EY

Short answer: the “best” accounting brands in the U.S.

If you want the top accounting firms people actually recognize and use, start with these:

Best national accounting firms

My top recommendations by situation

1. Large company, audit, SOX, international tax: Big Four

Use Deloitte, PwC, EY, or KPMG if you need a national/global firm for audit, SEC reporting, M&A, international tax, transfer pricing, or complex advisory work. In 2026/2027 prestige rankings, Vault lists PwC, Deloitte, EY, and KPMG as the top four most prestigious U.S. accounting firms, with Grant Thornton, RSM, BDO, Baker Tilly, Crowe, and Forvis Mazars following in the top 10. (legacy.vault.com)

Best picks:

• PwC — strongest “prestige” brand in Vault’s 2027 accounting ranking. (legacy.vault.com)
• Deloitte — excellent if you also need consulting, risk, technology, or enterprise transformation work.
• EY — strong for tax, assurance, transactions, and global advisory.
• KPMG — strong for audit, tax, risk, and regulated industries.

2. Mid-sized business: RSM, BDO, Grant Thornton

For a privately held company, fast-growing business, family business, PE-backed company, or regional enterprise, I’d usually look at RSM US, BDO USA, Grant Thornton, Baker Tilly, Forvis Mazars, or Crowe before defaulting to the Big Four. They are big enough to have national resources but often more practical for middle-market clients.

Best picks:

• RSM US — my top pick for middle-market businesses; Vault describes RSM as a leading U.S. provider focused on the middle market. (legacy.vault.com)
• BDO USA — strong national and global network for audit, tax, and advisory; Vault ranks it among the most prestigious firms. (legacy.vault.com)
• Grant Thornton — good for audit, tax, transaction advisory, and growth-stage/middle-market companies.
• Baker Tilly / Forvis Mazars / Crowe — strong alternatives depending on your region and industry.

3. Small business bookkeeping/accounting: QuickBooks + CPA

For most U.S. small businesses, the most practical stack is:

1. QuickBooks Online for accounting
2. Gusto, ADP, Paychex, or QuickBooks Payroll for payroll
3. A local CPA or EA for tax planning and year-end filing
4. Optional: QuickBooks Live / Intuit Experts, Bench, Pilot, Bookkeeper360, or Xendoo for outsourced bookkeeping

QuickBooks is still the default small-business accounting product in the U.S.; Intuit says QuickBooks is used by millions of small and mid-market businesses, and its 2026 reporting references anonymized data from more than 5.3 million QuickBooks businesses across the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Australia. (intuit.com)

4. Growing company that has outgrown QuickBooks: NetSuite or Sage Intacct

If you have multiple entities, departments, locations, inventory complexity, SaaS metrics, nonprofit fund accounting, or investor reporting needs, look beyond basic bookkeeping.

Best products:

• NetSuite — best for companies needing ERP, inventory, multi-entity, revenue recognition, ecommerce, CRM, and broader operations; NetSuite says more than 44,000 customers use its suite. (netsuite.com)
• Sage Intacct — excellent for finance teams, nonprofits, SaaS, professional services, and multi-entity accounting; Sage positions Intacct as cloud financial management software for small and mid-sized businesses. (sage.com)
• Xero — good QuickBooks alternative for small businesses; Xero reported 4.9 million global customers as of March 31, 2026, including U.S. customers. (financialfilings.com)

5. Individual tax prep: FreeTaxUSA, TurboTax, H&R Block

If you mean “who should I use for my personal taxes?”:

• Simple W-2 return: FreeTaxUSA, TurboTax, H&R Block, or IRS-supported free options
• Self-employed / rental property / stock options / multi-state: CPA, EA, TurboTax Live, H&R Block, or a local tax pro
• In-person help: H&R Block is the biggest mainstream walk-in brand; H&R Block reported 22.3 million returns filed by or through H&R Block in fiscal 2026. (sec.gov)
• Best value DIY: FreeTaxUSA is often the best value; Kiplinger called it best overall for many 2026 tax-prep situations, noting its flat pricing across forms. (kiplinger.com)
• Most polished DIY experience: TurboTax, especially if you want guided software and optional expert help.

My practical recommendation

If you’re a normal U.S. small business, don’t start with Deloitte or PwC. Use:

QuickBooks Online + Gusto or ADP + a local CPA/EA.

If you’re a fast-growing startup, compare:

Pilot, QuickBooks Live/Intuit Experts, Bookkeeper360, Xendoo, and a CPA firm that understands startups.

If you’re a middle-market company, get proposals from:

RSM, BDO, Grant Thornton, Baker Tilly, Forvis Mazars, and Crowe.

If you’re a large public or multinational company, use:

Deloitte, PwC, EY, or KPMG.

