Planful vs Sage 50cloud Accounting

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Our analysts compared Planful vs Sage 50cloud Accounting based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Accounting Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Planful Software Tool

Product Basics

Formerly Host Analytics, Planful is a financial planning and analysis cloud platform. It accelerates end-to-end FP&A. Suitable for midsize to large-scale businesses, it helps by centralizing data and managing financial and operational processes.

It helps users plan and manage reviews, approvals and submissions and generates workflow status reports to check the performance of every department. It helps analyze asset performance by using financial budgeting and forecasting techniques with its capital planning feature. It is a scalable solution that allows companies to check the effect of projects on the overall bottom line.
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Sage 50cloud Accounting is a cloud-based accounting software designed for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). It helps manage essential financial tasks like bookkeeping, invoicing, payroll, and tax filing. Its user-friendly interface and range of features cater to businesses with varying accounting needs, from basic bookkeeping to complex financial management. Sage 50cloud boasts strong inventory management, allowing for real-time stock tracking and purchase order creation. Additionally, its reporting capabilities offer valuable insights into business performance, aiding in informed decision-making. Users appreciate its mobile accessibility and integration with popular third-party applications. Compared to similar products, Sage 50cloud shines in its ease of use and scalability. However, its pricing structure, which scales with business size and complexity, might be a consideration for startups or solopreneurs. Overall, Sage 50cloud is a well-rounded accounting solution ideal for SMBs seeking a user-friendly and scalable platform to manage their finances.

Pros
  • User-friendly interface
  • Strong inventory management
  • Comprehensive reporting
  • Mobile accessibility
  • Integration with third-party apps
Cons
  • Limited customization options
  • Potentially complex setup
  • Scalable pricing structure
  • Limited integrations
  • Occasional performance issues
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$1,250 Monthly
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$11 Monthly
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Tailored to your specific needs
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Product Assistance

