Today, AI in accounting is almost the norm, with 98% of accounting professionals using AI in some capacity, according to The State of AI in Accounting Report 2026. Over half the industry is using it several times a day (55%) or daily (74%), compared to only 7% who use it rarely.
Software vendors are rolling out AI functionality frequently, with 92% accounting professionals noticing an increase in Al functionality in their existing accounting systems—that’s a 12% increase in 12 months.
There are new updates to ChatGPT seemingly every week. Not to mention the advances that Claude Cowork has made in a very short space of time. The AI capabilities of Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini are going from strength-to-strength. And small point-solution AI tools are sprouting up everywhere.
This is all great. But incredibly overwhelming.
In fact, one of the top three concerns accounting professionals have about AI in accounting is the inability to keep up with rapidly advancing Al technology.
How do you know which tool to use? For what? And when?
Here’s a breakdown of eight AI tools for accounting firms, plus some tips for what to look out for as you take the next step in building out your AI-enabled tech stack.
Top 8 AI accounting software solutions for accounting firms
1. Karbon AI
Karbon AI is an award-winning AI feature within Karbon’s practice management software. It combines the power of generative artificial intelligence and GPT technology with the context of your accounting firm.
Key AI features
Email thread summaries
Internal discussion summaries
Client timeline summaries
Work summaries
Email generation and quick replies
Automated client tasks and reminders
Smart suggestions for assigning work to colleagues and contacts
Personalized updates to clients as work progresses
“AI summaries on timelines are gold for our team members who are working across divisions, as well as managers when they are speaking with a client (or even to the internal team).” — Alicia Gates, Two Roads
Powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, which means premier data security and reliability
Constant innovation and frequent product releases across the whole platform
Built by a team of passionate accounting industry experts who understand the pains and needs of CPAs, bookkeepers, tax, and accounting professionals
Offers a free trial
Cons
As Karbon evolves its AI tool based on customer feedback, the first version of Karbon AI is largely focused on summarization (however, there are some exciting Karbon AI Agents being released very soon)
What kinds of firms use Karbon?
Though ideal for medium-sized firms, Karbon can also suit firms ranging from 2-250+ employees. Karbon blends deep functionality with an intuitive interface for clarity, communication, and insight.
Pricing
Karbon has three pricing plans:
Team: $59 USD/month, per user (billed annually)
Business: $89 USD/month, per user (billed annually)
Trullion is an accounting automation platform that brings together lease accounting, revenue recognition, and audit workflows.
Data extraction in Trullion
Key features
AI-powered data extraction
Built-in generative AI for asking questions and summarizing
Lease accounting automation
Revenue scheduling and contract analysis
Real-time reporting
Reviews
“The way [Trullion is] able to read even some of the hard-to-read documents is impressive. There's a lot of power in being able to extract information out of documents.” — Verified Trullion customer on G2
Pros and cons
Pros
Cons
Fast and accurate AI-powered data extraction
AI helps with small error detection
Multi-language support with AI interpretation and translations
Aider automates period close and delivers AI-powered advisory, helping firms close fast, stay in control, and unlock capacity for higher‑value work.
In 2025, Aider was acquired by Karbon, bringing period close automation directly into Karbon’s practice management software. Together, Karbon and Aider seamlessly connect close automation with accounting workflows—automating checks, flagging exceptions, and simplifying document collection and follow-ups.
Cash flow forecast in Aider
Key features
AI-powered reporting
Advisory assistant
Advisory dashboard
Period close checklists
Period close dashboards
Reviews
“This meeting of best of breed platforms—Karbon and Aider—is sure to be a game changer for so many.” — Andrea McKenna, Aintree Group
Pros and cons
Pros
Cons
Automates time-consuming period-close tasks
Scales advisory services across the entire client base
Integrations with Xero, QuickBooks, and Karbon
Intuitive dashboard for monitoring client health at a glance
Still relatively new to some markets
Currently no integrations beyond Karbon, Xero, and QuickBooks
What kinds of firms use Aider?
Aider is designed for accountants and bookkeepers who want to monitor their clients' real-time business performance and scale advisory services. It’s well-suited to firms of varying sizes looking to extend high-value advisory beyond just their top clients.
Pricing
Pricing starts at $10 USD per client, per month with a minimum monthly payment of $300 USD.
4. StanfordTax
StanfordTax is an AI-powered platform that helps accountants and tax professionals eliminate manual work in the collection and organization of tax information from clients. It integrates with popular tax filing software to automate personalized questionnaires, checklists, and workpaper organization.
“I wish we had implemented StanfordTax sooner because this has been the organizer and binder of my dreams. It's been amazing for the efficiency and consistency of my team. They love it and so do my clients.” — Christine Gervais, Cultivate Consulting
Dext is an AI-powered accounting platform focused on streamlining document management by automating the collection, capture, and processing of receipts, invoices, and payments. Its AI is especially useful for extracting data quickly and accurately.
Dext homepage
Key features
AI-powered data extraction from receipts, bank statements, etc.
Auto-categorization
Multiple document submission methods
Supplier rules and smart automation
Expense management
Bank statement extraction
Practice dashboard
Secure cloud storage
Reviews
“We couldn't be without Dext for our clients! We love how user-friendly it is—all of our clients have Dext subscriptions and it makes our lives and theirs easier when completing their bookkeeping.” — Talisa J, Chief Compliance Officer
Pros
Cons
Eliminates manual data work with strong data extraction tools
Removes duplicate client data
High extraction accuracy
Offers a free trial
Pricing can be steep as you add more clients
Customers experience occasional slow processing times when reading documents, affecting efficiency, though it usually performs well
What kinds of firms use Dext?
Dext is particularly popular among small to mid-sized accounting and bookkeeping practices that manage multiple clients, as well as the SME clients those firms serve—especially in retail, hospitality, and e-commerce where high receipt volumes make manual data entry impractical.
Pricing
Dext offers two pricing plans (pricing below is based on annual billing):
Essentials: $20.80 USD/month, per client (10 clients minimum)
Advanced: $22.30 USD/month, per client (10 clients minimum)
Vic.ai is built to help accountants streamline various workflows and is most loved for its ability to automatically process invoices.
Invoices in Vic.ai
Key features
Invoice processing and automation
AI-driven expense management
Analytics and insights
Billing and payments
ERP integrations
Data anomaly and discrepancy detection
Reviews
“[What I] like best about Vic.ai is the invoice automation. The AI saves time, reduces risk, and [gives a] better control on cash.” — Pankaj Bisht, Ncheng LLP
Pros and cons
Pros
Cons
Strong emphasis on data extraction and compliance
Customization options allow businesses to adapt to their unique accounting processes and approval hierarchies
Can handle a large swath of expense reports and data that supports businesses of all sizes
Supports multi-entity and multi-currency operations
Does not offer a broader set of tools for managing and coordinating work across teams and projects
Limited integrations
No free trial
What kinds of firms use Vic.ai?
Because Vic.ai is so strong in data extraction and approval workflows, it’s ideal for firms that handle a high volume of invoices and a hierarchy of approvals. It may be out of budget for small firms in early stages.
Pricing
Vic.ai pricing is customized and depends on your specific finance team's needs (even third-party searches won’t give you an accurate idea of what it costs). You'll need to request a quote directly from them to get an accurate price.
BILL is an AI-powered financial operations platform designed to streamline and automate accounts payable and accounts receivable processes for small and midsize businesses. Its AI features help financial professionals reduce manual data entry, catch human errors, and increase overall efficiency.
Payables and receivables in BILL
Key features
AP and AR automation
Document splitting
Customizable approval workflows
Corporate cards
International payments
Reviews
“One of my favorite features is the AI-powered tool for easily copying information directly from papers while processing bills. This has made data entry considerably faster and more accurate, lowering errors and saving time.” — Mohammed Haroon, P2P
Pros and cons
Pros
Cons
Strong approval workflow controls
Wide adoption and trusted network with a customer base of over 200,000
Dedicated accountant partner program
Broad integrations
Limited functionality for complex needs, such as multi-entity consolidation or specialized industry-specific functions
Some customers have noted that BILL's reporting features are somewhat limited and make it challenging to generate customized reports
What types of firms use BILL?
