Canopy is a well-known accounting practice management software that offers a suite of features to streamline operations and improve efficiency for accountants, including:

  • Document management: Organize, store, and share client documents hassle-free.
  • Time & billing: Track and manage time spent on tasks, then use the time you’ve tracked to bill clients. Also, collect and process payments within Canopy.
  • Tax resolution: Tools to manage client tax processes and help you resolve tax issues.
  • Engagement letters & electronic signatures: Simplify the client onboarding process with pre-built templates and e-signature capabilities.
  • Client portal: Provide a secure platform for clients to access documents, view invoices, and communicate with your firm.
  • Reporting: Get insights on how your firm is performing to make data-driven decisions.

With a 4.6/5 rating on G2 and a 4.5/5 rating on Capterra, it’s obvious users love Canopy; however, this software may not be the right fit for you.

Drawbacks of Canopy and Why You Should Consider Alternatives

Mainly Built for Tax Firms

Canopy’s offerings lean heavily towards everything tax-related, including tax preparation and issue resolution. While this is great for tax firms, it’s not well suited for accounting or bookkeeping firms with broader needs.

If you fall in the latter category, you might have to work outside the software’s strengths and struggle to perform.

Limited Workflow Features

While Canopy offers workflow management solutions, they are limited compared to some competitors. This can be a disadvantage to accounting and bookkeeping firm owners who need a comprehensive system to manage the various tasks and deadlines involved in running an accounting practice.

Complex Pricing Models

Canopy doesn’t have a straightforward or all-inclusive pricing structure.  It uses a complex model with a base fee for client engagement (free for up to 250 users). And then additional charges for each feature in the project management suite you want to use, like document management, workflow, time & billing, tax resolution, and collection cases.

This complexity makes it difficult to get a clear idea of the total cost upfront. Budgeting becomes a challenge, as firms might underestimate the additional costs associated with the needed features. If you need clarification on pricing, you’ll have to contact customer service, which adds an unnecessary layer of difficulty to the purchasing process.

This purchasing model also makes the software more expensive than alternatives.

Limited Customization

Unlike some competitors that offer a high degree of personalization, Canopy restricts users’ ability to tailor the software to their specific needs regarding design features and brand colors.

canopy reviews from customers

another canopy review

The 6 Best Canopy Alternatives to Consider

1. Financial Cents

Canopy alternative - Financial Cents

Financial Cents is an accounting workflow management software for firms who want to become more organized and stay on top of deadlines.

It’s user-friendly and helps you streamline your accounting workflow operations to scale your firm. Here are some of its defining features.

Features

  • Document management: Store all client documents in one central location so they can be easily accessed, enhancing collaboration in your firm. Organize documents by creating folders and subfolders. There’s also an advanced search feature to find and retrieve documents.
  • Workflow management: Create tasks, assign deadlines, track progress, and collaborate seamlessly with your team to ensure efficient project management. It provides a dashboard with an overview of all your firm’s operations so you can assign or reassign work according to each team member’s capacity. There are also over 40 free accounting templates to ease your workflow and ensure consistency.
  • Client management: Manage all your client information in one place and keep track of all client work, project and client interactions using the client dashboard feature in Financial Cents. Get documents and all the information you need from clients 10x faster using the automated client requests and tasks reminder, which helps your client upload documents and information you need through Financial Cents’ secure client portal. You can also communicate with your clients via the client portal.
  • Time tracking: Log time spent on tasks and projects with a few clicks. Gain valuable insights into your time utilization with clear reports. See how much time you dedicate to specific clients, projects, or tasks, helping you identify areas for improvement and optimize your workflow.
  • Integrations: Financial Cents integrates seamlessly with tools like QuickBooks, SmartVault, Typeform, Adobe e-signature, Email (Gmail and Outlook), and Adobe Sign. It offers even more integrations (5000+ apps) with Zapier.

Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
It is an easy-to-use and intuitive interface for accountants and bookkeepers of all experience levels. No mobile app
Clients don’t need a username and password to access the client portal.  
Free accounting and bookkeeping checklists to standardize processes.
AI integration to create new workflow and email templates in seconds.
Automation (like automated client reminders, automatically adding client details to project resources, automatically completing tasks, etc.) to save time and improve productivity.

Why Consider Financial Cents

Financial Cents is an excellent choice for accounting and bookkeeping firm owners looking for a user-friendly practice management solution. It provides the tools to manage all aspects of an accounting practice efficiently, streamline workflows, and ultimately boost the bottom line.

