Pilot vs Puzzle Pricing (2026)
How do these two stack up on price? Here's what each one costs, what you get, and where the value sits.
| Pilot pricing | Puzzle pricing | |
|---|---|---|
| Starts at | $99/mo | $30/mo |
| Number of plans | 3 | 4 |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | — | |
| Pricing model | flat-rate | flat-rate |
Price is one row. To weigh the features too, use our feature comparison template →
Essentials
- Cash-basis bookkeeping using data from your bank and credit cards
- Standard chart of accounts
- Year-end package for your tax preparer
- Instant AI answers about past transactions and current cash flow, plus run scenarios to plan ahead
- Support through in-app messaging
Core
- US-based bookkeeper who handles, explains, and reviews your books
- Cash or accrual-basis bookkeeping that pulls from your bank, credit cards, payroll, AP, inventory, and payment platforms
- Bill management for up to 10 vendor bills per month
- Custom chart of accounts
- Reports on the 10th business day
- Support from your dedicated team in-app, email, and over the phone
Custom
- Keep your existing QuickBooks account and historical data
- Support for complex business structures
- Custom workflows and reporting
- Reports on the 6th business day
- Full accounts receivable
- Full accounts payable
- Payroll administration
- CFO advisory, financial planning, and fundraising support. Connect with your dedicated CFO in-app, by email, phone, or Slack
Starter
- AI Suite Included
- 25 lifetime AI credits
- Up to 98% auto-categorization
- Auto-drafted financial statements
- Cash & accrual books
- Unlimited connections
- 1-click tax report
- CPA-approved Chart of Accounts templates
Core
- AI Suite Included
- 25 lifetime AI credits
- Insights: Cash, Burn, Runway, Margin & more
- Spend tracking and insights
- Revenue tracking and insights
- Variance analysis
- Multi-entity (via Integration)
- Advanced reporting
- Custom chart of accounts
Complete
Popular- AI Suite Included
- 100 AI credits / month
- AI-powered accuracy review
- AI-powered reconciliations
- AI insights and analysis
- Enhanced categorization
- Categorize from your inbox
- Classes, departments and projects
- Revenue recognition
- Priority support
- Integrates with Stripe, Ramp, Mercury, Brex & more
Scale
- AI Suite Included
- 300 AI credits / month
- Higher-volume accounting
- Subledgers
- No transaction limits
- No integration limits
- Backup and restore
- Priority support
- Dedicated onboarding and support
Pilot vs Puzzle FAQ
- Which one is cheaper?
- Puzzle is the cheaper option, starting at $30/mo vs $99/mo for Pilot.
- Can I use either one for free?
- Neither has a free plan. But Puzzle offers a free trial.
- How do they charge?
- Both use a flat-rate model, so the comparison is straightforward — it comes down to features and limits at each price point.
- Which one is a better deal?
- Depends on what you need. Pilot: Pilot sits in the premium tier of startup bookkeeping services — well above DIY tools like QuickBooks or Xero, and priced to compete with Bench and Puzzle rather than freelance bookkeepers. They're clearly chasing venture-backed startups who'll trade cash for reliability and investor-ready financials. Puzzle: At $30-$360/mo flat, Puzzle sits mid-market — pricier than DIY tools like Wave or QuickBooks self-serve, but way cheaper than hiring a bookkeeping firm or an outsourced controller. They're clearly courting VC-backed startups that need investor-grade books without the cost of a full finance team.
Still deciding? See the best Pilot alternatives or the best Puzzle alternatives, ranked with verified pricing.
Stop checking your competitors manually.
Outmano watches your competitors' prices and features for you. See how competitor pricing monitoring works.
Try Outmano free »
14-day free trial