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Product Insights

  • Conduct Ad hoc Analysis: Simplify complex ad hoc analysis by quickly creating financial and operational models while simultaneously checking the impact of these models on the bottom line. 
  • Close Books Faster: Decrease the time it takes to close books by automating data collection, aggregation and validation. Make data secure and compliant with standards and protocols.  
  • Improve Collaboration: Collaborate in a more efficient manner with current data and real-time insights. Get the power to make quick and accurate decisions with more confidence.  
  • Get Insights: Make well-informed decisions by gaining insights from across an organization to drive long-term value and growth. Automate manual processes to gain more time for strategic planning processes, analyzing and collaborating rather than worrying about spreadsheets.  
  • Automate Manual Processes: Save time and reduce errors by automating manual financial processes. Ensure that all financial processes are done with minimum manual effort and run more efficiently.  
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  • Cost-Effective: A minimal monthly rental fee replaces upfront, installation and maintenance costs. It is cloud-based and doesn’t need dedicated personnel for support as there is a team of available experts hired by the cloud hosting providers.  
  • Easy Access: Clients and employees can work on a single system simultaneously, irrespective of location. Centralized access to data is helpful for companies that have multiple locations or employees working remotely. 
  • Automatic Backup:  Users get automatic data backups without any additional changes. Data is backed up into different paths, which ensures security and maximum data redundancy. If a disaster happens, users can rest assured that their financial data will be secure, without the requirement of any additional backup system.  
  • Paperless Processing: Creates a paperless work culture by eliminating any paperwork with a centralized database that takes care of all documentation needs.  
  • Round the Clock Support: Provides a dedicated support team that is available 24/7 
  • Boost Efficiency and Productivity: Users can view or edit their files and seamlessly perform other functions. Export data through Excel or PDF files without any loss of functionality or efficiency. Download required files or data from any place using any device.  
  • Less Downtime: Unlike traditional systems, users can access all data and files within a system with an internet connection, with reduced or no downtime. 
  • Easy Collaboration: Seamlessly share information with clients, even when they are working on the system. Eliminates the need to sync or copy files while simplifying collaboration with outsourced employees. 
  • Security: Security measures are the responsibility of the cloud hosting provider. They use data encryption technologies, third-party audits, backup power supplies and firewalls to ensure stringent security. Furthermore, since the data is saved in multiple servers and is regularly backed up, there is no risk of data loss.  
  • Free Trial: Experience a 30-day free trial without having to enter any credit card details or install the software. 
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  • Modern Tools: Combine the need for structured and dynamic planning to empower organizations to make well-informed decisions in a quick and strategic manner.  
  • Financial Consolidation: Accelerate month-end closing cycles with financial consolidation. Enhance financial planning and reporting by leveraging data from a single source of truth. Get pre-built consolidation functionality for currency conversion and reporting, currency translation adjustment calculations and posting. Implement functional, administrative and setup changes without the need for IT experts. Boost teams’ agility when reacting to changes in organization, strategy, regulation and accounting protocol. Ensure trusted and consistent global reporting by automatically mapping financial data. Keep tabs from start to end on balances, and analyze financial data across consolidation activities.  
  • Structured Planning: Save time and reduce errors by automating labor-intensive financial planning activities. Avoid costly and disruptive customization fees, save time and reduce risk of error with predefined planning and reporting templates. Automate integration from any ERP, CRM or HCM. Create a single source of financial truth by automatically collecting, aggregating and validating financial data. Ensure consistency and accuracy by creating and modifying structured financial reports and elevating financial conversations. 
  • Dynamic Planning: Analyze, plan and make confident decisions with dynamic planning. Build custom-tailored financial models. Leverage customization across processes, functions and use cases. Configure planning experiences and give users the flexibility to plan for anything. Connect data sources from separate systems in one unified, cloud-based platform. Boost financial decision making with a single source of truth. Get insights and make course corrections with real-time data refreshing. Inculcate companywide collaboration culture by providing the right data at the right level to the right person.  
  • Integration: Automate data integration to reduce manual intervention and easily transform data with over 200 pre-built connectors. Adjust to automatic data processing with a growing integration platform. Check status and activity of deployed integrations from a centralized place. Ensure data integration process flows are repeatable, automated and secure, and provide audit trails required by internal and external auditors. Understand changes in data with multiple validation points across integration workflows. 
  • Reporting: Leverage reporting formats and delivery options to meet financial, management and ad hoc needs. Ensure data accuracy and transparency with self-service reporting and automated report distribution. Automate collection and aggregation of financial and business data into a single cloud-based platform. Ensure everyone is working with current and accurate information derived from a single source of truth. Boost financial IQ with self-service reporting capabilities. Create a more agile environment with impactful financial decision making. 
  • Annual Operating Plan: Build collaborative financial plans that align with business objectives. Turn annual plans into quarterly or monthly rolling forecasts, and check models for different scenarios to determine how to realign and adjust strategies.  
  • Workforce Planning: Plan accordingly for workforces by connecting HR, finance and operational data together. Create a headcount plan that can be adjusted to changing marketing requirements. Gain insight to build winning strategies and utilize employees as strategic assets. Boost financial IQ to understand and influence impacts on the financial health of workforce costs.  
  • Cash Flow Forecasting: Assess the impact of decisions by gaining complete control and visibility over finances. Reallocate cash by identifying trends and understanding levers. Mitigate cash flow risk by adjusting investment opportunities.  
  • Scenario Analysis: Analyze every option by planning across multiple case scenarios and assessing key drivers. Bring agility by optimizing current period results. Gain the flexibility to discover deeper insights across a broad range of models. Align executives and business partners with data-driven decisions. Check the impact of plan changes from every level with immediate results. 
  • Rolling Forecasts: Adjust to sudden changes, keep forecasts current and business agile with continually rolling planning periods. Automatically keep tabs on the impact of actuals on forecasted trends. Improve risk analysis by quickly identifying opportunities and risks as business landscapes evolve. Align rolling forecasts by collaborating across different departments. Gain real-time insights to redirect resources and priorities and align them with business objectives.  
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  • Cash Flow and Invoicing: Provides a clear picture of finances where cash flow settings can be customized as per the business’s requirements.  
  • Payment and Banking: Automates accounts payable, purchase orders, invoices, payments, invoices, bank feeds and reconciliation. Automatic reconciliation eliminates manual data entry and simplifies payment acceptances.  
  • Advanced Inventory Management: Tracks cost and quantity and stays ahead of purchase orders by keeping everything in stock.  
  • Job Costing: Provides an estimate into how much time projects take and how much money is being made on each job.  
  • Payroll: Tracks employee tips, vacations and hours spent. It also makes payroll processing easy with direct deposit and pay cards.  
  • Reporting: Supports one-click reports for payables, sales tax, expenses, receivables, inventory, payroll and more. Design and customize reports to fit business requirements. 
  • Security Shield: Provides Security Shield for customers to ensure financial security through their partnership with Sontiq 
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Product Ranking

#116

among all
Accounting Software

#212

among all
Accounting Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

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Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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Accounts Payable Accounts Receivable Banking And Cash Management Budget And Expense Management Financial Statements And Revenue Management General Ledger And Chart Of Accounts Integration And Extensibility Inventory Management Journal Entries Mobile Support Multi-company Accounting And Asset Management Platform Capabilities Project Accounting Reporting And Analytics Tax Management 100 92 94 86 98 100 88 99 100 51 73 84 60 86 100 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 82 reviews
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86%
of users recommend this product

Planful has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 86% when considering 82 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

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4.29 (41)
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Awards

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SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Sage 50cloud Accounting and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Accounts Payable.

