If you search for “accounting practice management software,” Canopy is likely to pop up first. It’s packed with features and is user-friendly for both you and your clients. But these perks come with a hefty price tag, not to mention some other drawbacks (which we’ll get into soon).
In this article, we’ll break down the features to look for in the right software, highlight where Canopy doesn’t measure up, and feature the five alternatives that do.
Why do accounting firms need client management software?
If you’re just starting to explore client management software for your accounting firm, it’s the right moment to pause and get clear on what you actually need.
First, a simple question: What’s client management software generally used for? The most common use cases include:
- Keeping all your client info in one place
- Organizing documentation
- Assigning and tracking tasks across your team
- Staying on top of communication history with clients
- Managing collaboration and approvals
- Automating tasks like invoicing and reporting
As an accounting firm, you need the software that will tackle these and cater to the unique needs of your niche, such as:
- Keeping track of client financial records, reports, and statements
- Automating parts of the tax filing process
- Streamlining admin and non-billable work
- Collaborating throughout the audit process
- Ensuring compliance with accounting standards and regulations
… all of these while ensuring your sensitive client data is kept secure and protected.
With all that in mind, you have three options: you can go with a general project management tool like ClickUp or Monday.com and tweak it to fit your needs, opt for a client management software like Canopy that’s already designed for accounting firms, or build a custom system tailored just for you.
And while a specialized tool like Canopy might seem like the obvious choice, it’s important not to rush into it without considering the alternatives and their potential.
Why should you consider Canopy alternatives for your practice management solution?
So, Canopy offers a comprehensive practice management platform designed just for accountants and bookkeepers. But, like any tool, it has its drawbacks:
Focus on tax and compliance
Canopy offers top-notch tax workflow features. You can automate calculations, organize templates and forms, map out workflows, and much more in one system.
Umm, what’s wrong with that?
While Canopy is great for handling tax and compliance, it’s not as strong when it comes to project management and workflow features. If your firm needs more than just tax tools—like advanced collaboration tools or more flexible workflows—other software might be a better fit.
Pricing structure
Canopy’s pricing can be a bit complex and might not scale well with your needs. The platform charges based on features, users, and, if you exceed the 2,500 client limit, additional clients. While it might seem like you’re only paying for what you use, costs can add up quickly.
The base price is $150/month for the Client Engagement module, which serves as the core of the system you’ll build upon with additional features. The plan includes a client portal, a mobile app for clients and firm staff, team notifications, CRM, and client requests. To get more, you need to buy add-ons:
- Document Management: $36/user/month
- Workflow: $32/user/month
- Time & Billing: $22/user/month
- Tax Resolution: $50/user/month
- Collection Cases: $100/case
- KBA ESignature: $1.25/KBA credit
- Transcripts and Notices (standalone): $50/user/month
*All prices are for annual contracts.
With a five-person team and just a couple of add-ons, you’re looking at nearly $10,000 per year, which doesn’t seem appealing to a small accounting firm.
Limited integrations
Canopy integrates smoothly with QuickBooks Online (though it has a few quirks), and this is one of its key features. But when it comes to other business software, getting Canopy to work with them is cumbersome.
Limited integration capabilities can be a dealbreaker, especially for a platform that includes CRM features. You need to be able to sync all your data seamlessly, without having to manually input everything.
Still work-in-progress
What users love about Canopy is that they continuously release new features and resolve issues promptly. What they don’t appreciate so much is the glitches and the learning curve that often accompany these updates.
Limited customization
While Canopy comes with plenty of useful features right out of the box, it doesn't offer much flexibility to tailor the platform to your firm’s specific needs.
This ties back to the limited integrations issue—if you can’t easily sync Canopy with other software, it’s tough to create a system that works exactly the way you want.
Like with many niche-focused solutions, there’s often just one way to do things, leaving little room for customization to fit your firm's unique workflows or preferences.
What makes the best Canopy alternative?
With all that in mind, the goal is to find alternatives that keep Canopy's strengths while avoiding its downsides.
When researching Canopy alternatives, we focused on the following factors:
- User-friendly interface. The right platform should be easy to set up and use, not just for your staff but for your clients as well.
- Workflow automation. Canopy might not be the strongest in this area, but our Canopy alternatives excel in the automation of task assignments, reminders, invoicing, and other routine activities.
- Customization. Some alternatives on our list offer more flexibility than Canopy, allowing you to tailor the system to fit your specific needs and workflows, not the other way around.