BILL is most commonly used by small to mid-sized businesses and the accounting firms that serve them, particularly those processing significant volumes of AP transactions.
Docyt (pronounced ‘docket’) is an accounting automation software that offers a comprehensive suite of tools powered by machine learning algorithms and artificial intelligence.
Reconciliation in Docyt
Key features
Automated bookkeeping workflows
AI-powered document extraction
AI-generated financial reports
Conversation summaries through generative AI
Transaction categorization
Revenue reconciliation
Reviews
“As with any AI tool, there's always room for improvement and further development… However, Docyt's overall functionality and exceptional customer service far outweigh any minor setbacks.” — Verified Docyt customer on G2
Pros and cons
Pros
Cons
Eliminates month-end crunch
Purpose-built for multi-entity businesses
Real-time insights
Strong anomaly detection
It’s difficult to set access and permissions for team members
AI-report generating could be faster, according to one user’s review
No pricing available online
What types of firms use Docyt?
Docyt is well suited to accounting firms and bookkeepers that specialize in industries like hospitality, retail, and franchising, where clients typically operate multiple locations and need consolidated financial reporting across entities. It is particularly valuable for firms looking to scale their services efficiently while focusing more on higher-fee advisory work, as the automation handles the heavy lifting of daily reconciliation and reporting.
With so many options, choosing AI accounting tools for your firm can feel complicated or overwhelming. To help you narrow down, here is a list of the essential capabilities you should look for:
Financial forecasts using data analytics: Good AI accounting software should analyze historical financial data to generate forward-looking forecasts, giving you and your clients a clearer picture of where their business is headed (not just where it's been).
Increased accuracy of financial reporting: AI should dramatically reduce the manual data entry and human error that creep into financial reports, delivering cleaner, more reliable numbers that you can stand behind with confidence.
Error detection and anomaly flagging: Rather than waiting for a human to spot a problem, your software should proactively identify duplicate transactions, miscategorized expenses, and unusual patterns.
Automate high-volume workflows and recurring tasks: Repetitive tasks like transaction categorization, bank reconciliation, invoice processing, and month-end close should be handled automatically, freeing your team to focus on higher-value advisory work.
Real-time financial insights: Your software should provide up-to-date financial data at any moment—not just at month-end—so you and your clients can make informed decisions based on what's happening now, not what happened weeks ago.
Scalability: As your firm grows and takes on more clients, your tools should scale with you.
Seamless integrations: Your AI software should connect easily with the platforms you already use—whether that's Xero, QuickBooks, or your practice management system—so data flows automatically without manual imports or exports.
Security and data protection: Given the sensitivity of financial data, any tool you adopt should meet rigorous security standards, including encryption, multi-factor authentication, and compliance with data protection regulations like SOC 2 certification.
Client collaboration and communication: Your AI accounting solution should make it easy to share reports, request documents, and communicate with clients.
Customizable reporting and dashboards: Every client's business is different, so your tools should allow you to tailor financial reports and dashboards to reflect the metrics that matter most to each client.
Audit trail and documentation: AI software should automatically log every action, change, and approval so that there's a clear, timestamped record of your work. This is essential for accountability, client disputes, and any regulatory scrutiny.
Why AI needs you as much as you need AI
Artificial intelligence is built on human knowledge. So, while it can analyze and make predictions from a large volume of data and automate many accounting tasks, it still needs direction, context, and high-quality inputs.
A real accounting professional and accounting teams will always be required to guide the setup, interpret results, and apply discretion. And the judgement, creativity, and knowledge of a human expert can never be fully automated.
Karbon AI is purpose-built to support accounting professionals.
Its automation features allow you to draft emails and quick replies, set up recurring work, send client tasks and reminders, organize workflows, summarize conversation histories, and track and visualize your data. All without switching tabs or losing time to admin.
Plus, you can choose from hundreds of workflow templates, complete with automators, so your team is ready to dive into client work at a moment’s notice.
Learn about key AI trends and stats impacting accounting and how you can win by intelligently applying these new technologies to your processes and workflows.
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