Best accounting software in Saudi Arabia

Accounting software is a specialized computer Software that enables tracking account transactions, financial reporting, creating e-invoices, and managing payroll, among other essential accounting tools and Softwares. 

Regardless of your company's size and field, the adoption of accounting software is a top priority, especially in Saudi Arabia, due to the rapidly growing economy and the strict regulations regarding financial reporting and tax compliance, particularly with the introduction of VAT.

That’s why when you choose the accounting software in Saudi Arabia, it must be trusted by ZATCA (the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority).

Here is a comprehensive understanding of the top 10 accounting software in Saudi Arabia, presented in a detailed list of features and pricing.

The Top 10 Accounting Software in Saudi Arabia

If you are in the process of searching for and comparing the right accounting software that is trusted by ZATCA in Saudi Arabia, and this takes time and effort, this list will help streamline your decision-making.

• Daftra
• Oracle Fusion Cloud Financials
• SAP Business One
• Sage Software
• XERO
• QuickBooks
• ERPNext
• Odoo Accounting & Finance
• Zoho Books
• SMACC

Starting the list with the most well-known and used accounting software in Saudi Arabia for the last 10 years:

1- Daftra

Daftra is an ERP system that manages your entire business, enabling six apps that provide sales invoicing, Financial Reports, Stock Tracking, Attendance & Leave Management, Project Management, Client Follow-Up, and more.

How Daftra Protects Your Data with 256-bit Encryption and Advanced Security

Daftra accounting software offers secure hosting servers with 256-bit SSL encryption technology, which means the accounts' data are safe, private, and recoverable at all times.

Daftra features daily auto backups that are stored separately for more security, plus the location is secured against losing data due to server failures or cyberattacks.

Customer Service Around The Clock

Daftra provides a whole team to support all requests, responding and resolving the issue immediately with no additional fees available for all users, regardless of the plan subscription.

Reach out to the customer service team through live chat, phone, or email. Available to respond to technical troubleshooting or how-to guides, accounts and bill questions, and lastly, advice on using the software effectively.

Daftar's Integrated Accounting Software Apps

Simplify the process of analyzing the audits and financial books to improve the reporting process and decision-making by relying on integrated accounting software like Daftra. 

It assists in tracking the income and expenses of the receivable and payable accounts and creating reports on the financial and analytical statements, besides the cash management of the bank accounts, reconciliation, credit cards, and others.

The accounting software apps in Daftra are:

1. Sales Management
2. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
3. Inventory And Purchases Management
4. Accounting Management
5. Operation Management
6. Human Resources Management

The Customization of Accounting Software for Diverse Industries

Daftra accounting software can be customized for more than 50 industries in Saudi Arabia, which contributes to maintaining compliance and improving overall efficiency by providing a personalized interface for users to navigate and reducing manual tasks that consume time and effort, among other things.

Creating Advanced Financial Reporting

The importance of creating advanced financial reports in all industries is getting deeper insights into the company's performance over a period of time to analyze and make decisions that impact the company's future.

Daftra provides interactive reporting tools, data analysis, customizable reports, automated generation, multi-currency support, and software integration.

Company Expense and Revenue Tracking

The Daftra expense and revenue tracking system enables you to categorize expenses into multiple types, such as depreciation, taxes, employee salaries, and other expense items. Daftra then automatically records and tracks these expenses, linking them to cost centers. This helps regulate spending, control costs, and improve financial efficiency. In addition, Daftra generates detailed reports to monitor expenses and compare them against revenues.

Furthermore, expenses and revenues can be recorded automatically through payment and receipt vouchers, including descriptions for each transaction. Supporting documents, such as receipts or invoices, can also be attached when necessary. This ensures accurate calculations of costs and income, contributing to more informed financial decision-making.

Chart of Accounts Management

With Daftra’s chart of accounts feature, you can fully customize your accounts to match your business needs. The system allows you to record and post journal entries automatically into the chart of accounts, while giving you access to total revenues, expenses, assets, and liabilities. You can also add additional accounts, such as profits or losses. All of this—and more—can be managed from Daftra’s dashboard with just a single click.

Journal Entries Creation

Daftra enables the creation of accurate and precise journal entries for all business and financial transactions. Whenever a new transaction occurs in the system, Daftra automatically generates the corresponding accounting entries and posts them to the chart of accounts. These entries can then be used to prepare the trial balance and various financial statements.

Daftra Key Features

• ZATCA e-Invoicing Compliance
• Full Arabic & RTL Support
• Automated VAT & Zakat Reporting
• Advanced Reporting & Audit Trails
• Seamless Integrations
• Cloud-Based Access & Security
• Ease of Use & Dual-Language Interface
• Flexible Pricing & Scalability
• Mobile App Integration

Daftra’s Pricing Plan

Daftar’s pricing plan features a free 14-day trial, No Credit Card Required, No Setups, and All-App Inclusive. Here are the three plans in detail:

Pros 

• Cloud-Based & Secure
• Easy & Customizable Interface
• Comprehensive Integration
• Advanced Reports & Analytics
• 24/7 Technical Support
• High Flexibility in Customization
• Fully Integrated Mobile App
• Accurate Accounting
• Automated HR & Payroll Management
• Multi-Language & Multi-Currency Support
• 14-Day Free Trial

2- Oracle

Oracle accounting software is designed to consolidate financial data from disparate sources, recording the revenues, expenses, assets, and liabilities in a timely manner, and creating advanced financial reports.