- Integrations. We’ve found tools that offer seamless integration with your other business tools, like accounting software, CRMs, and communication platforms.
- Reasonable pricing. The best alternatives offer transparent, scalable pricing that gives you the features you need without locking essential tools behind expensive add-ons.
- Mobile accessibility. Not too many providers offer mobile apps like Canopy, but we’ve found a few that do.
- Security and compliance. Of course, we couldn’t have overlooked strong data protection features to keep your sensitive client information safe.
5 Top Canopy client management alternatives to choose from in 2024
Are you looking for an all-in-one platform like Canopy but want something more affordable? Or do you prefer a tool that focuses on specific areas, such as proposals or task management, without the extra features? No matter your needs, you’ll find the right fit on our list.
1. Softr
An example of a contract management system built with Softr
Best for: small businesses, agencies, freelancers, and enterprises looking for flexibility and scalability.
Softr is a no-code app builder that allows you to create your custom practice management system without technical expertise.
You don’t have to put up with the limitations of out-of-the-box solutions. With Softr’s drag-and-drop interface, you can put together a system of any complexity that meets your specific needs, just like Officeheads did.
Softr use case for accounting firms
Officeheads, an accounting, bookkeeping, tax, and advisory services company, built their ideal client portal using Softr in less than two days.
Starting with a pre-built client portal template, the Officeheads team has created a system that streamlines eight key workflows:
- Providing clients with easy access to self-serve information about Officeheads services.
- Empowering the team with fintech tool management guides and training videos to boost adoption and usage.
- Facilitating communication between team members, allowing them to find contact info and book meetings directly through the portal using Calendly.
- Managing projects via a dynamic Kanban board and calendar view for easy organization.
- Offering interactive dashboards, updated monthly, that display key financial data like profit and loss, balance sheets, cash flow, and budget vs. actual.
- Allowing clients to download contracts and reports directly from the portal.
- Creating custom dashboards with relevant business insights tailored to each client’s needs.
- Educating clients through videos specifically geared towards small businesses, with the ability for clients to comment and ask questions directly through the portal.
These are the capabilities Officeheads built into their accounting client portal—now, it’s up to you to decide what your custom portal will include. Build your client management system with Softr, it’s free.
Softr key features
- Drag-and-drop interface
- Dynamic and static building blocks, including Kanban boards, Comments, etc.
- Templates for client portals, CRM, document management systems, and more
- Customizable workflows
- Integrations
- 12+ Data sources, including Airtable, Google Sheets, etc.
- Mobile apps (PWA)
- Granular visibility & permission settings
- Community forum
- Payment processing with Stripe
Softr vs. Canopy
- Softr lets you fully customize your system to match your exact needs with its no-code, drag-and-drop interface.
- Softr offers seamless connections with over 12 data sources and major business tools, plus the ability to expand with a powerful API.
- Softr is a more budget-friendly option without per-user pricing.
- Softr can be adapted for various industries and use cases. Whether you need a CRM, document management system, or client portal, it covers it all.
- Softr is incredibly beginner-friendly. If you’re building an app for the first time, the active community and support team are always ready to help with any questions, so you’ll never stay stuck for long.
Softr pricing
Softr offers a free plan where you can create and publish one app, with unlimited collaborators and access for up to 10 users.
Paid plans start at $49/month, which includes 3 published apps and 20 app users.
For $139/month, you can invite up to 100 app users (with the option to add more for an extra fee) and publish unlimited apps.
Larger accounting firms can scale up to 2,500 users for just $269/month.
2. Karbon
Best for: accounting firms of all sizes looking for an all-in-one client and workflow management platform.
Karbon is a collaboration and workflow management platform designed specifically for accounting firms to streamline client communication and task tracking.
So, like Canopy, it’s already built with your industry’s needs in mind. The key difference is, while Canopy excels at handling tax-specific workflows, Karbon takes a more well-rounded approach, making it easier to manage projects and teams as a whole.
Karbon key features
- Collaboration tools
- Integrated email
- Task automation
- Time tracking
- Billing and payments
- Customizable templates
- Document management
- Client portal
- AI-powered workflows
- Industry integrations
- Mobile app
Karbon vs. Canopy
- Karbon syncs with your email, allowing you to manage client communication alongside your workflow. Canopy doesn’t have this level of email integration.
