Imagine you’re juggling financial models, staring at spreadsheets and trying to make sense of the numbers while your business is growing faster than you can keep up. Feels like you’re not in control? That’s exactly why tools like Runway Financial exist: to simplify planning, automate financial reporting services and consolidate data into one clean, accessible platform.
But here’s the catch — Runway Financial requires significant setup time, and users must actively manage their models, so it might not check all the boxes for every business. For small businesses and startups with unique workflows or rapidly growing needs, this can create friction instead of clarity.
If you feel like your FP&A software isn’t quite meeting your expectations, don’t worry. There are several well-established, feature-rich Runway Financial alternatives designed to help businesses like yours not just survive but thrive.
Running a small business can feel like balancing on a tightrope. You’re chasing growth, managing operations and constantly making critical decisions — all while trying to make sense of your finances. It’s no wonder spreadsheets, late-night budget sessions and messy reports often stand in the way of progress.
This is where Fuelfinance steps in. Think of it as your cloud-based financial department, accessible from anywhere, designed to simplify financial management and give you control over your numbers. Whether you use Fuelfinance on its own or connected with spreadsheets, it adapts to your workflow, offering flexibility and power.
While Runway Financial focuses on automation and templates, Fuelfinance takes it a step further with powerful AI forecasting and analysis and dedicated expert support to provide a tailored solution for your unique business needs.
Why juggle it all alone? With Fuelfinance, you get the tools and a dedicated expert to guide you every step of the way. Book your demo now.
Fuelfinance integrates seamlessly with over 350 tools, including:
Read also: Xero Vs QuickBooks
Fuelfinance consistently earns great reviews from users, with an impressive 5-star rating on Capterra.
If you're looking for Runway Financial alternatives, another option to consider is Planful, business budgeting software designed for medium to large enterprises that need advanced tools to centralize financial data, automate financial operations and create data-driven strategies.
Compared to Runway Financial, which focuses on intuitive tools for startups, Planful offers greater customization and machine learning capabilities to detect financial anomalies. Planful also includes pre-configured templates for budgeting, forecasting and reporting.
See also: Planful competitors
Planful connects with key enterprise systems like SAP, Oracle, NetSuite and Salesforce, and also offers a QuickBooks integration. This ensures seamless data flow across accounting, CRM and ERP platforms for better operational alignment.
Planful has a 4.3/5 rating on G2.
Datarails is a financial planning platform that works well for businesses relying on Excel to manage their finances. This solution automates manual processes, such as data consolidation, reconciliations and financial reporting. It also includes features like version control, real-time updates and pre-built templates for budgeting and forecasting. In short, Datarails turns Excel into a financial data aggregation, reporting and forecasting tool.
Unlike Runway Financial’s simple interface catering to startups with less complex reporting needs, Datarails is better for businesses looking to scale financial operations within the Excel environment.
See also: Datarails competitors
Other than Excel spreadsheets, Datarails integrates with some other tools that finance teams commonly use, such as ERP systems and accounting software.
Datarails has a 4.7/5 rating on Capterra.
Pigment is a cloud-based platform that supports strategic planning across finance, sales, HR and supply chain functions. Businesses use it to create multidimensional plans across departments, time frames and cost centers. What makes it different from other platforms is its focus on collaboration, making it ideal for cross-department alignment.
Unlike Runway Financial, Pigment focuses on financial strategies that are closely tied to workforce planning, ensuring both are aligned.
See also: Pigment competitors and Pigment vs. Anaplan
Pigment connects with enterprise-level tools like ERP systems, CRMs, HRIS platforms and data lakes. These integrations provide a unified view of business performance by centralizing data from various departments.
Pigment has earned a 4.6/5 rating on G2.
Cube is a scenario planning software that lets teams work directly in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets, adding advanced modeling and custom dashboards. It can also be used as a standalone tool for more complex financial processes.
Compared to Runway Financial, Cube is better suited for teams reliant on spreadsheets, offering multi-scenario modeling and customization with easier implementation.
See also: Cube vs. Datarails
Cube connects with Excel and Google Sheets, automating tasks like roll-ups and drill-downs without leaving spreadsheets. It also integrates with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, providing quick access to financial details and supporting multi-currency evaluations. Enterprises can centralize their data from financial systems, CRMs, ERPs and SQL-enabled databases such as Snowflake and Google BigQuery.
Cube has a 4.5/5 rating on G2.
Anaplan is a corporate performance management platform built for enterprises managing complex financial and operational processes. It supports multi-dimensional modeling for revenue, workforce and expense planning while connecting data across finance, sales, HR and supply chain.
Unlike Runway Financial, which suits startups with simple tools, Anaplan focuses on enterprise-grade scalability and predictive AI for long-term planning.
See also: Anaplan competitors
Anaplan integrates with ERP systems, CRM platforms like Salesforce and data visualization tools like Tableau and Power BI. Its APIs allow businesses to connect with other tools, ensuring an uninterrupted data flow.
Anaplan has a 4.3/5 rating on Capterra.
The last option on our list of Runway Financial alternatives is Vena Solutions, a corporate performance management (CPM) platform that works as an Excel add-on, automating tasks like reconciliations, budget approvals and reporting. It adds advanced features such as version control, workflow automation and pre-configured templates for business budgeting and forecasting. Users can also create and track custom KPIs, visualize financial data through dashboards and graphs and generate comprehensive reports.
While both Vena and Runway Financial support financial planning, Vena focuses on structured workflows with tools like audit trails and task-specific approvals, ensuring transparency and control throughout budgeting and forecasting. Runway, on the other hand, offers simpler tools geared toward startups.
See also: Vena Solutions competitors
Vena integrates with Microsoft tools like Power BI, PowerPoint and Dynamics 365, enhancing reporting and presentation capabilities. It also connects with central databases, ensuring smooth data management.
Vena Solutions has a 4.6/5 rating on Capterra.
Managing your finances can feel like running a marathon with no finish line. Spreadsheets pile up, questions remain unanswered and instead of focusing on growth, you’re bogged down in the details.
If you’re exploring Runway Financial alternatives, it’s likely because you need something more intuitive, hands-on and customized for your business to actually help you grow.
Fuelfinance stands out by offering unlimited expert support — essentially acting as a fractional CFO — combined with actionable, pre-built dashboards. Unlike Runway’s more technical approach, Fuelfinance simplifies financial planning with an intuitive interface and automation tools that eliminate manual tasks.
Whether you’re a startup or a small business, Fuelfinance brings together expert guidance, automated forecasting and tailored dashboards to help you focus on growing your business — not managing spreadsheets.
Book a free demo today and let Fuelfinance bring clarity and control to your business finances.
In fashion, a runway is where you flaunt your latest designs. In finance, it’s where you pray your cash doesn’t trip and fall. “Runway” measures how long your company can keep the lights on before the money runs out based on your current burn rate. One misstep here, and there’s no applause at the end.
The CEO of Runway Finance is Siqi Chen.
Runway Financial is a financial planning and analysis (FP&A) platform designed for startups and small businesses. It simplifies budgeting, forecasting and reporting with tools like AI insights, scenario comparisons and integrations with popular accounting software.
Some top alternatives to Runway Financial include Fuelfinance, Planful, Vena Solutions and Datarails, all offering various financial planning and management tools tailored to different business needs.