See what some customers are saying about Financial Cents:

Financial Cents review

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customer review about Financial Cents

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3rd customer review for Financial Cents

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Reviews

Pricing

Financial Cents offers a free 14-day free trial with 30 days money-back guarantee.

Paid plans start from $39/month, billed annually (team plan), and $59/month, billed annually (scale plan). ReCat add-on for resolving uncategorized transactions is available for $4/month/client.

Should You Use Canopy or Financial Cents?

If you prioritize user-friendliness, affordability, and a feature set for broader accounting needs, then use Financial Cents. Like this user who first considered Canopy and Karbon before deciding on Financial Cents:

Financial Cents review from user who consider karbon and canopy alternative

Below is an overview of how Financial Cents stacks up against Canopy:

side by side financial cents vs canopy comparison

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GetApp's review of Financial Censt and canopy

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Book a Demo with our product team.

2. Karbon

alternative for canopy - karbon

Karbon excels in collaboration and workflow management. It aims to bring about a more efficient and connected team environment.

Features

  • Team and client collaboration: Foster seamless communication and collaboration between your team and clients through the Kaban board, mentions, checklists, integrated emails, and activity timelines.
  • Workflow management: Automate repetitive tasks with Work Scheduler, Automators, and Auto-reminders, manage deadlines, and visualize project progress.
  • Analytics: Easy-to-read reports on client activity and firm performance to gain valuable insights for data-driven decision-making.
  • Calendar integrations: Integrates with your Google or Outlook calendar to schedule and join meetings from the tool.

Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
Facilitates communication and collaboration between internal teams and clients. Karbon has a steeper learning curve due to its extensive features.
Well suited for large firms with complex needs. May be too overwhelming for smaller to mid-sized firms.
Provides a central hub for managing all aspects of client engagements, documents, and communication. Expensive.

Why Consider Karbon

If your firm prioritizes collaboration, Karbon is a strong contender. It helps teams be more efficient and collaborate better.

Reviews

Pricing

The Team plan costs $59/user/month, billed annually, while the Business plan costs $89/user/month, billed annually.

Should You Use Canopy or Karbon?

If your firm is tax-focused and you need a simple solution, choose Canopy. However, choose Canopy if your firm is large and you need collaboration and workflow management features.

3. TaxDome

taxdome alternative for canopy

As its name implies, TaxDome is a one-stop shop for tax professionals. It helps tax firms collect client data, prepare tax returns, and keep clients in the loop from one central place.

Features

  • Client portal: Provides a secure online portal for clients to access documents, communicate with your firm, and e-sign documents.
  • Tax organizers: Makes collecting client data for the tax preparation process more efficient.
  • Document management: Store and manage client documents in one place for easy access.
  • Secure messaging: Facilitate secure and encrypted communication with clients through the client portal.
  • Basic time tracking & billing: Track time spent on tasks and projects, invoice clients, and get paid with its integrated secure payment processing system.

Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
It offers functionalities geared towards tax preparation workflows, making it a suitable option for tax-centric accounting firms. Like Canopy, TaxDome’s core strengths lie in tax preparation. Firms offering a wider range of accounting services might need additional software for those functionalities.
Places emphasis on security, ensuring data and client information remain safe and that communication is secure. TaxDome’s time tracking and billing features might be too basic for complex accounting workflows.
Provides features for managing engagement letters and proposals electronically, facilitating a smooth onboarding process

Why Consider TaxDome

If your accounting firm primarily focuses on tax preparation and prioritizes secure client communication, TaxDome is an alternative to Canopy. It simplifies tax workflows and client interaction.

Reviews

Pricing

TaxDome Pro costs $50/user/month

Should You Use Canopy or TaxDome?

Both Canopy and TaxDome lean heavily towards tax preparation. However, TaxDome offers a more specialized client portal with advanced security features.

4. Jetpack Workflow

canopy alternative - karbon

Jetpack Workflow is a powerful workflow automation software that automates repetitive tasks and lets accounting teams focus on what matters most: serving clients.

Features

  • Automated workflows: Build custom workflows to automate repetitive tasks, eliminate manual data entry, and increase overall efficiency.
  • Task management: Assign tasks, track progress, and manage deadlines visually for a clear picture of your team’s workload.
  • Email automation: Automatically convert incoming emails into actionable tasks and client data, eliminating manual data entry.
  • Client communication: Communicate with clients directly through Jetpack Workflow, eliminating the need to switch between platforms.

Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
Tailor workflows to your needs, ensuring a smooth and consistent process for various accounting tasks. The focus on automation may require initial setup and learning for your team to fully utilize its potential.
The platform can adapt to the needs of growing firms, offering functionalities suitable for various practice sizes. Limited client collaboration features.
Jetpack Workflow excels in automating repetitive tasks, freeing up your team’s time for higher-value activities.

