Pilot vs Smart Clerk
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Pilot starts at $99/mo and Smart Clerk starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
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
- Statement upload in any format
- Live bank feeds
- AI transaction categorization
- P&L and balance sheet reports
- Vendor spending insights
- Excel export
| Feature | Pilot | Smart Clerk |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Bookkeeping, tax and CFO services for startups, backed by AI | AI bookkeeping that turns bank statements into P&L reports |
| Category | Legal, finance & HR | Legal, finance & HR |
| Pricing model | Paid | Freemium |
| Starting price | $99/mo | See pricing page |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Made by | Pilot | Smart Clerk |
| Based in | United States | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
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Pricing compared
Pilot starts at $99/mo and Smart Clerk starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
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
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
Smart Clerk
- Works with statements from any country
- Live feeds for US and Canadian banks
- Free demo with your own statement
- Pricing page not available
- Bank feeds limited to US and Canada
- Not a full accounting system
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 Smart Clerk if you want:
- Works with statements from any country
- Live feeds for US and Canadian banks
- Free demo with your own statement
Watch out: pricing page not available.
Pilot vs Smart Clerk FAQ
What is the difference between Pilot and Smart Clerk?
Pilot: Bookkeeping, tax and CFO services for startups, backed by AI. Smart Clerk: AI bookkeeping that turns bank statements into P&L reports. Both are legal, finance & hr tools.
Is Pilot or Smart Clerk cheaper?
Pilot starts at $99/mo and Smart Clerk starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do Pilot and Smart Clerk have free plans?
Pilot: No. Smart Clerk: Yes.
Who makes Pilot?
Pilot is made by Pilot, based in United States.
Who makes Smart Clerk?
Smart Clerk is made by Smart Clerk.
Which should I choose, Pilot or Smart Clerk?
Choose Pilot if you value real accountants review the books and covers tax and cfo needs. Choose Smart Clerk if you value works with statements from any country and live feeds for us and canadian banks.