Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Accounting Practice Management Software

BrightManager vs Balansix

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 8 checks side by side
Higher score BrightManager #10 in Accounting Practice Management Software 8.4/10 30-day trial Free trial✓ 6 of 7 features Visit BrightManager
Balansix #19 in Accounting Practice Management Software 7.4/10 Paid ✓ 7 of 7 features Visit Balansix

BrightManager leads on 0 checks, Balansix on 0, and 8 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 8 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreBrightManager · 8.4/10
  • Free trialonly BrightManager
  • Most featuresBalansix · 7 of 7

BrightManager scores higher on our rubric for accounting practice management software: 8.4 against 7.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #10 and #19.

BrightManager is the better fit for UK firms needing onboarding and compliance workflows. Balansix is the better fit for UK firms wanting practice and accounts production.

  • BrightManager fits best

    UK firms needing onboarding and compliance workflows

  • Balansix fits best

    UK firms wanting practice and accounts production

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature BrightManager 8.4/10 Visit ↗ Balansix 7.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.4 7.4
Ranking #10 in Accounting Practice Management Software #19 in Accounting Practice Management Software
Best for UK firms needing onboarding and compliance workflows UK firms wanting practice and accounts production
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price £409.25/user/yr £19.99/mo
Free plan — —
Free trial 30 days —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Features BrightManager 6/7 · Balansix 7/7
Client portal ✓ ✓
Workflow automation ✓ ✓
Time tracking ✓ ✓
Billing and invoicing ✓ ✓
Document management ✓ ✓
Deadline tracking ✓ ✓
Staff capacity planning Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Our review
Pros
  • Professional clearance, AML checks and risk assessments support onboarding
  • Automated tasks, subtasks, deadlines and client reminders organize recurring work
  • Portal, audit trails, reporting and accounting integrations connect practice operations
  • Combines practice management, bookkeeping and accounts production
  • Includes OCR, controlled review and linked year-end schedules
  • Client portal supports uploads, requests and controlled visibility
Cons
  • No free plan; paid access starts at £42.63 per user monthly
  • Premium and Advanced plans include contract terms of 24 or 12 months
  • The platform is web-only and pricing excludes VAT
  • Pricing is £19.99 plus VAT per active client each month
  • A 25-client minimum may not suit smaller practices
  • Web-only access may not fit firms needing other platforms
Our verdict

BrightManager is cloud-based practice management software for established and growing UK and Irish accounting practices, bookkeepers and payroll bureaus. It brings client onboarding, workflow tracking, deadlines, communications, documents,…

Read the review →

Balansix is cloud software for UK accountancy practices that want practice management and accounts production in one workflow. It brings together client onboarding, engagement workflows, tasks, statutory deadlines, staff time, workload…

Read the review →
  1. BrightManagerAccounting Practice Management Software 8.430-day trial
  2. BalansixAccounting Practice Management Software 7.4Paid

Strengths and trade-offs

  • BrightManager — where it wins

    • Professional clearance, AML checks and risk assessments support onboarding
    • Automated tasks, subtasks, deadlines and client reminders organize recurring work
    • Portal, audit trails, reporting and accounting integrations connect practice operations

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan; paid access starts at £42.63 per user monthly
    • Premium and Advanced plans include contract terms of 24 or 12 months
    • The platform is web-only and pricing excludes VAT

  • Balansix — where it wins

    • Combines practice management, bookkeeping and accounts production
    • Includes OCR, controlled review and linked year-end schedules
    • Client portal supports uploads, requests and controlled visibility

    Where it doesn't

    • Pricing is £19.99 plus VAT per active client each month
    • A 25-client minimum may not suit smaller practices
    • Web-only access may not fit firms needing other platforms

All accounting practice management software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update