Puzzle vs Zeni
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 $549 for Zeni.
At a glance
Best for
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- AI transaction categorisation
- Stripe revenue recognition
- Live burn and runway
- Cash and accrual views
- Accountant collaboration
- AI bookkeeping
- Daily finance dashboard
- Monthly close
- Bill pay and invoicing
- Tax and CFO services
| Feature | Puzzle | Zeni |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | AI accounting software for startups with real-time financials | AI bookkeeping, accounting and CFO services for startups |
| Category | Legal, finance & HR | Legal, finance & HR |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Paid |
| Starting price | $30/mo | $549/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No |
| Made by | Puzzle | Zeni |
| 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 $549 for Zeni.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
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
4 plans
Starter
$549/mo
- AI bookkeeping for pre-revenue
- Dedicated finance team
- $494/mo billed annually
Growth
$799/mo
- Advanced AI bookkeeping
- For revenue companies
- Dedicated finance team
CFO Lite
$1599/mo
- +$2,000 setup fee
- Budgeting and forecasting
- 12-month cash flow forecast
- Monthly strategy call
CFO Premium
$2990/mo
- +$6,000 setup fee
- Revenue and COGS modeling
- Departmental budgeting
- Bi-weekly call
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
Puzzle
- Free for early startups
- Strong Stripe integration
- Real-time metrics
- Built for startups, not all SMBs
- Replaces your existing ledger
- Fewer payroll integrations
Zeni
- Daily updated books
- Software and services in one
- Useful founder dashboard
- Mostly for venture-backed startups
- Costs more than DIY tools
- Fewer integrations than QuickBooks
Which one should you choose?
Choose Puzzle if you want:
- Free for early startups
- Strong Stripe integration
- Real-time metrics
Watch out: built for startups, not all smbs.
Choose Zeni if you want:
- Daily updated books
- Software and services in one
- Useful founder dashboard
Watch out: mostly for venture-backed startups.
Puzzle vs Zeni FAQ
What is the difference between Puzzle and Zeni?
Puzzle: AI accounting software for startups with real-time financials. Zeni: AI bookkeeping, accounting and CFO services for startups. Both are legal, finance & hr tools.
Is Puzzle or Zeni cheaper?
Puzzle has the lower starting price: about $30 a month, against $549 for Zeni.
Do Puzzle and Zeni have free plans?
Puzzle: Yes. Zeni: No.
Who makes Puzzle?
Puzzle is made by Puzzle, based in United States.
Who makes Zeni?
Zeni is made by Zeni, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Puzzle or Zeni?
Choose Puzzle if you value free for early startups and strong stripe integration. Choose Zeni if you value daily updated books and software and services in one.