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Showing 181 to 200 of 274 reviews
Wayne Mokoena
Office Manager · Potchefstroom Steel Works
25 March 2026
Fine software if you accept what it is and is not. Rebuild functions fix data issues but the fact you need them says something. The annual renewal invoice grows every year without much new to show for it.
Cons
Report customisation takes patience
Riaan Fourie
Accounts Supervisor
23 March 2026
Batch processing suits how a real accounts department actually works. User permissions are granular enough that the juniors only see what they should. The Intelligence reporting module turns the ledger into proper management packs. Our audit fees dropped because the records are so clean. Enough said.
Pros
Most bookkeepers already know it; fast local processing, no browser lag
Cons
Interface looks and feels dated
Marius Moodley
Director · Moodley Pharmacy Solutions
11 March 2026
We rate the engine highly and the interface far less.
Pros
Drill down from report to source document
Cons
Upgrades between versions can be fiddly
Hannelie Reddy
Office Manager · Drakensberg Distributors Studio
5 March 2026
Pastel does the accounting properly, it just makes you work for it sometimes. Every useful extra is a separate module with a separate price.
Cons
Occasional data errors need rebuilds
Siyabonga Maharaj
Managing Director · Marula Trading
3 March 2026
Pastel does the accounting properly, it just makes you work for it sometimes. Report layouts beyond the standard ones need the forms designer and patience. Remote access means remote desktop gymnastics or paying for hosting.
Pros
Multi company on one licence
Cons
Modules are priced separately and add up
Rashida Marais
Director
2 March 2026
Pastel does the accounting properly, it just makes you work for it sometimes. Remote access means remote desktop gymnastics or paying for hosting. Multi company support means our two entities live side by side cleanly.
Cons
No real mobile story
Zodwa Ramjee
Credit Controller · Southern Cross Accountants Services
20 February 2026
Invoicing hundreds of lines a day and it never falls over. The Intelligence reporting module turns the ledger into proper management packs. If you want serious desktop bookkeeping in South Africa, this is still the one.
Pros
Strong stock module with serial tracking
Marius Mabaso
Accounts Supervisor · Baobab Distributors Group
18 February 2026
The error 20 saga in October was the beginning of the end for us. The workstation installs break with every Windows update, or so it feels.
Pros
VAT reporting aligned with SARS
Cons
Network version instability wasted days. Getting data out when leaving is painful
Lwazi Naicker
Managing Director · Protea Textiles Solutions
6 February 2026
Our books have run on Pastel for 7 years and it has never once lost us data. Year end procedures look scary the first time but the wizard walks you through it.
Pros
Data lives on your own server
Naadira Xaba
Financial Controller · Umhlanga Pharmacy Holdings
4 February 2026
I learned Pastel at varsity and walked into my first job already productive. Inventory with serial numbers has kept our warehouse honest for years.
Pros
Utterly reliable core ledger
Cons
Annual renewal increases keep coming
Brian Mabaso
Director
1 February 2026
It is 2026 and I still cannot work properly from home on it. Emailing statements failed silently for a month before we noticed.
Cons
Support quality has dropped noticeably. Consultant costs to fix recurring errors add up
Keabetswe Dlamini
Credit Controller · Crossroads Trading Services
1 February 2026
As a bookkeeping practice we standardised on Pastel and never regretted it. The GL is strict in the best way, it forces clean processing habits.
Precious Vermeulen
Owner · Umhlanga Drilling and Sons
30 January 2026
We moved from a cloud product back to Pastel for the processing speed alone. The 20 percent payroll discount when you buy Pastel made the bundle an easy yes. Our consultant set up the chart of accounts once and it has served us for a decade. Our audit fees dropped because the records are so clean. Enough said.
Pros
Multi company on one licence
Cons
Backups are entirely your responsibility
Thandiwe Du Plessis
Senior Bookkeeper
1 January 2026
When the fibre goes down in Boksburg we keep capturing like nothing happened. The Intelligence reporting module turns the ledger into proper management packs. Data integrity has been flawless for us, 2 years without a corruption.
Pros
Most bookkeepers already know it; drill down from report to source document
Shanice Vermeulen
Owner
19 December 2025
The thing about Pastel is that every accountant in the country can work in it. Support through our local business partner is a phone call, not a ticket queue. Training a new clerk takes days because half the candidates already know it. Not moving. No reason to.
Pros
Works through load shedding and internet outages; batch processing suits real accounts teams
Cons
Occasional data errors need rebuilds
Kagiso Brown
Director · Rustenburg Couriers Studio
12 December 2025
Good software wrapped in a 2010 experience. Multi user on a network needs proper IT support or you will have odd errors. Report layouts beyond the standard ones need the forms designer and patience.
Pros
Utterly reliable core ledger
Cons
Occasional data errors need rebuilds
Vusi Makhubela
Garden Route Supplies
11 December 2025
The core is bulletproof. The extras feel bolted on. Emailing invoices works but feels clunky next to modern systems.
Pros
Works through load shedding and internet outages
Cons
Remote access is clunky without hosting
Marlene Mnguni
Practice Owner · Centurion Trading Solutions
5 December 2025
Moving off it was a project, but staying was becoming one too. Emailing statements failed silently for a month before we noticed.
Cons
Consultant costs to fix recurring errors add up
Kagiso Padayachee
Financial Manager
23 November 2025
Pastel does the accounting properly, it just makes you work for it sometimes. Rebuild functions fix data issues but the fact you need them says something. The Intelligence reporting module turns the ledger into proper management packs.
Pros
Colleges still teach it so hiring is easy; forms designer matches documents to letterhead
Cons
Modules are priced separately and add up
Mark Brown
Owner
14 November 2025
Our network version fought us weekly until we gave up. A data rebuild during VAT week is the kind of stress I do not need again.
Cons
Windows updates keep breaking workstations
South Africa