Here's a breakdown depending on what you need — whether it's a large firm for complex business/corporate work, a mid-size firm, or everyday tax/accounting software most people actually use.

🏢 Big 4 — For Large Businesses, Audits, Corporate Tax

These dominate the market for public companies and major corporations:

1. Deloitte — largest by revenue, consulting-heavy
2. PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) — strongest audit practice, Fortune 500-focused. This year, Big 4 firm PwC again ranks No. 1 in the Accounting 25, while also again taking the No. 1 spot in Prestige Rankings.
3. EY (Ernst & Young) — strategy, transactions, and sustainability focused
4. KPMG — risk, financial services, and tax specialist

🏬 Top Mid-Size National Firms — Great for Growing Businesses/SMBs

If you don't need Big 4 scale, these are highly respected and often a better fit:

• RSM US LLP — RSM US LLP is known for being the go-to for Middle-Market Businesses, offering Audit & Tax for Mid-Market companies
• BDO USA — focused on Mid-Sized Businesses with Scale + Personalized Service
• Grant Thornton — serves Private Companies & Nonprofits with National Scale, Accessible Service
• CBIZ — good for Integrated Advisory Needs like Accounting, Benefits & Advisory
• Baker Tilly — strong in Growing Businesses needing Audit, Tax & AI-Driven Advisory
• Plante Moran — consistently ranked among the best firms to work for and offers a full range of audit, tax, and consulting services with a strong Midwest presence
• Moss Adams — specializes in Privately Held Businesses with Industry Specialization
• Forvis Mazars — formed through the BKD–Dixon Hughes Goodman merger and its later combination with Mazars, now a top-10 national firm

💻 Software & Brands Everyday People Actually Use

For individuals and small businesses handling their own accounting/taxes, these are the most widely used consumer brands (based on general market presence, not from the search results above):

• QuickBooks (Intuit) — the dominant small-business bookkeeping software in the U.S.
• TurboTax (Intuit) — the most popular DIY tax-filing software
• H&R Block — both in-person tax prep offices and affordable DIY software
• Xero — a QuickBooks alternative popular with freelancers and small businesses
• FreshBooks — favored by freelancers/service-based businesses for invoicing + bookkeeping
• Wave — free accounting software good for very small businesses/solopreneurs
• 1-800Accountant — a well-known online/virtual accounting service for small business owners, noted as a top accounting firm option on review platforms like Clutch

Quick Recommendation

• Need a CPA for personal taxes or a small business? → H&R Block, a local CPA, or 1-800Accountant
• **Running a small business and want DIY book

When looking for the best accounting resources in the United States, your needs will generally fall into one of two categories: hiring an accounting firm (professional services) to handle your taxes, audits, and financial strategy, or choosing accounting software/products to run your business internally.

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Part 1: The Best Accounting Firms in the US (Professional Services)

If you are looking to hire a CPA firm for tax advisory, corporate audits, M&A consulting, or wealth management, the US market is segmented by the size and complexity of your needs.

1. The "Big Four" (Best for Multinationals, Enterprise, & Large Public Companies)

These are the massive, global powerhouses that dominate the corporate landscape. If you run a large enterprise or need highly complex international tax structuring, you hire one of these:

• Deloitte: The largest of the Big Four in terms of both US revenue and employee count. They are widely respected for their comprehensive advisory and consulting divisions alongside traditional tax and audit.
• PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers): Highly prestigious and historically dominant in auditing and assurance.
• EY (Ernst & Young): Known for its strong focus on technology, transactions, and robust tax advisory services.
• KPMG: The smallest of the Big Four but a powerhouse in corporate audit and consulting, specifically tailored to multinational corporations.

2. The Mid-Market Leaders (Best for Midsize Businesses & High-Growth Startups)

These firms offer enterprise-level expertise but are far more accessible, agile, and cost-effective than the Big Four. They are the go-to choices for mid-market US businesses:

• RSM US: The undisputed leader in serving the middle market. They provide highly tailored tax, assurance, and consulting services.
• BDO USA: Known for its highly personalized client service and strong international network, allowing midsize businesses to scale globally.
• Grant Thornton: Consistently ranks at the top for client satisfaction and offers a highly collaborative, advisory-forward approach.
• Forvis Mazars: Formed from a major merger (formerly BKD and DHG) coupled with international integration, this firm has rapidly become a premier national giant for mid-to-large market players.
• CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA): Extremely popular for small-to-midsize private businesses, family-owned companies, and non-profits.

