Accounting software
QuickBooks Online review
Most small businesses, especially those working with an accountant or bookkeeper.
We check it out so you don’t have to.
Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend things we believe are useful. Read our full disclosure.
- What it is
- Accounting software
- Made by
- QuickBooks (Intuit)
- Best for
- Most small businesses; accountant-friendly
- Price
- $38/mo (Simple Start), $19/mo for 3 months, checked October 26, 2026
- Prices checked
- October 26, 2026
We researched QuickBooks Online's official pricing, plan terms, product pages and help documentation. We haven't used QuickBooks Online ourselves, so this is a research-based review, not a hands-on test.
Who it’s best for
- Small businesses that want the accounting software most accountants know.
- Growing businesses that need inventory, projects and classes (Plus and up).
- Owners who want automated bookkeeping and AI tools.
Who should skip it
- Probably more than freelancers need; FreshBooks is simpler for invoicing.
How it works day to day
This part draws on QuickBooks Online’s own product pages, help center and documentation, read October 26, 2026 (listed under Sources). We haven’t used QuickBooks Online ourselves.
Connect your bank and card accounts, and QuickBooks pulls in transactions and learns how you categorize them. You send invoices, accept payments through QuickBooks Payments, pay bills and run reports such as profit and loss.
Key features in use
- Automated bookkeeping and categorization.
- Invoicing with card and bank payments.
- Bill pay with ACH.
- Reports, budgets and project profitability (Plus).
- Inventory tracking (Plus) and workflow automation (Advanced).
Setup and learning curve
QuickBooks says it takes about five minutes to get started once you sync your bank or card transactions. Newer plans include guided onboarding.
Integrations
Paid plans include app integrations and the mobile app; Advanced syncs with Excel.
Support
Chat support on Free; phone support is included with paid plans. Advanced adds Priority Circle support.
Real-world use cases
- A shop owner reconciles bank feeds weekly.
- A contractor tracks job profitability on Plus.
- A business invites its accountant at tax time.
What it costs
Prices checked October 26, 2026, from QuickBooks Online’s own pricing page unless noted. Prices change often, so check the official page before you buy.
- Free: $0, 1 user, up to 2 invoices a month, 1 connected bank.
- Simple Start: $38 a month ($19 a month for 3 months during the current 50% off offer).
- Essentials: $85 a month ($42.50 for 3 months), 3 users.
- Plus: $140 a month ($70 for 3 months). Advanced: $340 a month ($170 for 3 months), 25 users.
- No annual contract; cancel anytime. Paid plans include accountant access.
What we like
- Plans from free to Advanced.
- Invite your accountant to collaborate for free.
- Automated bookkeeping that learns how you categorize.
- Inventory, budgets and project profitability on Plus.
- Mobile app and app integrations on paid plans.
What to watch for
- Prices rise after the 3-month discount.
- The Free plan is very limited (2 invoices, 1 bank).
- Mobile app and integrations aren't available on Free.
- Some AI features are in beta.
The fine print
- Discounts are for the first 3 months.
- Bill pay has ACH fees over monthly allotments.
The main alternative: FreshBooks
What it costs: $23/mo (Lite) list price, checked October 25, 2026
Read our full FreshBooks review · QuickBooks vs FreshBooks
Pick QuickBooks Online if you…
- want full accounting that your accountant knows.
- need inventory or project tracking.
Pick FreshBooks if you…
- are a freelancer or service business that mainly invoices.
- want simpler software.
Our take
QuickBooks Online is the full-featured standard for small-business accounting, with automated bookkeeping and free accountant access. It costs more after the discount. Freelancers who mainly invoice should compare FreshBooks.
Side by side
| Company | Best for | Starting price | Trial / refund |
|---|---|---|---|
| QuickBooks Online | Most small businesses; accountant-friendly | $38/mo (Simple Start), $19/mo for 3 months, checked October 26, 2026 | Free trial or discount |
| FreshBooks | Service businesses and freelancers who invoice | $23/mo (Lite) list price, checked October 25, 2026 | 30-day money-back |
From our company records. Check the official pages for current prices.
What we checked
- QuickBooks Online's pricing page and plan terms, read October 26, 2026
- FreshBooks' details: from our accounting software guide and our published FreshBooks review
- QuickBooks Online's feature pages, help-center articles and integration pages, read October 26, 2026
Sources
Visit QuickBooks Online’s official site
How we review
We read the company's own terms, test the sign-up or booking steps where we can, and compare it with alternatives. A commission never changes what we write. Read our disclosure.
Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend things we believe are useful. Read our full disclosure.