Top 12 Financial Forecasting Software: Features + Real Reviews [2026]

The last few years taught us all that economic uncertainty is probably the only constant you can expect. Interest rate fluctuations, supply chain disruptions, regulatory changes — any of these can derail even the most promising business. Yet some companies not only survive but thrive.

How? We always plan for the worst possible scenario. Our best tip is to make your baseline plan 5-10% worse than last month's average. That way, you're always prepared when things go south — and pleasantly surprised when they don't.

With the right financial forecasting software, you can navigate uncertainty with confidence. We've analyzed the top 12 reporting tools that help keep you profitable and growing, no matter what life throws at you.

Best financial forecasting software & tools: comparison table

12 Best financial forecasting software & tools

Fuelfinance

Fuelfinance is a next-generation financial management solution that combines AI-powered technology with human expertise to deliver comprehensive corporate performance management. We give you actionable insights that drive strategic decision-making across multiple departments. And you don't need to be a finance or tech expert to use the tool.

Features

• AI CFO that actually understands context: Unlike basic chatbots, our AI analyzes your historical data, industry benchmarks and business model to give you useful and proactive financial insights. It builds forecasts using AI financial modeling tools, detects anomalies in real-time and assigns confidence scores so you know which predictions to trust when making informed decisions. You also get proactive notifications about any irregularities or worrying metrics before they snowball into business risks.
• Natural language dashboard creation: Tell the AI "show me marketing spend efficiency by channel" and watch it build the exact dashboard you need — no coding, no waiting for IT. This alone saves significant time analyzing data compared to the manual dashboard creation process in other financial performance tools. It's like having ChatGPT for finance built directly into your financial dashboard software.
• Automated financial reports: Your P&L, balance sheet, cash flow management statements and custom KPI reports update automatically as financial data flows in from your connected data sources through automated data consolidation. No more spending days on the month-end close or dealing with manual input — we handle everything for you.
• 350+ integrations: Connect with virtually every tool finance teams use — QuickBooks, Stripe, HubSpot, payroll systems, banks, CRMs and more. Fuelfinance gives you comprehensive data consolidation from day one, creating a unified view across all your financial processes and helping you gain valuable insights across sales data, human resources information and entire organization metrics.
• Financial planning & forecasting: Build sophisticated financial models in minutes. The AI suggests relevant drivers, flags unrealistic assumptions and helps you model different strategies for scenario analysis. Plan future budgets with both conservative and optimistic scenarios, enabling you to prepare for all possible circumstances. The forecasting process updates with weekly or monthly data based on your needs, including support for zero-based budgeting approaches.
• Plan/actual analysis tools: Compare your planned financial figures to actual results with high-precision forecasting that shows how your finances are performing. The system identifies gaps and enables quick adjustments across cost centers and project management initiatives.
• Dedicated finance manager: Every client gets assigned a finance professional who knows your business. They handle setup, answer questions, provide strategic guidance and function as your fractional CFO. Department managers get the expert support they need to understand financial plans and make data-driven decisions.
• Web-based dashboards plus Google Sheets: Access your financials through intuitive web dashboards or work in familiar Google Sheets. The flexibility means your whole team can engage with financial data, not just the Excel experts.

Key advantages

• Modern cloud architecture built from the ground up for faster performance
• Fractional CFO support from actual finance professionals who review your numbers
• Rapid setup — get operational in two weeks with expert help
• Real-time accuracy with AI confidence ratings for each prediction
• Comprehensive corporate performance management with all key features tailored to your business model

Customer feedback

Here are customer success stories showcasing what you can achieve:

• Petcube: Created accurate forecasts with only 2-5% deviation from planned results — a 5x better solution, 10x cheaper than an in-house financial department
• O0 Design: Automated data consolidation with 80% of transactions automatically categorized. Built accurate revenue forecasts connected with hiring and expense planning, cutting time spent on financial management by half and doubling YoY growth
• Hampton: Stored all financially relevant data in one place, reduced financial risks, and created easily readable management reporting built for their business needs, cutting report preparation time by up to 24 hours
• Testimonial Hero: Gained real-time visibility into key metrics, reduced financial admin work significantly, and cut finance costs by 50% while getting 2-3x more value

Book a free call to see how we can help you!

Anaplan

Anaplan is an enterprise-grade platform for managing corporate performance across finance, sales, supply chain, workforce and marketing. It provides real-time data for contextualizing financial performance and predicting outcomes across multiple departments. The tools streamline budgeting, forecasting, modeling, pricing optimization and other financial management tasks for large organizations.

