efficiency: Automation reduces manual effort, categorizing transactions and handling repetitive tasks to save you time and money.
• Automated Bill Pay: Pay vendors in seconds with a streamlined drag-and-drop interface.

Cons:

• Requires some hands-on time: Digits is designed to empower business owners. However, if you're looking for a solution that completely takes bookkeeping and accounting out of your hands, another full-service option may be better suited to you.

Cost: Starting at $150 per month

2. Pilot

Pilot provides tailored bookkeeping services that combine human expertise with structured workflows to deliver monthly P&L, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow reports.

However, Pilot isn't for everyone. Its financial reports are typically only delivered at the end of the month, which may not meet the needs of businesses seeking real-time insights. Additionally, the higher pricing tier might be prohibitive for smaller companies or those with tight budgets.

For businesses seeking a human-driven bookkeeping experience that scales with their growth, Pilot remains a strong contender. However, its slower turnaround time and more expensive pricing might not make it ideal for smaller businesses or startups.

Stand-out features:

• Flexible bookkeeping: Scales with your business, offering tailored services that adapt as you grow from startup to larger team, ensuring your financial needs are always met.
• Organized communication: Streamlines interactions through a dedicated portal, enabling clear, timely exchanges with your bookkeeping team and reducing lengthy back-and-forths over email.
• Accurate financial reports: Delivers monthly P&L, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow reports, combined with real-time account data, to give you actionable insights into your business's financial health.

Pros:

• Responsive customer support: Users appreciate Pilot's client service, feeling they offered a good mix of fast responses and professional guidance.
• Fewer back-and-forths: The dedicated portal simplifies bookkeeping processes by organizing communication so everyone is always on the same page.

Cons:

• Delayed financial visibility: Some users didn't like waiting until the end of the month to see their financial reports.
• High pricing: Many users mention that Pilot's services are costly, especially for small businesses that don't need monthly accounting.

Cost: Starting at $349 per month.

3. Zeni

Zeni is an AI-powered bookkeeping platform designed for startups and small businesses looking for real-time financial insights. Its live dashboard gives users a clear snapshot of their business's health at any moment.

Other key features worth mentioning include automated transaction categorization, same-day ACH bill payments, and business credit cards with expense tracking.

However, despite its innovative features, Zeni does come with its drawbacks. Top among them is that most of their bookkeepers are not U.S.-based. With many businesses residing in or doing business in the U.S., having expertise here is a must-have.

Another issue is that it lacks forecasting capabilities and advanced financial metrics. Although this could make the dashboard easier for some, many businesses want more information to gain better insight into their true performance.

Stand-out features:

• AI-powered bookkeeping: Automatically categorizes transactions, generates financial insights, and provides real-time dashboards to help businesses make smarter financial decisions.
• Bill payments: Speeds up vendor payments with AI-powered invoice processing, same-day ACH payments, and multi-level approvals at no extra cost.
• Business credit cards: Offers a smart spending solution with automated expense tracking and reporting for simplified financial management.

Pros:

• Live dashboard: The daily updates on financial data make it easy to track the company's financial position without delays.
• Dedicated support team: Reviewers appreciate Zeni's approachable and knowledgeable bookkeepers who provide personalized guidance and go beyond basic bookkeeping.

Cons:

• Onboarding hurdles: Some users report that the setup process can be time-consuming if documentation isn't perfectly organized in advance.
• Bookkeepers lack U.S. expertise: Some users reported that their bookkeepers were not U.S.-based, so they lacked the expertise needed for businesses operating in America.

Cost: Starting at $466 per month

4. Bench (Closed Permanently)

On December 27, 2024, Bench Accounting, a Vancouver-based company specializing in online bookkeeping and tax services for small businesses, abruptly ceased operations. The company announced via its website that the Bench platform would no longer be accessible, acknowledging the sudden nature of the closure and its potential disruption to customers. As of the date of this article, specific reasons for the abrupt shutdown have not been publicly disclosed. If you are a Bench customer looking to transition from Bench, our team put together a no-strings attached customer care package for you.

When it was still active, Bench was a good fit for companies that are just starting out and want something simple.

Stand-out features:

• Smart automation: Allows you to connect Bench to your credit card providers or financial institutions to import data and save yourself time and effort on data entry.
• Document organization: Gives you a single, unified place to keep all of your important financial documents for when you need them.
• Direct messaging: Helps you message a Bench team member right away so you can get advice and help should you need it.

