Overview

Karbon brings work scheduling, task assignment and workflow templates together with team communication around emails, tasks and clients. Dashboards help teams track work, while client profiles and activity timelines give staff a shared view of client activity. That breadth is useful for firms seeking a common operating hub rather than separate tools for each practice-management task.

Client-facing tools include automated requests, a portal and document sharing. Billing and payment processing are also built in, though payment fees apply. Integrations include Xero, Xero Practice Manager, Zapier and Calendly. An API supports custom solutions in Java, JavaScript, Objective-C, C#, PHP, Python and Ruby.

Key features

Workflow and collaboration

Workflow templates, task assignment, scheduling and dashboards cover the core work-coordination needs of an accounting practice. Staff can share, assign and comment on emails and collaborate around work, tasks and clients. This puts communication in the context of the work, rather than treating it as a separate channel. Team and Business cap the number of statuses, templates, work types, teams, contact types and placeholder job roles, so firms with more varied processes should compare those caps against their structure before choosing a tier.

Client services and billing

Client profiles, timelines, automated requests, a portal and document sharing support service delivery within the same platform. Billing and payment processing add operational convenience, but processing costs matter: listed US fees are 2.6% + $0.30 for standard cards, 3.6% + $0.30 for premium cards, 3.9% + $0.30 for American Express, and 1% + $0.30 (max $5.00) for ACH direct debit.

Security and reliability

Karbon says its web application is SOC 2 Type 2 certified and uses TLS to encrypt data transmissions. It says it has implemented an information security management system in accordance with ISO 27001 requirements, but is not independently certified as ISO 27001 compliant. All plans include 24/7 support and 99.9% uptime, giving firms a defined support and availability commitment across tiers.

Pricing

Karbon is paid software with no free plan. Team costs 59.00 USD per month per user when billed annually, or $79/month per user when paid monthly. Monthly subscriptions are available only for teams of 4+. Team includes 35 workflow statuses, 40 work templates, 30 work types, 3 teams, 10 contact types, 15 placeholder job roles and a 6-month reporting period. It is the entry point for smaller firms whose processes fit those caps; the monthly option costs more per user and still requires at least four users.

Business costs 89.00 USD per month per user when billed annually, or $99/month per user when paid monthly, also only available monthly to teams of 4+. Its higher limits—50 workflow statuses, 75 work templates, 45 work types, 10 teams, 25 contact types and 25 placeholder job roles—make it a better fit for firms with more teams or process variety. It retains the 6-month reporting period, so the upgrade raises operating limits but does not extend that period.

Enterprise has custom pricing and unlimited usage limits, a custom reporting period, a dedicated Karbon contact and customization. It is the logical tier for firms that have outgrown fixed caps or need tailored reporting and a dedicated contact, though custom pricing makes the cost less predictable. All plans include 24/7 support and 99.9% uptime. Billing fees apply separately to processed payments.

Platforms

Karbon supports Android, iOS, web and API access. The API and stated programming-language support give firms a route to custom solutions alongside the listed integrations.

Who it's for

Karbon is best suited to accounting firms that want workflows, internal collaboration, client services and billing connected in a single practice-management platform. Team fits firms whose work fits its relatively tight caps; Business suits firms needing more capacity across teams and templates. Firms that need unlimited usage limits, custom reporting or customization should consider Enterprise. It is less compelling for a firm looking primarily for a free or single-purpose tool.

Pros and cons

Pros

Connected practice workflows: Templates, scheduling, task assignment and dashboards are paired with collaboration around emails, clients and work.
Client-service tools are included: Profiles, timelines, automated requests, a portal and document sharing support client work without separating those functions from practice management.
Capacity scales by tier: Business raises fixed limits, while Enterprise offers unlimited usage limits and custom reporting.
Support and uptime apply across plans: 24/7 support and 99.9% uptime are included at each tier.

Cons

There is no free plan: The entry price is 59.00 USD per month per user with annual billing.
Monthly billing has a higher per-user price and a team minimum: Team costs $79/month per user and Business $99/month per user, and either monthly subscription requires a team of at least four.
Lower tiers cap core workflow dimensions: Limits on statuses, templates, work types, teams, contact types and placeholder roles can constrain firms with more complex operations.
Payment processing adds fees: Card and ACH charges vary by method, so firms processing client payments should account for them.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison of tools in this category, see Accounting Practice Management Software.

Canopy is a freemium option with a free plan; choose it if a free tier is the priority and its listed client-management, document, portal and workflow tools fit the firm's needs.
TaxDome is a paid option with Android, iOS, macOS, web and Windows support; consider it when that platform range is more important to your choice.
Financial Cents offers a free trial and a Solo plan at 19.00 USD per month, billed annually, for single-user firms; its listed plan includes workflow, client portal, secure file sharing, CRM, time tracking, billing and proposals.
FYI is a paid option with a free trial and an Intermediate plan at 30.00 AUD per month per user, excluding GST, with a five-user minimum; it may suit firms seeking its listed practice-management sync, email filing, templates and signatures.
TPS Cloud Axis starts with an Entrepreneur plan at 18.00 USD per month per user, including time and billing, WIP, AR, history and detailed reports; it is worth considering when those capabilities and a lower per-user starting price are the priority.
Nomi is a paid option with a free trial and a Self Assessments plan at 4.00 GBP per month plus VAT, covering MTD readiness, HMRC submissions, client and practice workflow tools and document storage; consider it for those specific needs.
Firm360 has a Basic plan at 49.00 USD per month with no user minimum, based on annual billing; it may fit firms prioritizing that entry-plan structure.
IRIS Practice Engine is another option with API and web platforms.

Verdict

Choose Karbon if your accounting firm wants workflow management, team communication, client services and billing in one platform, and its per-user cost and tier limits suit your scale. Its connected operating model is the main reason to choose it; firms needing a free starting point or broader usage without fixed caps should look elsewhere or budget for Enterprise.

	Balansix	Karbon
Free plan	No	No
Paid from	£19.99/mo	$59/mo
Platforms	Web	Android, api, iOS, Web
Free plan	No	No
Client portal	Yes	Yes
Workflow automation	Yes	Yes
Time tracking	Yes	Yes
Billing and invoicing	Yes	Yes
Document management	Yes	Yes
Deadline tracking	Yes	Yes
Staff capacity planning	Yes	Yes
Paid from		59 /user/mo

Balansix vs Karbon

Balansix

Karbon