See also: Anaplan competitors

Features

• HyperBlock®: In-memory calculation engine providing access to centralized databases for efficient cross-departmental collaborative planning and management reporting
• AI-powered platform: Includes Anaplan Intelligence with machine learning that collects real-time information to give you actionable external data and supports automated data consolidation
• Modeling capabilities: Continuously self-optimizing algorithms deliver customizable, predictive modeling with aggressive, conservative and "what-if" scenario planning for future revenue projections
• Flexible, driver-based forecasts: Models can include nuances of goods, services, subscriptions, licenses, with unlimited dimension hierarchies supporting complex financial plans
• Data linking: Connect finance, sales and operations information across the entire organization to create comprehensive financial models
• Integrations: Dell Boomi, DocuSign, HyperConnect, MuleSoft, Informatica Cloud, Power BI Desktop, Tableau, Salesforce, SnapLogic, Workiva, Google Cloud Storage and API options

See also: Anaplan pricing and review

Customer feedback

Users praise Anaplan's flexibility and real-time collaborative planning but note the steep learning curve and significant investment required. Finance leaders at larger enterprises appreciate the comprehensive corporate performance management capabilities, though implementation typically requires 3-6 months.

Jirav

Jirav is a cloud-based financial planning and analysis solution designed specifically for accounting tools and financial budgeting needs. Built for accounting firms and their clients, it works seamlessly outside of spreadsheets while maintaining an intuitive interface. This budget planning solution is fully customizable, letting you track, predict and share data relevant to your company's specific needs.

Features

• Budget vs. actuals: Easily visible in dashboard views with rolling forecasts and downstream effects across multiple departments
• Custom data modeling: Model the effect of purchases related to headcount, production units, supply chain costs, then clone and compare scenarios
• Three-way financial statements: Income, balance and cash flow statements with forecasts for 1, 6, 12 or 60 months into the future
• Custom drivers: Create your own formulas and assumptions, link cause and effect and add metrics unique to your business model
• Financial data dashboards: Clear, visual data with drag-and-drop, shareable dashboards combining historical sales data and projections
• Success Safari implementation: Expert-guided, fast-tracked implementation with tailored assistance from dedicated FP&A experts
• Partner success manager: Available for ongoing support
• Integrations: Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, QuickBooks, ADP, Paychex, Salesforce, HubSpot, Xero, Oracle NetSuite, Google Analytics, Jira and more

Customer feedback

Users appreciate Jirav's driver-based planning, industry-specific templates and excellent customer support. Some note a learning curve and UX/UI areas needing improvement, though Jirav has rolled out regular updates addressing these concerns. The platform is particularly popular with accounting firms providing CFO advisory services.

Cube

Cube is an intuitive FP&A tool that facilitates financial planning without changing your existing systems. It eliminates manual work and provides real-time insights necessary for fast, agile strategizing across cost centers. As a spreadsheet-native platform, it meets finance teams where they already work.

See also: Cube vs Datarails comparison

Features

• Automated audit trail: Automates gathering, reconciling and cleaning data from multiple sources with comprehensive automated data consolidation
• Customizable dashboards and reports: Build and share financial models from reusable templates for flexible reporting capabilities across human resources, sales data and the entire organization
• Scenario planning and analysis: Includes workforce planning and analyzing how strategic changes impact your business in long-term views, supporting zero-based budgeting approaches
• Centralized formulas and KPIs: Data stored in a single place for easier management, reporting and tracking key features across multiple departments
• AI-powered features: Machine learning dynamically adapts to your needs to let you ask natural language queries and accelerate FP&A, including AI-powered forecasting, variance analysis, natural language queries and purpose-built agents for data integrity, forecasting, variance analysis etc.
• Spreadsheet integration: Native Excel and Google Sheets integration — works directly within familiar tools
• Integrations: Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, Sage, Xero, QuickBooks, HubSpot, Salesforce, Google BigQuery, BambooHR, Zuora, NetSuite and more

Customer feedback

Finance leaders praise Cube's spreadsheet-native approach, ease of implementation and strong customer support. Users report significant time savings from automated processes. Some note limitations in headcount planning features and dashboard customization compared to specialized tools, but overall satisfaction remains high for small to mid-sized companies.

Vena

Vena is a complete planning platform with pre-built solutions that help automate time-consuming tasks related to planning your financial processes. It focuses on structured, template-driven FP&A standardization in an Excel-type interface powered with additional functionalities and automations, making it ideal for finance teams heavily invested in Excel workflows.

See also: Top Vena alternatives

Features

• Financial planning: Rolling forecasts, what-if scenarios, complex modeling capabilities for planning future budgets across cost centers
• Financial analysis: Compare department performance, create ad-hoc reports with natural language prompts and gain strategic insights for corporate performance management
• Budgeting: Plan budgets using top-down, bottom-up, zero-based budgeting or driver-based requirements across multiple departments
• Financial close: Handles end-of-month processes including automated data consolidation, account reconciliations and tax provisioning
• Pre-configured FP&A solutions: Customizable system templates or prescriptive solutions requiring minimal changes
• Financial statements: Automated P&L, balance sheet and cash flow generation for management reporting
• Dashboards: Operating expense views, predictive analysis, trend analysis, headcount and payroll tracking — all in the familiar Excel interface
• Vena Copilot: AI-powered assistant providing FP&A insights through natural language queries (also in Teams meetings), which you can use to run driver-based planning
• Integrations: NetSuite, Sage Intacct, Salesforce, Intuit QuickBooks, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Dropbox, OneDrive, SFTP, SharePoint

See also: Vena vs Datarails comparison

Customer feedback

Users appreciate Vena's Excel familiarity and powerful automation for financial planning. The platform significantly reduces manual tasks and improves collaboration between finance leaders and department managers. Some users note occasional integration issues, higher pricing compared to alternatives, and a learning curve during implementation. Best suited for mid-sized to enterprise organizations with complex financial processes requiring extensive corporate performance management.

Datarails

Datarails is an Excel-native FP&A platform designed for organizing and analyzing your Excel data with enhanced visualization and clarity. This revenue forecasting software enables finance professionals to collect, report and analyze information without abandoning their existing workflows. It serves as a unified database for financial, organizational and forecasting data across the entire organization.

See also: Datarails competitors

Features

• Data visualization: Easily readable graphs and charts summarizing financial metrics (YTD revenue, monthly revenue, revenue by region, sales data)
• Automated data consolidation: Pulls data from multiple sources, including ERP systems, creating a single source of truth for management reporting
• Budgeting: Estimate costs and future revenue with collection management, approvals, deadlines, and budget completion tracking across multiple departments
• Financial reporting: Automated P&L, balance sheet, and cash flow statements that are readable and shareable across the forecasting process
• Variance analysis: Examine key variance drivers, headcount, sales performance, and COGS, comparing actual data to financial plans
• AI-powered insights: Datarails Genius provides conversational AI for answering finance questions and executing requests
• Collaborative workflows: Real-time collaboration with version control and audit trails supporting accounting tools integration
• Integrations: Microsoft Excel, Salesforce, Oracle Cloud ERP, Xero, QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, banking systems and 200+ data sources

See also: Datarails review

Customer feedback

Users highlight Datarails' ability to consolidate data from multiple sources, good customer support with dedicated Customer Success Managers, and the Excel-native experience. The platform particularly excels at automated financial reporting and reducing manual processes. Some users note a steep learning curve for advanced features, occasional performance issues with large datasets, and that the platform is more suitable for mid-market to enterprise companies rather than small businesses due to pricing and complexity.

Abacum

Abacum is an AI-native FP&A platform for mid-market companies and growing businesses seeking to modernize their financial planning without the complexity of enterprise-grade solutions. It combines the intuitive feel of spreadsheets with the power of advanced financial forecasting tools, bridging the gap for accounting and finance teams.

Features

• Abacum Intelligence: AI-powered forecasting that generates financial projections based on actual data, uncovering hidden patterns and dependencies
• Real-time automated reports: Financial and operational metrics update automatically, providing accounting and finance teams with current insights without manual data manipulation
• Multi-dimensional modeling engine: Conduct complex scenario planning and "what-if" analyses
• Customizable dashboards: Build flexible models and reports specifically tailored to your company's needs, with ready-to-use charts
• Collaborative workflows: Forecast templates, approval requests and team-based planning turn the forecasting process into a coordinated effort across multiple departments
• Integrations: Connects with popular platforms including QuickBooks, Xero, Salesforce and HubSpot, creating a centralized database for all financial and operational data
• Automated data consolidation: Streamlines data gathering from ERP, CRM and HRIS systems
• Board-ready management reporting: Create professional investor reports with plan vs actual analysis and clean visual presentations

Customer feedback

Users particularly praise its modern look and feel, ease of use compared to traditional forecasting software products, and flexibility in building custom models. Growing businesses appreciate how quickly they can implement the platform (typically 4 weeks) and the responsive customer support team. Several reviewers describe it as more "reporting-first" than a complete FP&A solution with advanced budgeting capabilities.