Pros:

• Clear financial summaries: The monthly financial statements and visual overviews make it easy to track performance and understand where the business stands.
• Ease of integration: Bench seamlessly connects with bank accounts and credit cards, simplifying the process of syncing financial data.

Cons:

• Some classification errors: Users reported many misclassified transactions, which often required manual corrections.
• Lack of flexibility: Bench uses a standardized chart of accounts that may not align with how some businesses track their finances.

Cost: Starting at $299 per month

5. QuickBooks Online

QuickBooks Online is one of the most widely used accounting platforms today, making it a go-to for all kinds of businesses. Designed to appeal to a broad market, QuickBooks does a little bit of everything, including invoicing, expense tracking, and payroll processes.

However, the platform isn't without flaws. QuickBooks suffers from problems familiar to any large, established company, such as poor customer service, complicated pricing tiers, and outdated features and UI. Plus, since the main target audience for this product is bookkeepers, some business owners without a background in accounting may find it challenging to approach.

With plenty of resources to help you get started, QuickBooks is a low-risk option. However, startups and businesses with specialized needs might need a more modern and flexible option.

Stand-out features:

• Integrated Payment System: Allows businesses to accept payments through a variety of platforms, including credit cards, ACH payments, Apple Pay, PayPal, and Venmo, directly within the software.
• Comprehensive Payroll Management: Streamlines payroll processes by automatically calculating taxes, setting up auto-pay for employees, and offering HR tools.
• Customizable Accounting Reports: Offers powerful reporting tools that allow businesses to track profitability, manage expenses, and gain real-time insights into financial performance.

Pros:

• Widely Adopted: As one of the most popular accounting software solutions, QuickBooks Online benefits from a large user base, extensive resources, and integrations with many third-party tools.
• Ease of Use: The intuitive interface simplifies tasks like creating invoices, tracking expenses, and managing financials, making it accessible even for non-accountants.

Cons:

• Customer support issues: Support is frequently criticized for long wait times, limited expertise, and difficulties with downgrading.
• Slightly outdated: Users sometimes criticize QuickBooks for lacking modern innovations, saying its AI features aren't up-to-par and lack some advanced features users would like.
• Difficult for non-accountants: Some non-accounting professionals find QuickBooks overwhelming due to the accounting jargon and the need for basic accounting know-how.

Cost: Starting at $35 per month

6. Zoho Books

Zoho Books is an affordable accounting platform designed for small to medium-sized businesses, especially those with international operations. It provides features like automated invoice generation, multi-language and multi-currency support, and payment gateway integrations, making it a practical choice for businesses seeking efficiency on a budget.

However, while Zoho Books handles core accounting needs fairly well, businesses with complex requirements may find its lack of advanced reporting or deeper customization restrictive.

For businesses just starting out or operating across multiple countries, Zoho Books is a cost-effective choice. That said, those requiring more flexibility or reliable customer support might want to explore other options.

Stand-out features:

• Automated invoice generation: Creates professional-looking invoices automatically, including multi-language and multi-currency features.
• Payment gateway: Integrates with payment platforms like Stripe and PayPal, so payment information is kept in one place.
• Retention payments: Allows businesses to withhold full payment based on an agreed-upon contract until all services are delivered.

Pros:

• Affordable pricing: Zoho Books offers competitive subscription rates, making it an attractive option for small and medium businesses on a budget.
• Multi-language and multi-currency support: The platform is well-suited for international businesses, offering features catering to diverse markets.

Cons:

• Limited Customization: Users report challenges in tailoring reports and invoices to their specific needs.
• Customer Support Complaints: Slow response times and overly technical explanations frustrate users who need straightforward, actionable assistance.

Cost: Starting at $0 for a basic free plan (one user plus one accountant).

Unlock your startup's financial power with Digits

When it comes to managing your finances, having the right tools can make all the difference. With Digits, you get an accounting platform that goes beyond bookkeeping — bringing speed, accuracy, and insight to every financial decision you make.

To do this, we offer features that we know businesses and startups are looking for so they can better use their financial data — from smart dashboards to AI features that help save your team time and money. These include:

• Accounting backed by U.S.-based CPAs: Ensures your books are always accurate and ready for tax season.
• Customizable dashboards and reports: Offers real-time metrics and customizable insights to give you and your investors a clear view of your business's financial health.
• AI Bill Pay: Streamlines vendor payments with drag-and-drop approvals, automated reviews, and flexible payment options.

Digits combines cutting-edge AI technology with human expertise to deliver a solution designed to grow with your business.

Book a call today with our team and see how Digits can help your startup master its finances.