Pilot pricing (2026): plans, costs and is it worth it?
Before you commit to Pilot, here is how its pricing stacks up. Pilot sits in the bookkeeping service space and offers paid plans only, with the paid tiers laid out below from its public pricing page.
Accrual-basis bookkeeping, tax and CFO services built for venture-backed startups, on top of QuickBooks. Pilot keeps things paid-only, so budget for a subscription from day one. Accrual-basis bookkeeping, tax and CFO services aimed at startups and growth companies, built on QuickBooks.
Plans & pricing tiers
| Plan | Price (approx.) | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | ~$99/mo | AI-assisted categorization, monthly reconciliation, year-end tax package |
| Core | from ~$499/mo | Dedicated team, fast close, enriched reporting |
| Custom | custom | Tax filings, payroll, CFO advisory |
Figures are compiled from public plans and independent reviews; treat them as a guide and verify live pricing with the vendor.
Prices verified 2026-06-28 from public vendor pricing. Plans and prices change — always confirm on the vendor's own site. No price here is guaranteed.
What you're paying for
What the paid plans put in your hands with Pilot:
- Cash or accrual-basis bookkeeping with dedicated accounting team
- Monthly financial statements with fast close (by ~10th business day on Core)
- Pulls from bank, cards, payroll, AP, inventory and payment platforms
- Bill management (up to ~10 vendor bills/mo on Core)
- Tax filing, payroll and CFO advisory as add-ons
Which capabilities land on which plan depends on the tier, so use the table above to match features to budget.
Which plan to pick
Pilot is built for startups and growth companies wanting accrual accounting and optional CFO support. That points most buyers to the Essentials plan (~$99/mo) as a starting point, with a step up only when accrual accounting forces it.
Is Pilot worth it?
Paid access starts at roughly $499 per month. If startups is your goal, start low: the cheapest paid tier covers it for most users, and accrual accounting is what eventually pushes you up a level. If money is tight, weigh the entry tier against rival tools before you commit.
Pricing watch-outs
- More expensive than DIY software; Core starts ~$499/mo.
- Tax and CFO services are paid add-ons.
- Offers a discount on Core for pre-revenue startups.
Drawn from independent reviews and the vendor's own plan details (see sources below).
With Pilot, cost is driven more by the plan you choose than by raw usage, which makes budgeting simpler than with seat- or usage-metered tools.
Pricing FAQ
Does Pilot have a free plan?
Pilot is a paid tool without a standing free plan; check its site for any current trial or money-back window.
How much does Pilot cost?
Its cheapest paid plan, Essentials, lists at ~$99/mo. Paid access starts at roughly $499 per month. The exact bill depends on billing cycle and how many seats or how much usage you need.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Pilot?
There are cheaper bookkeeping service options that cover the core job; the Pilot alternatives page lines up their entry costs for you.
Is Pilot worth the price for startups?
For startups it generally earns its cost at the entry tier; if that's only a side need, weigh it against a cheaper specialist first.
Which Pilot plan should I choose?
Most readers in that situation start with the Essentials plan (~$99/mo); a higher tier pays off only when you run into accrual accounting.
Sources
Figures and facts on this page are drawn from the following Pilot sources, so you can verify them yourself: