The short answer
Synthetic and Pilot are both tax & accounting tools. They overlap on Bookkeeping. On published figures, Synthetic leads on lower published entry price (Planned from $49/mo vs From $99/mo). Best fit: Synthetic for software, SaaS, and AI startups seeking automated accrual-basis bookkeeping and Pilot for US startups that want a finance team without hiring an in-house bookkeeper. Shortlist on fit, then compare quotes for the same scope.
Which should you choose?
Choose Synthetic if…
- you're among software, SaaS, and AI startups seeking automated accrual-basis bookkeeping
- you're among small startups willing to test a waitlist-based prototype
- you're among founders who want financial outputs prepared for a tax preparer
- you want the lower published entry price (Planned from $49/mo vs From $99/mo)
- this Pilot drawback matters to you: pilot Tax is not included in bookkeeping and must be purchased with Pilot Bookkeeping
Choose Pilot if…
- you're among US startups that want a finance team without hiring an in-house bookkeeper
- you're among small businesses needing monthly books plus a tax-ready year-end package
- you're among growing companies that need cash-flow visibility and optional CFO guidance
- this Synthetic drawback matters to you: the product is not generally available and requires joining a waitlist
At a glance
| Attribute | Synthetic | Pilot |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Planned from $49/mopricing as of Nov 2026 Leads | From $99/mopricing as of Oct 2026 |
| Pricing model | Planned monthly subscription, availability-limited | Monthly Essentials; annual Core and services; custom pricing for complex needs |
| Free trial | Not published | No free trial is advertised; an onboarding charge equal to one month of bookkeeping applies under Pilot’s FAQ. |
| Founded | November 2025 | 2017 |
| Headquarters | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Funding | $10M seed | $150M+ raised |
| Coverage | Software, SaaS, and AI startups | US federal, state, selected city, and Delaware franchise tax |
| Integrations | Bank accounts, payroll, billing systems, business tools, email/inboxes, bill-pay, and treasury/investment brokerage accounts by stated source type | 10,000+ |
| Customers | Not published | 3,000+ |
| Focus | Startup bookkeeping | Bookkeeping and business tax |
Figures are as published by each vendor or review site on the verification date. "Leads" marks the stronger published figure; it isn't a recommendation on its own.
Where each one leads
- Synthetic: lower published entry pricePlanned from $49/mo vs From $99/mo
Pricing compared
Synthetic pricing
Planned from $49/mo · pricing as of Nov 2026
Plan-level pricing not published.
Synthetic’s May 2026 funding announcement states that pricing will start at $49 per month. This is planned pricing for a product in prototype and waitlist access, not a verified generally available paid plan. Final packages, usage limits and trial terms are not published.
Free trial: Not published
Pilot pricing
From $99/mo · pricing as of Oct 2026
- Essentials$99/month
Up to $100,000 in monthly expenses
AI-assisted cash-basis bookkeeping, bank and credit-card data, standard chart of accounts, year-end tax package, Pilot AI answers, and human support.
- CoreCustom
Pricing varies with monthly expenses
Everything in Essentials plus a dedicated US-based bookkeeper, cash or accrual books, broader integrations, custom chart of accounts, and phone, email, and in-app support.
- CustomCustom
Complex structures, historical QuickBooks data, custom workflows, reporting, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll administration, and optional CFO support.
- Pilot TaxFrom $1,000/year
Single-member LLC; bookkeeping required
Federal and state filing, free extension, quarterly safe-harbor payments, Schedule C, and specified income-source reporting.
- CFO Basic$1,750/month
Custom financial model, strategic insights, and industry-specific KPI dashboard.
Essentials starts at $99 per month for businesses with up to $100,000 in monthly expenses. Core is custom-priced, with pricing varying according to monthly expenses, connected institutions, bills, invoices, and support needs; Pilot Tax starts at $1,000 per year for a single-member LLC and must be purchased with bookkeeping. Essentials is monthly, while Core and other services may use annual or custom billing.
Free trial: No free trial is advertised; an onboarding charge equal to one month of bookkeeping applies under Pilot’s FAQ.
Key capabilities
Synthetic
- Bank and data connections. Connects to bank accounts, payroll, billing systems, business tools, and inboxes by stated data-source type.
- Transaction categorization. Uses business context to categorize transactions automatically.
- Account reconciliation. Reconciles transactions as part of its automated bookkeeping workflow.
- Clarifying questions. Asks targeted questions and requests documentation when business context is unclear.
- Accrual-basis books. Produces completed accrual-basis books intended for review and handoff to a tax preparer.
- Financial reporting. Provides financials, management reports, dashboards, and related management outputs.
- Workflow automation. Manages bookkeeping tasks and autonomous communications within the service.
Pilot
- Managed bookkeeping. Pilot categorizes transactions, reconciles accounts, and closes books monthly using connected financial data and human review.