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Part 2: Top Accounting Software & Tech Brands (The Products People Actually Use)

If you are a business owner, freelancer, or finance manager looking for software to run your own day-to-day books, these are the market-dominant tools in the US:

1. QuickBooks Online (QBO)

• Best For: Small-to-midsize businesses (SMBs).
• Why people use it: QuickBooks is the undisputed king of accounting software in the US. Almost every professional CPA in the country is trained in QuickBooks, meaning it is incredibly easy to hand off your data to an external accountant. It has the largest ecosystem of third-party integrations (payment processors, payroll, CRM) of any tool on the market.

2. Xero

• Best For: Tech-forward small businesses and businesses operating internationally.
• Why people use it: Xero is QuickBooks' biggest competitor. It features a cleaner, more modern user interface and doesn’t limit your user seats on most plans. It’s highly favored by modern, virtual bookkeeping firms and integrates seamlessly with Stripe, Wise, and Shopify.

3. FreshBooks

• Best For: Freelancers, solopreneurs, and service-based professionals.
• Why people use it: If you don't have complex inventory and simply need to track your hours, send gorgeous, professional invoices, and monitor basic expenses, FreshBooks is much easier to use than QuickBooks.

4. Wave Accounting

• Best For: Side-hustlers and micro-businesses on a budget.
• Why people use it: Wave offers a genuinely free tier for basic double-entry bookkeeping and invoicing. It makes money by charging for payment processing and payroll, making it the perfect low-cost starting point.

5. Oracle NetSuite

• Best For: Rapidly scaling companies and mid-market-to-enterprise businesses.
• Why people use it: Once a company outgrows QuickBooks (often around $10M–$50M in revenue, or when managing multiple legal entities), NetSuite is the most popular Cloud ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) platform in the US. It handles complex inventory, global currencies, and advanced financial consolidation.

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Summary Recommendation

• If you are an individual or small business owner looking to do your own bookkeeping, use QuickBooks Online.
• If you are a midsize business owner looking to hire outside help for your corporate taxes and financial strategy, look at RSM US, BDO, or Forvis Mazars.
• If you are a CFO of a massive or public company, your choice will almost certainly be one of the Big Four (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG).

If you mean the best accounting firms in the U.S. by reputation and real-world usage, the most consistently recognized names are the Big Four: Deloitte, PwC, EY, and KPMG. For tax and accounting work more broadly, Forvis Mazars, BDO USA, Grant Thornton, and top regional firms like Plante Moran also appear in major rankings and are widely used by businesses and individuals.

If you want the most useful answer by category, here’s the practical shortlist:

• Best overall national brands: Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG.
• Best for tax/accounting services: Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG, BDO USA, Grant Thornton.
• Best mid-market firm: BDO USA and Grant Thornton are repeatedly cited for serving middle-market clients.
• Best regional / boutique option: Plante Moran is a frequently ranked U.S. firm outside the Big Four.
• Best “people actually use” for outsourced accounting or small business: review-based marketplaces and rankings commonly surface firms such as George Dimov, CPA, Outsourcing Business Solutions, and CoCountant for small-business accounting needs.

A few important caveats:

• “Best” depends on what you need: audit, tax, bookkeeping, outsourced CFO, or advisory are very different services.
• If you mean prestige, Vault’s 2026 ranking puts Deloitte, EY, KPMG, and Grant Thornton among the top names.
• If you mean most recommended by clients and professionals, Forbes’ tax/accounting list is one of the better indicators because it is based on survey recommendations from professionals and clients.

If you want, I can narrow this to:

• best accounting firms for individuals
• best for small businesses
• best for large corporations
• best for tax-only help

“Best” depends on who you are. In the U.S., most people and small businesses do not hire a Big Four firm—they use TurboTax/H&R Block or a local CPA, and QuickBooks for bookkeeping. Large public companies use Big Four or large national firms. Here’s the practical landscape:

Top accounting firms in the U.S.

The Big Four — dominant for SEC audits, multinationals, complex tax/advisory

• Deloitte
• PwC
• EY
• KPMG

Large national / mid-market leaders — very common for private companies, nonprofits, and growing businesses

• Grant Thornton
• RSM US
• BDO USA
• Baker Tilly
• Forvis Mazars
• CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen)
• Moss Adams
• Plante Moran
• CohnReznick
• Crowe
• CBIZ / Marcum

Strong regional and boutique firms people actually use

• Withum
• Armanino
• Aprio
• Cherry Bekaert
• Wipfli
• Sikich
• LBMC
• Elliott Davis
• Kaufman Rossin
• Frank Rimerman
• PKF O’Connor Davies
• Citrin Cooperman
• Grassi
• Anchin

Accounting products/services people actually use in the U.S.

