The 2026 Top New Products for Accountants

The 2026 Top New Products

Nearly every single submission to this year's Top New Products list — as well as most of our final selections — use artificial intelligence in some form or another, whether classic, generative or agentic. This should not surprise anyone, given the sheer number of solutions built around the technology, as well as the huge investments companies and accounting firms have made to deploy it.

Just a few years ago these were thought of as AI solutions and often classified as such, if not on paper then in people's minds. But something has shifted since then. AI alone doesn't really impress anymore. What was once a novelty is now ubiquitous, for both good and for ill. Even in the small chance they've never used an AI model before, people are now familiar with at least the basics of what it can do if done right — and how bad it can get if done wrong. In this respect, AI has gone from the dish itself to one of its many ingredients — maybe a key ingredient, without which the dish just wouldn't be the same, but still only part of the whole. AI is no longer the product but the thing that makes the product work. We are far from the days when a chatbot was all it took to wow us.

We're not the only ones. Over the past year, there has been rising demand from accountants for tangible, concrete results backed by auditable metrics from both vendors and their own teams. Firms are definitely still interested in AI, but only when it can be used to deliver measurable, explainable and consistent results. Leaders have come to understand that AI is not a magic bullet, but one more capital investment that, like others before it, must justify itself with real ROI. Rather than asking whether they should adopt AI, they're asking how and for what problems.

With this is coming a decline in standalone AI solutions and a rise in embedded AI that functions near-invisibly in the background as an almost ambient phenomenon — a native layer inside the core accounting systems that quietly handles complex workflows in a semi-autonomous manner. It is believed that this will then lead to greater firm capacity, realization rates, and partner-level revenue without increasing headcount or admin hours.

All of this is reflected in this year's Top New Products list. The products that most impressed us this year were those that addressed longtime pain points for accountants and their firms in ways that were both innovative and elegant. Yes, many use AI as a core part of their functionality, but that's not really the most interesting thing about them. It's how many of them are highly specific to the needs of CPAs and all the things that the entire profession has been complaining about for years — everything from licensure management to quality review to fee structures, all things accountants burn countless hours on that could have gone to higher-level strategic work.

Of course, as we've explored before, AI is already assisting with some of that same higher-level strategic work, and will likely do so even more into the future. This, too, is reflected in this year's list, with tools that not only execute simple tasks but provide knowledge that can be used to guide clients through complex engagements via powerful research and analytics capabilities linked to rich content databases.

The 2026 Top New Products reflect the transformative journey the profession has undertaken over the past year, which is already leading to profound changes in how accountants do their jobs. While there is still a lot of 2026 left to go, we're excited to see what it holds for accounting firms, as well as for the many new products and solutions that we will no doubt be writing about in 2027.

ACCOUNTING TOOLS

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Digits (Digits) and NetWorth2b's Storybooks +Billing (NetWorth2b)

There have been many predictions over the past few years that AI will advance to the point where it can function as something akin to a digital coworker capable of handling not just discrete accounting tasks but entire processes from end to end. Digits, with its Agentic General Ledger, stands as evidence that this is already happening. The AI-native system acts as a proactive bookkeeper, able to autonomously perform actions and make decisions like identifying transactions for accruals and depreciation schedules, and automatically creating entries and supporting documentation. The AI agents undergirding the solution are said to have little to no need for human intervention or supervision beyond exception management and final approvals; the agents run 24/7 in the background, even while you sleep. As time goes on, the system also learns workflow patterns from the user, further expanding its automation capacities. Upgrades in 2025 also introduced AI-driven bank reconciliations, an Ask Digits assistant, firm-specific AI models, and the Digits Connect Open API to further bolster the experience.

At the opposite end of the accounting solution spectrum, but no less impressive, is NetWorth2b's Storybooks +Billing solution. Today, virtually every software product on the market uses AI, connects to the cloud, and runs on a subscription revenue model. In such a world, it is refreshing to see something that goes against the grain by dispensing with all three — a sort of retro-innovation, if you will.

NetWorth2b's Storybooks +Billing is an accounting system with integrated billing for accountants and other small-business service providers. Developed for the creator's personal use before it was released to the public, the app records business receipts, disbursements and journal entries, processes client invoices, calculates payroll taxes, and provides a full set of accounting and billing reports. What makes it unique is that the app is local, living on the user's device, and so does not require an internet connection to use. There are no in-app ads or collection of user data. There is also no subscription. Instead, you pay $50 one time, which lets you own the program — not license, or lease, or subscribe. Own. In a market filled with high-tech solutions tied to expensive license deals, this app shows there is still demand for simple, practical software you buy yourself.