- Cash or accrual books. Core supports cash- or accrual-basis bookkeeping across banks, cards, payroll, AP, inventory, and payment platforms.
- Business tax filing. Pilot Tax covers federal and state income-tax filing, selected city filings, Delaware franchise tax, and included 1099-NEC filings.
- Financial reporting. Customers receive financial statements and can ask questions about transactions, cash flow, and operating scenarios.
- CFO advisory. CFO plans provide financial models, runway analysis, investor and board reporting, and strategic projects.
- Back-office support. Higher-tier services can include bill payment, invoice collection, payroll administration, and custom workflows.
- AI-assisted answers. Pilot AI provides instant answers about past transactions and current cash flow while the human team handles review and support.
Pros and cons
Synthetic
Pros
- Targets a narrow software-startup workflow instead of presenting itself as general-purpose bookkeeping.
- Combines transaction categorization, reconciliation, questions, and reporting in one stated workflow.
- Planned pricing of $49 per month is materially below the human-staffed benchmark cited by the company.
- Produces accrual-basis books that can be handed to a tax preparer.
Cons
- The product is not generally available and requires joining a waitlist.
- Specific software integrations and connector documentation are not publicly listed.
- Synthetic says its personnel do not independently audit, review, or verify AI bookkeeping outputs.
- Public materials do not provide accuracy metrics, SLAs, named customers, or finalized plans.
Pilot
Pros
- Combines automated transaction processing with human support and review.
- Offers bookkeeping, tax preparation, CFO services, and selected back-office work in one provider.
- Connects to a broad set of banks, payroll systems, payment processors, and business tools.
- Core supports accrual accounting and more complex data sources than Essentials.
Cons
- Pilot Tax is not included in bookkeeping and must be purchased with Pilot Bookkeeping.
- Pilot does not currently file personal income taxes.
- Pricing can rise with expenses, institutions, bills, invoices, and support needs.
- Core pricing is custom rather than publicly listed as a fixed monthly rate.
How they're similar
- Both are listed in our tax & accounting directory.
- Both list Bookkeeping.
- Both offer financial reporting.
- Both name startups or small teams among their best-fit customers.
- Both are headquartered in San Francisco, CA.
How they differ
- Focus
- Synthetic: Startup bookkeeping
- Pilot: Bookkeeping and business tax
- Pricing model
- Synthetic: Planned monthly subscription, availability-limited
- Pilot: Monthly Essentials; annual Core and services; custom pricing for complex needs
- Starting price
- Synthetic: Planned from $49/mo
- Pilot: From $99/mo
- Founded
- Synthetic: November 2025
- Pilot: 2017
- Funding
- Synthetic: $10M seed
- Pilot: $150M+ raised
- Listed only for this tool
- Synthetic: Accrual accounting, Startup finance, SaaS, AI companies, Tax preparation handoff, Transaction reconciliation +1 more
- Pilot: Business tax, 1099-NEC, Delaware franchise tax, Federal tax, State tax, City tax +3 more
Frequently asked questions
Is Synthetic cheaper than Pilot?
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On published entry prices, Synthetic is cheaper. Synthetic: Planned from $49/mo (planned monthly subscription, availability-limited). Pilot: From $99/mo (monthly Essentials; annual Core and services; custom pricing for complex needs). (Synthetic pricing pricing as of Nov 2026; Pilot pricing pricing as of Oct 2026.) Total cost depends on plan, company size and add-ons.
Which is better for startups, Synthetic or Pilot?
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Synthetic lists "Software, SaaS, and AI startups seeking automated accrual-basis bookkeeping" among its best-fit customers. Pilot lists "US startups that want a finance team without hiring an in-house bookkeeper" among its best-fit customers. On entry price, Synthetic costs less. Neither answer replaces a quote for your headcount and scope.
Can I switch from Synthetic to Pilot?
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Yes. They are separate products, so switching means setting up Pilot and reconnecting your systems. Check your Synthetic contract term and renewal date before you commit. Data migration tooling isn't covered in our sources, so ask Pilot whether it can import your Synthetic data.
Does Synthetic or Pilot have more integrations?
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Synthetic: Bank accounts, payroll, billing systems, business tools, email/inboxes, bill-pay, and treasury/investment brokerage accounts by stated source type; Pilot: 10,000+. Vendor counts are self-reported and define "integration" differently, so check that the specific systems you use are supported.
Do Synthetic and Pilot offer a free trial?
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Synthetic: not published. Pilot: No free trial is advertised; an onboarding charge equal to one month of bookkeeping applies under Pilot’s FAQ.
Go deeper
Synthetic
Tax & Accounting
Pilot
Tax & Accounting
Sources
Vendors change pricing and features often, so confirm with each vendor before buying. How we research
Synthetic
Last verified
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