Planful

Planful is a comprehensive cloud-based FP&A platform designed for mid-market to enterprise organizations seeking end-to-end financial close, consolidation, budgeting and forecasting capabilities. This financial planning software offers a solution that transforms how CFOs manage complex financial processes.

See also: Planful alternatives

Features

• End-to-end FP&A: Combines financial close, consolidation, reporting and planning in one unified platform, streamlining workflows for accounting and finance teams
• AI-powered "Plan Assistant": Provides intelligent nudges and automated commentary in variance reports, helping teams interpret financial projections faster
• Excel-like familiarity: Delivers spreadsheet-style syntax within the platform, reducing the learning curve for teams transitioning from traditional forecasting tools
• Real-time scenario toggling: Quickly switch between best-case, worst-case and baseline scenarios to understand how different market trends might impact your business
• Continuous planning: Enables cross-functional collaboration with HR, marketing, sales and operations teams contributing to financial plans through familiar interfaces
• Workflow automation: Map consolidation steps, assign owners and trigger approvals, cutting cycle time and governance risk for complex organizations
• Dynamic reporting/spotlight: Revamp budgeting and forecasting processes with flexible, template-driven reporting that adapts to changing business needs
• Deep ERP integration: Connects with major platforms including NetSuite, Sage Intacct, QuickBooks and Microsoft Dynamics 365, creating a centralized database for all financial data
• Consolidation module: Handles multi-company reporting with intercompany eliminations and multi-currency support, saving days off the financial close process

Customer feedback

Users enjoy Planful's ability to centralize data from multiple sources and automate reporting processes. The platform's Excel-like familiarity makes it accessible to growing businesses while providing the sophisticated forecasting software products needed for strategic planning. Accounting and finance teams appreciate the automated budgeting templates that reduce reliance on external Excel files.

However, some users note a steep learning curve despite the familiar interface, with training materials needing improvement. The platform can experience slowdowns when processing large data volumes, and implementation typically takes a few weeks, with possible partner consultant requirements.

Mosaic

Mosaic (now part of HiBob) is a strategic finance platform specifically designed for SaaS companies, startups and small to mid-sized growing businesses. It simplifies financial planning through visuals, intuitive dashboards and real-time reporting, making it particularly attractive to teams who want to move beyond manual spreadsheets.

Features

• Real-time strategic finance: Consolidates data from ERP, CRM, HRIS and billing systems into a single source of truth, providing comprehensive financial projections updated automatically
• Visual data dashboards: Intuitive, easy-to-read dashboards with statistical graphs and charts that simplify complex financial data for both financial and non-financial stakeholders
• SaaS-specific metrics: Pre-built reporting for ARR, MRR, CAC, LTV and other SaaS KPIs with industry benchmarking, helping growing businesses track performance against market trends
• Automated reporting & reconciliation: Eliminates manual consolidation work
• Three-statement planning: Enables detailed scenario planning across P&L, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow statements with driver-based forecasting
• Collaborative budgeting: Facilitates cross-departmental planning with easy dashboard sharing and stakeholder collaboration tools
• Headcount & workforce planning: Includes built-in tools for modeling hiring plans and fully-loaded employee costs with HRIS integration
• Version control: Ensures all users work with the most current data

Customer feedback

Growing businesses particularly appreciate Mosaic for its simplified approach to complex financial projections and the customer support from implementation through ongoing use. The platform's intuitive interface and visual appeal make it accessible to teams without extensive FP&A backgrounds.

However, users note some limitations. The platform is optimized primarily for SaaS companies, making it less suitable for non-SaaS businesses or complex organizations with diverse business models. Some find forecasting capabilities more restrictive compared to Excel, with customization options for reports and charts somewhat limited.

Fathom

Fathom is a cloud-based financial analysis, management reporting and forecasting tool that excels at transforming complex financial data into clear, visually engaging presentations. It's popular among accounting firms, business advisors, franchises and SMBs that need to create professional financial reports quickly while maintaining deep analytical capabilities for growing businesses.