AI TOOLS

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W-9 Agent (Bill) and AI Maturity Framework (Fieldguide) (plus Honorable Mentions)

W-9 collection and validation is a particularly miserable experience for many tax professionals that can combine the frustrations of both digital processes and human interaction into one painful package. This is why Bill developed its W-9 Agent solution, an autonomous AI that automates many of the manual steps of this process by autonomously emailing vendors, requesting W-9s, and pre-validating tax information. The built-in pre-validation verifies tax IDs, flags mismatches, detects duplicate records, and helps identify potential fraud before it happens. It also offers a centralized, real-time view of vendor onboarding and complete communication logs supporting audit readiness and compliance needs. What this results in overall is less time chasing down forms, checking figures, and fretting about future audits, and more time delivering higher-value client guidance.

Our other Top New Product in this category, Fieldguide's AI Maturity Framework, is less an AI product and more a way to understand AI products — not in terms of hype-filled marketing copy but concrete capabilities. The free framework was developed due to the fact that the term "AI" has become extremely broad, which in turn has caused some confusion at firms that understand they need to adopt AI but aren't entirely sure what that means specifically, much of it coming from ambiguity over the definition of terms like "generative," "agentic" and even "AI" itself. Rather than focusing on tools alone, the framework defines six progressive levels of AI autonomy — from fully manual work to agent-driven engagements — giving firms a clear roadmap to scale capacity, improve quality, and deliver higher-value services without sacrificing trust or professional judgment. While Fieldguide users have access to dashboards outlining autonomy level and recommendations for progression, anyone can use this free framework to inform their own AI initiatives, as the goal is more to drive industry alignment so people can better understand what true agentic AI looks like.

In addition to these two AI tools, there were a number of other offerings that we wanted to highlight as being worth Honorable Mention:

CPA.com also understands the need for clarity around AI in accounting, both in terms of the overall concept as well as implementing it at firms. With this in mind, they have released two educational guides specifically for accounting professionals. Their "AI Explained" primer goes over five categories of AI — generative AI, predictive AI, document extraction AI, AI agents, and traditional algorithms and statistics — and where each is best suited for accounting and finance tasks. It also connects the tools to real-world use cases such as transaction categorization, document processing, anomaly detection, forecasting, and client communication, while also highlighting where traditional methods still outperform newer technologies. Meanwhile, their AI Due Diligence Guide provides a framework to evaluate AI solutions by helping firms understand how AI solutions handle data, the types of models they rely on, and the level of transparency and security controls in place. It focuses on the considerations most relevant to regulated professional environments, where data governance and risk management are critical. Rather than relying on generic vendor claims, the guide walks firms through initial screening and deeper evaluation, and encourages firms to request and review appropriate documentation to substantiate vendor capabilities and controls.

Fieldguide's Field Agents, named a Top Product last year, offer agentic AI bots that can orchestrate entire series of accounting tasks with AI specifically tailored to the profession. Since then it has seen a number of upgrades and enhancements that further bolster the product's capabilities, not least of which has been Field Agents for Financial Audits, which comes with an agentic AI "Audit Testing Agent" to automatically execute the testing workflow end to end. We can't wait to see what further developments we'll see for this product in the future.

AUDIT TOOLS

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Caseware Extractly (Caseware)

Who in the world likes manually extracting data? Who as a child decided their greatest passion was looking at PDFs and entering each piece of information, line by line, into the relevant fields? Who looks forward to taking that data and spending hours comparing it to other data to see if it matches? The answer is pretty much no one, which is why Caseware released Extractly.

Operating entirely within Excel, users can bulk-upload source documents directly into the solution, which then uses OCR and AI to automatically extract structured and unstructured data from PDFs, images, scanned documents, invoices and bank statements into clean, structured Excel tables. It then takes those tables and validates calculations, compares extracted values against testing samples, and highlights discrepancies across large data sets — with no need for predefined samples. It also links field values directly to source documents so people don't need to wonder where a particular data point came from. Source documents themselves are stored in the cloud so spreadsheets don't become massive, difficult-to-work-with files.

All of this results in auditors saving not only time but sanity as they work through complex audit engagements.

CLIENT MANAGEMENT TOOLS

CCH Axcess Client Collaboration (Wolters Kluwer)

Better client service is a key growth strategy for many of the largest firms in the field, and a huge portion of that is aimed at reducing the friction in the relationship, in everything from onboarding and communications to document and data collection. With a boost from AI, Wolters Kluwer's CCH Axcess Client Collaboration tool is woven throughout the Axcess suite of tools to streamline client engagement, eliminating things like manual setup; improving document workflow; and making it easier and faster to identify, classify and extract key information from client documents. Among many other things, it simplifies the creation and delivery of engagement letters; automates routine engagement tasks like drafting client communications, flagging missing data, and prioritizing tasks; and guides clients through uploading and organizing their financial documents.

The result? A client experience that is easy and frictionless and transparent for both the client and the accountant.

PRACTICE MANAGEMENT TOOLS

CPA Quality Pro (CPA Quality Pro); QMCore SQMS 1 (QMCore); and Ignition Price Insights (Ignition)

Running an accounting firm isn't getting any easier, but fortunately there's a host of tools out there or being developed to help firms manage all the different aspects of a modern practice; we picked three of them to highlight as Top New Products for 2026.

