Comparison

Updated: 2025-01-15 7 min read

A2X Alternative: SpreadsheetBroccoli vs A2X Comparison (2025)

A2X is an established e-commerce accounting platform. But platform complexity isn't always what you need. Here's an honest look at when A2X makes sense and when a simpler, faster approach works better.

What is A2X?

A2X is an accounting integration platform designed for e-commerce sellers. It connects your sales channels (Shopify, Amazon, eBay) to accounting software (QuickBooks, Xero).

A2X's key feature is accrual-based posting — instead of importing individual orders, it creates summary journal entries that match your payouts.

A2X's Approach

Connects to Shopify via API
Fetches settlement/payout data
Creates journal entries in QuickBooks
Matches entries to bank deposits

Result: Automated reconciliation with proper revenue recognition — but it requires setup, learning, and ongoing subscription.

The Platform Complexity Problem

A2X is powerful, but power comes with complexity. Here's what many users discover:

Common A2X Frustrations Long onboarding: Account mapping, tax codes, sync rules — expect 30-60 minutes minimum before seeing any results. Learning curve: Understanding accrual accounting, journal entries, and payout matching takes time. Feature overload: Multi-channel, inventory COGS, fee tracking — paying for features you may not need. Subscription lock-in: Monthly fees whether you use it or not. API dependency: OAuth connections can break, requiring re-authentication.

The "Platform Tax"

Enterprise platforms bundle hundreds of features into one subscription. But if you only need basic Shopify → QuickBooks conversion, you're paying a "platform tax" for complexity you'll never use.

This isn't unique to A2X — it's the nature of all-in-one accounting platforms. They're built for accountants managing multiple clients, not store owners who need to import orders once a month.

A Different Approach: Instant Value

SpreadsheetBroccoli takes the opposite approach:

Our Philosophy Instant results: Upload a file, get converted output in seconds. No account setup required to try. Zero learning curve: If you can export from Shopify and import to QuickBooks, you're done. No API connections: File-based means no OAuth, no sync failures, no "connection expired" emails. Pay when you need it: No subscription. Use it once a year or once a day — same approach. You control the data: See exactly what's being converted before importing.

Built for Real Workflows

Most Shopify store owners don't need real-time accounting sync. They need to:

Export orders at month end
Get them into QuickBooks quickly
Move on with their business

That's exactly what we optimize for — not building another platform to learn and manage.

Feature Comparison

Feature Matrix

A2X

SpreadsheetBroccoli

Try before signup

Results in under 2 minutes

No API connection required

No learning curve

Works for occasional use

Accrual-based posting

Automatic payout matching

Multi-channel (Amazon, eBay)

Inventory COGS tracking

Multi-currency support

Handles refunds

Tax tracking

Historical data import

The Accounting Method Difference

This is the real technical difference between the two approaches.

A2X: Accrual-Based / Summary Posting

A2X posts summary journal entries that match your Shopify payouts:

A2X Journal Entry Example

Payout for Jan 1-15, 2025:
  Debit:  Bank Account (Checking)     $4,521.00
  Credit: Sales Revenue               $4,800.00
  Credit: Shipping Income               $320.00
  Debit:  Shopify Fees                  $145.00
  Debit:  Payment Processing Fees       $139.00
  Debit:  Refunds                       $315.00

SpreadsheetBroccoli: Transaction-Level / Order Posting

We import individual orders as Sales Receipts:

Transaction Posting Example

Order #1001 - Jan 5, 2025:
  Customer: John Smith
  Amount: $149.99
  Tax: $12.00
  Shipping: $10.00

Order #1002 - Jan 5, 2025:
  Customer: Jane Doe
  Amount: $89.99

Which is better? Depends on your needs. Accrual posting is "proper" accounting for larger businesses. Transaction posting gives you individual order visibility and is simpler to understand.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose A2X if: You need GAAP-compliant accounting (investors, lenders, auditors). You sell on multiple channels (Amazon + Shopify + eBay). You have a bookkeeper or accountant managing your books. You want fully automated payout reconciliation. You're willing to invest time learning the platform.

Choose SpreadsheetBroccoli if: You want results immediately, not after 30+ minutes of setup. You do your own bookkeeping and want to understand what's imported. You need occasional imports (monthly, quarterly, or ad-hoc). You've had sync issues and prefer file-based control. You want to try before committing to anything.

Switching from A2X

Pick a clean cutoff date

End of month is best. Let A2X finish posting that period.

Export historical data

Download reports from A2X before canceling.

Cancel A2X subscription

Disconnect from QuickBooks to prevent further postings.

Export from Shopify

Get orders from your cutoff date forward.

Import via SpreadsheetBroccoli

Convert and import to QuickBooks.

Reconcile carefully

First month needs extra attention to ensure no gaps or duplicates.

What You'll Lose Automatic payout matching, fee tracking in journal entries, multi-channel consolidation.

What You'll Gain Individual order visibility, no API dependency, immediate results, simpler troubleshooting, no subscription overhead.

Ready to try the simpler approach?

Convert Your First Export Free

Frequently Asked Questions

If you're Shopify-only, do your own books, and import monthly — probably yes. A2X is built for accountants managing multi-channel e-commerce clients. Most small store owners don't need that complexity.

Not for the same transactions — you'd double-count revenue. But you could use A2X for automated posting and SpreadsheetBroccoli for ad-hoc analysis or one-off historical imports.

Accountants familiar with e-commerce often prefer A2X's accrual approach. But many small business accountants are fine with transaction-level imports — it's easier to audit and understand.

A2X handles Amazon, Shopify, eBay, and more. We focus on doing Shopify conversion really well. For multi-channel sellers, A2X or Synder may be better fits.

A2X: 30-60 minutes initial setup, then automated. SpreadsheetBroccoli: Under 2 minutes per conversion, manual but fast. Choose based on your workflow.