Features

• Three-way cash flow forecasting: Generate precise financial projections across P&L, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow statements with driver-based forecasting and scenario modeling
• KPI tracking & analysis: Pre-built financial and non-financial KPIs with the ability to create custom metrics using your own formulas
• Multi-company consolidation: Handle complex organizations with multiple entities through features like intercompany eliminations, multi-currency consolidation and grouping financial statements
• Benchmarking & ranking: Compare and rank multiple companies, clients or franchises across KPIs to identify top and bottom performers
• Integrations: Direct connections with QuickBooks, Xero, MYOB, Excel and Google Sheets
• Custom alerts & notifications: Automated notifications for key financial thresholds
• Template library: Ready-to-use report templates and the ability to save custom templates
• Scheduled report delivery: Automate report creation and delivery to stakeholders, putting your management reporting on autopilot

Customer feedback

Users enjoy Fathom's simplicity, visual presentation quality and time-saving capabilities. The clean aesthetic and customizable reporting make it particularly valuable for client-facing professionals who need to present financial projections to diverse audiences.

Some limitations include a learning curve when importing data via Excel, limited graphic representation options compared to specialized data visualization tools, and restrictions on bringing in non-financial data from sources like Google Analytics or CRM systems without manual entry.

Scaleup Finance

Scaleup Finance is a comprehensive financial management platform for startups, scaleups and SMBs that combines automation with dedicated fractional CFO expertise. It offers a unique hybrid model that pairs cloud-based accounting solution technology with human financial guidance.

Features

• Fractional CFO services: Every client gets access to a dedicated, part-time CFO who provides strategic financial leadership, budgeting expertise and investor-ready reporting
• Automated financial operations: Streamlines bookkeeping, payroll, payments and day-to-day financial admin
• AI-assisted forecasting: Leverages artificial intelligence to build financial projections quickly, with the CFO team providing oversight to ensure accuracy and credibility
• Investor & board reporting: Professional, polished financial reports designed specifically for investor presentations and board meetings, helping growing businesses tell their financial story effectively
• Real-time KPI dashboards: Customizable dashboards provide at-a-glance views of critical business metrics, financial performance and sales forecasting data
• Consolidated reporting: Simplifies group reporting across multiple entities with automated consolidation from accounting, CRM, HR and marketing systems into a centralized database
• Cash flow planning: Comprehensive cash management tools that monitor runway and project future cash positions
• Fundraising support: CFO Partners handle due diligence preparation, financial model creation and pitch deck financials to help startups secure funding
• Integrations: Connects with existing business systems to provide a unified financial view

Customer feedback

This tool doesn't have any reviews on G2 or Capterra yet.

Sturppy

Sturppy is a modern, user-friendly financial modeling and forecasting tool specifically designed for early-stage startups and small to mid-sized growing businesses. It democratizes access to professional financial forecasting tools by enabling anyone to build investor-ready financial models without prior finance or Excel expertise.

Features

• Sturppy planning: A guided model builder that walks users through creating custom financial projections tailored to any business model type
• Pre-built templates: Industry-specific financial model templates enable quick-start forecasting
• Sturppy plus (AI CFO): Advanced tier that creates an AI clone of your company's financial operations, automatically categorizing raw data and forecasting future performance through a ChatGPT-like interface
• Real-time data syncing: Automatic daily synchronization with integrated accounting software keeps models current without manual updates
• Multi-scenario planning: Build and compare different "what-if" scenarios within the same model to understand how various strategies impact your business, supporting sales forecasting and strategic planning
• Collaboration tools: Invite teammates or mentors to collaborate on model building, ensuring financial plans benefit from diverse expertise
• Shareable live links: Create branded, read-only model links for investors with visit tracking and feedback collection capabilities
• DCF valuation calculator: Instantly assess business value using standard discounted cash flow methods, helping complex organizations understand their worth
• Dynamic hiring planning: Project team growth trajectory over time with automated computations, integrating workforce planning with overall financial forecasting
• Custom KPI tracking: Set up and automatically compute tailored key performance indicators specific to your business model
• One-click export: Export financial statements individually or the entire model to formatted CSV files for use in Excel or Google Sheets

Customer feedback

Users praise Sturppy for making financial modeling accessible and intuitive. Growing businesses appreciate the elimination of complex Excel formulas and the ability to adjust variables to see immediate impacts on their model. The onboarding videos and clear interface receive high marks for reducing the learning curve associated with traditional financial forecasting tools. At a significantly lower forecasting software cost than enterprise solutions, Sturppy provides an accessible entry point for startups looking to professionalize their financial planning.