First, one of the biggest developments of the past 12 months has been the flood of states (more than half, so far) that have changed their CPA licensure rules, adding yet another layer of complexity to making sure your firm and your staff are compliant with all the relevant regs in whatever states and jurisdictions you're located in. CPA Quality Pro keeps you up to date on state-by-state differences, helps track deadlines and documentation requirements, and delivers automated alerts and dashboards so you don't miss renewals. Built with the help of a number of state societies, it makes sure firms don't fall into any compliance gaps, or run the risk of unauthorized practice.

Next up: You've heard of SQMS 1, right? The AICPA's new quality management standard that went into effect on Dec. 15, 2025, and brings a risk-based approach to quality control at accounting firms? You're all over that, right? Well, if you want to make sure your firm's System of Quality Management is up to snuff, QMCore SQMS 1 is the tool for you. It comes pre-loaded with SQMS 1 content, intuitive workflows, configurable risk assessments, real-time dashboards, and a monitoring and remediation module that lets you track and correct any potential problems. As quality control systems come under more scrutiny, this is the kind of tool firms need to rely on, which may explain why it has been named a Preferred Partner by CPA.com.

Finally, we chose Ignition Price Insights as a Top New Product because it helps firms address the long-term issues that have been plaguing them around how to charge for their services. The two main problems are finding a way to raise prices (which have historically undervalued the services accountants are offering), and figuring out how to charge for the new types of services that firms are adding, often around advisory. Ignition Price Insights can help with both, by benchmarking a firm's service pricing against similar services offered by other firms, while considering factors like location, service scope, billing type, and industry served, to produce pricing suggestions that can then be included in creating proposals or renewals. Powered by AI, the tool draws on real proposal data from other firms that is refreshed every few days so it will keep up with trends across the profession.

RESEARCH TOOLS

Josi (AICPA & CIMA)

We've seen how artificial intelligence is being incorporated into pretty much every type of product out there, and the research systems that accountants use to keep up to date with regulations, standards, legislation, guidance and more are no exception. It's certainly true that Josi, the new research and workflow tool from the AICPA & CIMA, relies on generative AI to deliver authoritative guidance through its intuitive chat interface, and while that's what initially caught our eye, what sealed the deal was the vast trove of information that Josi can draw on, such as the more than 40,000 pieces of auditing and accounting content in the AICPA's Online Professional Library, and direct access to FASB codifications. AI, after all, is only as good as the data that underly it — and in this case, the data pool is both enormous and top-notch.

(Josi can also lay claim to our favorite bit of Top New Products trivia: It's named for 18th century English pottery entrepreneur and abolitionist Josiah Wedgwood, who was a pioneer in introducing modern management accounting principles to business.)

TAX TOOLS

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Ready to Review (Thomson Reuters) and Value Insights AI (Value Insights AI) (plus Honorable Mentions)

Tax was one of the first areas to benefit from the explosion of computer software solutions in the 1980s and 1990s, and it looks set to benefit early from the massive growth in artificial intelligence now, which explains why our two Top New Products in the Tax Tools category both involve AI.

To start, experts have long suggested that one of the easiest tasks for AI to take on in the accounting world would be tax prep — and Ready to Review is proof of that. An agentic AI-enabled tax workflow solution, it aims to automate the gather-and-preparation steps of the tax return process. To start, it autonomously extracts and verifies data from client source documents. Then it maps that data to the right fields in the tax prep solution, and finally it produces a return for the tax pro to review. If that sounds a lot like AI taking over your job — well, to a certain extent it is. But you can also look at it as AI handling the routine, time-consuming tasks involved in your job, and leaving you the high-level tasks of making sure it's all done right, and interacting with your clients.

(We're also giving an Honorable Mention to Thomson Reuters' Ready to Advise, which aims to take the next step of applying AI to tax planning and advisory services.)

Meanwhile, Value Insights AI is a niche product, but for those in that niche, its usefulness is immediately apparent. When someone makes an in-kind donation, accountants need to identify what it is and what it's worth. This sometimes requires lots of research and comparison over multiple sources, which can be a severe stress point for accountants working with nonprofit organizations. Value Insights AI takes a lot of this stress out of the process. Users of the web-based app take a picture of the item with their phone, or upload the picture from their files. Then, the AI identifies and substantiates each item, and produces a written valuation appraisal documenting the estimated fair market value based on comparable sales. The app handles identification, substantiation, valuation and documentation for each noncash contribution item donated, for a more valuable and accurate return, which leads to better results for clients.

Finally, we awarded an Honorable Mention to Avalara's Avi AI, which began life a couple of years ago as an AI-powered chatbot, but which this year became an AI agent that orchestrates a network of other AI agents to handle a wide range of tax and compliance tasks.