Sage Accounting Software Review 2024 | Plans, Pricing, Features

Businesses are constantly looking for ways to streamline their processes and improve efficiency, especially with their accounting software. Gone are the days of manually entering data. Modern accounting systems now offer a range of features and integrations, which make managing finances easier than ever before.

One system is Sage for Accounting. It's a popular choice among small and medium-sized businesses. In this article, we’ll look at Sage Accounting Software’s features, benefits, and potential drawbacks.

We'll also talk about how Wise Business integrates with Sage and helps you conduct international transfers without the excess fees.

Looking for a low-cost, yet reliable international business account?

Try Wise Business

Sage Accounting Software Review: Quick Overview

Overview
Key Features¹	Cash Management Dashboard Data Import/Export Invoice Creation Accounting
Main Fees²	$595-$1,920+ per year (Monthly or Yearly Subscription) + Additional Optional Fees (Payroll, etc.)
Great For¹	Small to Medium Businesses
Trustpilot Rating³	4.3 Out of 5 Stars

Sage Accounting Software: What Is Sage? What Does Sage Do?

Sage is a UK-based software company. It provides business management solutions to companies of all sizes. Their accounting software, Sage Accounting, is designed to help businesses manage their finances. They help you make informed decisions based on accurate financial data.

Key Features⁴

This feature list comes directly from the Sage 50 Accounting website.

Control Your Cash Flow

• Run what-if scenarios as frequently as you need
• See a detailed breakdown of your cash-in and cash-out
• Manage your sales invoices by customer ID
• See the status of what you're owed and track expenses to stay on budget

Streamline Your Banking

• Eliminate manual tasks and data entry errors
• Identify if your accounts are cleared or have any unreconciled differences
• Seamlessly match received payments to customer invoices

Control Job Costs

• Control the cost of the job through unique records, phases, and cost codes
• Identify projects that bring in the most revenue
• Customize job statuses and contact fields for your business

Track Inventory

• Know what's in stock and what's on order
• Keep track of the movement of your inventory
• View quantities on hand and adjust quantities easily
• Stay on top of purchase orders

Connect to the Cloud

• Work remotely with cloud-connected flexibility
• Get remote access to your business data
• Collaborate with your accountant easily and give them the ability to self-serve

Analyze Real-Time Reporting

• Run unlimited reports on expenses, profits, and more
• Customize pre-templated one-click reports
• Export or e-mail reports directly from your software

Ease of Use¹

Sage 50cloud Accounting scored 3.8 out of 5 stars in Capterra’s “Ease of Use” category. For reference, alternatives scored 4.4 or 4.8 out of 5 stars.

A positive review from user Kevin A. published in September of 2023 states: “It's easy to understand and drill down to a transactional level. I'd say it's still built for people who have an understanding of accountancy rather then being built for day to day business user.”

Customer Service

Sage has a variety of resources tailored to their accounting software users. Mainly, these are learning tools to help you solve your problems yourself. They include:

• Ask the Community
• Sage Knowledgebase (Search Tool)
• Year-End Center (Tips, Updates, and Information)
• Sage University (Flexible Learning)

They also offer an online chat to answer questions that their resources can’t.⁵

In terms of how good their service is, Sage 50cloud Accounting scored 3.5 out of 5 stars in Capterra’s “Customer Service” category. For reference, alternatives scored between 4.2 and 4.8 out of 5 stars.¹

The same positive review from user Kevin A. published in September of 2023 states Sage is “A great product with a great level of customer service.”¹

See the Best Banks for Small Businesses >>

Sage Accounting Software Plans And Fees: How Much Is Sage?²

As stated in the overview, Sage offers both monthly and annual subscription options. Sage tax rates are listed in the table below and reflect the prices for 1 user:

Subscription	Cost
Pro Accounting	$58.92/month OR $595/year
Premium Accounting	$96.58/month OR $970/year
Quantum Accounting	$160/month OR $1,610/year

Each of these accounts has different features. And, as previously mentioned, these prices only reflect one user.

Sage also offers optional additional features and bundles, which come at an extra cost. The table below also reflects the lowest cost for the lowest number of people:

Feature	Cost
Pro Accounting with Payroll (1-10 employees)	$993/year
Premium Accounting with Payroll (1 user + payroll for 1-10 employees)	$1,368/year

Use Wise and Sage together

Sage is a great accounting software option for local transactions, but if you have international bills to pay or payments coming in, not only can you pay them at the mid-market rate with Wise, but now you can also integrate Wise Business with Sage.

Your Wise account activity will feed into your Sage accounting software. There's just a few things you need to do to get started:

1. Click to connect 2. Select your balances 3. Sync and save time

Try Wise Business

Some key features of Wise Business:

Major local account details to receive international payments like a local (GBP, EUR, USD, CAD, JPY, and more) No monthly account fees just a simple one-off fee for account details Receive payments from ecommerce platforms (such as Amazon or via Stripe) Create invoices using the Wise invoice generator or invoice templates Accounting integrations, including a QuickBooks Bill Pay connection. Bill payments will be synced, matched, and categorized in QuickBooks for simple reconciliation. Batch payment options. Fast payment of up to 1,000 people.

Sage Accounting Software Pros And Cons

Pros	Cons
Cloud Connectivity Inventory Tracking Real-Time Reporting	Ease of Use Customer Service Cost

What Are The Benefits Of Sage Accounting Software?

