8.7
Editor’s Rating:
Best Overall
Vena: Budgeting Dashboard
Vena
  • Native Microsoft 365 integration including Excel
  • Centralized database
  • Automated budgeting and reporting
8.4
Editor’s Rating:
Best for Enterprises
Prophix One: Portal Home
Prophix One
  • Cloud and on-premise implementation
  • Spreadsheet-style interface
  • Supports all types of financial and non-financial budgeting
8.1
Editor’s Rating:
Best for Corporate Finance
OneStream: Booking and Billing Signals Page
OneStream
  • Versatile platform with unique data management capabilities
  • Streamlined financial close and consolidation process
  • Powerful reporting and analysis capabilities

Business budgeting software includes tools such as strategic planning, projections, budgeting, data automation, and team collaboration. We used our advanced review methodology to evaluate top solutions for businesses of all sizes.

1 Vena - Best Overall

Why We Chose It: We put Vena at the top of our list because of its complete planning capabilities and native integration with Microsoft 365. The finance planning module features budgeting, forecasting, and reporting. All of a business’s data is connected to Vena, making it easy to organize and quickly reference charts. Pre-configured templates and models can automate data visualization and financial reporting, helping companies see entries at the granular level.

We like that Vena is integrated with Microsoft 365, meaning all businesses using Excel will already be familiar with the interface. Through Excel, it optimizes workflows, generates audit trails for security, and allows collaboration with multiple team members. We recommend Vena for mid to large-sized companies in industries such as banks and credit unions, as the software is pricey.

Best Overall:
Vena

Vena: Budgeting Dashboard
Vena: Budgeting Status Tracker
Vena: Forecasting
Vena: Statement
Vena: Workflow
What We Like
Native Microsoft 365 integration including Excel
Centralized database
Automated budgeting and reporting
What We Don’t Like
High price
Pivot tables require manual entry
Overview
Price Range: $$$
Client OS: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web
Deployment: Cloud Hosted

2 Prophix - Best for Enterprises

Why We Chose It: Prophix is an effective budgeting software for enterprises due to its features designed to streamline complex processes. These include Online Analytical Processing (OLAP) technology, as these databases are built to handle large amounts of information typical for larger companies. Enterprises can use this tech for multi-dimensional planning across business variables, from account type to organization, on a spreadsheet-style interface. It also automates data collection and consolidation with top-down and bottom-up capabilities for greater flexibility in budgeting.

The software fosters team collaboration, offering functionalities like task ownership and deadline reminders to keep everyone aligned. Additionally, Prophix uses AI to automate reporting and provide deep data insights, freeing up more time for managers. It also features automated maintenance and updates, providing actionable insights through personalized dashboards. While its tools are effective, we don’t like that Prophix’s pricing details are not readily available.

Best for Enterprises:
Prophix One
★★★★★
★★★★★
(3)

Prophix One: Portal Home
Prophix One: Monthly Cash Flow Statement
Prophix One: Account Reconciliation
Prophix One: Cash Management Dashboard
What We Like
Cloud and on-premise implementation
Spreadsheet-style interface
Supports all types of financial and non-financial budgeting
What We Don’t Like
Could be more user-friendly for non-admins
Free trial is limited
Pricing details not readily available
Overview
Price Range: $$$
Client OS: Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Web
Deployment: Cloud or On-Premises

3 OneStream - Best for Corporate Finance

Why We Chose It: OneStream is a good choice for corporate finance because of its features that support extended Planning and Analysis (xP&A) across multiple departments like sales, marketing, and supply chain. The software offers a unified platform for data-driven insights, allowing continuous planning and performance management. Features like agile planning and scenarios help corporations adapt to market changes, while its predictive analytics instantly generate budgets and forecasts without requiring technical expertise.

We also like Onestream’s “extensible dimensionality” tool, which enables granular operational plans to coexist with corporate and line-of-business plans, providing a comprehensive solution for complex corporate financial needs. Its “what-if” driver-based planning immediately displays the impact of decisions, enabling faster and more decisive choices. However, new users may be overwhelmed during the initial setup because of the abundance of features and complex dashboards.

