kitio.aiPilot vs Puzzle
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Puzzle has the lower starting price: about $30 a month, against $99 for Pilot.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Monthly bookkeeping
- Tax preparation
- Fractional CFO services
- Burn and runway reports
- QuickBooks and NetSuite support
- AI transaction categorisation
- Stripe revenue recognition
- Live burn and runway
- Cash and accrual views
- Accountant collaboration
| Feature | Pilot | Puzzle |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Bookkeeping, tax and CFO services for startups, backed by AI | AI accounting software for startups with real-time financials |
| Category | Legal, finance & HR | Legal, finance & HR |
| Pricing model | Paid | Freemium |
| Starting price | $99/mo | $30/mo |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Made by | Pilot | Puzzle |
| Based in | United States | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Puzzle has the lower starting price: about $30 a month, against $99 for Pilot.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
3 plans
Essentials
$99/mo
- Up to $100K monthly expenses
- AI-run cash-basis bookkeeping
- Year-end package for tax preparer
Core
Contact sales
- Billed annually
- Dedicated US-based bookkeeper
- Cash or accrual-basis books
- Reports by the 10th business day
Custom
Custom
- Complex business structures
- Full accounts payable
- Payroll administration
4 plans
Starter
$30/mo
- AI suite: chat, cowork, close
- CPA-approved chart of accounts
Core
$72/mo
- QuickBooks replacement
- Full accounting software
Complete
$120/mo
- Stripe, Ramp, Mercury, Brex integrations
- Most popular plan
Scale
$360/mo
- High-volume accounting
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Pilot
- Real accountants review the books
- Covers tax and CFO needs
- Good startup reporting
- Costlier than software alone
- Less control over daily entries
- Prices rise with spend
Puzzle
- Free for early startups
- Strong Stripe integration
- Real-time metrics
- Built for startups, not all SMBs
- Replaces your existing ledger
- Fewer payroll integrations
Which one should you choose?
Choose Pilot if you want:
- Real accountants review the books
- Covers tax and CFO needs
- Good startup reporting
Watch out: costlier than software alone.
Choose Puzzle if you want:
- Free for early startups
- Strong Stripe integration
- Real-time metrics
Watch out: built for startups, not all smbs.
Pilot vs Puzzle FAQ
What is the difference between Pilot and Puzzle?
Pilot: Bookkeeping, tax and CFO services for startups, backed by AI. Puzzle: AI accounting software for startups with real-time financials. Both are legal, finance & hr tools.
Is Pilot or Puzzle cheaper?
Puzzle has the lower starting price: about $30 a month, against $99 for Pilot.
Do Pilot and Puzzle have free plans?
Pilot: No. Puzzle: Yes.
Who makes Pilot?
Pilot is made by Pilot, based in United States.
Who makes Puzzle?
Puzzle is made by Puzzle, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Pilot or Puzzle?
Choose Pilot if you value real accountants review the books and covers tax and cfo needs. Choose Puzzle if you value free for early startups and strong stripe integration.