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QuickBooks Online is one of the preeminent cloud-based accounting software platforms on the market. With five plans available, including a plan specifically for self-employed individuals and independent contractors, there are several options from which to choose, depending on your needs. In this guide, we’ll break down QuickBooks Online pricing, including plans, key features, and alternative platform costs so you can decide which option is best for you.
Who Is QuickBooks Online Best For?
QuickBooks is a well-established accounting software that is widely used by businesses from a variety of industries. With five plans, each at different price points, users can choose the plan that best meets their business needs without paying for additional features that they don’t want. As a business grows, users can easily upgrade to a more advanced plan with additional features seamlessly. QuickBooks is the platform most used by professional accountants so if you plan to work with an accountant, they will likely be very familiar with the platform, its features and capabilities.
A word of warning, however: In addition to the monthly plans described in this article, QuickBooks Online also offers a number of other services at an additional charge. Make sure to determine whether the service you want, such as payroll capabilities, is included in the plan or whether it is an extra fee.
QuickBooks Plans and Pricing
QuickBooks Online offers five plans: Self-Employed, Simple Start, Essentials, Plus and Advanced. These plans are scalable, with each plan offering additional features in addition to the features included in the lower-priced plan. For this reason, businesses can start with the more cost-effective option and move up as their business grows and needs change.
Individuals that choose the Self-Employed plan will see prices ranging from $15 to $35 per month, depending on if they’d like to add tax and CPA services to their subscription. The other four plans range from $30 with Simple Start to $200 per month on the Advanced plan. Users can elect to either get a 30-day free trial or subscribe at a reduced rate of 50% for three months, but they cannot take advantage of both options.
QuickBooks Plans [Compared]
| Self-Employed | Simple Start | Essentials | Plus | Advanced | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Customer Support | Live chat, video tutorials, phone and email support | Live chat, video tutorials, phone and email support | Live chat, video tutorials, phone and email support | Live chat, video tutorials, phone and email support | Free online training Dedicated account manager |
| Tracking | - Track income and expenses - Manage accounts receivable - Track mileage - Create and send invoices - Connect bank accounts | Everything offered with Self-Employed plan, plus the following: - Track assets and liabilities - Manage accounts payable - Track client payments - Unlimited invoices - Create estimates - Prepare checks - Prepare 1099s for contractors - Create budgets and cash flow estimations | Everything offered with Simple Start plan, plus the following: - Manage bills - Track unpaid bills - Pay bills directly - Track time | Everything offered with Essentials plan, plus the following: - Project management - Job costing - Track inventory - Create purchase orders - Create and manage budgets | Everything offered with Plus plan, plus the following: - Batch invoices |
| Taxes | Quarterly tax estimation | Quarterly tax estimation Sales tax tracking | Quarterly tax estimation Sales tax tracking | Quarterly tax estimation Sales tax tracking Tax support provided | Quarterly tax estimation Sales tax tracking Tax support provided |
| Pricing per Month | Starts at $15 | $30 | $55 | $85 | $200 |
| Best For | Self-employed users and independent contractors who report income on Schedule C of their personal income tax return | Small businesses | Growing businesses | Businesses that need inventory tracking, project management and access for multiple users | Larger businesses that want access for up to 25 users, advanced reporting and dedicated customer support |
| Max Number of Users | One | One | Three | Five | 25 |
| Reports | Basic reports | Access to 20-plus reports | Access to 40-plus reports | Unlimited reports | Advanced reporting with Fathom |
Self-Employed
QuickBooks Self-Employed is suitable for freelancers and independent contractors who want to be able to track all their business expenses (such as rent or marketing) in one place. As a bonus, it also includes invoicing tools. If you report income on Schedule C of your personal income tax return, this cost-effective option might be best for you.
Simple Start
The Simple Start plan provides a single user with all the necessary tools you need to manage your company’s accounting, including the ability to monitor income and expenses, create invoices and payments, claim tax deductions, collect receipts, and track mileage. Although you can track expenses, QuickBooks Simple Start doesn’t enable users to pay bills. To manage and pay bills, you’ll need QuickBooks Essentials.
Essentials
Small businesses that are growing may want to use QuickBooks Essentials. The plan offers up to three users all the features of QuickBooks Simple Start, plus the ability to track hours worked and manage bills. A key added feature of the QuickBooks Essentials plan is the ability to manage unpaid bills and allocate billable time and expenses to a specific customer. Additionally, QuickBooks Essentials will send reminders regarding upcoming bills to be paid so that you don’t miss a payment.
Plus
QuickBooks Plus is the most popular plan for businesses since it includes features such as inventory tracking, project management and tax support. It also includes up to five users per account. Midsized businesses with several customers or clients might benefit from the ability to track profitability with QuickBooks Plus. Because the Plus plan enables users to view and track projects, including project expenses and labor costs, users can accurately track a project’s profitability and generate relevant reports on project progress.
Advanced
Larger businesses with substantial accounting teams may want to consider the QuickBooks Advanced plan. This plan significantly extends the functionality of the other plans by offering features such as a dedicated account team to help, workflow automation, data restoration, batch invoices, and on-demand online training. It covers up to 25 users and provides dedicated customer support and advanced reporting features.