One of the biggest advantages of the Sage Accounting system is its cloud connectivity. This means that the software can be accessed from anywhere, at any time, as long as there is an internet connection. This flexibility is especially beneficial for businesses with remote or distributed teams, as it allows for real-time collaboration and access to financial data.

For businesses that deal with inventory, Sage Accounting Software offers a comprehensive inventory tracking system. This feature allows users to track stock levels, monitor sales and purchases, and generate reports on product performance. It also provides alerts for low stock levels, helping businesses stay on top of their inventory needs.

Sage Accounting Software also provides real-time reporting, meaning that users can access up-to-date financial data at any time. This allows for better decision-making and helps businesses stay on top of their finances. Sage financial software also offers customizable reports, so users can choose the specific information they want to see.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Sage Accounting Software?

Several customers on Capterra noticed that Sage Accounting was not easy to use. Some suggested that the functionality was better equipped for established bookkeepers, even though it is marketed as Sage for small business owners instead of Sage for accountants. Users also go in depth in their reviews of which features, in particular, could be changed, and the list is lengthy.

Sage is also not the best option when it comes to customer service. Most of their services are tutorials to help you fix the problems on your own, which isn’t helpful for people who aren’t tech-savvy. They also only seem to have digital contact instead of a phone number or physical location, which may cause service delays or prevent you from getting the help you need.

The cost is another important disadvantage to consider. At its cheapest and most basic, you’re paying between $50 and $60 per month, not including additional features. User reviews note that some of these additional features are pushed by Sage and improve functionality, but at a significant cost. If you are a small business, you should weigh the costs before you lock into Sage.

Sage Accounting Software: FAQ

Is Sage Accounting Software Suitable For Small Businesses?

Yes, Sage Accounting Software is designed to cater to the needs of small and medium-sized businesses. It offers a range of features that can help these businesses manage their finances efficiently.

What Are The Key Features Of Sage Accounting Software?

Some of the key features of Sage Accounting Software are

• Cash Management
• Dashboard
• Data Import/Export
• Invoice Creation
• Accounting

It also offers inventory tracking, cloud integration, and real-time reporting, among other features.

How Much Does Sage Accounting Software Cost?

Sage offers different pricing plans for their accounting software, depending on the needs of the business. The most basic plan for one user starts at $58.92/month or $595/year, meaning annual billing saves you around $112 per year. Additional features and support available in higher-tier plans.

Is Sage Accounting Software Easy To Use?

Sage prides itself on its user-friendly interface, making it easy for even non-accountants to navigate and use the software. They also offer a range of resources and tutorials to help users get started and make the most out of their accounting system.

But users have had a different experience with the system. Negative reviews on Capterra state that many things could be changed. They also say that the system is better suited to an accountant. So it depends on who you feel is more trustworthy and whether you have experience with accounting software.

What Are The Potential Drawbacks Of Sage Accounting Software?

One potential drawback of Sage Accounting Software is its limited customer support. While they do offer several support options, they are all tailored to online usage. They are also mainly for people who want to fix problems with guidance of tutorials, articles, and other non-personal sources.

Additionally, some users have found the software to be less customizable compared to other accounting systems. This is because additional features often come at a high extra cost, which is not possible for some small businesses.

How Does Sage Accounting Software Compare To Other Accounting Systems?

Sage Accounting Software is a popular choice among small and medium-sized businesses. But it may not offer as many features and customization options as some of its competitors. It also has a higher price point compared to some other accounting software options.

Capterra reviews show that Sage is generally less preferred in all categories than other similar options. These include Accounting Seed, Multiview ERP, and Striven, which had the best score.¹

Is Sage Accounting Software Worth It?

Ultimately, the value of Sage Accounting Software depends on the needs of each business. It offers a range of features that can help businesses manage their finances effectively. But it may not be the best fit for every organization.

Business administrators with some accounting experience may find Sage easier to use. Or Sage may not be worth it for you if you do not need cloud connectivity. You should check your needs against reviews on Trustpilot and Capterra to come to a decision.

Are There Any Alternatives To Sage Accounting Software?

Some popular alternatives to Sage bookkeeping include QuickBooks, Xero, and FreshBooks. Capterra suggests Accounting Seed, Multiview ERP, and Striven as popular alternatives. Each of these systems offers different features and pricing plans. It's important for businesses to research and compare their options before making a decision.

Is Sage Accounting Software Secure?

Sage takes data security seriously. They offer a range of measures to protect user information. This is including encryption and regular backups. They also follow various industry regulations. This helps to ensure the safety of their customers' data.

Can Sage Accounting Software Be Used On Mobile Devices?

Sage offers “Desktop accounting software with cloud-connected capabilities”. This is what they have to say about Sage desktop accounting software on their website:

“Using desktop accounting software doesn't mean you're tied to your desk. The working week looks different for everyone, so take your work with you. With cloud-connected capabilities, Sage 50 gives you greater flexibility and freedom in how you work and allows you to collaborate with your accountant, sharing data securely.”

This means that Sage does not have a typical mobile app like other services. Instead, they offer mobile device compatibility through the cloud.⁴

Looking for a low-cost, yet reliable international business account?

Try Wise Business

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Sources used :

1. Sage 50cloud Accounting Pricing, Alternatives & More 2024 | Capterra
2. Sage 50 Pricing Plans | Sage US
3. Sage Reviews | Read Customer Service Reviews of sage.com - Trustpilot
4. Sage 50 Accounting | Sage US
5. Support resources | Sage US

Sources last checked on 7-February 2024.