NerdNumbers

Spotlight vs Fathom vs Futrli: Best Reporting Tool for Accountants

A three-way comparison of the leading reporting and forecasting tools for UK accounting firms, with honest recommendations for advisory, analysis, and cash flow use cases.

At a Glance

Spotlight Reporting

Our Pick

Beautiful management reports and forecasts built for accountants.

Best for: Firms offering advisory services or management reporting to clients

Pricing: From $49/month for single entity. Multi-entity and practice pricing available.

Fathom

Financial analysis and reporting that makes advisory conversations easier.

Best for: Firms wanting to add financial analysis and KPI tracking to their advisory offering

Pricing: From around $39/company/month. Practice pricing available for volume.

Futrli

Cash flow forecasting that helps clients understand their financial future.

Best for: Firms wanting to add cash flow forecasting as a service

Pricing: Contact for current pricing. Free trial available.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

How Spotlight Reporting, Fathom, and Futrli compare across the features that matter most for reporting and advisory.

FeatureSpotlightFathomFutrli
Management ReportingBest-in-class board packs and management reportsGood reporting with strong visualsBasic management report templates
Cash Flow ForecastingBasic cash flow projectionsLimited forecasting featuresAdvanced 3-way cash flow forecasting
Financial AnalysisSolid financial analysis toolsExcellent variance analysis and trend detectionFunctional analysis capabilities
KPI DashboardsGood dashboard customisationOutstanding KPI tracking with visual dashboardsDecent dashboard options
ConsolidationFull multi-entity consolidation supportBasic consolidation featuresLimited consolidation options
Scenario PlanningBasic what-if scenariosLimited scenario modellingPowerful scenario and budget modelling
Report DesignHighly customisable branded reportsClean pre-built report templatesStandard report layouts
BenchmarkingLimited benchmarking toolsIndustry benchmarking with rich data setsBasic benchmarking features
Client PresentationsPolished, presentation-ready outputGood visual reports for clientsFunctional but less polished output
Xero IntegrationTight Xero integrationStrong Xero integrationSolid Xero integration
Pricing ModelPer-entity subscription pricingPer-company monthly pricingFlexible pricing with free tier available
Learning CurveModerate learning curveIntuitive and easy to pick upStraightforward for core features
Winner Tie

Pros & Cons

Spotlight Reporting

What We Like

  • Produces genuinely impressive client-facing reports
  • Makes advisory services practical and scalable
  • Good forecasting and scenario planning tools
  • Strong integration with Xero and QBO
  • Helps justify higher fees through visible value

Watch Out For

  • Monthly cost per client adds up
  • Requires time investment to set up report templates
  • Only valuable if you actually deliver reports to clients
  • Steeper learning curve than basic Xero/QBO reporting

Fathom

What We Like

  • Deep financial analysis capabilities
  • Non-financial KPI tracking sets it apart
  • Strong consolidation for multi-entity clients
  • Clean interface for client presentations
  • Good benchmarking features

Watch Out For

  • Overlaps significantly with Spotlight Reporting
  • Per-company pricing adds up at scale
  • Requires time investment to configure properly
  • Forecasting is less comprehensive than dedicated tools

Futrli

What We Like

  • Excellent cash flow forecasting
  • Clean, client-friendly visual interface
  • Focused tool that does forecasting well
  • Good value compared to full reporting suites

Watch Out For

  • Less comprehensive than Spotlight for full reporting
  • Smaller feature set overall
  • Less established in the UK market

Which Should You Choose?

The right choice depends on whether your focus is advisory reporting, financial analysis, or cash flow forecasting.

For Advisory Services

Spotlight Reporting

Spotlight Reporting is the strongest choice for firms delivering advisory and management reporting services. Its polished board packs, multi-entity consolidation, and highly customisable report design make it the go-to tool for practices that need presentation-ready output.

Read full Spotlight Reporting review →

For Financial Analysis

Fathom

Fathom excels at financial analysis, KPI tracking, and benchmarking. If your primary need is understanding trends, comparing performance against industry data, and presenting clear visual dashboards to clients, Fathom is hard to beat.

Read full Fathom review →

For Cash Flow Forecasting

Futrli

Futrli is the standout option for cash flow forecasting and scenario planning. Its 3-way forecasting engine and flexible budget modelling tools make it ideal for firms that need to help clients plan ahead, and its pricing model keeps costs accessible.

Read full Futrli review →

Not sure which reporting tool is right for your firm?

Book a free discovery call and we will help you choose the right reporting and forecasting setup for your practice.

Book a Free Call
Spotlight vs Fathom vs Futrli: Best Reporting Tool for Accountants | NerdNumbers | NerdNumbers