QuickBooks
Intuit's popular accounting software for small businesses.
What QuickBooks does
QuickBooks is one of the best-known accounting tools for small businesses. It tracks income and spending, sends invoices, connects to your bank and produces the reports you need for tax time.
There are four paid plans: Simple Start, Essentials, Plus and Advanced. They differ by user count and by features such as bank reconciliation, inventory and project tracking.
There is also a very small free plan, and new customers usually see a 50% introductory offer for the first 3 months.
Setup and learning curve
Most small businesses can connect a bank and send an invoice in a day. A full clean-up of past books often involves an accountant.
QuickBooks pricing
Free
- 1 user
- 2 invoices a month
- 1 connected bank
- Chat support
Simple Start
- 1 user and 2 accountants
- Invoicing and payments
- Bank connection and reports
- Expense categorisation
Essentials
- 3 users
- Everything in Simple Start
- Bulk invoices (beta) and enhanced reports
- Employee time on invoices
Plus
- 5 users
- Bank reconciliation
- Project profitability and inventory
- Budgeting with scenario planning (beta)
Advanced
- 25 users
- Custom dashboards and workflow automation
- Excel sync and batch entries
- Priority support
The introductory offer is 50% off for the first 3 months. After that the regular price applies.
Plans differ by number of users and accountant seats.
Free ACH bill pay is listed, with a $0.50 fee per standard ACH transaction over monthly allowances.
The free plan is listed for reference only and is small.
Currency: Prices are shown with a $ sign on a US page, so we treat them as USD.
Source: QuickBooks pricing page (Vendor page), checked 16 Oct 2026.
Is there a free plan?
Yes. Yes, a small one. The free plan allows 1 user, 2 invoices a month and 1 connected bank. Paid plans also have a 30-day trial.
With only two invoices a month and one bank, the free plan suits a very small start. Most businesses need Simple Start or higher.
Key features
QuickBooks integrations
QuickBooks has a large app marketplace. We did not count the apps, so check for the tools you rely on.
Large app marketplace (not counted). Commonly used:
Who is QuickBooks best for?
Small businesses that want the accounting tool most accountants already know
Small and mid-size businesses
Small businesses, contractors, retail, services, accountants
Choose QuickBooks if…
- Your accountant already uses QuickBooks
- You want a trusted name
- You expect to add users and features
Look elsewhere if…
- You want the lowest price
- You want a generous free plan
- You need only a few invoices a year
QuickBooks pros and limitations
Pros
- Familiar to most accountants
- Four clear paid plans
- 30-day trial
- Strong reports and bank tools
- 50% off for 3 months for new customers
Limitations
- Higher regular prices than some rivals
- Few users on the lower plans
- Advanced features sit on Plus and Advanced
- Promo price ends after 3 months
- Free plan is very small
How teams use QuickBooks
QuickBooks alternatives
Cloud accounting for small businesses, with invoicing, bills and bank matching. Best for: small businesses that want online accounting that they and their accountant can both use.
See Xero details →Online accounting with a free plan and six paid plans that grow with the business. Best for: very small businesses that want free accounting and a clear path to bigger plans, especially if they use other Zoho apps.
See Zoho Books details →Pricing comparison: QuickBooks and similar tools
| Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Trial | Price source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xero | No | $27 /mo (regular price, Early) | Not shown | Company page |
| Zoho Books | Yes | $15 /mo (Standard, billed yearly) | Yes | Company page |
| QuickBooks | Yes | $38 /mo (Simple Start) | Yes | Company page |
Prices show in your local currency where a company lists them. Tools without a local price stay in USD, so do not compare those rows number for number.
Entry prices are for the cheapest paid plan and use each company's own billing basis (annual or monthly, local currency), so compare them as a guide, not a quote.
QuickBooks user reviews
We only publish reviews from signed-in users with a real profile. We never write or buy reviews. If you use QuickBooks, be the first to share how it works for you.
Sign in to reviewQuickBooks FAQ
Is QuickBooks free?
There is a small free plan with 1 user and 2 invoices a month. Paid plans also have a 30-day trial.
How much does QuickBooks cost?
On our check date the regular prices were $38 a month for Simple Start, $85 for Essentials, $140 for Plus and $340 for Advanced. New customers saw 50% off for 3 months.
How many users does QuickBooks allow?
Simple Start allows 1 user, Essentials 3, Plus 5 and Advanced 25.
Is QuickBooks good for small business?
Yes. It is built for small businesses and widely used by accountants.
QuickBooks or FreshBooks?
QuickBooks is a fuller accounting system. FreshBooks is simpler and focuses on invoicing for freelancers and service firms.
Last updated: 16 Oct 2026. Spotted a mistake? See how we handle corrections.