Budgeting And Planning Software

Q: Is Excel a budgeting software?

Excel was a decent budgeting tool around 20 years ago—but for modern finance teams, it now creates more problems than it solves. With Excel there are no audit trails and no easy collaboration methods, which leads to no confidence in the end numbers. High-growth companies need something faster, smarter, and built to scale. DualEntry offers these benefits in a single platform, plus allows for full control and transparency at every step.

Intuitive planning and budgeting

Shift from manual processes to strategic analysis with automated tools built for modern teams.

13,000+ integrations

Automate your whole budget-planning cycle

Automated workflows

Speed up budgeting with ready-to-use approval workflows and automatic task tracking. See every update as teams review and approve. No extra steps needed.

Dynamic budget templates

Budget templates in DualEntry automatically adjust when your chart of accounts does, reflecting live GL data and accounting segment changes.

Real-time forecasting

Generate up-to-the-minute forecasts in just a few clicks. Get accurate projections based on your actual performance data, not outdated assumptions.

Stakeholder input

Gather info faster with custom templates and automatic reminders for stakeholders. Track progress and improve communication with @mentions and dedicated dashboards.

Automated variance analysis

Get automated BvA reports at the end of each month. Compare actuals to any plan: board-approved budgets, updated forecasts, or anything in between.

Multi-level budget control

Track budget variances across the whole company or by department, automatically. Build top-down and department-level BvAs to ensure you’re always in control.

Handle complex scenarios with confidence

Advanced modeling

Build detailed financial models using any mix of categories, like location, product, or expense. DualEntry automatically calculates projections for revenue, operating costs, capital expenditures, and headcount.

Driver-based forecasting

Match revenue forecasts to your enterprise's goals with driver-based models for every business unit. Make accurate sales forecasts by pulling in data from finance, sales, and service teams.

Easy performance tracking

See how actuals compare to forecasts in real time with instant cash flow and balance-sheet updates. Spot variances right away and adjust forecasts to stay on track.

Forecast for growth

Comprehensive cash-flow forecasting

Use advanced tools to forecast cash flow with precision. DualEntry AI looks at past and current data – including AR/AP aging – to spot trends and compare forecasts to actuals. Customize your views and factor in everything from funding to planned spending.

Scenario and variance analysis

Analyze how spending and funding plans affect your finances. Compare forecasts to actual bank transactions, spot differences, and fine-tune forecasts using real-time and historical data.

Predictive AI insights

Improve your forecasting accuracy with predictive analytics. DualEntry AI learns from your past cash-flow information to continuously improve inflow projections and optimize liquidity.

Collaborate better

Centralized collaboration

Connect finance teams and operational managers in one place. Access real-time financial data and reporting insights 24/7, boosting transparency and informed decision-making across departments.

Adjustable access controls

Set granular permissions that decide what every team member can see and edit. DualEntry's precise access levels ensure data security and simplify later audits.

Interactive reporting

Annotate financial reports and drill down to transaction-level details during business reviews for immediate insights. Stakeholders can ask questions directly within charts and tables, encouraging real-time discussion and deeper analysis.

Get 360-degree financial visibility

Centralized intelligence

Keep everyone on the same page as financial and operational data syncs automatically across your business. Any change updates all reports and dashboards instantly, so you always see your income, expenses, and overall position in real time.

Integrated statements

Link income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements using GAAP logic. Choose direct or indirect cash flow methods, and easily adapt to industry-specific needs.

Custom dashboards

Create tailored dashboards in minutes with DualEntry’s drag-and-drop capabilities. Drill down your dashboard views for detailed budget-versus-actuals variance analysis.

Everything you need from
a budgeting & planning software
without the extra charges