The Oracle software features the Integration of system Modules, as well as supporting multiple currencies and Languages, Strong Security, and AI-Powered Automation, speeding up the daily financial processes.

Key Features

• Equipped with advanced capabilities that consolidate the company’s financial data in one place, covering both fixed and current assets.
• Automates many processes such as issuing invoices, settling amounts to accounts payable on time, and creating alerts for receiving payments from accounts receivable.
• Facilitates the easy exchange of critical financial data with business partners—inside or outside the company—for performance review during the appropriate accounting period.
• Saves time and effort by enabling automated financial reconciliations, unlike manual adjustments.
• Provides accurate financial reports that integrate with financial accounting and support managerial accounting, helping management make the right decisions that benefit the company.

Pros

• Cloud-based access
• Powerful reporting and analytics
• Automated accounting processes
• Quarterly updates
• Multi-currency, multi-language, multi-GAAP, and multi-entity support

Cons

• High cost for small businesses
• Resource intensiveness

Oracle Pricing Plan

• Basic plan: 2,256 SAR / user/month
• Advanced plan: From 2,350 SAR / user/month (+ extra modules: Risk 677 SAR, Analytics 1,692 SAR)

3- SAP Business One

SAP Business One is accounting software designed for small and mid-sized businesses in Saudi Arabia. The Software offers real-time access to data, customization to fit all needs, mobile access, and support for multiple languages.

Key Features

• The software covers all the essential features an accountant needs; however, beginners may find it challenging to use due to the multiple windows and pop-up screens.
• Supports multiple accounting standards.
• Automates financial closing by reconciling all accounting transactions automatically, streamlining the process of closing the books and preparing financial statements.
• Provides advanced financial management through accurate transaction recording, easy invoice creation, and efficient management of expenses, revenues, assets, and liabilities.

Pros

• Suitable for small and medium-sized businesses
• Cloud or on-premise deployment options
• Good customization capabilities
• Relatively fast implementation
• Strong reporting and documentation

Cons

• Difficult custom reporting
• Relatively high licensing cost

SAP Business One Pricing Plan

• Basic (subscription): ~360 SAR / user/month (or 5,100 SAR one-time starter license)
• Advanced (subscription): ~12,080 SAR one-time (professional license) or 75,200 SAR / year for full deployment

4- Sage Software

Sage software is designed for all business sizes in Saudi Arabia, and it fits different industries. The software includes many features, such as auto backups, security measures, and, on top of all, the AI assistant in some of their products.

Pros

• Integration with MS Office and third-party apps
• 140+ customizable reports
• Automated financial management
• Efficient management of cash flow
• Access by multiple users
• Support for mobile 

Cons

• Paid support plans
• Some editions don't have a mobile app
• Performance problems in settings with multiple users

Sage Software Pricing Plan

• Basic: 2,510 SAR / year
• Advanced: 7,500 SAR / year
• Sage Intacct Basic: 33,800 SAR / year
• Sage Intacct Advanced: 56,400 – 131,600 SAR / year

5- Xero Accounting Software

Xero Accounting Software is designed for small and medium-sized businesses in Saudi Arabia. It benefits the accountants and bookkeepers by providing diverse tools that help streamline the process of invoicing, bank reconciliation, and reporting. 

Xero Accounting Software effortlessly tracks project costs, manages employee information, tracks expenses, and manages spending with ease.

Pro‌‌s

• User-friendly interface.
• Cloud-based access
• Customizable financial insights
• Supports multiple currencies
• Mobile app
• Real-time collaboration with the team
• Regular updates for the features and security
• Transparent pricing and flexible plans

Cons

• Report and invoice template customization is limited
• Syncing bugs and delays with bank feeds
• There isn't an offline or desktop version available

Xero Software Pricing Plan

• Basic: 75 SAR / month
• Advanced: 300 SAR / month (enterprise up to 75,200 SAR / year)

6- QuickBooks

QuickBooks is for small businesses and features a simple interface of income and expense accounts; it takes two to four weeks to learn how to use the software. The accounts can be easily used and organized by diverse devices at any time. As well, it offers a free 30-day trial and manages the day-to-day recording of bills.

Key Features

• Provides free technical support services for subscribed clients.
• Offers, among other additional features, electronic integration via API with external systems and applications.
• QuickBooks displays financial account reports within the software, as well as the history of all transactions carried out.
• Allows certain modifications to the software as a form of customization.
• QuickBooks offers tutorials and educational lessons on how to use the system; however, these resources are not currently available in Arabic.

