Key Takeaways
- The main difference between Keep and a traditional accountant is who enters the data and when you see it: with a traditional accountant the office usually enters the data and reports back after the fact, while with Keep you issue documents yourself and see income, expenses and profit on every plan, without waiting for a report from the office. On Keep's recommended plan you also upload expenses and get a personal accountant for professional guidance and representation before the tax authorities.
- Keep's plans for an Osek Patur cost 39 NIS a month (basic) or 105 NIS a month (recommended), plus VAT and with no commitment. For an Osek Murshe, add 123 NIS a month including VAT, and opening a file with the authorities is a one-time payment of 99 NIS plus VAT (as of September 2026).
- To compare Keep with an accountant fairly, work out the annual cost: the monthly price times 12, plus one-time payments and separately billed services such as the annual report.
- Whether you use Keep or a traditional accountant, the obligation to file reports and pay the authorities on time is the business owner's.
- Keep's plans are built for Osek Patur and Osek Murshe businesses. A business with employees, activity abroad or a company structure should check in advance what the personal-accountant support on Keep's recommended plan covers.
The Problem with the Traditional Model
Many freelancers in Israel grew up on the traditional model: once a month, collect receipts, put them in a folder, and visit the accountant. The accountant enters the data, files reports, and sends a bill. It works, but there are problems that business owners are no longer willing to live with.
The first problem is lack of transparency. When you hand over your paperwork to an accountant, you do not know exactly what is happening with your finances until you receive a report, sometimes weeks later. Meanwhile, you are making business decisions without knowing your actual financial situation.
The second problem is dependency. If your accountant is on vacation, sick, or simply overloaded, you are stuck. Need an urgent invoice? A report for the bank? A document for the Tax Authority? You will have to wait. With Keep, you issue invoices and receipts yourself, without waiting for anyone.
A common mistake in this model is finding out that a receipt or invoice is missing only when the accountant asks for it, sometimes months after the expense. For an Osek Murshe that can cost money: VAT on an expense can be deducted only on the basis of a tax invoice, and only within 6 months of the invoice date.
Keep's Digital Approach
Keep is built on a simple principle: give business owners full control over their finances, with professional guidance from a personal accountant on the recommended plan. Instead of waiting for a monthly meeting, you can see the status of your documents and payments whenever it suits you, through the app or website.
Income documents can also be issued automatically, and on the recommended plan you also upload each expense in a click, as a photo or a file. That way the data comes in over the month instead of piling up at your accountant's office at the end of it.
And when you need professional support? On the recommended plan you have a personal accountant who guides the business and represents it before the tax authorities. You get smart technology backed by professional human support.
Before moving to a digital routine, close the previous period with your current accountant: make sure every report up to the switch date has been filed, and get a copy of each one. That way it is clear where you start from and who handles each period.
Ongoing Financial Control
A key difference between Keep and a traditional accountant is ongoing access to your data. Even on Keep's basic plan, you can see how much money came into the business, how much went out and what is left as profit, for any date range you choose, and the figures update as documents are entered.
What arrives once a month in a report under the traditional model is shown on Keep's dashboard. You can see trends, compare months, and identify problems before they become a crisis. For example, Tzachi, a 24-year-old personal trainer from Holon, is on the recommended plan and uploads his expenses on time. That is how he noticed in Keep that his monthly studio rental had gone up by a few hundred shekels, and he took it up with the studio the same month.
This control enables smart and fast decision-making. Instead of relying on gut feelings, you get accurate information that helps you plan your next steps.
In a seasonal business, comparing with the previous month can mislead. Pick a date range on the dashboard and compare with the same period last year as well. That makes it easier to tell a seasonal dip from a trend that needs attention.
Cost Comparison: Keep vs. Traditional Accountant
Traditional accounting services for freelancers usually cost about 150 to 350 shekels a month for an Osek Patur and about 300 to 900 for an Osek Murshe, typically plus VAT (as of 2026), depending on the business scope and report complexity. Beyond the monthly payment, there are usually extras: invoice generation, tax consulting, audit handling, and more.
Keep offers two plans with no commitment: the basic plan covers issuing documents, card and Bit payments, and all your business data in one place, and the recommended plan adds a personal accountant, expense upload and reports to the tax authorities.
Beyond the monetary cost, there is the time savings. When you do not need to drive to an accountant, collect receipts manually, or wait for reports, you save hours per month that can be dedicated to the business itself.
A cost comparison starts with the prices themselves: for an Osek Patur, Keep's basic plan costs 39 NIS a month and the recommended plan 105 NIS a month, plus VAT, and an Osek Murshe adds 123 NIS a month including VAT (as of September 2026). Against that, list the services your accountant provides today and mark each one as included in a Keep plan, billed separately, or not offered. On Keep you can switch plans at any time at no cost.
