QuickBooks
QuickBooks Online is the default US small-business accounting platform, strongest on the accountant ecosystem and 750+ integrations; invoicing is one module in a broader bookkeeping suite rather than a standalone invoice tool.
Verified against: quickbooks.intuit.comquickbooks.intuit.com as of 2026-09-20
Quick verdict: QuickBooks Online earns 4.4/5 in our research-based assessment — the default US bookkeeping-plus-invoicing platform, and the one most accountants will reach for first. Its moat is the ecosystem: 750+ integrations and an accountant network that already lives in the interface. Tier pricing is Simple Start $38/mo (1 user), Essentials $75/mo (3), Plus $115/mo (5) and Advanced $275/mo (25). Choose it when the surrounding accounting, payroll and integrations are the point; choose FreshBooks for a lighter invoice-first bill, Wave or Zoho Invoice for free, or BILL to automate the vendor side at team scale. (Research sweep, no paid workspace tested.)
- Our rating: 4.4/5
- Strongest dimension: Functionality (5/5, research only)
- Weakest dimension: Usability (3/5, research only)
- Pricing: 30-day free trial · $38/mo (Simple Start)
- Verification: Research-only pass over official sources, last checked 2026-09-20. Sources: quickbooks.intuit.com, quickbooks.intuit.com
QuickBooks pricing details
- 30-day free trial
- paid plans from $38/mo (Simple Start)
- simple Start $38/mo · Essentials $75/mo · Plus $115/mo · Advanced $275/mo (list, monthly)
- ~10% off when billed yearly; standard monthly list prices, multiple-source confirmed
Priced by user cap: Simple Start 1 user, Essentials 3, Plus 5, Advanced 25. Invoicing ships on every tier but the platform is full accounting — the entry cost is a bookkeeping subscription, not a per-invoice fee. Payroll, Payments and Bill.com AP are separate add-ons.
In our index: No free plan (30-day trial). Simple Start $38/mo (1 user) · Essentials $75/mo (3) · Plus $115/mo (5) · Advanced $275/mo (25). ~10% off billed yearly. Payroll, Payments and Bill.com AP billed separately.
How QuickBooks scores across our 6 index dimensions
- Functionality: 5/5 (research only)
- Usability: 3/5 (research only)
- Stability: 5/5 (research only)
- Collaboration: 5/5 (research only)
- Localization: 3/5 (research only)
- Value: 3/5 (research only)
Score rationale: The accountants already know it, and that is the moat — the deepest US bookkeeping + invoicing suite with 750+ integrations. No hands-on this round; US list prices from the Intuit pricing page (standard monthly list, multiple-source confirmed).
What QuickBooks does well
- The default the accountants already know — the smoothest CPA hand-off in the market
- 750+ integrations across payments, ecommerce, CRM and payroll
- Invoicing, bank feeds and sales tax on every tier
- Multi-user, multi-currency and inventory on the upper tiers
Where QuickBooks falls short
- Steeper learning curve — it is full accounting, not just an invoice tool
- Support complaints are well documented (long holds, billing friction)
- Prices have risen every year since 2023; the Aug-2026 jump hit Essentials/Plus/Advanced
- Payroll, Payments and Bill.com AP are separate paid add-ons
How QuickBooks compares to other Invoicing & AR tools
Our index tracks 5 Invoicing & AR tools. QuickBooks sits at 4.4/5, with ~10% off when billed yearly; standard monthly list prices, multiple-source confirmed. Here are the 4 closest alternatives we hold pricing and scoring evidence for.
- Wave — 4.2/5 · Free plan · $19/mo (Pro)
Wave is a free-forever invoicing and light-accounting platform for US/Canada freelancers — unlimited invoices, estimates and bookkeeping records on the $0 plan, with automation pushed to the paid Pro tier. - FreshBooks — 4.1/5 · 30-day free trial · $23/mo (Lite)
FreshBooks is a freelancer-first invoicing and light accounting platform that bills by billable-client count, with a polished client-facing invoice, time tracking that auto-fills invoices, and built-in payment collection. - Zoho Invoice — 4.0/5 · Free plan · Free (no paid tiers)
Zoho Invoice is a permanently free invoicing tool with a client portal, multi-currency and time tracking; it is the freemium entry of the Zoho ecosystem and the funnel into the paid Zoho Books accounting suite. - BILL — 3.8/5 · Free plan · $49/user/mo (Essentials)
BILL is an AP + AR automation platform for teams that pay many vendors and collect on many invoices — approval workflows, 4M+ vendor network and two-way QuickBooks/Xero sync — priced per user with transaction fees on top.
Frequently asked questions about QuickBooks
How much does QuickBooks cost?
30-day free trial; paid plans from $38/mo (Simple Start); simple Start $38/mo · Essentials $75/mo · Plus $115/mo · Advanced $275/mo (list, monthly); ~10% off when billed yearly; standard monthly list prices, multiple-source confirmed. Billing detail: Priced by user cap: Simple Start 1 user, Essentials 3, Plus 5, Advanced 25. Invoicing ships on every tier but the platform is full accounting — the entry cost is a bookkeeping subscription, not a per-invoice fee. Payroll, Payments and Bill.com AP are separate add-ons. Figures verified 2026-09-20.
Does QuickBooks have a free plan?
No free plan is listed for QuickBooks, but a trial is offered (30-day free trial). Paid plans start at $38/mo (Simple Start).
What is QuickBooks rated in our index?
QuickBooks sits at 4.4/5 in our index, strongest on functionality (5/5, research only) and weakest on usability (3/5, research only). QuickBooks Online earns 4.4/5 in our research-based assessment — the default US bookkeeping-plus-invoicing platform, and the one most accountants will reach for first. Its moat is the ecosystem: 750+ integrations and an accountant network that already lives in the interface. Tier pricing is Simple Start $38/mo (1 user), Essentials $75/mo (3), Plus $115/mo (5) and Advanced $275/mo (25). Choose it when the surrounding accounting, payroll and integrations are the point; choose FreshBooks for a lighter invoice-first bill, Wave or Zoho Invoice for free, or BILL to automate the vendor side at team scale. (Research sweep, no paid workspace tested.)
What are the drawbacks of QuickBooks?
Steeper learning curve — it is full accounting, not just an invoice tool Support complaints are well documented (long holds, billing friction) Prices have risen every year since 2023; the Aug-2026 jump hit Essentials/Plus/Advanced Payroll, Payments and Bill.com AP are separate paid add-ons.
What does QuickBooks do well?
The default the accountants already know — the smoothest CPA hand-off in the market 750+ integrations across payments, ecommerce, CRM and payroll Invoicing, bank feeds and sales tax on every tier Multi-user, multi-currency and inventory on the upper tiers.
How was QuickBooks verified?
Research-only pass over official sources, last checked 2026-09-20. Sources: quickbooks.intuit.com, quickbooks.intuit.com.
What are the alternatives to QuickBooks?
We track FreshBooks, Wave, Zoho Invoice, BILL, QuickBooks as the closest alternatives in our Invoicing & AR index, and 4 head-to-head comparisons against QuickBooks are available.