# Research & Analysis — Tick Mark Books

> Source: https://tickmarkbooks.com/blog/ (curated, sourced)

Data-driven research and analysis on the tools in this index, sourced reports built to be cited.

## Newest finding

30 October 2026

**$39** The median bookkeeping product cost $39 a month for 100 transactions in October 2026, and $42 for 500.

Median by category

- All 26 priced: $39
- Online bookkeeping services 5 priced: $137
- AI bookkeeping for QuickBooks and Xero 4 priced: $131
- Startups 8 priced: $86
- With a bookkeeper checking 6 priced: $77

26 of 49 bookkeeping software priced; counted on 31 October 2026

[Read the study](https://tickmarkbooks.com/data/bookkeeping-software-cost/) · [Download the CSV (CC BY 4.0)](https://tickmarkbooks.com/data/bookkeeping-software-cost/2026-10.csv) · [How we ran it](https://tickmarkbooks.com/data/bookkeeping-software-cost/#method)

5 reports. Each links to its answer-first markdown twin.

- [Choosing AI bookkeeping software: ledger, bills or receipts](https://tickmarkbooks.com/blog/choosing-ai-bookkeeping-software-ledger-bills-or-receipts.md) (2026-10-31) — First decide whether the AI should keep the ledger itself, as Digits and FreeAgent do, or feed QuickBooks or Xero with bills, receipts and payments.
- [Choosing AI accounting software for a small business](https://tickmarkbooks.com/blog/choosing-ai-accounting-software-for-a-small-business.md) (2026-10-29) — Match the ledger to the country you file in first, then compare what the AI books on its own, whether your history moves across and who checks it.
- [FreeAgent vs Zoho Books for small business accounting](https://tickmarkbooks.com/blog/freeagent-vs-zoho-books-for-small-business-accounting.md) (2026-10-27) — FreeAgent suits UK sole traders and company directors filing their own tax returns; Zoho Books suits US businesses and owners running several companies.
- [What bookkeeping software costs a month, across nine tools](https://tickmarkbooks.com/blog/a-month-of-books-at-100-transactions.md) (2026-10-26) — QuickBooks Online, Xero, Wave, FreshBooks and five AI-first tools priced on the same month at their regular prices, with the ledger each one still needs.
- [How we price a month of books](https://tickmarkbooks.com/blog/how-we-price-a-month-of-books.md) (2026-10-26) — How Tick Mark Books turns every bookkeeping tool's price into one monthly figure, with the ledger it still needs, and what the tick beside it means.