Best for Corporate Finance:
OneStream

OneStream: Booking and Billing Signals Page
OneStream: Capital Planning Page
OneStream: Operating Expenses
OneStream: Long Term Plan
OneStream: Financial Consolidation
OneStream: Dashboard Reporting
What We Like
Versatile platform with unique data management capabilities
Streamlined financial close and consolidation process
Powerful reporting and analysis capabilities
What We Don’t Like
Some areas require manual workarounds due to limitations
Limited Excel integrations
Lacks an integrated scheduling tool
Overview
Price Range: $$$
Client OS: Windows, iOS, Android, Web
Deployment: Cloud or On-Premises

4 Anaplan - Best Planning Features

Why We Chose It: We like Anaplan because of its strong budgeting and planning modules, as well as its other features that go beyond, such as sales, marketing, and compensation modeling. Specifically, the sales module lets businesses gain insight into sales performance with models using specific metrics like account size, individual rep history, and account potential.

Anaplan’s long-range planning and scenario modeling can help companies predict their financial future based on data. Its xP&A feature lets enterprises consolidate financial information into one place, allowing CFOs to make more educated decisions. We recommend Anaplan for enterprise-level businesses, as it offers extensive features at a high price tag.

Best Planning Features:
Anaplan
★★★★★
★★★★★
(3)

Anaplan: Financial Summary Page
Anaplan: Income Statement Details
Anaplan: Revenue Planning Page
Anaplan: Planning Details Page
Anaplan: Cost Ledger
Anaplan: Labor Plan
Anaplan: Innovation Forecast
What We Like
Connected Planning platform enables collaborative planning
Hyperblock™ modeling and calculation engine
Unified cloud-based software
What We Don’t Like
Pricing is on the high end
No embedded ETL tools in base plan
Specific pricing details unavailable from developer
Overview
Client OS: Web
Deployment: Cloud Hosted

5 Datarails - Best for Mid-Sized Companies

Why We Chose It: We found Datarails best for mid-sized businesses because of its Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) tools and project collaboration. It automates tasks like preparing balance sheets and cash flow statements while consolidating data from all departments into one place. The consolidation helps growing businesses save time and resources by analyzing metrics like sales or key variance drivers.

For businesses that don’t wish to leave Excel, Datarials Flex is a direct Excel add-in for FP&A. It includes analysis tools such as variance analysis and drill-down without leaving the program. This feature also helps with onboarding, as users can keep all existing spreadsheets without moving them. We found that Datarails isn’t the best fit for enterprises, as it can have issues handling large data volumes.

Best for Mid-Sized Companies:
DataRails
★★★★★
★★★★★
(28)

DataRails: Dashboard
DataRails: Sales & Revenue Page
DataRails: Daily Production Dashboard
DataRails: Insights
DataRails: File Boxes
DataRails: Versions
What We Like
User-friendly interface, easy navigation and setup
Maintains existing Excel worksheets while speeding up processes
Strong support options
What We Don’t Like
Performance can slow when dealing with multiple spreadsheets
Complex features that may require assistance from Datarails team members
Initial learning curve due to wealth of features
Overview
Starting Price: $1,250/month
Client OS: Windows, Web
Deployment: Cloud Hosted

6 PlanGuru - Best for Small Businesses

Why We Chose It: PlanGuru works best for small businesses that require effective budgeting and planning tools on a limited budget. It features cash flow projections, financial ratios, and debt modeling, allowing users to manage budgets using real-time cash flow data. Companies graduating from Quickbooks Online can easily integrate into PlanGuru, ensuring a smooth transition.

PlanGuru is one of the most affordable budgeting software on the market. Its annual plan for a single-entity business is $83/month. For multi-department companies, it’s $250/month billed annually. However, it does have its flaws; the interface is slightly outdated, and modules lack scalability as the business grows.

Best for Small Businesses:
PlanGuru
★★★★★
★★★★★
(2)

PlanGuru: Ratios and KPIs
PlanGuru: Income Statement
PlanGuru: Reports
PlanGuru: Adding a Report
PlanGuru: Change in Cash Forecast
What We Like
Budget and forecast for up to 10 years using 20+ standard forecasting methods
Inegrates with QuickBooks, QuickBooks Online, Xero, and Excel
Offers numerous training videos
What We Don’t Like
Doesn’t support Mac computers
Cloud-hosted version can be a little laggy
Doesn’t offer sample business plan templates
Overview
Price Range: $$
Starting Price: $99/month
Client OS: Windows
Deployment: Cloud or On-Premises

7 Workday Adaptive Planning - Best Scalability

Why We Chose It: Workday Adaptive Planning made our list because of its versatile planning capabilities and real-time adaptiveness. It supports expansion and can handle complex data inputs from organizations with thousands of users. The software breaks down silos with features like rolling forecasts and various budgeting approaches (top-down, bottom-up, incremental, and zero-based), allowing for a more cohesive and agile planning process.

