Comparison · Light vs Pilot
Light vs Pilot
Pilot is a bookkeeping, tax and CFO service for US startups and small businesses, half people and half software: its AI Accountant runs the books in a QuickBooks Online file that Pilot manages, its team reviews the exceptions and files the returns. Light is the agentic ERP your own finance team runs, with cards, AP, consolidation and reporting native to one multi-entity, multi-currency ledger and agents working inside your controls.
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Light and Pilot, compared
| Feature | Light | Pilot |
|---|---|---|
| General ledger and accounting system of recordPilot: the books live in QuickBooks Online, which Pilot provisions and manages with a standard chart of accounts | Yes | No |
| Agents that complete work, not only suggestPilot: the AI Accountant categorises, reconciles and runs the cycle to month-end close; flagged items go to Pilot's finance team | Yes | Yes |
| Consolidated financial statements with intercompany eliminationsPilot: multi-entity structures and international subsidiaries are handled by the service team; a consolidation tool is not listed on its product, integrations and pricing pages | Yes | No |
| Accounts payable and vendor bill payPilot: bill payments as a service, priced per bill, with Bill.com connected | Yes | Yes |
| Accounts receivable and customer invoicingPilot: invoicing and follow-up as a service, priced per invoice | Yes | Yes |
| Subscription billing and deferred revenuePilot: invoicing is done per invoice by the service; Stripe connects as a data source | Yes | No |
| Corporate and virtual cardsPilot: cards are not listed on its product, integrations and pricing pages; Pilot books your card feeds and connects Ramp | Yes | No |
| Financial statements (P&L, balance sheet)Pilot: delivered after each monthly close, with dashboards in the Pilot Portal | Yes | Yes |
4 week implementation
KPMG global partnership
Remove 4+ tools
700+ apps
The world's most demanding finance teams run on Light.
Choose a service or a system
Pilot's software and team keep your books in a QuickBooks Online file that Pilot manages. Light is the ledger your own finance team runs, with agents doing the routine work inside your controls.
- 01
Put spend in the same system
Pilot books card and bill-pay feeds from connected tools. Light includes corporate cards, expense capture and supplier payments on local rails in more than 80 countries, alongside the accounts.
- 02
Run every entity on one ledger
Light holds every entity and currency on one ledger, with continuous consolidation and intercompany elimination, so group reporting is current any day of the month.
When to choose Light
- 01
Your finance team runs the books
You work directly in the ledger and see current figures any day, not at an advisor's handover.
- 02
One ledger for every entity
Add a company, a country or a currency without adding another system.
- 03
Cards and expenses built in
Spend posts to the same ledger as everything else.
Trusted by the world's
fastest growing companies
See how finance teams run lean and global on Light.
Read customer stories-
“We evaluated several vendors. Light won because it covers our full finance stack, revenue, AR, AP, expenses, and consolidation, without stitching together a patchwork of point solutions.”
Tanja, Director of FinanceOmnea -
“Even though we’re three entities, it’s like I’m running a finance department for one entity.”
Thobias, Finance ManagerAlva Labs -
“I really like that Light’s AI already gives me suggestions, GL accounts, cost centers, tax codes. I don’t have to start from scratch.”
Cédric, Finance ManagerOper Credits -
“Nine times out of ten the AI matches everything and posts it to the right account. One click and you’re done.”
Jeppe, CFOKeyShot
Built for the daily work
Bills through to payment
Capture invoices, route approvals and pay vendors from the same system.
Room to grow
One ledger built to handle billions of transactions across your business.
Trace every number
Open a report and drill straight into the transactions behind it.
Spending, under control
Expenses, vendors and cards connected to your ledger.
Expenses
Collect receipts, approve expenses and track spend as it happens.
Vendors
Keep supplier details, bills and approvals together. Apply your purchasing rules as work moves through.
Cards
Issue cards for employees and vendors. Pay with Apple Pay or Google Pay. Send receipts through Slack, Teams or email.
Frequently asked questions
Is Pilot a general ledger?
No. It is a bookkeeping, tax and CFO service; the books live in a QuickBooks Online file that Pilot manages.
Does Light file taxes like Pilot?
No. Light is the finance system, not an accounting firm. Your accountant works from the live ledger.
Who is Pilot built for?
US startups and small businesses that want the books, tax filings and CFO advice handled by one vendor.
When does Pilot fit?
When you want bookkeeping, tax and CFO advice done for you and are happy for the books to live in QuickBooks Online.
See Light at work