Feature
Automated workflows Accelerate budgeting cycles with prebuilt approval workflows and automated task tracking	via third-party add-on	via SAC	Requires Planning & Budgeting SuiteApp
Shareholder input management Scale information gathering with customizable templates and automated notifications, tracking input status through dedicated dashboards and fostering accountability with '@' mentions and reminders	via third-party add-on	via SAC	Requires Planning & Budgeting SuiteApp
Dynamic budget templates DualEntry updates budget templates automatically with live GL data and accounting segment changes	manual Excel templates	via SAC	Requires Planning & Budgeting SuiteApp
Automated variance analysis Set up automated BvA reporting that updates at month-end	via spreadsheet export	via SAC	Requires Planning & Budgeting SuiteApp
Real-time forecasting Quickly generate up-to-the-minute forecasts with accurate projections based on actual performance data	via third-party add-on	via SAC	Requires Planning & Budgeting SuiteApp
Automatic projections DualEntry automatically calculates projections for revenue, operating costs, capital expenditures, and headcount	via external tool	via SAC	Requires Planning & Budgeting SuiteApp
Driver-based forecasting Align revenue forecasts with enterprise objectives using driver-based models across all business units, and create sales forecasts that reflect input from finance, sales, and service teams	Not supported	via SAC	Requires Planning & Budgeting SuiteApp
Real-time performance tracking Monitor actual performance against forecasts in real-time. DualEntry delivers automatic updates to cash flow and balance sheet projections, tracking variances instantly to adjust forecasts	via third-party add-on	via SAC	Requires Planning & Budgeting SuiteApp
AI-powered cash-flow forecasts DualEntry AI analyzes historical and current data, including AR/AP aging reports, to predict trends and compare forecasts to actuals	Not supported	via SAC	Requires Planning & Budgeting SuiteApp
Scenario Planning and variance analysis Perform detailed analyses to estimate the impact of planned expenditures and funding sources, comparing forecasts to actual bank transactions and refining forecasts using real-time and historical data	manual Excel only	via SAC	Requires Planning & Budgeting SuiteApp
AI insights DualEntry AI learns from your historical cash-flow information to continuously improve inflow projections and optimize liquidity to drive your enterprise’s growth	Not supported	via SAC	Requires Planning & Budgeting SuiteApp
Centralized collaboration Connect finance teams and operational managers in one place, providing 24/7 access to financial data and real-time reporting insights, boosting transparency	via third-party add-on	via SAC	Requires Planning & Budgeting SuiteApp
Interactive reporting Annotate financial reports and drill down to transaction-level details	limited visuals	via SAC	Requires Planning & Budgeting SuiteApp
Custom access controls Set granular permissions for viewing and editing rights for each team member or stakeholder	limited roles
Centralized overview To maintain one source of truth, DualEntry automatic syncs financial and operational data across your enterprise, reflecting changes instantly across all reports and dashboard views	via third-party add-on	via SAC	Requires Planning & Budgeting SuiteApp
Integrated statements Connect income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements using GAAP-derived logic, supporting both direct and indirect cash flow methods	via external tool	via SAC	Requires Planning & Budgeting SuiteApp
Custom dashboards Create tailored dashboards quickly with drag-and-drop capabilities, enabling deep analysis with drill-down capabilities for detailed budget-versus-actual variance investigation	limited visuals	via SAC	Requires Planning & Budgeting SuiteApp

Budgeting & planning software FAQ

What is budgeting and planning software?

Budgeting and planning software is an advanced tool used by finance teams to help them build accurate forecasts, manage spend, and align business goals with financial strategy. Budgeting and planning software is like an evolution of spreadsheets, offering real-time collaboration and automated workflows. These advanced features allow finance teams to explore “what-if” scenarios and make data-driven decisions to reach their goals.

It also connects seamlessly with financial reporting software to ensure your budgets and forecasts roll up into live, audit-ready reports.

What is the best budgeting and planning software?

The best budgeting and planning software should not only be able to assist you in creating a budget or handling basic planning – it should be the foundation of your entire financial strategy. Good budgeting and planning software should equip you with all the functionality you need to plan, adjust, and report in real time. Automated workflows, dynamic budget-process templates, AI-based cash-flow forecasting, and real-time forecasting are essential if you want to be one step ahead of your competition.

Is Excel a budgeting software?

Excel was a decent budgeting tool around 20 years ago – but for modern finance teams, it now creates more problems than it solves. With Excel, there are no audit trails and no easy collaboration methods, which leads to no confidence in the end numbers. High-growth companies need something faster, smarter, and built to scale. DualEntry offers these benefits in a single platform, plus allows for full control and transparency at every step.

How is DualEntry different from legacy FP&A tools?

Legacy FP&A tools and forecasting software weren’t built for today’s fast-paced growth environment. They’re clunky, siloed, and require armies of consultants just to get set up. DualEntry is different. It’s implemented quickly and it's easy to use, with AI features for teams who need to move fast.

What kinds of planning does DualEntry support?

DualEntry supports every kind of planning style needed by high-growth finance teams. You can build dynamic budget templates, create interactive reports, track financial performance in real time, and automate variance analysis. Our integrated cost allocation software also ensures expenses are assigned correctly across entities and departments, making your plans more accurate and audit-ready.