The short answerPilot is the more complete back office today: human bookkeepers, tax, CFO services, priced by your monthly expenses. Lopifi does less, at a flat $200 a month: accrual books on US GAAP in your own QuickBooks Online or Xero file, closed continuously and reviewed by a CPA every quarter.
Side by side
Pilot’s column says only what its own pages said on the date shown. Prices and plans change; follow the link before you decide.
| Question | Pilot | Lopifi |
|---|---|---|
| Who does the work | An AI accountant, with a US-based bookkeeper from the Core plan up. Pilot pricing | AI agents categorize, reconcile and close as transactions happen. Anything that needs judgment waits for your sign-off. |
| Ledger | A QuickBooks Online file Pilot provisions and manages. Pilot AI Accountant | Your own QuickBooks Online or Xero file, synced both ways. Set up for you if you have none. |
| Basis | Cash only on Essentials; cash or accrual on Core and above. Pilot pricing | Accrual, US GAAP, with a lead schedule behind every balance and a monthly close you sign. |
| Price | Essentials $99/mo up to $100K monthly expenses; Core priced by expenses, billed annually. Pilot pricing | $200 a month, flat. Planned price; not open yet. |
| Tax returns | Sold with Pilot bookkeeping; C-corps from $2,450/yr. Pilot pricing | Not included. Deadlines are tracked, and a closed year goes to your tax preparer. |
| CFO services | From $1,750/mo, billed annually. Pilot pricing | Not offered. The output is closed books and statements, not a finance team. |
Two kinds of AI bookkeeping
Pilot and Lopifi both put AI on a QuickBooks Online ledger. The difference is what surrounds it. Pilot is a full back office that grows into tax, CFO work and payroll administration, priced as your expenses grow.
Lopifi is narrower on purpose: the books, closed on US GAAP as transactions happen, a lead schedule proving every balance, and a CPA review each quarter, at one price. If you want one vendor for everything, that narrowness is a cost.
Whose file it is
If you already have QuickBooks Online or Xero with history in it, ask any provider whether they work in that file or start a new one. Lopifi works inside the one you have; your CPA, investors and tax preparer keep opening the same books.
When Pilot is the better choice
- You need your books kept this month. Lopifi is a waitlist and lets companies in a few at a time.
- You want tax returns filed by the same company that keeps your books.
- You want CFO services, R&D credit work or payroll administration from the same provider.
- You are cash basis and under $100,000 a month in expenses, and the $99 Essentials plan is enough.
When Lopifi is the better choice
- You want to stay in the QuickBooks Online or Xero file your CPA and investors already open. Lopifi works inside it and syncs both ways.
- You use Xero. Pilot's published ledger is QuickBooks Online.
- You want accrual books on US GAAP with a lead schedule behind every balance, closed as transactions happen rather than weeks after month end.
- You want one flat price: $200 a month, reviewed by a CPA every quarter.
What we checked about Pilot
Pilot's AI Accountant handles categorization, reconciliation and vendor identification, and Pilot provisions and manages the customer's QuickBooks Online file with a standard chart of accounts.
Pilot AI AccountantChecked
Pilot's partner FAQ says Pilot works with QuickBooks Online as the core ledger.
Pilot partner FAQChecked
Pilot's Essentials plan is $99 a month for up to $100,000 in monthly expenses, on a cash basis. Core adds a US-based bookkeeper, supports cash or accrual and is priced by monthly expenses, billed annually.
Pilot pricingChecked
Pilot sells tax preparation only with Pilot bookkeeping (C-corps from $2,450 a year) and CFO services from $1,750 a month, billed annually.
Pilot pricingChecked
Common questions
How much does Pilot cost?
Pilot's pricing page lists Essentials at $99 a month for up to $100,000 in monthly expenses, on a cash basis. Core, which adds accrual and a US-based bookkeeper, is priced by monthly expenses and billed annually; Custom is quoted by sales.
Does Pilot use my existing QuickBooks file?
Pilot says it provisions and manages a QuickBooks Online file for you with a standard chart of accounts, and its Custom tier offers keeping your existing QuickBooks account. Check which applies to your plan if you already have a file with history in it.
What is the difference between Pilot and Lopifi?
Both use AI on a QuickBooks Online ledger. Pilot adds human bookkeepers, tax preparation and CFO services, priced by expenses. Lopifi works in your existing QuickBooks Online or Xero file at a flat $200 a month, keeps accrual books with a lead schedule behind every balance, and has a CPA review them quarterly.
Keep reading
- Founder guideUS GAAP for early-stage startups, in plain English
- Founder guideWhy startups should close their books every month
- Founder guideThe R&D tax credit and Section 174A for startups
- ComparisonBench alternative: Bench vs Lopifi
- ComparisonDigits vs Lopifi: AI ledger or kept books
- ComparisonPuzzle vs Lopifi: AI accounting compared
Pilot is a trademark of its owner, named here only to compare. Lopifi is not affiliated with it. Every statement about Pilot links to where it was published; if one is out of date, write to hello@lopifi.com and we will correct it.