Its driver-based expense planning and seamless integration with other enterprise solutions ensure effective, real-time data visualization. We like its different planning modules, which include financial, workforce, and operational, enabling businesses to gain insights into all facets of the company. One downside we found is that the initial implementation can be time-consuming while creating complex business models.

Best Scalability:
Workday Adaptive Planning
★★★★★
★★★★★
(3)

Workday Adaptive Planning: Company Summary
Workday Adaptive Planning: Company Expense Variance Analysis
Workday Adaptive Planning: Consolidation Report
Workday Adaptive Planning: Adaptive Insights HR Dashboard
Workday Adaptive Planning: Adaptive Insights Capacity and Quoting Plan
Workday Adaptive Planning: Office Connect Reporting Example Adaptive Insights
Workday Adaptive Planning: P&L statement template in Adaptive Planning
What We Like
Customizable dashboards
In-memory data model for faster and more scalable processing
Supports multiple forecasting models
What We Don’t Like
Hard to modify existing reports without creating new ones
Not intended for small business
Setup is difficult
Overview
Price Range: $$$
Starting Price: $25,000/year
Client OS: Web
Deployment: Cloud Hosted

8 Budgyt - Best Usability

Why We Chose It: Budgyt offers a user-friendly interface and solid budgeting features, making it ideal for small—to mid-sized businesses. All data can be controlled from one place, enabling easy navigation. Also, it hyperlinks all budgeted data so users can search for specific terms. Budgyt exports all reports to Excel and formats them into particular categories, like departments.

We like that Budgyt allows unlimited users on every plan, allowing collaboration from every department and team member. It also automates budget creation and tracking processes, saving businesses time and reducing errors caused by manual data entry. One sticking point we found is that due to its organizational tools, users may need to clean up their data while entering it into the system.

Best Usability:
Budgyt
★★★★★
★★★★★
(12)

Budgyt: Users
Budgyt: Users
Budgyt: Searching
Budgyt: Reporting
Budgyt: Budgyt Formulas
Budgyt: Budgyt Formulas
Budgyt: Data Entry
Budgyt: Data Entry
Budgyt: Data Entry
Budgyt: Data Entry
Budgyt: Dashboard
Budgyt: Dashboard
Budgyt: Dashboard
Budgyt: Dashboard
Budgyt: Dashboard
Budgyt: Dashboard
Budgyt: Dashboard
Budgyt: Activity Audit
Budgyt: All Budgets
What We Like
Cloud-hosted
Easy-to-use by any industry
General ledger import/export feature
What We Don’t Like
Data has to be “cleaned up” before use
UI could be more intuitive
Overview
Price Range: $
Starting Price: $199/month
Client OS: Windows, Web
Deployment: Cloud Hosted

9 Planning Maestro by Centage - Best for Multi-Location Companies

Why We Chose It: Planning Maestro, previously known as Budget Maestro, made our list because it efficiently consolidates P&Ls. It offers data integration with real-time access and allows businesses to view all P&Ls in one place. This is ideal for multi-entity companies such as hotel chains gathering financial data from dozens of different properties.

We also found its forecasting module to be effective. It offers testing and predicting multiple scenarios, evaluating budgets, and visualizing financial data. Its forecasting tools help businesses predict outcomes and set realistic budget goals. While its tools are helpful, a significant downside to Centage is audit trails are only available in the most expensive “enterprise” plan.

Best for Multi-Location Companies:
Centage
★★★★★
★★★★★
(8)

Centage: Acount Group Members
Centage: Operating Expenses
Centage: Cash Flow
Centage: Departmental Budgets
Centage: Dashboards
What We Like
Generates accurate financial forecasts
Integrates with general ledger
Synchronized P&L, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Statements
What We Don’t Like
Collecting online payments is “pay-per-use”
Payroll is a monthly add-on
Limited export functionality
Overview
Price Range: $$$
Starting Price: $950/month
Client OS: Windows, Web
Deployment: Cloud or On-Premises

10 Mosaic - Best Collaboration Tools

Why We Chose It: We like Mosaic FP&A because of its optimized communication tools, making it a good choice for businesses with large financial teams. It features role-based permissions and custom dashboards to ensure the right data gets to the right people, eliminating informational silos. Mosaic also increases transparency with board members and investors, as it automates investor reporting packages and KPIs.