Accounts Payable Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Streamlined Financial Close: Planful helps automate routine tasks like data consolidation and report generation, which can significantly reduce the time it takes to close the books each month. This efficiency is often praised by users in fast-paced environments.
Improved Forecasting Accuracy: The platform's forecasting tools leverage historical data and predictive analytics to generate more accurate forecasts. Users appreciate this feature as it allows for better-informed decision-making and resource allocation.
Enhanced Collaboration: Planful provides a centralized platform for finance teams to collaborate on budgeting, forecasting, and reporting. This feature improves communication and transparency within the department, leading to more cohesive financial strategies.
Customizable Reporting: Users frequently highlight the ability to create custom reports tailored to their specific needs. This flexibility allows finance teams to analyze data from multiple angles and gain deeper insights into their financial performance.
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Ease of use: Intuitive interface and simple navigation for everyday accounting tasks.
Cloud-based: Access your data from anywhere with an internet connection, simplifying remote work and collaboration.
Mobile app: Manage your finances on the go with the Sage 50cloud mobile app.
Automation: Automate repetitive tasks like bank reconciliations and invoicing to save time and reduce errors.
Reporting and analytics: Gain insights into your business performance with customizable reports and dashboards.
Integrations: Connect Sage 50cloud with other business applications you use, like CRM and e-commerce platforms, for a streamlined workflow.
Scalability: Grows with your business, accommodating increasing data volumes and user needs.
Security: Robust security features to protect your financial data.
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Steep Learning Curve: Many users find Planful's interface to be complex and unintuitive, requiring significant time investment to learn the system's intricacies. The abundance of features can be overwhelming for new users, leading to frustration and a slow adoption rate within organizations.
Customization Challenges: While Planful offers customization options, implementing them often requires advanced technical skills or reliance on the vendor's professional services, which can be costly. This limitation can hinder organizations with unique workflows or reporting needs from fully tailoring the software to their specific requirements.
Reporting Limitations: Some users report that generating specific or ad-hoc reports can be cumbersome in Planful. The system's pre-built reports may not always cater to every organization's needs, and creating custom reports may require technical expertise or additional support.
Performance Issues: A segment of users has mentioned experiencing slow loading times and occasional system lags, particularly when working with large datasets or complex reports. This can impact productivity and user satisfaction, especially for organizations with high data volumes or demanding reporting requirements.
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Pricing: Can be expensive for small businesses compared to some competitors.
Limited features: May lack some advanced features needed by larger businesses.
Learning curve: Interface can be complex for new users, requiring training or investment in onboarding.
Integrations: Not all third-party applications integrate seamlessly, requiring workarounds or additional costs.
Performance: Some users report occasional lag or slowness, especially on older hardware or with large datasets.
Customer support: Mixed reviews on customer support responsiveness and helpfulness.
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Planful has garnered a reputation for its robust financial reporting and analysis capabilities, particularly excelling in budgeting, forecasting, and consolidation. Users appreciate the software's ability to handle complex financial models and its flexibility in generating custom reports. The platform's intuitive interface and user-friendly design have also been praised, making it accessible to both finance professionals and non-financial users. However, some users have noted that the initial setup and implementation process can be time-consuming and may require significant support from Planful's team. Additionally, while Planful offers a wide range of features, some users have expressed a desire for more advanced functionality in areas such as workforce planning and project accounting. Compared to competitors like Adaptive Insights and Vena Solutions, Planful stands out for its comprehensive financial consolidation capabilities and its ability to handle large volumes of data. Its reporting and analytics tools are also considered to be more user-friendly and customizable. However, Adaptive Insights may be a better choice for organizations seeking a more cloud-based solution with stronger integrations with other business applications. Vena Solutions, on the other hand, may be more suitable for companies with complex financial modeling needs due to its Excel-based interface. Overall, Planful is best suited for mid-sized to large enterprises with complex financial reporting and analysis requirements. Its strengths lie in its budgeting, forecasting, consolidation, and reporting capabilities, making it an ideal choice for organizations looking to streamline their financial processes and gain deeper insights into their financial performance. However, companies with limited IT resources or those seeking a more cloud-based solution may want to consider alternative options.

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Sage 50cloud Accounting receives praise for its ease of use, cloud accessibility, and automation features. Users with typical accounting needs appreciate the intuitive interface and simple navigation, making it a breeze to handle everyday tasks like invoicing and bank reconciliations. The cloud-based nature allows for remote work and collaboration, a major plus in today's world. Automation takes repetitive tasks off their plate, saving time and minimizing errors. However, some users find the pricing to be on the steeper side compared to competitors like QuickBooks. While Sage 50cloud boasts strong core accounting functionalities, it may lack the advanced features needed by larger businesses, prompting them to consider alternatives like Xero or NetSuite. Additionally, the interface can feel complex for new users, requiring dedicated training or onboarding resources. Differentiating factors like robust security features and seamless integrations with CRM and e-commerce platforms appeal to businesses looking for a secure and streamlined workflow. Sage 50cloud's scalability further attracts users planning for future growth, as it can accommodate increasing data volumes and user needs. Overall, user reviews suggest Sage 50cloud shines for its user-friendliness, cloud accessibility, and automation tools. However, its pricing strategy and potential lack of advanced features might nudge some users towards competitors. Businesses that prioritize security, integrations, and scalability will find Sage 50cloud a compelling option, especially considering its potential to grow alongside their company's needs.

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