QuickBooks Online Alternatives
| QuickBooks Online | FreshBooks | Xero | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forbes Advisor Rating |
|
|
|
| Pricing | $15 to $200 | $17 to $55 | $13 to $70 |
| Contract Length | Monthly | Monthly | Monthly |
| Free Trial | 30 days | 30 days | 30 days |
| Moneyback Guarantee | 60-day moneyback guarantee for annual QBO subscriptions | 30-day guarantee | 30-day guarantee |
| Best For | Growing small businesses and larger businesses | Self-employed, sole proprietors and independent contractors | Small and medium-sized businesses |
| Number of Users | One to 25 | One (additional $10 per month for each additional user) | Unlimited |
| Number of Clients | Unlimited | Five to unlimited | Unlimited |
| Invoices | Unlimited with Simple Start plan | Unlimited | 20 per month for $13 Early plan (Unlimited for all plans) |
| Customer Support | Live chat, video tutorials, phone and email support | Phone and email support, live chat, knowledge base and help center | Extensive online tutorials and 24/7 online support |
| Read QuickBooks Online review | Read FreshBooks review | Read Xero review |
Although QuickBooks Online is a great cloud-based accounting platform, it isn’t the only one. QuickBooks is an excellent option for growing businesses and larger companies, especially if they want project management tools, the ability to allocate billable hours to specific clients or manage a large amount of inventory.
FreshBooks is great for self-employed individuals, sole proprietors and independent contractors. It is incredibly user-friendly and easy to navigate, so if you are a sole proprietor looking for basic accounting software, FreshBooks will meet your needs at a relatively low cost. Its basic plan is in line with QuickBooks Simple Start, at $15 per month.
Xero is most often used by small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). Although it has the lowest starting price, at $12 per month, it can be a little more difficult to navigate than QuickBooks or FreshBooks. Because there is an unlimited number of users that can use the program, you can maximize its use if you have a team of professionals who need access to your accounting software. For Xero’s Early plan ($13), the number of invoices that users can send each month is capped at 20, but for all other Xero plans, users can send unlimited invoices.
Learn more in our complete guide to QuickBooks alternatives.
Bottom Line
The QuickBooks Online plan that’s best for you largely depends on the number of users who will be using the program, the size of your business and your particular needs. If you are self-employed and report income on Schedule C of your personal income tax return, the QuickBooks Self-Employed plan will likely make the most sense.
If you are a small business or a startup, consider QuickBooks Simple Start. Businesses that provide services, rather than goods, should consider the QuickBooks Essentials plan. Businesses with inventory will likely get the most benefit from QuickBooks Plus. Large businesses that need access for up to 25 users will probably want to go with QuickBooks Advanced.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the difference between QuickBooks and QuickBooks Online?
QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based accounting platform while QuickBooks is a desktop program that provides additional inventory management features.
Is QuickBooks difficult to use?
No, it is relatively easy to use, though corrections can be more challenging. QuickBooks Online is a leader in the accounting industry. However, so if you work with a professional accountant, they will likely have an in-depth understanding of the platform and can guide you through its functions.
Can QuickBooks Online do payroll?
To manage payroll through QuickBooks Payroll, you’ll need to pay a fee for this add-on service, with plans ranging from $45 to $125 per month, plus an additional $5 to $10 per employee per month.
How many different versions of QuickBooks are there?
Currently, there are six different versions of Intuit’s QuickBooks :
- QuickBooks Online: Best for SMB with up to 25 users; a cloud-based version of QuickBooks; provides more than 650 integrations with other software
- QuickBooks Self-Employed: Best for freelancers and solopreneurs
- QuickBooks Pro: Good for SMBs; ideal for up to three users; offers more advanced features than QuickBooks Online as well as additional software integrations
- QuickBooks Premier: Ideal for medium-sized businesses with up to five users; best for industry-specific companies; also offers advanced features
- QuickBooks Enterprise: Best for large companies with up to 40 users; even more advanced features than QuickBooks Online, QuickBooks Pro and QuickBooks Enterprise
- QuickBooks for Mac Plus: Best for SMBs for up to three users; similar to QuickBooks Pro
Is accounting software secure?
Today’s leading accounting platforms offer standard security features like data encryption, secure credential tokenization and more. While human error will always play some role in security breaches, you can be confident in your accounting platform when it comes to keeping your information safe.
I've spent years working extensively with various accounting software, including QuickBooks Online. I've assisted businesses in implementing it, optimizing their financial processes, and training teams to utilize its features effectively. My expertise extends to understanding the intricacies of different plans, their pricing structures, and the suitability of each for diverse business needs.
QuickBooks Online is a cloud-based accounting solution known for its flexibility across five distinct plans: Self-Employed, Simple Start, Essentials, Plus, and Advanced. Each plan caters to specific business requirements and scales as the company grows. For instance, the Self-Employed plan suits freelancers and contractors, allowing streamlined expense tracking and invoicing.
The Simple Start plan serves as a foundational tool, managing income, expenses, and invoicing for a single user. As businesses expand, the Essentials plan accommodates up to three users, offering bill management and time tracking features. Plus, designed for mid-sized businesses, integrates inventory tracking, project management, and accommodates up to five users. The Advanced plan, tailored for larger enterprises, offers a comprehensive suite of features, accommodating up to 25 users and providing advanced reporting and support.
The pricing structure varies from $15 to $200 per month, depending on the plan and additional services opted for, such as tax or CPA services. QuickBooks Online also provides alternatives like FreshBooks and Xero, each catering to specific business sizes and needs. FreshBooks focuses on self-employed individuals with its user-friendly interface, while Xero targets small to medium-sized businesses with unlimited user access.
Security-wise, top accounting software, including QuickBooks Online, prioritizes data encryption and secure credential tokenization to ensure the safety of sensitive financial information. Additionally, it's important to note that while these platforms offer robust security measures, human error can still pose risks.
Understanding these distinctions in plans, pricing, and features allows businesses to make informed decisions regarding their accounting software, aligning it with their current needs and future growth.