Some users note limitations, including the lack of live integration with certain accounting software platforms, no documentation and poor support.

Best financial forecasting software & tools: selection criteria

Features

The financial forecasting software features you choose must fit your company's financial model and strategy needs. Consider whether you need a cloud-based solution for comprehensive corporate performance management, support for multiple departments, or supply chain integration.

Essential forecasting tools for efficient projections include:

• Forecasting models: Tools supporting trend analysis, regression analysis, scenario modeling, predictive analytics and planning future budgets
• Scenario analysis: Adaptability to changing variables helps you understand the impact of different market conditions or business decisions on future revenue and entire organization's performance
• Automation and AI: Modern tools streamline data processing through automated data consolidation, trend identification and accurate forecast generation
• Customization: Adjusting parameters, adding custom formulas and tailoring reports ensures insights that impact your company
• Dashboard clarity: Evaluate screenshots provided — the reporting tool should deliver clear financial performance visibility to department managers and finance leaders

Integrations

Integrations ensure free-flowing information between your apps, supporting the entire organization. They minimize time-consuming manual data entry, reduce errors, improve accuracy and prevent redundancy through automated data consolidation.

Valuable integrations include:

• Payroll systems: Connect human resources data for comprehensive workforce planning
• Banks: Direct feeds for real-time cash management and sales data tracking
• CRMs: Integrate customer data for future revenue projections
• Ecommerce platforms: Track sales performance across multiple channels
• Accounting tools: QuickBooks, Xero, Sage and other financial systems supporting the forecasting process
• Industry-specific applications: Supply chain management, project management, and specialized tools for your sector

Customer feedback

Customer opinions provide insights into satisfaction levels with the reporting tool. Reviews reveal reliability and aspects that providers might not highlight, including:

• Ease of implementation and the forecasting process
• Quality of support for department managers and finance leaders
• Actual performance of key features across the entire organization
• Integration capabilities with accounting tools and human resources systems
• Value for corporate performance management needs

Ready to up your financial forecasting game?

You can't ignore your finances if you want to build a successful business. But creating accurate financial plans doesn't have to mean headaches or sleepless nights. With the right financial forecasting software, corporate performance management becomes streamlined — even enjoyable.

Forget wasting time on spreadsheets and manual data input across multiple departments. Fuelfinance handles automated data consolidation for you, complete with automations that accelerate the forecasting process and expert support from finance leaders whenever you need it. Whether you're managing sales data, planning future budgets, or tracking financial performance across your entire organization, our AI-powered reporting tool, combined with fractional CFO support, delivers the insights department managers need to make confident decisions.

To see how to give your finances a glow-up with comprehensive management reporting, book a demo here.

FAQs

What is budgeting and forecasting software?

Financial planning is about making projections for near and far future budgets, expenses and future revenue of a company. A dedicated software solution for financial forecasts helps FP&A teams and finance leaders streamline these operations through automated data consolidation. It can pull, organize and analyze financial data automatically across multiple departments and cost centers, providing a clear understanding of your financial performance with minimal manual work. Modern financial forecasting software includes key features like AI-powered insights, scenario planning and management reporting.

What are the tools used in financial planning and forecasting?

Popular budgeting and forecasting software includes Fuelfinance, Anaplan, Jirav, Cube, Vena and Datarails. Other reporting tools not mentioned in this list include IBM Planning Analytics, Planning Maestro, Oracle Hyperion Planning and Workday Adaptive Planning (formerly Adaptive Insights).

What is the best tool for forecasting?

The best forecasting software for your financial and operational planning depends on your specific needs. For agencies and professional services, Fuelfinance stands out as a smart, automated and intuitive program that provides access to a team of financial professionals acting as your fractional CFO. It offers AI-powered financial planning, automated data consolidation from 350+ sources, natural-language dashboard creation and dedicated support from finance leaders.

How do you create a financial forecast?

Start with historical data collection from balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements and operational metrics across sales data, cost centers and multiple departments. If you lack historical data, use industry trends and market research. Next, categorize the gathered information by relevant business drivers.

Based on organized data, create realistic projections using forecasting software that enables scenario planning for various outcomes. The best financial forecasting software lets you plan future budgets using both conservative and aggressive assumptions, supporting zero-based budgeting if needed. This is an ongoing process — update information regularly (weekly or monthly) to maintain accuracy.

‍