Invoices and Payments in One Place
With a traditional accountant, generating an invoice sometimes requires a phone call or email and you wait until they are available. With Keep, you generate a receipt, a transaction invoice or a tax invoice (Osek Murshe only) directly from your phone or computer.
You can send the client a payment request with a link for online payment. The client can pay by credit card or Bit, and the payment is automatically recorded in the system. This shortens collection time and improves cash flow.
All invoices are stored in the cloud and organized by date, client, and amount. No need to search through folders or request a copy from your accountant. Everything is accessible and ready at any moment.
Keep shows the status of every document and payment, and which clients still owe you money. It is worth reviewing that list once a week and following up on late payments, instead of discovering the gap at the end of the month.
Tax Reports and Government Filings
One of the tasks that intimidates freelancers is filing tax reports. With a traditional accountant, they usually handle it, but you do not always know what was filed and when. On Keep's recommended plan, ongoing reports to the tax authorities are part of the service, and you have a personal accountant to ask about anything that was reported.
Which reports apply depends on the business: VAT reports (for an Osek Murshe, monthly or bi-monthly depending on turnover), income tax advance reports (if the assessing officer has set advances) and the annual report. The annual report is not included in Keep's monthly price; on the recommended plan it is offered at a special price.
On the recommended plan, payments to the tax authorities are part of the service too.
As a rule, an Osek Murshe files the periodic report and pays the VAT by the 15th of the month after the reporting period (for online reporting and payment, usually by the 19th), and a report is required even for a period with no activity (a zero report). Filing late can bring a fine of 247 NIS for every two weeks of delay or part of them (as of September 2026).
Who Is Keep For
Keep is suitable for Osek Patur and Osek Murshe businesses that want full control over their finances. Freelancers opening a tax file, couriers working with platforms, fitness trainers, designers, consultants, online store owners, and content creators -- everyone can benefit from the platform.
Even those already working with an accountant can incorporate Keep. The system does not replace professional knowledge but adds a layer of control, automation, and convenience.
If you feel you are wasting time on paperwork, do not know your exact financial situation, or are paying too much for bookkeeping services -- Keep can change that.
Before you decide, look at what most of your bookkeeping work consists of. If you mainly need a tool for issuing documents and collecting payments, and someone already handles your reporting, the basic plan may be enough. If you also want a personal accountant and reports to the authorities as part of the service, the recommended plan is the relevant one, and it also includes a payslips option.
Summary: Keep vs. a Traditional Accountant
The difference between Keep and a traditional accountant is not just technological -- it is cultural. Keep puts control in your hands and lets you manage your business in a smart, transparent, and efficient way. Invoices with one click, card and Bit payments, a dashboard of income and expenses, and, on the recommended plan, a personal accountant -- all in one place.
If you are a freelancer or business owner who wants to enter the digital era, Keep is the place to start, and the first month is on us.
The real question is not "digital or accountant" but how much control you want over the routine and how much professional support you need alongside it. A simple test helps you decide: for one month, note each time you needed a figure about the business, such as who has not paid yet or what is left after expenses, and how long it took to get it. If the answer usually came only after you contacted your accountant's office, consider a model where the figures are available to you directly.
FAQ: Digital Bookkeeping vs. a Traditional Accountant
What is the difference between digital bookkeeping and a traditional accountant?
The main difference is how the work is divided. With digital bookkeeping, the business owner issues documents and uploads expenses themselves, while with a traditional accountant the paperwork goes to the office and the data is entered there. You can get an accountant's support under either model (on Keep, on the recommended plan), but with the digital model the figures stay available to the business owner between meetings.
Does an Osek Patur have to file VAT reports?
Not on a regular basis. An Osek Patur files no monthly or bi-monthly VAT reports, only one annual declaration of the previous year's turnover, due by 31 January. There are a few exceptions, such as selling real estate. An Osek Patur whose turnover goes above the ceiling (122,833 NIS as of 2026) must register as an Osek Murshe.
Is the annual report included in Keep's monthly price?
No. The annual report is not included in Keep's monthly price; on the recommended plan it is offered at a special price. When you compare with an accountant, check whether their monthly fee includes the annual report or bills it separately.
Does an Osek Patur pay income tax advances?
Not necessarily. The assessing officer sets advances, regardless of VAT status. Since 2024, micro-business owners (annual turnover up to 122,833 NIS as of 2026) usually pay no advances and settle the year's tax once, through a short annual report. A new Osek Patur who opens the file online is usually registered as a micro business unless they opt out, and even without advances must file an annual income tax report.
What is the difference between a tax invoice and a transaction invoice?
Only an Osek Murshe can issue a tax invoice, and it is the document that lets a client who is an Osek Murshe deduct the VAT shown on it. A transaction invoice records a transaction or a payment request, and no VAT can be deducted on the basis of it. A tax invoice above 5,000 NIS before VAT also needs an allocation number for the client to deduct the VAT (as of September 2026).