We also found Mosaic’s live tracking of budget vs. actuals noteworthy because it allows teams to respond efficiently to real-time insights. In-app notes heighten collaboration while planning and budgeting, as team members can share ideas while working from anywhere.

Best Collaboration Tools:
Mosaic

Mosaic: Actuals
What We Like
Cutting-edge technology product
Seamless real-time collaboration
Information sharing among team members
Overview
Starting Price: $199/month

What is Business Budgeting Software?

Business budgeting software is a digital tool designed to automate and streamline the budgeting process. It provides a centralized platform for financial planning, tracking income and expenses, and forecasting future financial scenarios.

Unlike traditional methods such as spreadsheets, which are often error-prone and time-consuming, these tools offer advanced features like real-time data updates and integration with other financial tools to make financial management more accurate and efficient.

Prophix Revenue Planning
Prophix revenue planning lets businesses plan ahead

Criteria for Recommending Business Budgeting Software

  • Ease of Use: We look for interfaces that are intuitive and don’t require a steep learning curve. You don’t want to spend weeks training your team to use the software.
  • Integration: The ability to sync with other tools you’re already using (like QuickBooks or even Excel) is a big plus. The smoother the integration, the less hassle you’ll have transferring data.
  • Scalability: You want software that will grow with you. If you’re a small business now but plan to expand, choose software that offers additional features you can unlock as you grow.
  • Customization: The software should allow you to customize reports, dashboards, and other features according to your needs.
  • Real-Time Updates: Real-time data can provide you with the most current financial picture, which is crucial for making informed decisions.
  • Affordability: Watch out for hidden costs like set-up fees, additional charges for premium features, or limits on the number of users. Get a full understanding of the pricing model.
  • Security: Your financial data is sensitive. Ensure the software follows best practices for data encryption and security protocols.
  • Customer Support: Effective customer support can make the transition much easier, especially if you’re new to budgeting software.
  • Trial Period: A free trial period or a money-back guarantee can give you peace of mind and ensure the software suits your needs before fully committing.

Key Benefits

  • Automated Data Collection: Say goodbye to manual data entry. These tools pull in financial data automatically, reducing the chance of errors.
  • Comprehensive Reporting: Generate budget variance reports, cash flow forecasts, and other key performance indicators (KPIs) at the click of a button.
  • Time Savings: Automation and real-time updates free up your time for more strategic tasks, like long-term financial planning.
  • Enhanced Collaboration: Cloud-based solutions allow for easy sharing and collaborative editing so everyone on the team can access up-to-date information.
  • Strategic Planning: With data and analytics at your fingertips, you can make more informed decisions faster.
  • Financial Health: Regular, precise tracking of income and expenditures helps you understand your financial standing and adjust as needed.
  • Scalability: Good budgeting software will adapt as your business grows, providing more features to meet new demands.
OneStream Business Budgeting
Create long-term revenue plans with Onestream

Choosing the Right Business Budgeting Software

Choosing the correct budgeting software for your business hinges on several factors, including features, pricing, scalability, financial complexity, and integration options. Evaluating your specific needs and requirements is crucial before selecting a software solution. Don’t forget to take advantage of free trials and discounts, evaluate the complexity of your finances, and review integrations to find the best budgeting software for your business.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I create a budget for my small business?

To create a budget for your small business, consider revenue and list costs, create profit and loss statements and balance sheets, include extra funds, and finish the budget. Negotiate costs with suppliers, estimate revenue, and factor in seasonal and industry trends. Additionally, keep separate personal and business accounts, choose a budgeting tool, project cash flow, calculate gross and net profit, and divide the net profit.

Is Quickbooks a budgeting software?

Quickbooks is an accounting software with budgeting capabilities that helps businesses create and edit their budgets monthly, quarterly, and yearly, with data automatically pre-filled. It also lets users compare actual income and expenses with the budgeted amounts. So, while it can be used for budgeting, it is not as comprehensive as the software that made our list.

What is cloud-based forecasting?

Cloud-based Forecasting is a method that utilizes machine learning algorithms and predictive models to forecast the reliability and performance of cloud server systems. It increases accuracy and provides customer-defined forecasting solutions for supply chain problems. Additionally, it can be used to predict future cloud cost spending based on historical data and upcoming project costs.

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