OCTIS vs freee vs Money Forward vs Yayoi for a Japanese company
Three cloud accounting tools most Japanese small companies shortlist, with yen prices from each provider's own page.
Last checked · 7 sources
Otty's short answer
Yayoi Kaikei Next is reported as the cheapest entry for a company at ¥34,800 per year, with phone, email and chat support in its Basic plan. Money Forward is reported at ¥4,480 per month, billed yearly. freee costs more at ¥5,480 per month but is built so non-accountants can book entries without bookkeeping knowledge.
Side by side
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| What matters | OCTISHong Kong company + OCTIS global plan | freee | Money Forward Cloud Accounting | Yayoi Kaikei Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry plan, one-person company | Not published; 10–30% below your current bill | ¥2,980 per month, billed yearly | Reported ¥2,480 per month, billed yearly | Not a separate plan |
| Main plan, small company | Not published; 10–30% below your current bill | Starter ¥5,480 per month | Reported Small Business ¥4,480 per month | Reported Entry ¥34,800 per year |
| Same plan, paid monthly | 10–30% below your current bill | Check current fee | Reported ¥5,980 per month | Reported ¥3,480 per month |
| Mid plan, billed yearly | 10–30% below your current bill | Standard ¥8,980 per month | Reported Business ¥6,480 per month | Reported Basic ¥4,200 per month (¥50,400 per year) |
| Top plan, billed yearly | 10–30% below your current bill | Advanced ¥39,780 per month | Not published | Reported Basic Plus ¥7,000 per month (¥84,000 per year) |
| Users in main plan | Your whole team | Extra members ¥300 per month | Reported up to 3 (Small Business) | Reported 3 for accounting and invoicing |
| Extra usage charges | 10–30% below your current bill | Expense claims ¥300 per user | Reported ¥300 per user above 3 (Business) | Reported expense users free up to 3 |
| Free trial | 30-day money-back guarantee, terms apply | 30 days | Not verified | Reported up to 2 months |
| Built for | Founders who want accounts, CRM and banking in one place | Non-accountants | Back office in one place | Cost and phone support |
If you have staff, premises or local sales in this country, its own registration and tax rules still apply. OCTIS can help you arrange them.
Data sources & disclaimer: Comparison data was compiled from publicly available sources — including the competitors' own published pricing and feature pages — captured on 9 November 2026. Figures reflect the typical or advertised pricing at that time and may have changed since; plans, inclusions and prices vary by provider, region and promotion. OCTIS is independent and not affiliated with the named companies; all trademarks belong to their respective owners. This comparison is provided in good faith for general information only and is not professional, legal or financial advice — please verify current details with each provider before deciding.
Which one fits you
OCTIS · Hong Kong company + OCTIS global plan
Choose OCTIS if you sell in several countries or run a spread-out team and want company, accounts, banking and CRM in one place.
freee
Choose freee if the person doing the books has no bookkeeping training and you want the tool to guide each entry.
Money Forward Cloud Accounting
Choose Money Forward if you want payroll, expenses and accounting in one family of products and keep to three users or fewer.
Yayoi Kaikei Next
Choose Yayoi Kaikei Next if the lowest yearly cost and a support line you can phone matter most.
What the table does not show
Price shapes differ, so compare the whole bill
freee and Money Forward quote a monthly rate that drops when you pay for the year. Money Forward is reported to save about ¥18,000 a year on yearly billing. Yayoi quotes a yearly price first. All three add charges as you grow: freee for extra members and expense claims, Money Forward for users above three, and Yayoi for plan upgrades. Add payroll and invoicing before you compare, because those are sold as separate products at each provider.
The invoice system and the accountant
Japan's qualified invoice system, run by the National Tax Agency since October 2023, applies to the sales tax you charge and claim. A company needs a registration number to issue qualified invoices, and the National Tax Agency has stated the 20% special rule for small new registrants covers tax periods that include days up to 30 September 2026. Whichever tool you pick, ask your tax accountant which file format they want before you commit, because many accountants standardise on one product.
Plan names change
Yayoi's older cloud product for companies, Yayoi Kaikei Online, reportedly stopped taking new company contracts in April 2025, and Kaikei Next replaced it. Money Forward is reported to have revised its Small Business and Business prices in June 2025. Check each provider's price page on the day you sign up. Re-read the price page when you sign, not when you shortlist.
Where OCTIS fits
OCTIS does not sell accounting in Japan. If you run a Malaysian or Hong Kong company with a Japanese subsidiary, the subsidiary keeps its books in freee, Money Forward or Yayoi, and OCTIS can consolidate those statements into the home company's books. Send us your current bill for the home entity and we come in 10–30% off it.
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheapest, freee, Money Forward or Yayoi?
For a company on a yearly plan, Yayoi Kaikei Next Entry is reported at ¥34,800 per year, the lowest entry price here. Money Forward Small Business is reported at ¥53,760 per year, and freee Starter at ¥5,480 per month is ¥65,760 per year if that rate is the yearly-billing price, which freee does not state. Prices are before consumption tax. We could read only freee's page, so confirm the others.
Which accounting software is easiest for beginners in Japan?
freee is designed around entering transactions without bookkeeping terms, which suits owners who do their own books. Money Forward and Yayoi assume more bookkeeping knowledge. Money Forward and Yayoi use accounting terms more, so a bookkeeper's help is more useful with them.
Do I need accounting software for the invoice system?
The system needs qualified invoices and records that show the registration number and tax rate. Accounting software makes that easier, but the rule is about the invoice, not the tool. Check your accountant's preferred format first, because they will review the same data.
Can I switch between freee, Money Forward and Yayoi later?
Yes. All three export journal data, but mapping accounts and opening balances takes time. Switch at the start of a fiscal year if you can. Plan a clean cut-off: export the closing balances and journal history before cancelling the old tool.
Is a free trial available?
freee lists a 30-day free trial. Yayoi is reported to offer up to two months, and Money Forward's trial was not confirmed, so check their pages.
Sources
Checked on the date above. Links open the provider's or regulator's own page.