- Karbon’s collaborative features are a step ahead, letting your team comment on tasks, share progress, and work together more seamlessly.
- Karbon’s pricing is more straightforward and affordable. You get all the essential features in one plan without needing to purchase extra add-ons like you do with Canopy.
- Karbon offers native integration with both QuickBooks Online and Xero while Canopy’s integration with Zero is only possible through Zapier.
Karbon pricing
Like many dedicated accounting platforms, Karbon doesn’t offer a free plan.
Paid plans start at $59/user/month, billed annually, which includes up to 1,000 contact profiles. Task automation and integrations are available at $89/user/month.
3. Jetpack Workflow
Best for: small accounting firms seeking a simple but effective workflow management solution.
Jetpack Workflow is a workflow management tool for accounting professionals and bookkeepers.
It’s one of the most budget-friendly options on our list, but that’s because it offers a more basic toolkit—growing firms may outgrow the platform’s features fairly quickly. Still, if you’re primarily looking for a straightforward task management system tailored for accounting, Jetpack Workflow is a great fit.
Jetpack Workflow key features
- Automated task reminders
- Calendar views
- Client document storage
- Built-in time tracking
- Customizable templates
- Support and training
Jetpack Workflow vs. Canopy
- While Canopy offers a wide range of features, Jetpack keeps things simple with a focus on task management.
- Jetpack Workflow offers a more modern and intuitive interface compared to legacy accounting systems.
- It’s more budget-friendly for small firms that need basic project management tools without paying for add-ons.
Jetpack Workflow pricing
Jetpack Starter plans begin at $36/user/month, billed annually.
4. Financial Cents
Best for: freelancers and small accounting firms looking for a lightweight, affordable client management solution.
Financial Cents offers a solid all-in-one practice management solution at a much more affordable price.
While it doesn’t have some of Canopy’s features—like a mobile app or built-in payment collection—most of these gaps (well, except for the mobile app) can be filled through Financial Cents’ smooth integrations.
Financial Cents key features
- Email integration
- Client CRM
- Client task tracking
- Workflow automation
- Email integration
- Time tracking
- Document management
- Client portal
- Billing and time tracking
- Automated task reminders
Financial Cents vs. Canopy
- Reasonable pricing makes Financial Cents one of the most cost-efficient options for individual practitioners and small firms.
- Email integration allows you to track all emails between your team and clients and easily turn any email into a project.
- While its native integration capabilities are rather limited, Financial Cents works well with key accounting tools.
Financial Cents pricing
The solo plan is $9/month (billed annually) and includes essential features like CRM, workflow automation, and a client portal. For teams, plans start at $39/user/month, adding email and QuickBooks integrations.
5. Ignition
Best for: small to mid-sized accounting firms that need a practice management platform with a focus on revenue generation.
Ignition offers a comprehensive client management suite, but its real strength lies in handling proposals and payments. Users can easily create and send branded proposals, automate client follow-ups, set up recurring billing, and sync everything with their accounting software.
Also, mind that Ignition doesn’t offer client-facing features like a client portal—it’s mainly geared toward internal client operations.
Ignition key features
- Proposal creation
- Payment management
- Manual and automated billing
- Engagement letters
- CRM and accounting software integrations
Ignition vs. Canopy
- Ignition supports complex billing workflows, like deposits, recurring payments, and pay-on-completion setups.
- It’s a strong choice for managing proposals without a lot of manual effort.
- While it’s designed with accountants in mind, Ignition is also popular with other professional service businesses, including marketing agencies.
Practice Ignition pricing
Plans start at $99/month, covering up to 3 users and 30 active clients. If you need more, it’s an extra $5 for each additional active client.
Enjoy the flexibility of a custom-built practice management system
Practice management tools come in all forms, but do they really meet your firm’s needs? Ditch the limitations and workarounds with a custom solution that’s built just for you.
With Softr, you can create a practice management system that’s as complex as you need—no tech skills required. Sign up for free and get up and running in under two days.
What is Softr
Softr is the easiest way to turn your data into powerful business apps—no code required. Connect to your spreadsheet or database, customize layout and logic, and share with your team or clients.
Join 700,000+ users worldwide, building client portals, internal tools, CRMs, dashboards, project management systems, inventory management apps, and more—all without code.
Join 700,000+ users worldwide, building client portals, internal tools, CRMs, dashboards, project management systems, inventory management apps, and more—all without code.
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Adelina Karpenkova
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