MoneyWorks review

MoneyWorks has been sold for the Mac since 1992, and Cognito says it was designed on a Mac for a Mac, as a native Cocoa app rather than a Java or browser app, with native support for Apple Silicon. It goes deeper than most small business tools: general ledger, receivables, payables, budgeting and fixed assets, plus quoting, order tracking, job costing, multiple currencies and inventory with batch and serial number tracking across locations. A single file can be shared by Mac and Windows users, scale to 100 users on a server, or run on the MoneyWorks Now cloud service, which Cognito offers in the Eastern US. Power users get AppleScript, a built-in scripting language and a REST API. You can buy a perpetual licence or subscribe, and MoneyWorks Cashbook is free. The drawbacks for US buyers are that list prices appear in NZD, bank feeds work only in New Zealand and Australia, and support costs extra.

Who it is for

Mac businesses that want a fast native ledger with job costing, inventory and scripting, and the option to own the licence.

Price

See vendor pricing (USD check pending).

US price check pending. See the vendor pricing page.

Key features

• Native Cocoa app on Mac, built for Intel and Apple Silicon
• General ledger, receivables, payables, budgeting and fixed assets
• Quoting, job costing, multi-currency and inventory with serial number tracking
• Up to 100 users on a self-hosted server, or MoneyWorks Now cloud hosting
• AppleScript, a built-in scripting language and a REST API

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Choice of a perpetual licence or a monthly subscription
• Strength: Mac and Windows users can share the same file
• Strength: MoneyWorks Cashbook is free
• Weakness: Prices are listed in NZD on the licensing page
• Weakness: Bank feeds are offered only in New Zealand and Australia
• Weakness: Support is charged separately from the licence

Key facts

• Mac access: Native macOS app, Intel and Apple Silicon
• Editions: Cashbook, Express, Gold, Datacentre
• Users: Single user up to 100 on a server
• Free trial: 45 days

Where it ranks

MoneyWorks is No. 9 in our Best Accounting Software for Mac verdict.