Best FP&A Forecasting Tools For Executive Teams (Top 10)

Table of contents:

• List of top 10 best forecasting tools for startups, from pre-seed through scale

• FAQ

  
  Here’s our list of the 10 best forecasting tools for startups, from pre-seed through scale:

1. Parallel

• What it is: AI-native forecasting built for early-stage startups. Starts as a fractional CFO, evolves into the FP&A system of record.

• Why founders pick it: Parallel combines the speed of instant setup with AI-powered intelligence that highlights risks, tradeoffs, and growth opportunities in real time; automating continuous forecast upkeep while delivering CFO-level judgment and context.

• Best for: Founders who want CFO-level insights from day one without building a finance team.

2. Vena

• What it is: Excel-native FP&A software layering structure and automation onto existing spreadsheets.

• Strengths: Familiar Excel interface; workflow controls; multi-user collaboration.

• Best for: Large finance teams committed to Excel who need more control and accuracy.

3. Planful

• What it is: Cloud-based FP&A platform focused on budgeting, forecasting, and reporting at scale.

• Strengths: AI-driven insights; fast consolidations; strong cross-department planning.

• Best for: Enterprise companies moving toward mid-market finance complexity.

4. Workday Adaptive Planning

• What it is: Cloud forecasting and planning software supporting detailed, multi-department models.

• Strengths: Flexible driver-based modeling; visualization tools; enterprise-grade infrastructure.

• Best for: Later-stage companies and scale-ups managing complex org structures.

5. Anaplan

• What it is: Enterprise-level connected planning platform built for global, multi-dimensional forecasting.

• Strengths: Extreme scalability; real-time data sync; deep customization.

• Best for: Large enterprises or rapidly scaling startups with cross-functional planning needs.

6. Finmark (by BILL)

• What it is: Founder-friendly financial modeling focused on cash runway, hiring plans, and fundraising.

• Strengths: Simple onboarding; intuitive interface; popular with early-stage startups.

• Best for: Solo founders or small exec teams wanting runway clarity, but currently limited support offered. 

7. Abacum

• What it is: Collaborative FP&A software integrating finance with sales, HR, and operations.

• Strengths: Team workflows; AI-powered scenario planning; cross-department transparency.

• Best for: Startups approaching mid-market needing active finance collaboration.

8. Float

• What it is: Lightweight cash-flow forecasting tool integrating with QuickBooks, Xero, and FreshBooks.

• Strengths: Simple visuals; fast setup; easy runway projections.

• Best for: Small teams focused on cash visibility.

9. LiveFlow

• What it is: Financial reporting synced live to Google Sheets dashboards.

• Strengths: Automated updates; easy dashboards; works directly in Sheets.

• Best for: Teams who want spreadsheet familiarity but less manual work.

10. Cube

• What it is: Spreadsheet-native FP&A tool connecting Excel/Google Sheets to a centralized database.

• Strengths: Real-time collaboration; modeling templates; improved version control.

• Best for: Finance teams wanting spreadsheet familiarity with modern automation.

Forecasting Tools at a Glance

Final Thoughts

For startup exec teams, forecasting tools aren’t one-size-fits-all:

• Early-stage founders → Parallel for clarity, confidence, and fast investor-ready models. It scales with your team and countless companies have managed runway and raised successful rounds using their product. 

• Spreadsheet lovers → Vena, Cube, Datarails to keep Excel while gaining control.

• Larger Scaling orgs with finance teams → Planful, Workday Adaptive, Anaplan for cross-team, advanced planning.

→The key is matching the tool to both your stage and your speed of decision-making.

FAQ

• What makes Parallel easy for founders to forecast burn?

  • We remove the need for deep financial expertise by having AI do the bulk of the financial modeling so you just connect systems and get answers right away!

• How accurate are AI-driven forecasts?

  • There is too much hallucination to trust AI to do all the math, so we focus on leveraging AI to get the inputs and then we have built forecasting formulas separately?

• What if I need help during set up?

  • Parallel makes it easy to schedule calls with someone in onboarding to help!

Reach out for a personalized demo of Parallel here