Why Consider Jetpack Workflow

Jetpack Workflow is ideal for firms looking for a solution that helps them “work smarter, not harder.” So, if you struggle with repetitive tasks and want to automate them, choose Jetpack Workflow.  It’ll free up your team’s time, minimize errors, and improve efficiency.

Reviews

Pricing

  • Starter yearly: $30/user/month, billed annually
  • Starter monthly: $45/user/month, billed monthly

Should You Use Canopy or Jetpack Workflow?

Use Jetpack Workflow if you seek powerful automation and customizable workflows to optimize your accounting processes and boost team efficiency. However, if you’re looking for tax practice management software, consider Canopy.

5. Aero Workflow

aero workflow snapshot

Aero Workflow is the workflow software for accountants, by accountants. It helps manage tasks, collaborate with clients, and keep everything organized in one place.

Features

  • Client management: Organize client information, track interactions, and manage documents in a centralized location. It integrates with QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Time, Office 365, and Zapier for more efficiency.
  • Project management: Manage accounting workload with efficient tasks and project management tools. Schedule deadlines, track progress, and ensure nothing falls through the cracks.
  • Recurring tasks: Set one-time or recurring tasks at any intervals you choose.
  • Time tracking: Track time spent on tasks and projects for accurate billing and workload analysis.

Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
Integrates with QuickBooks Online, making certain processes easier. Some users complain that the tool lags sometimes.
The timer starts automatically once you open a task. It has a clunky interface.

Why Consider Aero Workflow

Use Aero Workflow if you want to manage your workflow and save time.

Reviews

Pricing

  • Startup (1-5 users): $135/month
  • Growth (6-25 users): $250/month
  • Scaling (26-50 users): $365/month

Should You Use Canopy or Aero Workflow?

If you need a tool to help with workflow (not practice management), go for Aero Workflow. But if you need a tax practice management tool, go for Canopy.

6. Pixie

canopy alternatives - pixie

Pixie is a user-friendly and affordable companion for accounting professionals, particularly solo practitioners and small accounting firms. It facilitates daily tasks and improves overall practice efficiency.

Features

  • Task management: Centralize client information, track interactions, and manage documents. No more scattered spreadsheets or overflowing filing cabinets. Document the detailed process for certain tasks and turn them into templates.
  • Automated workflows: Save time and reduce errors by automating repetitive tasks like task creation, sending follow-ups, and updating client records.
  • Recurring tasks: Set up recurring tasks to ensure nothing falls through the cracks and deadlines are always met.
  • Email integration: Integrate your email with Pixie to turn emails into tasks, stay on top of the tasks, and delegate the emails to teammates if need be.
  • Client reminders: Set automated reminders to send client requests, inform them about the start of their project, and collect feedback.

Pros and Cons

Pros Cons
Simple and intuitive interface, making it easy for accountants of all experience levels to use. It doesn’t cater to the highly specialized needs of very large or complex accounting firms
Pixie caters well to the needs of solo practitioners and smaller firms, offering the core functionalities they need. It has limited reporting and collaboration features.
Pre-built workflow templates provide a helpful starting point for streamlining common accounting processes.

Why Consider Pixie

Pixie is a strong contender for solo accountants or small accounting firms seeking a user-friendly and affordable solution to improve practice management. It provides the essential tools to stay organized, automate workflows, and focus on growing your practice.

Reviews

Pricing

Pixie has a 30-day free trial and charges based on the number of clients you have, not the number of team members.

  • For less than 250 clients, it costs $129/month
  • For 251-500 clients, it costs $199/month
  • For 501-1000 clients, it costs $329/month
  • For over 1000 clients, contact them for a custom quote

Should You Use Canopy or Pixie?

Canopy’s tax-centric features might be suitable if that’s your primary focus. However, Pixie offers a broader range of features for managing various accounting tasks.

Choose the Right Software for Your Firm

Choosing the right practice management solution can feel overwhelming. While Canopy offers specific functionalities for tax-focused firms, it might not be the perfect fit for firms that offer broader accounting services.

The alternatives explored here — Financial Cents, Karbon, TaxDome, Jetpack Workflow, Aero Workflow, and Pixie — all have their unique strengths. However, if you need an accounting workflow management software with a simple interface, a feature set for diverse accounting/bookkeeping needs, and affordable pricing, consider Financial Cents.

If you’re still on the fence, try our 14-day free trial to experience firsthand how it streamlines your firm’s workflow, boosts efficiency, and helps you focus on what matters most – growing your successful accounting practice.

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