Pros

• User-friendly interface
• Integration with third-party apps
• Good reporting and financial tracking
• Mobile app available
• One-time purchase option

Cons

• High subscription costs
• Requires extensive learning and training
• Limited user access in lower-tier plans

QuickBooks Pricing Plan

• Basic (Online): 75–130 SAR / month
• Advanced (Online): 885 SAR / month
• Desktop one-time license: 940 SAR (Pro Plus 2024)

7- ERPNext

ERPNext software assists in managing sales accounts, purchases, inventory, billing, and more. It features integrated apps, day-to-day transaction recording, auto-syncing accounts, and the creation of detailed financial reports.

Pros

• Highly customizable with low-code/no-code tools.
• Includes a wide range of integrated modules.
• Provides multi-currency, multi-company, and tax compliance support.
• Mobile-responsive with APIs for third-party integration.
• User-friendly interface with real-time reporting.

Cons

• Not suitable for large enterprises or complex industries
• Some users experience bugs and crashes

ERPNext Pricing Plan

• Basic: 0 SAR (open-source)
• Advanced (cloud hosting): 38 SAR – 1,500 SAR / month depending on hosting/support level

8- Odoo Accounting & Finance

Odoo Accounting and Finance software features a modern interface, which means no delayed reaction or overflowing email with response times of less than 90 milliseconds per click. The Odoo software is an AI-powered invoice data capture that dispenses with the process of tedious data entry.

Key Features

• Allows adding an unlimited number of users, with one primary user free of charge and $8 for each additional user.
• Odoo provides free technical support services for subscribed clients, similar to the other five systems.
• Supports the Arabic language, though with some limitations, as parts appear to be machine-translated rather than natively prepared. It is also approved by the Zakat Authority.
• Offers electronic integration via API with external systems and applications.
• Reports and performance tracking: Odoo provides reports within each account, along with a history of the transactions carried out.

Pros

• Customization
• Integration with other modules
• User-friendly interface
• Cost-effectiveness
• Multi-currency & multi-language support

Cons

• Performance issues with a large dataset
• Fewer third-party integrations
• Mobile app limitations

Odoo Accounting & Finance Pricing Plan

• Basic: 0 SAR (one free app)
• Standard: 94 SAR / user/month
• Custom: 140 SAR / user/month

9- Zoho Books

Zoho Books is accounting software designed for small businesses, managing accounts, payment transactions, creating invoices, setting payment reminders, and generating advanced reports. Zoho Books is free for basic account tools. 

Key Features

• Automatic invoice generation within seconds in a professional format, with easy printing options.
• Management of expenses and amounts payable to accounts payable.
• Calculation and management of liabilities due within the accounting period.
• Ability to integrate with bank accounts for easier reconciliation and real-time monitoring of transfers.
• Provides more than 50 customizable financial reports that can be printed at any time for submission to relevant authorities.

Pros

• Affordable pricing plans, including a free tier
• Audit trail feature to track edits
• Multi-currency and tax support
• Mobile app availability
• Advanced reporting tools

Cons

• Limited integrations with third-party tools
• Limited payroll features
• Unresponsive customer support

Zoho Books Pricing Plan

• Basic: 0 SAR
• Advanced: 55 SAR – 900 SAR / month (highest tier ~1,035 SAR / month)

10- Microsoft Dynamics 365 Accounting Software

Microsoft Dynamics 365 is one of the accounting Softwares in Saudi Arabia that has achieved success in the field of digital accounting and financial operations management. It comes from the same company that created Excel spreadsheets, and since Microsoft realized that these spreadsheets are no longer suitable for everyone, it entered the accounting software market through Microsoft Dynamics 365.

The Software provides many features that enable users to achieve their goals in accounting operations, including monitoring cash flow, managing invoices, and preparing accurate automated budgets by estimating revenues and expenses over a specified period of time. This helps determine the company’s ability to cover its expenses while simultaneously achieving profits and maintaining liquidity and positive cash flow.

Cost

The subscription cost per user is $70 per month.

FAQs

Which is better, accounting software or Excel?

Excel is ideal for beginners and small businesses because it offers a basic accounting process that meets their specific needs. On the other hand, accounting software is a priority for business revenue growth and corporations, thanks to its real-time data updates and advanced reports, among other tools and apps.

Which is the best software for accounting?

The best accounting software internationally is QuickBooks, which supports 11 languages around the world and provides auto-tracking of business income and expenses. On the other hand, Daftra accounting software is preferred for Saudi Arabian businesses, as it is trusted by ZATCA.

What software do accountants normally use?

As mentioned above, the top 10 accounting software in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East are. The most used software by accountants is QuickBooks, XERO, Sage, and Daftra.

 

Conclusion

In conclusion, after reviewing the features and functions of the most important accounting software in Saudi Arabia to make it easier for you to choose the one that best fits the nature and size of your business, it can be said that investing in the best accounting software in Saudi Arabia that meets your specific needs and achieves your financial goals efficiently is not just a business decision—it is a necessary step to improve the management of your accounting operations.

From identifying financial transactions, recording them in daily journals, posting them to the general ledger, preparing the trial balance before and after adjustments, to generating financial statements and their reports, and finally closing the accounts, accounting software provides accurate data and results for all these processes. This ultimately supports you in making sound financial and investment decisions that benefit the growth of your business, increase profits, and maintain your competitive position in the market.