QuickBooks
Small business accounting software with invoicing, expense tracking, and reporting.
Best for
- Small businesses
- Accountants
- US-based companies
- Service businesses
Not ideal for
- Expensive
- Learning curve
- Add-on costs
- Limited users on lower tiers
Get Started with QuickBooks
From $38/mo · 4 plans available
Visit QuickBooks →QuickBooks Overview
QuickBooks vs Top Alternatives
| Software | Rating | Starting Price | Free Tier | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QQuickBooks | 4.3 ★ | $38/mo | No | |
| FBFreshBooks | 4.5 ★ | $21/mo | No | Compare → |
| XXero | 4.4 ★ | $25/mo | No | Compare → |
| WaWave Accounting | 4.4 ★ | Free | Yes | Compare → |
| ZBZoho Books | 4.3 ★ | Free | Yes | Compare → |
| NSOracle NetSuite | 4.2 ★ | $99/mo | No | Compare → |
QuickBooks Features
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Industry standard
- Great integrations
- Reliable
- Strong reporting
- Tax features
Cons
- Expensive
- Learning curve
- Add-on costs
- Limited users on lower tiers
Pricing Plans
Simple Start
- Income & expenses
- Invoicing
- Tax deductions
Essentials
- Bill management
- Time tracking
- 3 users
Plus
- Inventory tracking
- Project profitability
- 5 users
Advanced
- Business analytics
- Dedicated support
- 25 users
QuickBooks Integrations
QuickBooks connects with 5 services to extend your workflow.
Who Should Use QuickBooks?
Small Business Owners
QuickBooks is considered the industry standard for small businesses, offering cloud-based accessibility and scalability. Users report it's particularly effective for businesses that need basic accounting functionality without complex requirements.
RecommendedFreelancers and Solopreneurs
QuickBooks Solopreneur is specifically designed for one-person businesses and freelancers who may use 1099 contractors. It includes easy-to-use organization, tax, and growth-focused tools tailored for self-employed individuals.
RecommendedAccountants and Bookkeepers
Professional accountants use QuickBooks to transform their practices and take on significantly more clients. One bookkeeper reported simplifying operations and solving inventory management challenges while expanding their client base.
RecommendedMulti-location Businesses
Companies with multiple locations use QuickBooks Enterprise for managing inventory across different sites and consolidating financials. Distribution companies and equipment rental businesses leverage Advanced Inventory features for location tracking.
RecommendedWhen to Consider Alternatives
Complex Revenue Models and Multi-Entity Operations
QuickBooks fundamentally struggles with sophisticated accounting requirements like revenue recognition across multiple entities, deferred revenue tracking, or multi-entity consolidation, forcing businesses into spreadsheet workarounds that create compliance risks.
Consider Oracle NetSuite instead →High-Volume Businesses with Performance Requirements
As data volume grows, QuickBooks becomes unreliable with system crashes during report generation, lengthy delays, and timeouts when handling year-long reports. Businesses with 350+ employees or significant transaction volume find the system cannot keep pace.
Consider Sage instead →Advanced Reporting and Analytics Needs
QuickBooks lacks advanced filtering, custom report creation, and complex data grouping capabilities. Users cannot apply multi-layered filters simultaneously or create reports based on specific predefined variables, particularly problematic for professional practices and SaaS companies.
Consider Xero instead →Top QuickBooks Alternatives
FreshBooks
FreshBooks is cloud-based accounting software tailored for small businesses and non-accountants, offering automated invoicing, expense tracking, double-entry bookkeeping, and tax-ready reports accessible via mobile and web. It emphasizes ease-of-use with features like bank reconciliation and accountant access to streamline financial management.
Xero
Cloud accounting software for small businesses with bank reconciliation and invoicing.
Wave Accounting
Wave is free small business accounting software offering double-entry bookkeeping, invoicing, and tax reports in an intuitive dashboard, designed for freelancers and SMBs to simplify finances without accounting expertise.
Zoho Books
Cloud-based accounting software designed for small businesses and accountants to manage invoicing, expenses, inventory, and financial reporting in one integrated platform. Offers automation, multi-currency support, and collaboration features with flexible pricing including a free tier.
Oracle NetSuite
Oracle NetSuite is the world's leading cloud-based business management software suite that integrates ERP, financials, CRM, and ecommerce capabilities. It serves as a unified platform providing visibility, control, and agility to fast-growing organizations.