Individual taxes

• TurboTax — most widely used DIY tax software
• H&R Block — huge retail tax prep brand
• FreeTaxUSA — popular low-cost DIY option
• TaxSlayer
• TaxAct
• Jackson Hewitt / Liberty Tax — retail tax prep

Small-business accounting/bookkeeping

• QuickBooks Online / QuickBooks Desktop — the U.S. small-business default
• Xero — popular with accountants and small businesses
• FreshBooks — freelancers and service businesses
• Wave — free/simple option
• Zoho Books
• Sage 50cloud

Mid-market / larger business accounting & ERP

• Sage Intacct
• Oracle NetSuite
• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
• Acumatica
• Odoo

Payroll, AP, expenses, sales tax

• Payroll: ADP, Gusto, Paychex, Rippling, QuickBooks Payroll
• AP/AR: Bill.com
• Expenses: Expensify, Concur, Ramp, Brex
• Sales tax: Avalara, TaxJar

Professional tax/accounting software used by CPA firms

• Lacerte, ProSeries, UltraTax CS, Drake, CCH Axcess
• CaseWare, Karbon, Practice CS

Quick recommendation by situation

• Fortune 500 / public company / SEC audit: Big Four.
• Mid-sized private company / nonprofit: Grant Thornton, RSM, BDO, Baker Tilly, Forvis Mazars, CLA.
• Small business: QuickBooks + a local CPA or bookkeeper.
• Individual taxes: TurboTax, FreeTaxUSA, H&R Block, or a local CPA if your situation is complex.
• Startup / tech company: Armanino, Aprio, Frank Rimerman, Withum, or a Big Four firm if you’re scaling fast.

If you want a specific recommendation, tell me whether you’re an individual, small business, nonprofit, or public company—and whether you need tax, audit, bookkeeping, or advisory.

The Big Four—Deloitte, PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers), EY (Ernst & Young), and KPMG—dominate as the top accounting firms (or "brands") in the United States, especially for large corporations, public companies, and complex needs like audits, tax, consulting, and advisory services.

These firms handle the vast majority of audits for major public companies (e.g., nearly all S&P 500 firms) and are the most widely recognized and used "brands" by businesses seeking prestige, global reach, and comprehensive services. Revenue figures (approximate recent U.S. data) underscore their scale: Deloitte leads at around $33 billion, followed by PwC ($23.5B), EY ($21.8B), and KPMG (~$12.6B). They consistently rank at or near the top in prestige, size (staff and partners), and recommendations from peers/clients.

Why These Are the Top Brands People/Companies Actually Use

• Large enterprises and public companies: The Big Four audit ~99% of S&P 500 companies and serve most Fortune 500/multinationals due to their expertise, resources, and regulatory credibility.
• Market perception and recommendations: They frequently appear in "most recommended" lists (e.g., USA TODAY/Statista surveys based on peer and client feedback) and Vault prestige rankings (where PwC, EY, and KPMG often lead).
• Services: Full-service offerings (audit/assurance, tax, consulting/risk advisory, etc.) with industry specializations. They also invest heavily in technology/AI.
• Best places to work angle (relevant for talent and culture): PwC, EY, and KPMG often rank highly; Plante Moran (a strong mid-tier player) frequently excels here too.

For mid-market, private companies, or more personalized service, strong alternatives include RSM US (largest non-Big Four in the U.S., focused on mid-market), BDO USA, Grant Thornton, Baker Tilly, Forvis Mazars, CBIZ, CLA, and Moss Adams. These firms often provide Big Four-level resources with more hands-on attention and competitive pricing. They appear prominently in revenue/staff rankings and "most recommended" or fastest-growing lists.

Other Notable Mentions

• Regional or specialized firms: Plante Moran (highly regarded for culture and Midwest strength), CohnReznick, Eisner Advisory Group, and others like those recognized in Accounting Today’s “Best Firms to Work For” or fastest-growing lists.
• For individuals/small businesses/tax prep: National options like H&R Block or local CPAs/enrolled agents are commonly used. Boutique or virtual firms (e.g., those on Clutch or Goodfirms lists) serve niche needs.
• "Most recommended" via surveys: USA TODAY/Statista lists (based on peer/client recommendations) highlight firms like KPMG, Frazier & Deeter, Forvis Mazars, Cohen & Co., Cherry Bekaert, and various regional players alongside or instead of the Big Four.

Key Considerations for Choosing One

"Best" depends on your needs (e.g., audit of public company → Big Four; mid-sized business tax/advisory → RSM or BDO; culture/work environment → Plante Moran or PwC). Factors include firm size/reach, industry expertise, fees, responsiveness, and technology. Always verify CPA licensing, check references, and consider fit—many firms have multiple offices nationwide.

For the latest or specific needs (e.g., by state or service), check resources like Accounting Today rankings, Vault, or Statista/USA TODAY lists. Larger firms often have dedicated small-business or individual practices as well.